Queries

Chapter 25: Queries

"He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how."

― Friedrich Nietzsche

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[Previously]

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"With the bloodline magic earlier, I sensed that there is one more direct blood of the Purplewing right here." As I turn my head to the young woman laying unconsciousness on the ground. "I decree her to be my personal maid till she is no longer able to carry her duty, meaning death."

The middle aged man wanted to shout but his mouth was stitched with magic by the old priestess.

I got up from my makeshift throne. It was really tiring playing the tyrant but I can't just kill them all right now. I really don't have the weight to back up after the deed. And not to mention the loose piece...

I started walking towards the exit of the cave as my party started following me, the kids and Spike had also caught up during the judgement.

While I was passing the now severely exhausted priestess, who looked like she was at the brink of death. I said my last sentence with a smile.

"There are a lot of people inside the clan without Purplewing blood. Hope you will be alright, and not 'accidentally' let the cats out the bag."

I smiled and started walking again. Leaving a horrified almost skeletal figure in my wake.

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Year 1212, 19th day of the 6th month – Purplewing Clan main house

[Mavis]

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I am terribly lost… I do not understand what my lord's judgement meant. My lord is no fool that I know very well. But.... What could he gain from leaving those blood traitors alive.

I don't understand… I really don't.

As I looked at my lord who was sitting on the dining table, majestic and glorious and wise. Yet this servant of his can not understand what he wanted to do.

Well there was no point brooding over something I cannot understand. Or might just have some prejudice over the matter to think logically…

That's a great shame for a wizard, to stop thinking logically.

Well as soon as my lord finishes his meal, I can ask him directly.

It didn't take long as I saw my lord motioning everyone to keep seated and then he looked at me.

Yes of course he noticed my unusual state. He is wise even though he is so young.

Then we saw him using some Runes to make the room spy proof. So that means this question answer session is confidential. Very well.

"You may start asking your questions Mavis." The young lord asked me directly, giving me full permission to ask the questions I wanted.

"Why?" I directly asked him soon to realize that was quite rude of me. It almost sounded like I was questioning the decision of my master. I could see Sir Julian's body twitch visibly, but it soon calmed down. Even he must have realized that I wasn't thinking rationally. I will have to ask for forgiveness soon.

"Forgive m-"

"It's quite alright Mavis. I know you are in an emotional conundrum, so you are forgiven for the rude question. But I will explain and answer either way." My merciful king surely understood and forgave his loyal servant. But why can't I get a grip on myself. I have gone through so much for deities' sake.

"Well to start it off, I would like to address everyone in my presence.

Every one of you has known me for a different length of time. So all of you might have a different opinion about me and about my goals, yes?"

We all nodded. Of course we see our king differently as we got to meet him in different circumstances.

"So at first, I will let you know of my goals, from my own mouth,

I, from a young age, wanted to make my homeland and its people better.

I am not really kind mind you, I can be ruthless when I need to be. And I do not have the unrealistic ideals where everyone can live in harmony equally."

He paused to let those words sink in. Some of the younger members gasped when they heard the last sentence. Even I had my confusions.

"Before you start asking questions and pointing fingers I will finish my explanation. Thank you,

It's because it's not possible for every person to be equal. If the world really came to stance where every being is equal to the other then, there will be the most chaos.

Not all humans or animals are created equally. There are some who are just better at one thing than the other. That was why humans and animals were meant to be ruled."

He paused again. I could see the grim faces. They might be thinking along the line that they have been following a tyrant.

Then he continued again.

"Yes, humans are meant to be ruled.

BUT,

How one should rule, that is still left for debate.

My ancestor, Hamza Namazu Franzer, the prince of light, the summoned hero from another world, the conqueror of the Demon king Horkan of the third eye. Left some of his understanding about humanity and ruling."

We all looked flabbergasted at that reclamation. Yes, everyone knew that the Franzer line was derived from one of the heroes of the old. But no one knew Hamza Namazu the Savior married into and even took the Franzer name. This was a huge secret of the kingdom that no one else knew. Even Julian was staring wide eyed with an open jaw.

"We will talk about my ancestry later…

My ancestor left one of his notebooks in the royal library's forbidden section. Which only the king can view.

And yes I viewed them when I was eight because my father was quite sure I would be the next king. And I was trained to be so.

My ancestor wrote,

Humanity needs rulers,

They need a guide, a protector, an educator and a provider.

A ruler of humans, a king can rule in many ways,

Control, Fear, Love, Empathy, War and comradery.

Honestly when I read the things he wrote I found them quite childish. But the last lines in his messy notebook really got me thinking,

Dear descendants, I was 17 when I was pulled into a different world with no prior knowledge. Even was told to go and defeat a Big Assed Demon King. I am still training for that very purpose sadly. And in a year the last prophesied battle will occur… I did my best to be prepared but let me tell you fate is a bitch… But I am writing this notebook just in case for the future generation if there is any.

Please know I come from a world where there is lasting peace. And it is possible to achieve here as well. But it will take a lot of generations and dedication.

Just know this, It's not the ruler who chooses his people but the people who chooses the ruler."

He paused again and we all looked at him in anticipation.

"My first goal is very simple. I love my country and its people. I will not become king because it's my birthright. But I will become king as my people will choose ME."

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"I know; this might not be what my ancestor meant when he wrote those words. But I will use my understanding for my advancements. I really am not kind but I am empathic. I understand the sorrow of my people. I understand their hunger, their need for love, the need of a family and protection.

I vowed once to make the lives of my people better and guide them to prosperity. I WILL uphold that vow.

I didn't fight for my right because it would have created strife in the kingdom. A new civil war… I just couldn't get my people to go through that.

But I will return one day if I see my people suffer under the hands of the traitors.

I had little knowledge about my mother's side of the family. As it was held back by my parents and even my master. But now I know more."

Then he looked at me.

"Mavis! Believe me, I will bring justice to our families!

I will talk about my other goals to a later date, but for now I will answer your queries."

I nodded to my king with moist eyes.

"The reason I didn't kill the traitors here is very simple,

First, if we kill them, we will have to kill all of them. And there are a lot of people here who aren't part of the traitors. Some do not even share the bloodline. I want justice, yes. But I shall not become a murderous fiend to achieve my justice.

Second, this reason isn't even remotely noble to my first, as the first reason might even be a political excuse. I didn't want to start a massacre just to let our enemies know of our location.

If we killed all or even half the Purplewing we would be exposed. We might be surrounded and hunted.

By leaving them alive and binding them with a contract. We have earned a safe house. Recall the contract and you will understand. As long as we are under the roofs of Purplewing clan we have immunity from all political strife, as long as we don't go and poke the hornets' nest ourselves."

The second reason made us understand that the king was thinking rationally while we were all emotional. Well it did make sense.

As long as we are here we are safe. The whole clan is bound by contract. They cannot leak information or send for reinforcement as any means of communication was blocked. But then again like his highness said there are people here who aren't Purplewing. Would that not expose us? I looked at the king and he was smiling.

"As for my third point, I believe most of you have already realized that the contract I made had many loopholes. The Biggest loophole being, that if I die they are all free, and I DID NOT say they cannot try to kill me."

We all gasped. What was our lord thinking? I would not believe he did it by mistake. So there might be a reason.

"It was kind of an insurance actually. From the contract it was conveyed that they are not allowed to talk outside their blood.

But it also meant they can discuss it, if it's within their own blood relatives.

The trick here was to lure some idiots who are not within my grasp.

You see there are 3 people of the Purplewing lineage that aren't within the clan. And no I don't mean outside doing missions but literally not within the same hold.

So, my question being, what would the priestess do when she realizes the loophole and believes I do not know about the missing members?"

"She will plot to kill you in surprise with the members you hold no knowledge of…" Julian replied and all of us understood what this was. This was a rat trap…

When the bastards come for his highness he can tie up the loose ends.

"But your highness, so what if there are some rats outside. What difference will it make? I am very sure they will be no match for you!"

"I appreciate your faith in me Mavis, but think logically. Right now they can only communicate with themselves. They cannot ask for outside help lest they kill of their clansmen. But if I started an indiscriminate slaughter, then I would have left the three loose pieces out there, who would have rallied a bigger force to go against us.

Or might have even allied with bigger clans that would love to get their hands on the last Vermillion.

Same goes now just a bit different.

Now that they are under blood contract I can kill them all and there will only be the same 3 people alive.

And mind you every one with the bloodline has received the orders of the contract, so all of them are aware.

If it was a whole clan that is under the contract all of them will be hesitant and careful to make the information leak. But if it's just three people who are left alive, I am very sure they will just disclose the information and die. That will create too many variables. And it would just be troublesome to deal with the unknown."

All of our eyes bulged open in realization. That was walking a few steps ahead alright… Then I remembered something.

"But my lord, wasn't there one man who wasn't of the bloodline inside the cave? What about him?"

"Well that was a test to see how panicked the Priestess will become. And I am glad to say the results satisfied me greatly." My lord answered while chuckling. He continued.

"If that man. Who has knowledge of the events that occurred today just ran and disclosed to any non-clan member then it would be their win.

But if the guy starts speaking the causes to one of the clan members and that clan members answer then that would break the second clause of the contract. And instant annihilation of the clan!"

I was horrified by that plan though.

"So I wanted to make a wager. To see what the man and the Priestess would do. If he talked to the clan members there and then, that would have been my win! With very little precaution as only the people in the cave knew about us.

We would have gotten our sweet revenge and could just move on to our next objective.

But if the man ran and told some non-clan member about all he knew then that could lead to a disaster.

Yes, the man was unconscious and didn't know about the contract. But he did know about the intruders. I wanted to use the lack of knowledge as my wager. But the Priestess with all her years of experience seemed to notice that as well.

So she killed the poor bloke right after we got out of the cave. Not taking any risks. Well there goes one of my plans."

And with that our lord just sighed and it seemed he pouted a bit. But all of us were staring at him as if we were looking at a monster.

I remember once my lord told me that it was okay to be a hypocrite! As long as your hypocrisy brings you the results you desire.

So is this the power of lies and hypocrisy held by an intelligent individual.

None of us felt disgusted by his actions, he might say he wasn't kind. But we all knew that he was very kind in his own way. He had love and empathy for the people, a quality lacking in most noble classes.

I believe you will become a great king my lord. And I Mavis Koira Blackhawk will be in the forefront of your campaign supporting you.

The hawks will always serve the Phoenix my lord we always have and we always will.

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