Chapter 49: Revolutionary Period - Black Rose (3)

Chapter 49: Revolutionary Period - Black Rose (3)

Translated by Mara Sov

Revolutionary Period Black Rose (3)

By the time I left the club, darkness had fully descended.

My subordinates appeared somewhat unsettled by my disheveled state and the pungent scent of blood, but none spoke a word.

Lets return.

As you command!

Riding through the streets, we arrived at Lumieres main square.

There, we encountered a familiar face leading a group of men.

Prosecutor Maximillien Le Jidor.

The man who has dedicated everything to the Republic and democracy tensed at the sight of me in the moonlit square.

Was he on his way to punish the members of his faction following the assault on Christine?

Marquis Lafayette.

Prosecutor Le Jidor.

The silence that followed was palpable,

And before I could say anything, Jidor bowed his head towards me.

I regret the unfortunate incident that has befallen the Countess Aquitaine.

Regret?

A chuckle escaped me as I descended from my horse.

Le Jidors entourage moved to protect him, but with a gesture, he halted them.

As I approached him, I yanked his collar.

Even as his neat clothes became stained with blood, Le Jidors expression behind his glasses remained unchanged.

Regret, huh? Always regretting something.

I couldnt stop the hollow laughter.

Were I to slit your throat this instant, wouldnt that be a true cause for regret?

After a moment of silence, Le Jidor spoke.

Those who have wronged our nations people and disturbed Lumieres tranquility, engaging in acts unbecoming of a citizen, should be judged under the laws of the Republic. That includes me, if necessary.

Le Jidors eyes were firm, unblinking.

However, should the Marquis take my life without due process, the Republic will pass judgment on the Marquis.

I laughed, despite myself.

Your confidence, where does it come from?

Your righteousness, how do you maintain it?

Maximillien Le Jidor.

-For the crimes mentioned, I, Prosecutor Maximilian Le Jidor, on behalf of the citizens of the Republic, hereby request that the defendant, Marquis Pierre De Lafayette, be sentenced to death.

He was the one who sought to nullify my existence, to be the harbinger of my demise.

Your friends, the other hypocrites of your faction have ignored the laws and harmed my people.

-Oh, so attacking your countrymen during a civil war makes you innocent? Tell me, Marquis. Did the subjects of that territory personally support the Second Prince and took arms to aid him?

His words, which haunted my dreams, returned to me over and over.

Answer me, Prosecutor. Did the Countess of Aquitaine, Christine, ever violate the law?

You speak of justice, yet you have stripped me of everything.

We, who yielded our territories as a bargaining chip to parley with you, I, who allied with you to safeguard the Republic, my troops who have bled on the battleground for this nation! Have we ever gone against the Republic?

Yet, none of this should have come to pass.

Speak!

Just because youre not just, doesnt mean you should trample on the justice you speak of with your own feet.

If you have something to say, say it!

How could you even allow this to happen to the people who trusted me and who staked their future on you?!

Marquis, I understand your anger but-

Understand? Have any of you ever tried to understand the plight of my people?

They never understood our sacrifices.

Of what we gave up on our lands, our privileges, our birthrights.

They never recognized the good we did all that wealth and food donated to a crumbling Republic.

The blood we shed was deemed worthless, even when we turned against those who were once our comrades in arms.

Just because we are nobles! Just because our perspectives are different! You think you can cast us as the enemy and throw us away like worthless trash!?

Has anyone ever given up anything to stand with us?

Didnt you say the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few?

You are so delusional with your beliefs that you brand everyone who disagrees as traitors.

You said that under these sacrifices democracy would take root in this land, and a true reform would occur.

But was that truly necessary? What is the worth of an ideal built on top of a mountain of corpses?

So Ill wait until Louis is out of age to be able to take over your title.

We know each other too well for me not to notice that.

Thats why, I ask you this; When you cede Louis your title, I want you to come with me.

What kind of nonsense are you talking about?

Christines expression looked genuinely angry, or perhaps steeped in sorrow.

Her quivering black orbs gradually composed themselves in response to my declaration.

Do you even understand what you are saying? Do you plan on dragging the prestige of Lafayette through the mud? Or are you mocking me now? Ill have you know that I

I couldnt care less about Lafayettes prestige or the wealth of Aquitaine. To me Christine, you are worth way more than those foolish things.

Christine closed her mouth, with a loud click-.

After a long and tortuous silence, Christine stretched her fair hands and fiddled with the black rose brooch on my chest.

It was the artifact she had gifted to me, for my protection.

With a trembling voice, she asked me,

Do you know the meaning of a black rose?

When I kept silent she continued.

It means farewell.

As soon as those words left her lips, Christines eyes became utterly cold and devoid of any emotion.

It was my fault she had become like this.

Because I wanted to involve Christine in my plans, I made her seek revenge against her family.

And even when I was aware of the emptiness within her heart, I kept my distance under the pretext of respecting her wishes.

Instead of comforting her, I pursued a vain Ideal, fooling even myself with the promise of fighting for a better future for Francia.

With slow and deliberate movements, I removed the brooch from my chest.

Christines eyes bored into mine, still cold and unfeeling.

Christine.

Speak, Marquis Lafayette.

Do you despise me so much?

Christines mask shattered.

If you do, then say the word, tell me to never approach you ever again, and it shall be done.

Christine covered her eyes with her hand.

H-how can IT-thats

If thats not the case, then please dont push me away.

Before my regression, we barely exchanged a few words.

And without even getting to know her, I left her to die at the hands of her own family.

Christines lips trembled as she managed to voice a question with a wavering tone.

Why? Why are you like this?! How much more selfish do you want me to be?!

By saving her life, I began my path toward a new future.

Everything Ive changed so far, its thanks to Christines help. She was always my utmost priority in my search for a better future.

And yet.

If I let the most precious person to me die again, what would be the use of a better future?

The black rose has another meaning, you know?

Whether she didnt know it or hoped I didnt realize it, I couldnt tell.

Or perhaps she didnt think I would be curious about the meaning of a gift from my most precious person?

Her usual poise was completely forgotten, her face twisted in a myriad of emotions as I spoke with the gentlest tone I could muster.

But even if my tone was gentle, my words were stronger than steel.

You are eternally mine.

Finally, her tears came undone.

Im already yours.

Gently, I reached out and attached the black rose to her chest and asked.

So, will you be mine, My Lady?

With tears running down her cheeks, she nodded and collapsed in my embrace.

I held her body, which continued to tremble while her eyes wept her deep-rooted sorrows for the family that betrayed her. Her cries reverberated against my chest.

She was someone I couldnt save in my past life, and one whom I made cry in this life, so because of this, I whispered my most sincere feelings.

Im sorry for making you wait for so long.

TL: Alright guys, the lines

The black rose has another meaning, you know? You are eternally mine.

Are so because on da Korea, a black rose can mean both a sad event like death, or the separation of a couple.

However, recently a black rose has been affilliated with obessiveness. Yes. Exaclty dat. YANDERES!

who would have though dat our boy Pierre was a Yandere..

/genesisforsaken