Lewd King's Bucket List-Chapter 63: Attention Entire World!

’That asshole is good for nothing! I just wanted to know how his daughter was doing!’

"Ixion, leave me alone before I refuse to answer any future questions."

Ixion finally granted the man’s request, then snapped his soul back to his own body.

He said to himself as he lay on his bed, rubbing his head:

"Knew it wouldn’t be that easy."

***

As much as Ixion had matters to attend to and secrets to uncover, there wasn’t much he could do at the moment.

After all, he still needed to walk his main path of self-destruction.

For the next steps on that path...

He was going to make quite the provocative announcement. After, he was going to make sure Runa (and Lot) had all the necessary education for when they traveled to Praxis with him.

’First things first.’

Ixion called for a speech!

Tomorrow, he’d take to the Palace balcony and make a declaration to the people! One that not even his trusted advisors knew what he’d say.

He’d also taken the liberty to warn Se’van about the lesson she’d teach and Runa about preparing for it.

***

"Citizens of Catatran!"

Ixion stood proudly on the balcony, clad in his regal attire, absent a crown. His imposing figure loomed over the citizens.

The shadow he cast seemed larger and wider than any other in history.

To either side of him were his four chancellors.

Zabaniyah hid in the shadows somewhere near as well.

He imbued his voice with Aether as he yelled down at the people, allowing all to hear — from the nobles in the courtyard to those in the central gardens and even the outskirts of the slums.

"Hear me! And hear me well!"

Ixion threw out his left hand from under his cape, angling it toward the sun as if to grasp it.

"Word has spread swiftly through the realm: the treacherous Hope has fled these lands! That false hero who has now forsaken both honor and sacred duty — the duty to protect you all!"

The moment he called Hope a traitor, nearly half the crowd of thousands flinched or scowled.

"That heinous man now sees fit to fight alongside those deplorable beasts who masquerade as civilized! Tell me this, my people: what meaning is there in surviving the Scourge if we must do so by clasping hands with mutts and mongrels?!"

Ixion wasn’t actually racist toward demihumans, but his mask was.

Ixion clenched his fist and held it up.

"Let the beasts fall! Let Kaldora fall! Such are trivial matters to Catatran! For Catatran is our only world, and it is our world to defend!"

Ixion flashed his teeth.

"We don’t need Hope. We don’t need Despair. I alone am enough to save our world. My people, this humble sovereign shall see you protected, and grant you the finest life that may be permitted!"

Ixion placed his fist over his chest and put on a proud smile.

"Yet, as many among you are already aware, I shall depart for Praxis in little more than a year. Until that day arrives, I shall help preserve Catatran’s affluent and prosperous state — so that your meager selves may survive the misfortune of my absence."

Angry faces of the starved emerged. Those who prayed for the taste of mice.

Ixion smiled wildly at their hollow eyes.

"From this day forth, the embargo shall extend to all remaining sovereign states, with Praxis alone exempt until my return. When I return, even our ties with Praxis shall be severed."

An act that would truly shrink Catatran’s world to the bounds of its borders...

The crowd collectively paled.

Food was already scarce, and the King wished to end the little trading they were allowed.

Effectively starving the entire Kingdom.

A few murmured. Others recoiled. Many didn’t understand until the person next to them whispered it in their ear.

Most nobles, however, had an odd placidity about what he said — Marlowe had already seeped his fangs deep within their hearts with his venomous words.

"Hear my proclamation! I, King Ixion, son of the righteous Perimele, shall uphold her legacy and safeguard these lands! The Scourge will never breach these gates!"

Ixion threw both his hands up and cheered.

"To that end, I shall require both motivation and assistance! Would I not, my people?!"

The King boisterously laughed as he looked down upon horror-stricken faces.

"From this day until my departure, any who dare may challenge me to a duel for the throne! All such challenges shall be formally arranged! Thus beginning the trial of your king!"

While many wanted this tyrant dethroned, none cheered at the idea, as it was impossible for any to defeat Ixion. The only two with a chance were recently departed Hope and the long-gone Despair.

"Fear not! Any who step forth for these duels shall not be slain. Nor shall the raising of a blade against their king be judged a crime!"

Ixion raised his hands up higher and screeched.

"With your aid, I shall train and grow stronger — strong enough to fulfill the promise I have made before you. Should I fall in defeat in these trials, then one stronger shall take the throne and defend these sacred lands in my stead."

Ixion brought his fists down onto the railing’s edge, pushing and leaning slightly over.

"That is all, my people! Now, do your best to aid Catatran, and Catatran will aid you in return!"

Tightening his jaw, Ixion bellowed his take on their motto.

"By writ, Catatran endures!"

He turned around with a theatrical flap of his regal coat and stomped away in measured steps, leaving behind a shocked and outraged crowd.

A crowd where the idea of hope would spread like wildfire upon learning the plot to depose their king.

Ixion passed by his chancellors, sparing them each merely a glance. Of the four, three looked shocked and frightened. After all, their work to tame the King had failed.

He was finally going to cut Catatran off from the rest of Kaldora.

An action he’d been threatening for years.

Once that happened, Catatran’s death would not be slow.

But, as for the fourth, she held a calm expression

’So Marlowe has gotten to you, has he?’

The emerald-eyed woman smiled at him.