In those future visions where he had successfully assassinated the Princess, the royal family and nobility surrendered willingly. First, they ceded territories and paid reparations, then handed over all ports and mines. They even forcibly abolished the legal currency. The once prosperous nation was almost entirely drained, yet the people could barely maintain their lives.
As for himself and the "Rebels" he gathered... in every future vision, they didn't exist. Only he endured the *pain of a ruined nation and family*, struggling to survive. *Because only by staying alive could he send messages back in time, trying to save his doomed country!*
Staggering to the door, the aged middle-aged man took a deep breath, his bony hands grasping the rusted doorknob with force.
*Come on! The Ryan Family, which caused massive military deficits and led to the lack of the army's strength, had been completely wiped out, replaced by a new Duke of Lionheart. I want to see what this future will look like!*
Accompanied by the creaking sound of the old door hinge, it was as if he had opened a door that separated two worlds. Vibrant, almost blinding sunlight poured in, together with an overwhelming, lively noise, bathing the middle-aged man.
"This... what is this?!"
Seeing the exquisite, orderly buildings, the bustling streets, the huge airships adorned with ribbons flying overhead, and people gathered at the street corner around a giant, strange screen, engaged in heated discussions, the middle-aged man froze in place.
*I did it! I finally did it! The Kingdom is saved!!!*
An overwhelming sense of immense joy seized his heart. Tears streaming down his face, the middle-aged man fell to his knees with a loud thud, emitting a hysterical roar uncontrollably.
"Oh dear! Gave me a fright!"
"What's his problem? Suddenly yelling like that!"
"Prince Lyon was caught cheating, how could he be so happy?"
"Guards! Guards! There's a madman here!"
Amidst the curious glances of passersby and their chaotic pointing and gossiping, the middle-aged man, finally witnessing a beautiful future, abruptly raised his arms, shouting exultantly to the heavens.
"Long live the Kingdom! Long live the Kingdom!!!"
His shout startled the crowd considerably, causing them to take a collective step back. Then they began whispering among themselves, puzzled expressions on their faces.
"This man is crazy, isn't he?"
"What's wrong with him? Yelling 'Long live the Kingdom' out of nowhere?"
"Yeah, wasn't the Kingdom gone a long time ago?"
What did you say? The Kingdom was gone?!!!
Hearing the conversation between two women holding vegetable baskets, the middle-aged man sprang from the ground, rushing to knock the woman over, shouting wildly:
"How could the Kingdom be gone?! Who did it?! Who did it!!!"
"No, no, no... it wasn't me! It wasn't me!"
Terrified by the "madman's" actions, fearing he might bite her in a fit of anger, the vegetable-selling woman raised her hand, trembling, and quickly pointed to the large screen on the street corner.
"Find Prince Lyon; he did it. It has nothing to do with me!"
Following the woman's guidance, he looked toward the strange screen at the street corner, seeing the handsome man waving his hands repeatedly, emphasizing that the rumors of his infidelity were false, and that he did nothing that night. The middle-aged man froze in place.
*I'll kill him! I'll go back and kill him right now!*