TMHR 21

Episode 21: The Deliveryman of Des pair, and the Guillotine of Capitalism

2026.03.11

The damp, chilling dungeon of Castillo. Trapped behind iron bars, Claude groaned in agony from his broken shoulder blade, lost in futile delusions every night. 'I just have to hold on a little longer. My lovely Vivian must have mobilized the Imperial House with the secret letter Father sent. Tomorrow, the Imperial Knights will break down this door and come to rescue me.' Just then, the heavy iron door of the basement opened, and the clicking of elegant footsteps echoed through the air. Emerging from the darkness were his mother, Eleanor, clad in a pitch-black silk dress, and Grand Duke Caeln, the colossal beast of the North, following her like a shadow "M-Mother...? No, what brings you here!" Claude screamed, clinging to the bars. But Eleanor looked down at him as if he were a filthy insect, a cruel smile playing on her lips. "Seeing how anxiously you were waiting, I have come in person to deliver good news, Claude." "Good news? Hal It seems His Imperial Majesty has finally sent troops! Now, Mother's arrogant act as the head of the family is overl" "Yes, it is over. The lifeline of your lovely mistress, Vivian." "...Huh?" Claude's bloodshot eyes wavered like a fool "Just moments ago, Vivian was caught red-handed attempting to poison the imperial food supplies at Warehouse No. 3 in the capital and was dragged to the imperial dungeon. Charged with first-degree treason" "No, nol Vivian wouldn't do that! Vivian did it to save me I" "To save you? What a truly tearful tale of pure devotion." Eleanor burst out laughing. At that mockery, Claude's pride was torn to shreds.

"That vulgar woman sold off Castillo's internal secrets and ledgers-which you blabbered about in bed to the Minister of the Interior, the Marquis Morté, and became his concubine. Then, acting on the old Marquis's orders, she tried to poison my merchant caravan but got caught. You were nothing more than a foolish stepping stone that woman trampled upon and discarded to climb higher." "Ah, no...! Vi-Vivian wouldn't betray me! It must be a lie!" Claude began to scream like a beast, banging his head against the bars. The ugly betrayal of the woman he believed he had loved his entire life. Eleanor, who had been watching her son go mad in denial of reality, turned away coldly as if she had lost interest. "It will take a few more days for that terrible denial to turn into complete despair." Caeln sneered at Claude and extended his arm to escort him. Eleanor placed her hand on his strong arm and replied softly. "Let him howl like a beast for now. At the divorce trial in a few days, I will seat that fellow and Vivian side by side in the same prisoner's seat. Now that morning has dawned... I must go cut off The next the breath of that old rat who cut off his tail and escaped." moming, at the most magnificent mansion in the capital, the Marquis of Morte. Having slept a wink all night due to fear and rage, the Marquis of Morte paced the living room with bloodshot eyes. Although he had cast Vivian aside as if cutting off her tail, the words Liliana had hurled 'a bill three times the market value'-kept ringing in his ears, driving him to the brink of madness "L-Lock the door! Don't let those Castillo merchant bastards get anywherel Until I see His Imperial Majesty and plead my innocence" BANG-II As soon as the Marquis's command was given, the mansion's massive walnut front door was completely shattered and flew away "H-Heeek!" Knight Kian, wielding a massive greatsword, emerged from the white clouds of dust. Behind him, Liliana, exuding a cool dignity, walked in gracefully holding a single document. "Excuse me for bothering you so early in the morning, Marquis. I came to collect the bill, but you wouldn't open the door" "Ri-Liliana von Werner! You must be insanel How dare you break down the door of the Imperial Minister of the Interior's mansion?!" Marquis Morte screamed, but Liliana sat on the sofa with her legs elegantly crossed, without even blinking an eye. "I will deduct the cost of repairing the broken front door from the 'penalty' you owe, Marquis. Here is the bill for 10,000 sacks of top-grade military magic stones that you rendered unusable with deadly poison last night." Kian thrust the thick bill in front of the Marquis's face. Upon seeing the numbers written at the bottom of the document, the Marquis's eyes widened as if they were about to pop out. "Th-Three million gold...?! When did I ever destroy the magic stone! That was just arson committed unilaterally by that blonde bitch!" "Vivian acted as the Marquis's concubine and an agent of the Morte Merchant Guild. Isn't it the guild's rule that the master must take responsibility for the mistakes of a subordinate?" Liliana lifted her teacup and smirked. "Of course, I know very well that you do not have three million gold in cash. That is why I stopped by the 'Imperial Bank' early this morning and bought up all the mansions, estates, and bonds of the guild held in your name." "W-What did you say...?" "As of this moment, you are completely bankrupt. This means that the ownership of this mansion and the silk clothes you are wearing are all mine." Marquis Morte's legs gave way, and he slumped to the floor. The blade of the massive and merciless guillotine of capitalism had struck his neck perfectly. "Ah, nol This can't bel Your Majesty! There is no way Your Majesty would abandon me like this!" The Marquis writhed, crawling on the floor. It was a vain belief that, having been loyal to the Imperial Household, the Emperor would never turn a blind eye to Castillo's capital attack. Just then, a magnificent carriage bearing the Imperial seal came to a halt outside the mansion "It is it is His

Majesty's envoy! Seel His Majesty the Emperor has come to save me...!The Marquis shouted in ecstasy, but, The envoy who had entered the mansion read the Emperor's edict with a cold gaze. "It is an imperial command. Minister of the Interior Marquis Morte has failed to fulfill his responsibilities regarding the management of food supplies for the Imperial Household and has thrown the Empire's economy into chaos by coveting personal gain. Therefore, he is immediately dismissed from his post as Minister of the Interior, and the seizure of all his private property is authorized!" "...Your, Your Majesty...!" It was a complete cut-off, a reenactment of the terrible tail-cutting the Marquis had done to Vivian last night. Faced with Castillo's overwhelming capital and the Grand Duke of the North's military might, the Emperor was nothing more than a ruthless predator who would mercilessly discard a useless old subject. "Kian."

Liliana gestured with her chin, looking down at the Marquis with cold, lifeless eyes. "Kick that old rat who is defiling my mansion out onto the street immediately." "I understand, Miss!" Kian grabbed the Marquis by the back of the neck with a rough hand and slammed him onto the cold dirt ground outside the front door. It was the moment of miserable downfall for the Minister of the Interior, who had enjoyed the highest power in the Empire until yesterday, only to be driven out onto the streets overnight as a penniless beggar. It was the most thrilling and satisfying morning, marking the spectacular debut of Merchant Guild Leader Liliana and the complete destruction of one of the massive funding sources of the Imperial faction that had been threatening Eleanor