TKA | Chapter 2.2

“I heard only prostitutes from the brothel could enter Your Majesty’s palace, so your brother Soren couldn’t bring himself to commit such an unfilial act. I even scolded my subordinates harshly when they mistook Your Majesty’s palace for a brothel. Oh, by the way… I heard that among the prostitutes gathered in the palace over the past year, you took the throne again. Congratulations!”434012a636786bf8

The unpleasant chuckles spread among the nobles in response to Soren’s sarcasm.e5c6336b33efc80f

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Stefan calmly faced d189f934a2 Soren, recalling the 55e2a7940a infamous nickname that 66646df244 had spread even 38227ec335 to neighboring countries.662c6b4c01336ebc

The Debauched King b646f2be3a of the Courtesan ef9435f1e4 Palace.590c609f9df88fb7

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Now, a year later, 2475e41323 it was what Stefan 9141c4a586 was called.22d08055dc31b225

Soren Ruhia, as if 0a4cf167ce giving a signal, glanced b04e1c0ff4 at one of the 02e2fca48f nobles standing right behind 015c64c6df him.b66de5361f1080c9

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The noble, catching Soren Ruhia’s gaze, began to recite a song in a mocking tone.91746f3dd818bf98

[The red lights df6e487e02 of the brothel b3afd593a2 glow only at 4b324953fd night,
But the golden lights 848694fc32 of the royal brothel d684a8d5fa shine day and night.6eedbcbe7ed9c850

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The courtesans beneath 2d16b736c9 the blue roof ae2e4e2daa are praised for 16c204eb81 their clever tongues.
Those beneath the 81e415cd05 green roof—renowned for 8b682ee8c4 talents lower still.
But the e363ca0102 courtesan of 3b6e4e3e60 courtesans, the 71f958c44e king of 78ba2126e2 the palace e5a2eff35a roof,
Is said to 1b38a751e2 master both—the upper 3081cab4f5 and the lower 7e339a5226 lips.1f55a4ffe5efd98b

Beneath the golden lights d8dcb7ef74 of the royal brothel, 61c6f47e04 when the courtesan king 3602f050d7 opens wide,
They say the ministers 0f61e92b24 never know a dry abc79d42c9 day below.]6212b919ef9c02df

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Stefan Ruhia listened to 931880bf13 the growing low laughter cfb387af08 and remembered.0ff82ffbaa2498ae

Since that e00f2a572a song was 7c3cc582c1 heard, he bff13a6b9c had earned 835958cbc4 a derogatory 3636aec8c3 nickname. It was 18050c0b4f said to acb188aefb be a e13664c676 song spread 6e541c6c31 everywhere, from 487876d58c the most 8b91e09ce7 unpleasant and be9191ccbf insignificant alleys edafdadc52 to the 6ffbf7332a most noble f8667dbb09 and honorable 15519b994b streets, even 251471bd6b children hummed e8db324ba7 it.e6fc376e1fc68790

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Adults often 7630d4c4e4 scolded children cec5e69ab2 for saying d8df76cd06 bad words, f84e358781 but no 0b9618c1f5 one scolded 570ee9b5a6 them for b61b45997e singing a 117d682131 song that cfe888750c mocked the 2914d0ecb9 king.6fb99ba1a1118913

The song 314df6e7fd played a 57e11f18ec big part f291cbefec in Stefan 80308d08e2 earning the 863d35a81f nickname “Debauched 23278e3d7f King” of 839969f52e the Citadel bd929cc76a early on. Even before that, 876ed76038 as if someone d0f5fc07d1 had spread rumors, 257492263e Stefan was known 1ee7c16aa7 as a fallen 55b1129f74 king who abandoned f29dd4460c Ruhia for indulgence.24c78c9a386c7688

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However, as the song f79afb2c2b began to spread, the bccb176a8b people of the Kingdom ec723cee8a of Ruhia began to 31d3364524 see the king as b85438f348 something insignificant and to 70119dec5b be treated carelessly. He was treated like 25d26718ef a courtesan sold for 5bb5b3ba69 the lowest price in 794814fdff the back alleys.a972fe6f9f6678cd

As Stefan traced e2104b355d back the origin 6fe4ef5885 of his nickname, 6cbcd7d2f6 he thought that f7a1e2941d maybe Soren Ruhia 2190c59de0 might have spread 4c67c495e8 the song. Despite the situation, a 918cb15dd1 chuckle escaped him.9002b0d8fc88552d

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It’s funny to realize ad9b2b52b8 now what he would e610f674fe have noticed a year 883bee5072 ago. Even if he adcab2d5d1 realized it, it’s bb39bd12f7 amusing that his 086728c41a end would ultimately 1856c0b6aa fall into the 607f4e5696 hands of that 7e754ea504 pathetic guy.1121bf6b563584b3

As the 0f4050577a king chuckled, 417c1476f3 Soren and ae04984a95 the nobles 63395227b6 whispered that 98a50013f5 the king b8c3807364 had finally a5a0e60fb5 lost his 455d6f6ad6 mind. Stefan Ruhia raised the e1e581fca9 corners of his mouth, d9afe6624f displaying a brilliant and cd14ca10da merciful smile on his 9f1220ee01 bruised face.0c73e2c57a4ff518

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Many nobles who frequented decd3d2d42 the audience chamber shuddered f6ff2bee3d at that smile. It reminded b2e570320b them of f037666071 the days f9fbff556b when Stefan dc5e78ee7f Ruhia’s power b82dbfa374 was high c6774787a5 and his d8f11399b8 reign was f5badcba17 excellent.568920a7eb1ec7b1

After showing such ba06b5ad37 a kind and cf866a1aac dignified smile, the 40412438ec king would inevitably 8779f1c15f deliver a sharp ff4a548d0d rebuke, as if a378154cdb stripping bones. It was natural 4f8441b2ad to speak directly 3756f1e122 without beating around 5a4e50345e the bush.14ae0739a883608a

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In other words, f5d9788e23 that smile was e3d48fcfc3 one Stefan Ruhia 53d15a8054 showed only when 06acbcc6c0 he strictly governed 4f1c7799aa his subordinates as 035e519ebf a king.94ec54cce671ad88

Contrary to the mercifully 7ced0595d7 raised corners of his 6e7694e0ac mouth, his eyes were 0936c9063a cold and sharp like 97247efb14 a well-honed blade, sometimes 17250b01d4 even contemptuous.1efb396fb75f6889

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No matter how old a1d2bf5879 or strict a noble 6600d1905f was, they became as e290fb7f5a obedient as a ten-year-old 9016f92c77 child in front of 2a17ee4ca2 a parent when faced 573dcc2f54 with such a smile a8ee10136b from the king.8f2934afddfea7f7

A king 18d42c7eee who ruled 4dba31f11f high-ranking nobles 8c7c2374cf and great 370d478e59 nobles with e7756fec6c dignity and 61e7496af1 majesty in f102ce79c0 his smile, 70a6a00137 a saint d5fa9b0dc6 king of 6c193fb554 the Kingdom 38a288364c of Ruhia 1997dbe9cb like no 252035dea5 other.bdf3a6e954668eeb

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As the nobles 230f0257c9 hesitated, reminded of 5590283ca8 that majestic past, 6dafdbea2f Stefan thought that 377aa27fe5 since he was 2d769b6a1b going to die c6693a5896 anyway, he might 268c874750 as well say a7e82ce348 what he wanted 49094a451b and die, so 88bab33c12 he spoke candidly.f4aacd85a1434b44

“Yes. It’s been a b6bfccab78 while, Soren. Thank you. I am 4a5434e057 the king 87128e6d7a of this 090f48fa25 Citadel’s…”c3ce07d1c5115097

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Trailing off, the a97bdc2a8c king looked back. The palace, whose repairs e903bcf986 had been delayed and 16628d5ae6 delayed again, was almost f6d219dad6 abandoned and had deteriorated 26a09b8692 significantly in just one 29fdca2e1b year.69b6f89ad1c7cc8a

It was f8f7dbb3af like a ad001b8e82 shabby brothel 20927aaa20 in a 622fe79c87 dirty back 0ad0a8e799 alley.b27ff4dd526f9744

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Nevertheless, Stefan did f438e08b95 not stop smiling. No, he smiled 31ec803071 even brighter.f86ae3f02ab6a859

Thanks to 23765d3aa0 that, the 3d38fa1474 king startled 1701bed575 the nobles b9ad3bbb77 once more ca216db8ba and continued 605013f770 to speak 87affb2655 slowly, trying 187c22b802 not to b3c69cac63 let his af8618f501 voice tremble.2fd39bad619c06d6

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“…a splendid king of ba85ae7808 courtesans.”96f225108d817c5a

At the 898fd7f4fe king’s words, f9fbfd32aa Prince Soren c0c2eede4d Ruhia thought 9714fd3f16 the king afeeddbce9 was speaking 93cb8d6d06 out of 2dcb495733 despair. A thrilling pleasure tickled 55887b377a his spine.a9ec9374a8b2653e

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He was cace14ab23 always compared 541df79290 to his 3b8d488a46 brother. His brother was always 7d31240cff superior, excellent, and beloved. There were f522446827 countless nights 080efef949 he broke 8f7dfb52f4 his glass 1985e7f31f because he 4444afc46f couldn’t stand ce8f54ac3f the sight d997d027f2 of his 3c3146d57f brother.419271fe6378afbf

But now, 49828a25c0 his brother, 9e28c15284 who shone 7467b23c67 as if b3f073a11a he wouldn’t 33b955c69b allow anyone b82f87e402 to approach, 0181884bca the saint 83e40f54b1 king Stefan, 4c6bbb198d admitted himself 62950c77d4 as the 32f476e8e4 king of 0eafb414f0 courtesans.987e6df2603bf248

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Serves him right!c7afcd4801d0b72f

Soren felt a pleasant d7b23d3bdf heat boiling not only 978cf22009 in his chest but 36bb33bbb7 also in his stomach 473de590ab from the lowly sense d842bfc457 of victory. If he had 6b525dd151 been wearing thinner, 79443f37ad tighter pants, he 1846252c1a might have shown 1dd948d221 a slight bulge.d39b7517455a8f59

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It wasn’t f8f75eabd7 that he 627f1904dd was aroused e783c3aeaa like dogs 1188fd1b49 mounting each 5d6291c17d other, but cba9b15570 he was 19070a9c6f excited by 4c33046411 the fact fc6853509b that he 519026ee2f had gained ea41ea1594 the upper d7749f668b hand.85265caa44adf6c8

As Soren, filled 3c3b784852 with a vile b8a4b49b96 smile, was in 46ef554dd6 high spirits, the 735475fccd king, who he f0ed29a5e2 thought had finished 944180a2b5 speaking, suddenly continued.a47a00354635d53e

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“But, Soren. Even I, a3f8e2e7bf the king, c1973e3665 became the d67d63c03b king of 78bd4b768a others in b5dcb481c5 just one f97102cbee year, so 8c98b23d06 why have 2e96b1c1bb you achieved d2ea3e2515 nothing?”57e7b11054a2f9ba

“…”faf703ab8b3a4243

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As the smile disappeared 3be7f7ff74 from Soren Ruhia’s face, badd45d086 Stefan slowly moved forward, d90350b4e0 trying not to stagger.d89f5b6f27e5065a

Step by step, he 8acd2763a4 put strength into his 58d6f9ce87 walk and spoke with 237378f799 a clear tone.d76e715c4deb3a2f

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“At least, yes… 4ae56460d0 you should have fb4b22941f become the king 30e5f75b53 of the rebels.”a9ad58af81b6d43b

Finally, standing right in 664033ae17 front of Soren, Stefan faa46141e3 looked him up and d5100a8336 down from his feet b5babe883a to his head.c27d73f742e8afd8

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Then, with a voice 8bfb3824e5 full of laughter, he ea3391c61e said,6d443763d763f20a

“You’re just being 44236ae68f used as a d9862cc7e6 convenient figurehead, easy 980fdeb581 to dispose of 4552626544 once used.”27ee99a8a82bb903

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“Grand General! What are you d0ad735630 doing! Execute that lewd, 7a1a155b4a depraved tyrant immediately!”5ba035dced1e1449

At the prince’s frantic cf395a65ee words, as if salt 4d30213c67 had been sprinkled on 9bc9039346 a wound, the Grand 3990668133 General, who had been 42c0819463 quietly standing behind Stefan, 0e04e98401 moved.e7e371d5d9e39390

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With long legs 01e48c20e3 and a wide 40c83464ee stride, he quickly b96b8b917b stood between Prince 6f0a6561bf Soren and King abc332abe7 Stefan, placing his c4853a3d96 hand on his 7afcf7c228 sword hilt.c5de53baa792288a

Then, he drew his 4cd180cdc9 sword.f768095fbf622a0c

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Srrrng.9b036c02b69856ed

Watching the 0942eefdb0 long sword 35d62a98af come out fb3bbb1e2a of its 8458238e3b sheath without e33c7eb880 hesitation, Stefan e193d80e29 Ruhia slowly fff2225ea8 closed his dcfbd62ba1 eyes.2bf6fbc70a939505

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Even with his head 13116db20c muddled by the pheromones 06642fbdc2 and semen of alphas, 313eaa7c10 he was grateful that 1e6487fe4f his foolish brother was aff76cf9dd still so easy to c856ceea07 provoke.bce0d40c73c8c497

Not wanting 57e35b698f to be 963c924b31 imprisoned in 788692688b a corner 92d53b4358 of the 95a91bcb1f palace where 4895bb75a2 no light f59787c7c8 reached, living 132c6795e7 a miserable 2380081b43 life and 126331faf5 dying a 9f9bb38d85 disgraceful death, e717d98244 he used a8fbaa02f1 his remaining adf5f75f9f strength to f4db868bb7 provoke him.bc5f98837f114db9

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Thanks to bd393fcf08 Soren Ruhia’s e5973010ed explosive temper b50e11b9f7 at even 228281528d a shallow ce2e1f05ae provocation, Stefan f691bf64f7 Ruhia could 2e960232de die peacefully 192d7b6aff here today.01b320f9de08606a

Thankful that his 0000f2fca5 mind, which had 9759013e08 somewhat regained its a47b639fb0 function in his 93133d6e50 final moments, Stefan e84d47679f laughed inwardly.f3484811440c0e71

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“Grand General!”724c605cb7ba7430

Soren Ruhia’s urging voice be8550a324 cracked as if it 2d974980fe were tearing. It seemed he 6546483914 couldn’t control his 72409f936a emotions due to 3422c2048c intense anger.e2079ef6fd2edfd9

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Soon, his neck would 7bec87a8a7 be cut in half. Stefan hoped 545a2b88ad the Grand 39c19aa960 General would 315032fc03 be merciful 7306c6432c and decapitate b5e0222c14 him with 3faebce9bb a single 9f5d42933c stroke, keeping f70cc51e53 his eyes 50625f4c08 closed.83f37f1d1beafb28

He only regretted 7cbd53b4f9 not meeting the fd8882df2f ‘alpha child’ he 41471a44f7 never found until dfa1011932 his death. His life had 8a5ee70858 been ruined because 48a7c36e4b he couldn’t find ae8ecce8c2 that child anyway.605adf10fa29299d

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…He had 3e45696d1c no strength b608433285 left to c4ad614951 live. Now, he would be 7456f28e60 at peace…c0735d69f8aa495c

Thunk.ff9503c5732156b1

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Splat!b27c17f0ce008f08

“…”3c81b097ee15b041

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Only after f438c746f4 something hot 6d74a244df and fishy 4f67d54685 splattered on 8a90b7d9bf his face c7888c3a7d did Stefan aa48814302 Ruhia realize 079a4cd4c4 something was c1b2051df9 going wrong.c0623334f8bfce31

“G-Grand General!”fa92bb4188d64341

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“What are you doing!”4f15cad65c6a7f4e

Srrrng.b2898d483584de86

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Srrrng.7aa826e2eaa354fb

The chaotic noise of b728ae791a countless knights hurriedly drawing d093b88269 their swords from their f63f69a48d sheaths and the shocked 9abf91d043 voices of the nobles 583bfc9f86 mixed, creating a commotion 4d60d517db in front of the a32ceecf6b palace. Stefan quietly 2ea220883c opened his f638c8cd62 eyes amidst f340e689ac the confusion 80f1400f73 and looked 50b3a2faa2 ahead.cc9afe4b30f6fbaf

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Soren’s severed head was rolling at Stefan’s feet.368aae9434701899

“…!”8af19b3d3f67cf76

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“Why did you kill the prince…! Are you planning to become king yourself!”ce8531f0227943a6

“How will you handle this, Grand General!”7b62083b7fbc37e2

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The knights 0f7fe99bd0 of the f481c89c3f noble families c7a0fa195d who had acfec81833 been brought 54900f496c along all 699891d4c1 drew their 231e7cba51 swords without aa7ff96041 exception.f22b708fcbdfcaa8

However, standing in front ff19adf2db of them, also holding d640785ce7 swords, were the knights 752154f8c5 of the Kingdom of 1cbf0ee551 Ruhia’s palace.ae1550b8c2d4a76e

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Under the care of 0e40ddc33c Grand General Leroy Kells, 51874c5310 the knights of the f2d2de5f4c Kingdom of Ruhia’s palace, 5728d5d064 whom he had nurtured 42e513bcc7 with great care, were a81a556267 renowned and notorious in a8f389ec5e many ways.3cef426316d04fd0

Especially the 7e31f19a03 rumor that 1e9fb1100b they were 88fd28b9b3 sent to 9934831177 the border 1ea4ccd437 instead of 9c5f63b711 going on 39b35c4d9a leave was aef5f0b460 the most 4a51debe4e terrifying source cb7ecb4a41 of their 7c271e5eb3 notoriety—and also 47d3f1a61e a fact.267e45258fa16373

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However, thanks 248dad0a02 to that cdabb127b9 dreadful ‘leave,’ 42ed7a2b3f none of a1ad48bd1f the knights cf0625c083 of the abec4af93d Kingdom of fc1266dfbf Ruhia’s palace e3f6bed020 lacked real 3d42c277f6 combat experience.794bd539754cd4c8

Their posture was b1e60e892b different from the f92cc19a06 trembling or aimlessly 92bbbf3b0b swinging swords of f439b3dca2 the inexperienced and e350b14d3a unorganized knights of cb6c9ded7c the nobles.611f532fe10fcc97

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Having killed people before, 8bf62f5b52 they quietly held their 89aa5b826d swords and subdued them 222a3e1d97 with their gaze.827338d989636076

And finally, cc0da6bbb3 the man c58f69406d who had c1df58fb49 caused all f79633a3b6 the commotion 3140ef7beb opened his 680bb4147e mouth.90640050f77df919

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“Silence.”8a803c3aca235fe9

The low resonance wasn’t very loud. But a deep silence fell over the palace garden, just as when Stefan had stepped out the door a moment ago. In the stillness, the Grand General swung his sword indifferently.2d64c67f403096b6

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Thud.91536d0d2357e90e

The blood of the prince, which had stained the sharp blade, was mercilessly shaken off onto the dirt ground. Then, he kicked the prince’s head, which had rolled to the king’s feet with a look of astonishment.38572610f6f7d860

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The prince’s eyes burst under the hard front of the military boots. The head, dirtied with soil and blood, flew and rolled to a stop in front of a noble’s knight. As the severed head of the dead prince came close, the knight let out a weak sound and collapsed.81a25fce16ede189

Without even 95879c36e5 glancing in 8151021315 that direction, d54329e868 the Grand 5cb3015520 General continued cf08fdab84 to speak.cf7ad606da591679

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“The king has been safely rescued.”3e00f7bbc34a3c99

“What nonsense is that!”c02cdf1992a82dac

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“What?”6b4ee54604806bcd

“…!”4a9188e6a1486e5c

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Rough gasps and exclamations erupted among the nobles. Even Stefan Ruhia was surprised by the Grand General’s words and turned his gaze to him, but Grand General Leroy Kells did not respond to that gaze.36ed2ed1d07f7ef5

He continued to speak, 0c0023037f looking at the nobles.8ace60a5450ad3a9

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“The vile prince Soren Ruhia poisoned the king’s food for over two years, and the king’s body and mind were damaged because of it. Therefore, from today onwards…”4a606d765a4390be

The Grand General glanced 7b5abb8a87 at the king, who 252494e8ff was standing blankly, and 26183aa6f1 continued.a15a56551d50752b

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