So… I am now sat on a stage… in the town square… with a huge crowd staring at me… this is worse than that ridiculous ball that lady Katherine held in my honour. At least I didn’t know most of the people that time. I know nearly everyone in this crowd… half of them are customers of ours. And fuck… I can see Asmodeus stood at the back of the square… shit… he better not start heckling me. I am really not in the mood for that.

  Smutisha is sat by my side. The duke and lady Katherine are sat at the other side of the stage. Next to them sit Chloe and Robert. This stage is normally occupied by travelling performers, singers, jugglers… even a mime once. I hope the crowd isn’t expecting any kind of actual entertainment.

  Chlamydia appeared at the side of the stage… pulling Damecus along with her. She dragged him up on stage and they both sat next us. Damecus looked highly irritated.

  Smutisha sprung out of her seat and took to the podium.

  Smutisha: “Thank you all for coming. I’m sure you are all aware that there was quite a commotion yesterday. Well, we are here to fill you in on what occurred and to honour those involved. So, without further ado… I introduce the Duke of Kataravonia; Cecil Wittingham the 4th.”

  The duke stood up to a rapturous applause from the crowd. I have to say… the duke doesn’t often make public appearances, but when he does, he always seems to be very popular. A lot of the nobles that live in the northern quarter are reviled by the general townsfolk. But the Duke and lady Katherine have always been met with excitement.

  Then again… crossing either of them could have severe consequences, so maybe people just put on a front to stay in the good books. That being said, I’ve never heard anybody say anything bad about them behind their backs, although that may be through paranoia.

  Smutisha and Chlamydia also seem quite popular, probably due to their charity works. But even they have their detractors. People mostly take the piss out of Chlamydia’s interest in disease research. Lots of rumours fly around about her having one disease or another. Some of these rumours can get quite colourful in their descriptions of what is wrong with her. As far as I am aware, the woman is perfectly fit and well.

  As for Smutisha… well… she married a goblin so you can imagine the things that get said about her. Not that I think she would be bothered. Whenever I have seen her hear of such things she has just laughed… and most of the time, she just acknowledges the rumours as if they were true… even when they are so ludicrous that even I know them to be nonsense.

  My point is… I find it odd that I never hear people say bad things about the duke or lady Katherine. Because everybody has their secrets… things they wish others didn’t know about. And society always likes to theorise about what these things are… especially when it comes to famous people. The amount of things that are said about that Gentle woman is insane. Then again… she is a terrible human being, so that isn’t surprising.

  Duke: “Various crimes have plagued this city in recent years. Primarily, a rise in missing persons and an increase in opium addiction. Yesterday, our brave city knights, with the assistance of Dwynfel Vesidia and Damecus of the Sawtooth clan, put a stop to perhaps the largest crime lord that this city has ever seen…”

  I highly doubt that. He certainly had money and resources, but Chloe told me that the knights had been watching him for a long time… they had simply never been able to pin anything on him, because any witnesses that they had always ended up conveniently dead before they could testify. A good crime lord wouldn’t even be suspected by the city knights. I imagine there will be other… more effective crime lords about the place.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  But I suppose, the duke isn’t exactly going to say that… he’s going to upscale everything… it will make everybody feel safer and earn him praise.

  Duke: “Late last night, when many were tucked into their beds, our knights raided the property of Conrad Vox. Rescuing hostages, liberating slaves, and retrieving a vast quantity of opium. Conrad Vox resisted the raid and was unfortunately killed in the ensuing confrontation…”

  Ah… he’s making it all sound like a sanctioned operation that we assisted with. He’s protecting Damecus... or somebody is at least. The duke is likely just going by what was reported to him. And the reports will have come from Chloe. So, either she’s lied in her report in order to protect him… or the duke is misleading people for the purpose of public image.

  Neither of them can officially endorse Damecus just storming in and going on a killing spree. Even if it did result in the destructions of a drug and slavery empire.

  Duke: “Our inability to hold a formal trial for Conrad Vox is unfortunate, however, the evidence that we have gathered from his residence confirms that had he not been killed during the raid, he would have been executed for crimes against our fair city. His death shall allow our city to move forward, significantly safer than it was before. So, I would like you all to join me in giving our brave knights a round of applause that will resound through the ages… showing our ever-increasing respect for their bravery and their commitment to keeping this town safe.”

  The crowd once again burst into applause. With various people shouting and whooping. Chloe and Robert waved to the crowd, smiling and nodding their heads. As soon as the applause ended, however. Chloe glared over at Damecus and I. She is clearly still pissed about how things went down.

  Duke: “Now… none of this would have been possible if not for the efforts of my good friends Damecus and Dwynfel…”

  “Good friends” is a bit of stretch… I don’t think I have seen the man since the ball all those years ago.

  Duke: “It was them who brought new evidence to our attention that allowed this raid to take place. It was Damecus himself that led the charge throughout the confrontation and Damecus who ultimately ended the life of Conrad Vox. I would now like to take the opportunity to invite Damecus up to this podium and for you all to show your gratitude once more.”

  Damecus stood and walked towards the duke as the crowd cheered and applauded. The duke shook his hand and smiled at him. Damecus’ face didn’t change. He just gave a stoic glare.

  When the clapping died down, various members of the crowd starting shouting at Damecus… demanding a speech. The duke gestured to the podium. Damecus rolled his eyes and stepped forward, coughing slightly.

  Damecus: “Conrad Vox was a vile reprehensible human being. I am glad that he is dead.”

  He stepped back and looked to the duke. The crowd gave a confused round of applause. They were obviously expecting a bit more from that speech. But Damecus clearly isn’t enjoying this situation.

  Duke: “In honour of the civic duty that you performed yesterday… is there anything that I can grant you? I have dominion over these lands and will grant you what you wish to the best of my abilities.”

  Damecus raised his brow.

  Damecus: “I have recently discovered that my wife is pregnant. I request that if anything ever happens to me, that both my wife and her children are allowed to continue living in their home within the gardens. That they will always be welcome there.”

  Hang on… what?

  Duke: “That is well within my power. Your wife and her children will always have a home within the grounds of the gardens. I can assure you of that.”

  The crowd began to loudly clap their hands once more and the duke shook Damecus’ hand, solidifying the deal. And seriously… what did he just say?