Three days passed. The echo of soldiers' loud footsteps could be heard in the spacious halls and corridors of the palace. Early in the morning, they marched to the chancellor's personal chambers. "Knock, knock!" it went. After a while, an ill-tempered August opened the door. "What's so important that you have to rouse me from my sleep at this hour?" growled the morning grouch. The commander of the troop then explained: "Your Serene Highness Mr August Vogt, Chancellor of the Empire! By order of the Supreme Marshal and in the name of His Majesty, I hereby arrest you on suspicion of high treason!" The addressee was completely taken aback. Before he could really comprehend what was being said, he was handcuffed and taken away. The commander entered the room and looked around. No sign of Petra!

  Soon afterwards, however, the sound of the arrested man protesting his innocence and expressing his utter confusion about what was going on could be heard echoing through the corridors. The men had been sent by Theodor, not on Wenzel's orders. They were soldiers of the Holy Ordanian Army, not of the Crown Guard. So, what was going on here? Why had Theodor done this? The answer was Ferenc. He was an old friend of Theodor's, which is why he had been appointed as Wenzel's replacement bodyguard after Isidor's betrayal. He trusted Ferenc blindly, as he had known him since his days in the Kasharian resistance. The day before, he had approached Theodor with a horrifying discovery. By chance, Ferenc had intercepted a letter to an assassin, who was to murder Wenzel with poison! The author of the letter was none other than the Chancellor himself! This was clearly recognisable from the handwriting of the letter. The Supreme Marshal was absolutely stunned by this revelation. As a result, he then ordered that, which had just happened.

  Theodor had no doubt about Ferenc's evidence. He knew that the man would never lie to him and besides, the letter was clearly written by August. The Kashar didn't understand why the chancellor would do something so crazy, but at the same time he was well aware of August's personality and methods. He wouldn’t put it past him, especially as he himself had observed how much the relationship between him and the emperor had deteriorated since the accident in which August's leg had been accidentally injured. A lightning-fast trial was now held in front of the assembled court, with the letter, that Ferenc had found, serving as the main piece of evidence. August, who was defending himself, denied all the accusations and said that it was all just a trick to get rid of him. Nobody believed him. The judge quickly ruled in favour of the accusers and August was sentenced to death by hanging for high treason. "Where is Petra?" he called out loudly, a question that everyone else was also asking. She had disappeared from the face of the earth.

  What Theodor would never find out was that the letter had indeed been forged! This had been Amalie's plan and Wenzel had agreed to it. The sorcerer had asked Ferenc to do it for him. Since Ferenc's oath of allegiance was to Wenzel alone, he did so. A terrible intrigue to prevent future intrigues. The young emperor stayed away from all this, as it was happening, since he considered it immoral and wrong. However, he then learnt that August's execution was scheduled for the very next day. He went to this event after all! The execution took place in the inner courtyard of the Melgarion Palace with the public excluded. The condemned man was led to simple gallows with a wooden trapdoor. It was one of the same ones, that had been used to execute supporters of the old regime. He was allowed to say something before the noose was placed around his neck. Standing at the top of the gallows, the man looked angrily at those present. Theodor, Wienand, Ulrich, Wenzel and Amalie were the most important of them, followed by Brahm, Ferenc, a number of ministers, court servants and guards. At the sight of Wenzel, his anger boiled over. Enraged, he shouted over to him:

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  "You are a total good-for-nothing who only takes our credit, while I and Theodor have pulled the chestnuts out of the fire! You ******!" His words shocked those present, who all believed in the holiness of the Chosen One and his virtue, which they had regularly witnessed themselves. Wenzel averted his eyes out of shame. Now the executioner placed the noose around the man's neck and prepared to pull the lever to the trapdoor. "The revolution is dead! The emperor is its swansong!" These were his last words. Then the mechanism was activated, and fate took its course. Amalie looked away. Although Wenzel had seen much worse in the siege of Greifenburg, he did the same out of solidarity with her. August's chapter in this story was now finally over.

  However, what had happened today would keep Wenzel busy for a long time to come. He had done something despicable, but he did it, because he had to protect his own life. Wasn't that self-defence? He wasn't sure. The only thing he knew was that it was his fault. He was weak, that was the reason. If he had been stronger, he would have been able to control his magic and wouldn’t have hurt August back then. If he had been stronger, he would have played a more important role in the Martyrs and would have become an important person, who could not simply be removed, in the eyes of the ever-scheming August. If he had been stronger, none of this would have happened. But unfortunately, he was weak. That's why he would work on himself in future. This was the logic that determined Wenzel's thinking. Now that August had left us, from his point of view it was time to finally deliver on the unfulfilled promises of the revolution. The abolition of serfdom was something he wanted to work towards in the long term. Many who were very close to August were now also removed from important positions. But the one who had been closest to August was nowhere to be found.

  From a distance, a lady sitting on a horse looked back at the great walls of the city. Tears ran down her cheeks. "I will never forget this! And I'll make sure he never forgets it either!" she said, stroking her belly, which had started to grow a little bigger by now. Then Petra turned round and fled her home. August had never learnt that he was to become a father. Nobody knew, that it was Ferenc, who had warned her and had suggested leaving the city to her. Not even in his wildest dreams coud he have possibly imagined the consequences of this action of his.

  Later that day, Wenzel stood on the highest dome of the imperial palace. He looked westwards and was watching the sun set. Melancholically, he looked into it far too much and was dazzled by its bright light. What did the future hold? He had no idea. Only God knew. Slowly but surely, the sun seemed to sink into the earth. Its light reddened more and more. Slowly, very slowly, it became darker and darker until it finally disappeared completely behind the horizon. Tomorrow would be another new day. A new day would always dawn. Come what may.