Chapter 1206: Section 736: Choices (4)
The news of Malin becoming His Highness reached Copenhagen much faster than the loyalty shown by his legion, plunging the entire city into chaos—especially after hearing that he had hanged the rebellious noble officers and shot the old Hagelberry, who was responsible for assassinating the Northernists.
Yet, that Majesty had lowered the city gates early on, and after killing many fleeing nobles, the soldiers on the walls finally, at the first ray of dawn on the hill outside the city, saw His Highness’s battle flag, saw the soldiers carrying it, and also saw His Highness walking ahead of them.
As he approached the city gates alone, more soldiers saw the Marshal’s cloak on him, saw the scepter in his hand.
Then, the soldiers killed the officer in charge of supervising the army, and, under the orders of officers willing to defect, they opened the city gates.
......
Watching the gates open, the army entering the city, Malin walked to the group of officers kneeling by the gate. Most of these young men had anxious looks on their faces, and a few bold ones watched Malin with hesitation.
"I don’t know if your families were involved in the assassination, but you opened the gates, preventing more unnecessary sacrifices. The bloodshed in these past days has been enough; letting a bit less bleed is for the best, so you are pardoned." At this point, Malin noticed an officer raising his hand.
"What do you have to say, young man?" Malin did not mind giving these young men a chance to speak.
Then he spoke: "We heard that you killed the old Duke Hagelberry. Why, Your Highness Malin, he was your kin."
"But he did not stop His Majesty the King and his colleagues from committing such atrocities, and naively thought that taking over the dirty work from the hands of his offspring, just because those young ones had not dirtied their hands, I would forgive his family... My kin was gravely mistaken, from the moment he took brutal action against the Northernists, I could not forgive him anymore, and since he chose to stand for his king and colleagues, he must learn to face an angry avenger calmly."