Chapter 92: 92:He Died Like A Dog

A suffocating killing intent spread across the square, making everyone freeze in terror. They turned their heads and saw him. Kael Veydrin, walking onto the stage with a slow, casual stride, like he owned the place.

"I am Kael Veydrin," he announced, looking down at the crowd with a smirk. "The real owner of this land. And yes, you heard her right,the Baron is dead."

A collective gasp ran through the crowd. Eyes widened, hands covered mouths, and whispers spread like wildfire.

"Baron Altross.."

Kael paused and looked around.

"He died like a dog," Kael added with a scoff.

"GASSP!"

Some people looked horrified, others stunned. A few even nodded as if they weren’t surprised. But just as they started processing it, Kael spoke again.

"But it wasn’t me who killed him," he continued, clicking his tongue in mock disappointment.

Now the crowd was hooked. Their curiosity was burning. Even Ariana, who had been fuming a moment ago, felt her breath hitch.

"He sacrificed himself in battle against followers of the Evil Sect," Kael explained lazily. "They wanted to slaughter you all, and he fought to stop them. He died alongside his men. Not honorably, but hey, at least he died doing something useful for once."

He paused, shaking his head dramatically. Then, he lifted his gaze to the sky and muttered, "Amen. I hope his soul suffers in peac—cough—I mean, rest in peace."

Silence...The silence was followed by sheer disbelief.

Some people’s jaws literally dropped. Others gasped so hard they nearly choked.

What kind of dogshit speech is this?

A few clutched their heads as if trying to process what they just heard.

"Did he just... say that?"

"Did he just curse the Baron’s soul?"

"Is this man insane!?"

Kael took his time, enjoying their reactions. Then, he leaned forward slightly and grinned.

"Now, I bet you’re all wondering—how did this happen?"

The crowd held its breath for a moment before screaming in unison, "YES!"

Kael let out a dark chuckle. "It’s all because of that son of a bitch, Albert."

Shock spread like wildfire. The name sent a ripple of confusion and panic through the audience. Even Ariana’s head snapped toward Kael, her mind going blank for a second.

"What!?" she thought, stunned.

Albert? Her brother? Where the hell was this coming from!?

Kael met her gaze, his eyes glinting with amusement. He knew exactly what he was doing.

"Yes, you heard me right," he continued, addressing the stunned crowd. "Albert was the one behind everything. He made a deal with those filthy heretics. He controlled and brainwashed poor Baron Altross, letting him die like a fool."

Gasps echoed again. Some people instinctively stepped back as if afraid they’d be cursed just by hearing his words.

"The poor guy was butchered and slaughtered," Kael sighed dramatically. "And not only that, Albert even killed his own mother. What a cruel bastard, huh?"

The crowd was at a loss for words. Some looked horrified, others suspicious, but all of them listened.

Meanwhile, Ariana’s mind raced. This was not part of the plan. This was not what they had agreed on.

"What the hell is he thinking!?"

Yet, as she stared at Kael, she saw something terrifying in his expression. It wasn’t just madness. It was the calculating and manipulating thoughts behind.

He was shaping the truth, bending it like a game piece. And the scariest part? The crowd was believing in him.

Thought Albert managed to escape, he couldn’t clear his name or use his status.

The square was dead silent, the weight of Kael’s words pressing down on the crowd like a suffocating fog. Faces twisted in disbelief, whispers crackled like sparks in dry grass. But before the murmurs could swell into a storm, Kael moved.

With a swift motion, he drew his sword. The polished steel gleamed under the sun, its edge sharp enough to slice through bone. The sudden sound of the blade leaving its sheath sent a jolt through the crowd. A few flinched. Some nobles instinctively stepped back.

Then, with the confidence of a man who feared nothing, Kael drove the tip of his sword into the wooden platform with a loud THUNK. His golden eyes swept over the gathered masses, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Hear me, people of Altross!" His voice boomed, drowning out every last whisper. "Your Baron is dead. Your land stands without a ruler. And yet, the bloodline of Altross still flows!"

He turned to Ariana, who stood stiff beside him, eyes unreadable. She had expected chaos, but not this. Not him declaring her the next ruler.

Kael’s voice lowered, thick with command. "By the authority vested in me as the son of the Grand Duke of Veydrin, I hereby declare Ariana Altross as the rightful Baroness of Altross! The last remaining heir of the Altross estate!"

The moment the words left his lips, a wave of reactions swept through the crowd. Gasps, protests, murmurs of shock—

"A woman?"

"Can she even rule?"

"She’s unproven! She’s—"

THUD!

Kael yanked his sword out of the wood and swung it to the side, pointing the tip toward the audience. His smirk was gone. His gaze burned like molten gold, daring anyone to challenge him.

"Those of you who doubt her," he said, his voice cold, "listen well."

He tilted his head slightly, the madness in his eyes gleaming. "If she fails—if she cannot hold this land, cannot lead, cannot make this barony thrive—I swear on Veydrin honor that I will personally kick her out of this place."

A chill ran through the air.

Kael’s expression sharpened. "And when I say ’kick her out,’ I don’t mean a polite farewell." He chuckled, dark and cruel. "I mean, I’ll drag her out by her hair, throw her into the streets, and let the vultures decide her fate."

Silence.

A heavy, suffocating silence lingered.

Ariana’s hands clenched at her sides. Her body trembled as she controlled her urge to punch Kael.She wanted to wipe that smug look off his face.

But deep down, she knew exactly what he was doing. He wasn’t just naming her Baroness,he was forcing the people to accept her. His name carried weight. His threat carried fear.

And fear? Fear controlled the weak.

Taking a deep breath, Ariana stepped forward. The movement was slow, deliberate. Every step echoed against the wooden platform. When she reached Kael’s side, she turned to the crowd.

Then, in one smooth motion, she lowered herself into a bow.

The crowd inhaled sharply. A noblewoman clutched her chest as if she might faint again. Some men whispered among themselves. The common folk held their breath.

Raising her head, Ariana spoke. "I accept the responsibility of Baroness of Altross." Her voice was steady, unwavering. "I will protect this land, its people, and its honor."

She straightened, her gaze hard as steel. "And should I fail, then let Kael Veydrin’s promise be fulfilled."

Kael let out a slow, amused whistle. "Well said, Baroness."

The title rolled off his tongue like it had always belonged to her.

The crowd was left stunned. Some exchanged glances, uncertain but unwilling to voice their doubts. Others nodded hesitantly. The power of Kael’s name, the force of his presence—it was too overwhelming to challenge.

For now, at least.

And this was how Kael journey began for earnest leaving behind pieces of his legacy.