Chapter 98: Extra Chapter: A Case For Pragmatism

Prince Rupert von Drakas, Seven Years Old, 935

“But why?” Sasha shook her head at my question. To be fair, this was far from the first time it had been asked.

“Because your own life is more important.” This was far from the first time she had answered it thusly.

I frowned, “That is not a good enough reason to do nothing. I am going to see them myself.”

Sasha looked displeased, but she was in no position to stop me once my mind was made up, “Fynn, accompany me.”

Though still in training, Fynn von Despita had entered my service just a short while ago. The second son of his own house, his elder brother had already inherited the family name. Since he could now only inherit the house if something happened to his brother, he had requested to serve the royal family directly.

“As you wish, my lord.”

Sasha, strictly speaking, was no longer under me now that I had turned seven, but with no other young princes, she stuck around. It was getting exceptionally irritating, what with her constant nagging but my father liked her so there was not much I could do. This incident being only the most recent.

There had been a bit of a plague outbreak among the palace staff’s children. So far, no attempts to heal them with magic had worked. Instead, they continued to deteriorate, growing sicker by the day.

“Your highness, I do not believe going to see them yourself is a good idea.” Sasha had tagged along behind Fynn because of course she had.

“But why?” She fell silent.

If you cannot answer even a simple question, then what right do you have to advise me?

“I will see them for myself, then convince my father to continue searching for a cure.”

“Lord Fynn, will you say nothing?” Having given up herself, Sasha was now trying to bring Fynn to her side. He was far more loyal though and merely shrugged. At this, Sasha silenced herself and fell into step at the back.

Finally. Now I just have to find my way down there.

The palace was gigantic, since it wrapped all the way around the upper part of the mountain, and my legs were still quite small. It did not take to long before I began to feel short of breath, “Should I carry your highness?”

Grimacing at Fynn’s question, I shook my head, “I am seven now, I am able to walk on my own.”

He bowed his head lightly and did not pursue the issue, though the way he was shortening his stride to match my own was rather aggravating. Finally, after what felt like an age of walking, we arrived at the sick quarters only to see one of the servants desperately clinging to one of the palace knights. It looked like she was begging him for something, but I was still too far to hear.

When he went to draw his sword though, I knew something was wrong, “Fynn!”

He wasted little time in scooping me up and heading towards the scene, “Halt! In the name of my father, unhand that woman!”

As it turned out, it was in fact the knight who had been holding onto the maid. Sasha immediately went to comfort the distraught woman, while Fynn began questioning the knight, “Explain your actions.”

The knight, upon recognizing who we were, sprang to attention, “Your highness, my lord, My squad and I are preparing to fulfill our duty when this woman attempted to stop us.”

Turning to the lady I asked her, “And who are you?”

From her clothes, I could tell she was without title; one of many commoners working among the bottom rungs of the palace. Considering the vast gulf between us, she was rather hesitant to speak but also unable to remain silent, “I-if it pleases your highness, I-I am B-bethany. M-my s-son is sick, a-and these m-men have-”

“That is enough.” Sasha cut the woman off, “Your highness, she is distressed; if you have any sympathy do not force her to talk further.”

I wanted to tell her off for interrupting the woman, but she had a point. Besides, I could just question the knight instead, “Knight, what duty would require you to lay hands on one of the palace maids?”

The knight glanced to Sasha, who returned a look of resignation, “Your highness, your father has ordered the sick to be disposed of and their bodies burned.”

The blood drained from my face.

My father ordered what?

“Why would he do that? They are just sick. All they need is medicine!” At my outburst, the knight shook his head, “Forgive me your highness, but your father’s reasons are his own, and his orders greater than yours.”

“I am going in.” If I could get inside the room, then I would probably get sick. That would force my father to try harder to find a cure. A step, then another one. My hand was on the door, when I felt a weight on my shoulder. Turning around, I saw Fynn had placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Unhand me!” I tried to jerk away, but his grip was too strong for me.

“Your highness, you should not enter that room.”

“Let me go! If I get in there now, then father will have to find a cure for them! Because I’ll be sick too!”

Fynn shook his head, “They have already been cured; the young woman said as much. ‘These men.’ But here there is only one knight. The others have already carried out their orders inside.”

What…? No, that isn’t right…

The words he was speaking sunk in slowly, but eventually the strength to resist left my body and Fynn was able to pull me away from the door.

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“No! You have to stop them!” With a shriek, the distraught maid flung herself at me. One of the knights always following me around reacted immediately and without any hesitation took the woman’s head from her shoulders. Some of the blood splashed across my face, and Sasha immediately moved to wipe it off and shield my eyes.

“Get away from me.” The coldness of my voice surprised me, as it clearly did Sasha. She stopped abruptly and stood aside.

Even in death, the maid’s eyes still seemed desperate to save her child, even if all the world knew it was too late for either of them. Reaching up a hand, I traced the blood splattered on my cheek.

If I hadn’t let Sasha slow me down this morning, then maybe I could have gotten here sooner. I could have stopped all this!

“No.”

What?

“It was a cure.”

That’s… death isn’t a cure!

“Is it not?”

Behind me, I heard Fynn whisper to Sasha, “What is his highness doing…? Talking to himself?”

“Not important, ignore it.”

But death is not a cure!”

“No, death is a cure.”

…!

“Sasha, how many of them had already died. You know.”

She looked at the decapitated head on the floor, “Of this group, six had already died. Including this one’s son.”

“Why did you not say anything earlier?”

She shook her head, “Because you should not have to see this.”

Fynn glared at her, “His highness is halfway to his adulthood; you cannot shelter him from all the dirt in the world.”

If I had gone in, then would it have really changed things?

Without saying anything, I began to walk back to my rooms. Sasha and Fynn both noticed and hurried to catch up, continuing their argument as they went.

“But he needs to be sheltered. If he were to be confronted with how ugly the world really is, without any sort of force to hold him in check…” Sasha shook her head.

“What do you mean?” Fynn’s question hung in the air for some moments.

Would you too just. Shut. Up.

If I had gone in, I would have most likely gotten sick. Then what would father have done?

“I mean, compare his highness to his older brothers. Prince Antonio is kind, but craves power and affirmation.”

Father… does not make decisions lightly. He must have had a reason for what he did.

“Prince Percival is a caring man, but dull-witted.”

Fynn shook his head, “Lady Sasha, I do believe you should hold your tongue.”

If… If I had gotten sick, then I would have been disposed of as well.

“Lord Fynn, I raised those boys. If anyone is qualified to judge their shortcomings, it is I.”

“…What about his highness…”

Sasha nodded gravelly, “He is empathetic to a fault; look at how he behaved here. But…”

“Sasha, Fynn, thank you for stopping me. If I had gone into the room and become ill, then father would have no choice but to continue with his plans.”

Fynn glanced at Sasha, who smiled sadly, “That empathy is like a curse; it helps his highness understand the reasons behind people’s actions. It lets his highness rationalize the ugliness. What do you think would happen if he was forced to confront it before he was ready?”

Fynn did not respond.

 

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