134 – Folly
It was already quite late when I finished the interview with Viscount Leonard.
I told Brother Jason to come early tomorrow morning and sent him back.
But the next day came the news that Brother Jason, who was supposed to come early in the morning, had been taken to the royal castle.
I hurriedly went to the royal castle to meet Prince Albert and explain the situation.
But the answer I was looking for did not come back.
“No matter how noble you are, this is a matter that cannot be easily overlooked. I would like you to step back.”
I really felt like the Jason family would be annihilated if I continued like this, so I couldn’t back down.
“Now you are my soldier. I hope you will be lenient.”
“Before being your soldiers, I am a citizen of Aucklia. And I am the king of this country So, as a king, I have no choice but to make choices for the sake of the country.”
“That….”
“It’s shameless, but this country still needs you. Without you, more blood would be shed. So it is unavoidable.”
Prince Albert put into his mouth exactly what Viscount Leonard had said earlier.
Yes, I know.
Until I came, Aucklia’s main source of income was hunting monsters.
But I came and started to change.
But I don’t know what will happen after I leave.
Once I leave, the academy’s popularity will surely fade.
Then the academy will drastically reduce the influx of people.
There will be some profit from growing a new crop called Ian, but I think it will be difficult to feed all the people of Oklia with it.
Even if the income of billiards equipment is attributed to the Oklea royal family, it is difficult in the long run.
First of all, the pool table and its equipment are intricately intertwined with the contract between me and the merchant.
If I disappear, the contract expires, but it is questionable whether they will continue the contract if the credit as a Bright writer disappears.
The value of the brand Sevens will also fall to the ground, so wouldn’t it be time to start competing with their own logo?
In addition to that, considering many other reasons, now I think it will be difficult for Aucklia to become self-reliant if I disappear.
This country still needs me.
Then….
… If so, shouldn’t it be forced?
“Writers are often compared to self-employed people, but writing a novel is an artistic skill.”
“Hmm?”
“It is a story that the rhythm of the story changes depending on the emotions of the day. If you write when you’re depressed, the description becomes heavy, and if you write when you’re happy, the story feels like it’s popping out.”
If Jason’s family dies, my condition will be disturbed.
That means that it may be difficult to work as a writer in the future.
Then the same situation will eventually come out.
So please forgive me.
… I know this is absurd nonsense.
Because this is unimaginably rude.
This is a class society.
It is a serious matter of violating the order of the king at the pinnacle of such a class system.
It is only natural for a king who is normally benevolent to show such an attitude.
My current behavior is stupid and foolish, and it is a very disrespectful act of interfering with the king’s power.
The reason we are on an equal footing is because we respected each other.
However, circling around those who disobeyed the king’s orders is tantamount to undermining the king’s authority.
Even though I knew that, it was hard to bear watching the guy I knew go through the dark in front of my eyes.
“Still, this is not something to be taken lightly.”
Prince Albert gave an order to a nearby knight to gather all the residents of Aucklia who knew my identity to the royal castle.
A significant number of people gathered at the parade ground in the royal castle.
It seems that everyone has already heard the rumors about Jason and his brother.
Jason’s hands were bound like a criminal.
Jason was led by the hand of a soldier and tied to a pillar erected in the center.
Then a soldier stood behind him holding a whip.
As soon as Prince Albert gave the order, the soldier began to whip.
Pain!
The sound of air ripping came out.
Damn it!
“Keuugh!”
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And a little later, I heard the sound of skin being ripped off.
Blood splattered everywhere even though it was only one shot.
Prince Albert was thorough.
I had Jason’s family stand near him and watch him be punished.
It was brutal.
The reason I considered this world to be kinder than I thought was because I had the status of a warrior.
Is the position of the king of a country so heavy, and the caste system so ruthless….
Until now, I had never had any difficulties with the status system, so for me, the status system was just an element that got in the way when I was writing.
By the way….
ㅡ I grew up in a different world for more than 20 years, so you don’t know until you actually see and experience it.
I know.
I know….
ㅡ You know that Albert took this step out of consideration for you, right?
I know.
He bowed to me for doing selfish things for his people.
He said he was really sorry for pushing ahead with the academy’s case without permission.
A person with such character that the king of a country would bow his head for the sake of his people.
Still, it’s hard.
ㅡ Then what if you close your eyes?
This incident happened because I broke the rules of this world.
Jason has already wronged me once.
He confided in his brother while drinking.
At that time, you should have called your younger brother in advance and warned him of what would happen if he told you the secret.
Aucklea has started to develop as a tourism industry, and now, even the slightest leak of secrets can lead to unmanageable consequences.
So I should have thought a little deeper about this part….
I think I was too complacent about becoming close friends.
“If there is anyone who has revealed Lord Bright’s secret to his family or neighbors, please come forward.”
Prince Albert looked around at the people gathered around him with a grim expression.
“If Lord Bright’s secret leaks out and causes chaos….”
Prince Albert looked around and resolutely drew a line.
“All family members, including those gathered here, are sentenced to death.”
A country on the periphery that is not strange even if it collapses at any time.
The king who has maintained the country until now has been ruthless and ruthless.
It can’t be helped.
Because it was a serious matter that could cost more people than the lives of those gathered here now if things went wrong.
“For the last time. If there is anyone who has revealed Lord Bright’s secret, please come forward.”
The name of the king was heavy.
But people’s mouths were light.
Aside from Jason, those who accidentally opened their mouths stepped forward.
A cold breeze flowed around.
“Clarify who you spoke to.”
I should say it’s fortunate that only this much has been leaked.
Or should we take issue with the fact that this amount of people opened their mouths even though it was the king’s order?
I don’t know.
People continued to be dragged in after that.
Fortunately, the number was not that many.
Maybe everyone knew that disobeying the king’s order might result in death, but it felt like there was no additional spread.
“Is this the end?”
The parade ground was quiet again.
“After today, if you confide in anyone, even if it’s Lord Bright’s request, I won’t put up with it any longer.”
“… Thank you.”
The horizontal relationship between me and Prince Albert is because we respect each other.
It must be difficult to ask for mercy more than this.
“Get started.”
Aucklea’s plaza was still crowded with visitors, their faces full of bright smiles.
But here in the parade ground, only the sound of gongs, the sound of flesh being torn, and the sobbing of the family watching it resonated.
At Oaklia’s cafe, commoners and nobles wore masks and respected each other anonymously.
However, at the parade ground, the scene of a thorough caste system of absolute obedience to the king’s order was revealed.
It was cruel, but I couldn’t look away.
My poor choice weighs the lives of countless people.
I am already in such an important position.
Because I had to remind myself of that fact.
***
Jason, who had been flogged until his back was raged, bowed his head, thanking me while breaking out in a cold sweat.
“Okay… Thank you for saving me.”
“Is that so?”
“Whoop, whoop… I was thinking that one day it might be like this.”
“Why are you so foolish when everyone else has been treated?”
“Won’t that make Jack’s mouth feel heavier…. There are probably many other people besides me who are not receiving treatment.”
“Yes….”
“I will be careful in the future. Thank you for saving me once again.”
Jason bowed his head again, then he got up and started guarding again.
I left Jason behind and returned to my room.
ㅡ Originally, this is the world. There are still arenas in this world where people take each other’s lives.
“Whoa….”
I brushed it off.
It’s not a matter of what I should do.
On the contrary, in a caste system society, it is a strange situation in which the king’s order is still attached.
ㅡ But why are you having such a hard time?
It could have been prevented, but it happened because I was complacent.
ㅡ Wasn’t it because it was a time when you thought you would return someday?
That is also true.
Anyway, something is complicated, so I don’t think I can sleep today.
So today I’m going to stay up all night writing for the first time in a while.
ㅡ Suddenly?
Because there are writings that only come out in such complicated moments.
I set up the typewriter and started playing with my hands.
Come on.
This analog emotional sound calms the trembling heart.
Yes, what has already happened cannot be undone.
It wasn’t even a matter of what I could do.
For now, let’s do what is possible for me.
Lady has 3 books left in her stockpile.
… I’m not in the mood to use Lady right now.
Then, should we focus on the second volume of the case department?
I was going to do the 2nd volume with a little light content, but I think I will have to deal with a little heavy content.
No matter how much I think about it, it seems difficult to write a light story in this mood right now.
Shall we double the story of Volume 2?
ㅡ Bae?
This is not a ship common in Marais, but a ship made of iron.
ㅡ No, do you really need to use a ship as the background?
A murder case taking place in a confined space called a ship is the best background to create suspense.
This is a background that is often dealt with in detective stories.
I like the tension that comes from having a killer hiding on the ship, and I like the fact that the serial killings continue to happen.
In addition, sooner or later, Oklia will be renovating the port.
However, the current is a bit rough, so a steel ship equipped with a steamboat is required for stable navigation.
It even freezes over in the winter, so you need an icebreaker to sail in the winter.
To do that, we need to do research on ships as early as possible.
So I think Volume 2 should focus on the events that happen on the ship.
ㅡ Is that how you’re directing Viscount Leonard’s attention to the ship?
Yes, it is.
Hmm… While dealing with the episode about the ship, shall we think about Edward’s rival character?
I decided to clear my mind of confusion by devoting myself to art activities.
Come on.
Knock on the typewriter.
Then I can go back to my usual self.
I kept playing with my fingers while repeating that, but….
“Whoa.”
It’s not easy.
I can’t sleep, but I can’t write.
I was about to let out a sigh of frustration when I heard a knock.
ㅡ Lord. May I come in?
It was Angelica.