Chapter 166: Receiving a Title King Aldric allowed the evidence to settle in the people’s minds before pronouncing judgment with an iron fist. "The evidence is undeniable. These men have committed high treason against the crown, collaborated with enemies of the kingdom, and sold the lives of their fellow citizens for personal gain," he declared, his voice carrying across the plaza. He raised his hand, and executioner’s blocks appeared on the platform, their appearance sending a clear message about the fate awaiting the convicted traitors. "By the authority vested in me as sovereign of this realm, I pronounce sentence of death upon all who participated in this conspiracy; they shall be beheaded immediately, as befits those who have severed their loyalty to the kingdom they swore to protect," the king announced. The crowd roared its approval as justice was pronounced. They were incredibly satisfied with the way the king went about the issue, he didn’t grant them any excuses just because of their noble heritage. This made those in the crowds satisfied that traitors would face appropriate consequences for their crimes. But King Aldric wasn’t finished with his pronouncements. "All businesses, properties, and assets belonging to these traitors now belong to the kingdom," he continued. "Their wealth, gained through betrayal and corruption, will be redistributed to serve the people they wronged." This announcement drew even louder approval from the assembled citizens, many of whom had suffered under the corrupt practices of these same nobles. The king raised his hand for silence before making his final offer. "Any citizen who has been wronged by these convicted traitors may present evidence of their grievances to royal magistrates," he declared. "Provide proof of theft, extortion, or other crimes, and you will be compensated from their seized assets." The promise of restitution sent waves of excitement through the crowd, particularly among those who had suffered under Baron Richard’s notorious practices. The executions proceeded swiftly, the headsman’s blade falling upon each convicted traitor. The crowd watched with satisfaction as justice was served publicly and thoroughly. As the last head fell, King Aldric addressed his people one final time. "Let this serve as a warning to any who would consider betraying their oaths for foreign gold. reason against the kingdom will be met with swift and final justice, regardless of rank or station," he proclaimed. The king’s words were clear; this wasn’t just for show. He had sent a message to every single person in the kingdom. Especially those at the top of the chain, if you dare to betray the kingdom, you will be publicly executed and will lose everything. Some of the nobles watched with a grim look, whilst others watched without any expression. As the first part of the public trial was done, the king called for silence once again. ... As the first part of the public trial concluded with the final execution, King Aldric raised his hand to command silence from the still-buzzing crowd. The plaza, which had been filled with satisfied murmurs about justice served, fell quiet once again as their sovereign prepared to make another announcement. "Now that justice has been delivered. It is time to address matters of recognition and reward for those who serve the kingdom with honour." The crowd’s attention increased with curiosity. After witnessing the punishment of traitors, they were eager to see virtue acknowledged and celebrated. "It is time to assign a new viscount," King Aldric declared, his words carrying across the vast gathering. "Someone whose help to the kingdom has been invaluable and whose character stands in clear contrast to those we have just executed." Excited whispers rippled through the assembled citizens as they speculated about who might receive such a significant honour. The rank of viscount carried a powerful political authority and social standing within the kingdom’s hierarchy. "Many of you may know him for his generosity in helping the poor," the king continued, building anticipation with each word. "He was also the one who discovered and freed two remarkable talents who have since become treasures of our kingdom, Alissa and Kip." The crowd began looking around, trying to identify who among them had performed such notable service. Some had already recognised who that was, but some didn’t. In the designated seating area, both Alissa and Kip sat forward with surprise; they naturally knew whom the king was talking about. "Shopkeeper Noah, please step forward to receive your title." Noah stood frozen in shock, his mind struggling to process what he had just heard. He had never been told of this development and certainly hadn’t expected to become a viscount. The honour came completely without warning, leaving him momentarily speechless. A viscount? Me? When did the king decide this? The crowd’s eyes searched for the named individual, many craning their necks to catch sight of the mysterious Noah Carter, who had apparently earned such royal favour. "Noah. Go, you’ve earned this," Princess Elara whispered from beside him, her smile indicating she had been aware of her father’s intentions. Still stunned, Noah made his way through the crowd toward the platform where King Aldric waited with obvious satisfaction. Each step felt surreal as thousands of eyes tracked his movement toward what would be a life-changing moment. As he climbed the steps to the royal platform, the crowd began recognising him. The mysterious shopkeeper with powerful items that healed the sick, and more! King Aldric smiled warmly as Noah approached, his expression carrying genuine pleasure at being able to reward someone whose service had proved invaluable to the kingdom’s security. But instead of commanding Noah to kneel as tradition demanded for anyone receiving a noble title, the king did something that sent shockwaves through the entire crowd, whether noble or not. King Aldric stood up from his throne and extended his hand toward Noah in greeting. The gesture struck the crowd like a physical blow. A collective gasp rose from thousands of throats as they witnessed something that made them gasp. It was a known tradition in the kingdom, when the king offered his hand as an equal rather than demanding submission, it meant he saw the person before him not as someone inferior, but as someone he genuinely respected and saw as an equal.