Silence...
That's the answer I have received from these nobles currently kneeling in front of me. Unlike the ones before, these people didn't use the moment I ask them.
It seems they still value their life more than their duty. If I felt disappointment when those loyal nobles before, should I feel delight when I heard no response which could give me a chance to make them live?
Letting them choose is one of my own dream when I find myself taking the throne from the King. Showing fear is one of the reason, however, I also need to know what truly comes in their mind.
Therefore, silence made a progress to my expectation.
"I heard no response, does that mean you all want to die?"
Giving them such a threatening gaze while at the same time pressuring them with another one of my questions. A cliche things I found back in my previous world, though it's not a gruesome options.
The nobles look at each other as if they can communicate without speaking, however, since Beatrice is with us, I can hear every words she speak from their mind as if she's making a report.
The man who was angry before me seems too upset, yet remain silence because of the growing fear in his mind. My intimidation that I have been doing since the start seems to be working.
While the others, not too much. The fear on their eyes is simply a facade to show in order for us to feel a little light for them. Too bad, I already know what's inside your minds.
"As I have said before, until we know that you won the war, We don't see any reason to answer such nonsense question!"
"Nonsense? So you find your situation nonsense?"
"That is not what I meant, Duke of Amaria. I have told you again and again, yet you foolishly disregard my advice. I hope you find yourself hanging when this war is over!"
The anger of this man isn't directed to me, is what Beatrice said. However, from the looks of it, he certainly have a grudge against me. What does that mean?
"If you don't answer, I will consider it as death that you wish. I don't care about your mindset about ending the war, but I don't have time to waste. Now, do you want to live or die?"
"I have told you-"
"I have already killed four nobles back in Jsei. I don't care about your things, but what I need to do is finish what I have done. I cannot treat those person unfairly and different from yours!"
The shout that came from my mouth reverberate inside the room as my patience starts to run out. The rage I have shown them made them startled and so, among them, three of the nobles have started to kneel like in front of their superior.
"W-we surrender, thus, we have fully prepared ourselves. Regarding our choice, I, Alejia Walfren, choose to live as a commoner."
"I, Theodore Caneria, second the motion,"
"I,Yrole Vinci, too, choose to live as a commoner."
"What are you all doing, You fucking traitor! Kneeling like a fucking dog in front of a foolish person? You can't be serious!"
"We don't have much choice, General Tfotte. We have lost, and now our lives are at stake, and so does our families if we lost the war. I don't mind dying for the country, sir, but I don't want my family to suffer."
A family-oriented one. I see, so such culture exist in this world too. I, too, can't wait to make my own family. Something that is worth fighting for, literally.
"Klanz, get these three out of here, their choose didn't really satisfy me except this one, but I will consider the rest. The others, you have till tomorrow before we depart. After that, I will give no mercy and you all will likely be judged like the nobles back in Jsei."
"Bastard..."
"Let's go, Beatrice."
I left the room with a serious face along with Beatrice who have been making a worried expression. If I think about it, I find her and Ela quite similar when it comes to their expression, they have this kind of motherly behavior in them that I sometimes find annoying or warm. Anyways, I don't need them to stop but I hope they wouldn't do it too often!
I sigh and look at the sky and realize it's dusk. The hotness that I have been feeling since we left the forest have also started to cool down and fresh wind blow towards us.
It didn't take much time until we arrive at our destination which is my tent and head inside without looking back. The look on Beatrice's became too obvious as soon as we enter.
"You shouldn't always feel worry, it's bad for your health."
"You shouldn't make me worry if you don't want to, I don't know what's happening inside your mind to think such thing. Why do you even need to let them choose such cruel options?"
"Because I need to, that's all."
"Bullshit, I know there's more than that. I have come along and even travel throughout your memories to know you!"
A mindreader of a lover is really a pain in the ass ain't they? Damn, why did I even accept such proposal from a dangerous person, now I'm starting to regret it!
I'm just kidding, I don't regret it, I just feel irritated sometimes and think such thing. I don't really want them to leave so please goddess, don't do something funny!
"Alright, alright, geez, you got me. It's just simple, I want them to suffer."
"Suffer? Why?"
"I mean isn't that common? If you have a prisoner, you should let them suffer, right?"
"Please, don't speak nonsense."
I made a deep breath as I feel myself hopeless and instead answer her in a straightfoward manner.
"Just like I said, it's simple. I want them to suffer. I want them to suffer so they can know how to feel what is it to be like when you have everything yet you can't do anything. I want them to feel like that."
"Why?"
"I thought you saw my memories?"
Beatrice narrowed her eyes and listen attentively to my answers signaling me to continue.
However, I can't tell her now.
That would be unfair.
If she wants to hear it, I'll let her hear it, but not just her, I want Ela to hear it too. I can't just let this girl monopolize me when at the same time my fiancée worried sick at our home.
Yes, it can wait.
"It can wait, you either figure it out or wait until we return home. I can't tell it just to you, if I want to share it, I will share it with both of you."
Beatrice seem to have understand my words and the person I'm mentioning, however, a deep frown was made on her face as I finish my words.
"Am I really not that reliable?"
And here it comes.
"It's not that your unreliable, it's just unfair. Prepare for dinner, we will eat with them."