The fate and the future of all three of them was in Gabriel's hands. However, looking at their pitiful state, even Gabriel didn't feel like killing them.
The Prince kept begging Gabriel to let him live, even if he meant becoming a slave. As for Shia, she remained with her eyes closed, waiting for Gabriel's sword to take her life.
Gabriel knew that it was true that they hadn't done anything wrong to him. The only problem was the potential future threat. Then again, could these three really increase his future threats more than it already was? Moreover, he was upset that the Arecia Clan even killed the children, all because they were scared of the future threat, even though the children weren't an immediate threat to him.
He couldn't help but find himself in the same situation as the Alecton clan in the past, having to decide if he needed to kill innocent people to remove potential troubles from roots or let them live.
If he selected the first, he felt like he was going to be no different than the people he blamed. He was going to prove that the Alecton Clan was right in destroying the Arecia Clan from its roots.
Gabriel's silence was more scary for the three youngsters. They didn't know what the young man could be thinking. This stress was particularly the highest for Azia who was already having a hard time breathing, due to fear. Azia was already feeling as if she was suffocating.
Thud~
Azia fell on her back. Her body was weak and her face was pale. She couldn't even maintain her consciousness in this situation.
Gabriel walked closer to Azia to check if she was still alive. He never really saw a person dying because of being scared.
"Just unconscious," he muttered after checking the young lady's wrist. For some reason, he couldn't help but find her pitiful. In a few days, there was going to be a tournament for the woman to find her husband who could protect her. And here she was, in a situation like this.
Even Shia was similar. He himself saved her life, not realizing her true identity. He was the one who gave her life. Could he really take it now? The two ladies didn't do anything wrong to him.
After a brief moment of silence, he finally decided on how to deal with the situation for now.
"Duke Callum, Take them to the prison in the Palace for now. I'll think about what to do with them later. Also, get a physician to check up on Azia. Don't let her die until I'm done deciding."
No matter what, he couldn't convince himself to kill these three people. It wasn't as simple as he had expected. At least not until he found out just what was in the heart of these three people. That's why he came up with an idea. Sending them to the prison was just the start. He already decided how to decide their fate...
At the same time no one else could see it, but a small piece of jade appeared in Gabriel's hand. An invisible thread came out of the jade that wrapped around the neck of all three youngsters. The thread was invisible and maintained a few millimetres of distance from their throats. However the thread also controlled their lives. The thread could easily take off their heads if Gabriel desired.
'If you can pass this test, you will live. But if you can't...'
The young prince couldn't believe that Gabriel was actually having mercy on them! Even though they were going to be imprisoned, it was better than a painful death! At least they could live that way! And who knew, Gabriel could even let them live in the future, taking some mercy on them.
Even Shia was stunned. She knew that if her father was in Gabriel's place, he never would've let them live. But this guy... Didn't this mean he saved her life twice?
The Royal Knights picked up Princess Azia who was unconscious. The others also made Princess Shia and Prince Rozen stand, escorting them out of the garden, making sure they couldn't escape.
"Are you sure you want to let them live?"
Callum hadn't expected Gabriel to be so merciful. In his heart, he knew that this kind of mercy was not something that a dark mage should possess. However, he also knew that maybe this was what made him different from every other dark mage?
Even after years of torment, the man still managed to retain some of his sensibility. He couldn't help but wonder if this was why he was able to win Avilia's favor?
"I'm not sure yet. But I'll be sure soon. I've already thought of something. But first, I have another task for you." Gabriel didn't answer what he planned right away. At least, not for now.
"What task?"
"Take the Royal Army and take control of all the Noble Clans that lost their heads today," Gabriel commanded. "From today on, all their armies will be ours. Whoever stands in your way, kill them. You understand? I don't want even the remnants of those clans to be left in the Empire!"
"I'll handle it." Callum agreed. "From today on, this entire Empire will be yours. And who knows, maybe one day, this Empire can also be the place where the Church of Darkness can make a return!"
'Church of Darkness in Arecia?' Gabriel frowned, but didn't respond.
He didn't want the Arecia Empire to join the war of churches. Even if he was to fight with other churches, he didn't want to use Arecia for that battle.
Even though he was the Emperor of Arecia; for him, this Empire still belonged to Novius. He didn't want it to face a war which could destroy Arecia from its core!
Callum left the garden as well, leaving to handle the matters that could solidify Gabriel's control over the Empire.
Gabriel also sent the remaining Royal Knights back, making sure that only he was left behind in the midst of all the bodies.
In the beautiful garden, the blood of Nobles had already painted some of the grass red.
After everyone left, Gabriel finally lowered her guard, sitting on the soft grass, letting out a sigh. So far, things had gone really smoothly. From tomorrow, everyone was going to know that Arecia had a new Emperor. His control over this Empire was absolute with the removal of the traitorous Nobles.
He didn't even have to use much of his magic to achieve all this. In the eyes of the Royal Knights, he was just a slightly more powerful Knight with the Holy Sword. He didn't possess any magic like mages.
"Everything is over... I did it... I freed this Empire. Then why...? Why do I not feel any relief? Why do I feel as if something is wrong? As if danger is getting closer from all sides? As if the future is going to be even more chaotic than I initially expected?"
