I Reincarnated As the Third Son of a Count’s Family, Only To Find a Series of Funerals - Chapter 41



41 – Goodbye is not forever (2)

“Ah, Mama…”

“Why, is it so surprising that the secret weapon doesn’t work as intended?”

As His Majesty said, Christopher, or rather all the princes, were shocked.

‘Oh, idiots. Have you forgotten that your father is the king of this country?’

There was no way His Majesty did not know about Godmilla’s crimes, even when she decided to destroy Westbeure because of it.

Did the princes think that Godmilla, who was nothing more than a crazy psychopath (+rapist), was able to hide her crimes from His Majesty’s intelligence network without being noticed? Of course he knew and let it go on.

When the grandchildren heard about how His Majesty had been suspicious of Westbeuren for years, it sent shivers down their spines…

“Information like that is usually used to strengthen the advantage and to deliver the final blow!”

Crime in the medieval ages was like a quantum mechanic, dependent on the observer’s perspective.

If an observer believes a person is guilty of a crime, then they are, and if they believe they are not, then they are not. Of course, the observer has the right to judge the crime, and in this situation, one can say His Majesty is the observer.

Evidence-based justice? Are you refusing to accept the results of His Majesty’s trial using the small piece of paper? You’re a traitor.

Anyway, right up to the point that Christopher, a crazed psychopathic murderer (+rapist), and William were successfully restrained, Godmilla will continue to prove her usefulness to His Majesty and will not be ‘observed’ for her criminal acts.

The princes did not know that and it led to their current mistake, as they cannot stop Godmilla with a piece of simple paper.

If the princes want to expel Godmilla from her position as a court lady, then they need to remove her need to be in that position. And that’s why I resolved the conflict between your father and you yesterday. As an aspiring prince, you can’t even think of that?

Certainly, it seems that Godmilla’s punishment has seriously reduced the intelligence of the princes. That’s why physical punishment is not of any help for education… I’ve found one more reason to expel Godmilla for the future of the kingdom.

That being said, let’s clarify the current situation; Christopher’s bluff has only increased the suspicions to His Majesty’s sons. As it is, we might as well give up any hope of expelling Godmilla as the princes and even His Majesty’s reconciliation will be just wasted.

‘We can’t just leave it like this.’

I approached His Majesty, thinking that now was the time for me to step forward.

“Your Majesty. Would you mind if I say something?”

“…Sure, speak, Count.”

“Godmilla’s wife is not entirely wrong. It is true that their family lacks trust due to past incidents and it is indeed an ambiguous problem as to who will teach his children and accompany the Princess once she leaves. I myself deserve the responsibility to teach His Majesty’s children and someday I have to return to my own estate.”

“So?”

“But about that… I want to ask Your Majesty a question. Can you tell me the fundamental reason why you are employing a palace tutor?”

His Majesty thought deeply about my question and then answered me with a perplexed voice.

“…Well, naturally, it’s to make my children, specifically the prince, become more noble than anyone else as royal descendants. Especially since Christopher has to be an excellent king after I’ve passed away, I’ve paid even more attention to this.”

“I see. So, can I understand that Your Majesty’s ultimate purpose in hiring a palace tutor is to set an example for the princes and princess to be a model for others, in order not to embarrass others?”

“One could see it that way. But why are you suddenly asking about that?”

“Your Majesty, do you know what this is?”

“Is that a whip?”

“Yes. It’s something Lady Godmilla likes to use.”

I pulled out the whip that Lady Godmilla usually uses and handed it to His Majesty. Lady Godmilla looked at me with a look that said, ‘Why does he have that?’

But why is it in my hands? I asked Doris to give it to me quietly.

It wasn’t that difficult since there was one in each of the princes and princesses’ rooms. It wasn’t particularly strange since it was understandable to leave one in each of the rooms, given that it would be inconvenient to carry around such a large and heavy whip, and that it would have a side effect of impressing the princes and princesses with their power and authority. It occurred to me that in previous lives, except for a few teachers with ‘signature weapons’ when children fought, teachers didn’t usually carry their weapons around, they would usually take it out from under the desk and that was it.

Why did I bring this? Well…

“Your Majesty. Can you remain still for a moment?”

“What..?”

With the whip in hand, I strode towards the princes.

“Viscount, Lord? What on earth are you doing—”

Whack!

“Eek! Agh, Viscount! Save me!”

I relentlessly whipped, not paying attention to what the princes were saying.

Whack! Whack! Whip! Whaah!

“Ugh!”

“Heeelp!”

“Save me!”

“Mooom!”

Well, don’t worry, I didn’t directly hit the princes. Just in case the whip accidentally grazed them, I swung it from far away. In fact, the princes moved about a lot to avoid the whip, and I almost made a mistake and hit them for real.

Anyway, after the storm of the whip, it was a truly gruesome scene.

“I’m sorry, please forgive me, I won’t do it again.”

“Shake, shake, shake, shake—”

“Mighty Chang-seong, protect me with eternal light and lead me with holy wisdom, even in the darkness.!”

‘Truly dreadful.’

It’s either truly dreadful to see the prince of a nation lying on the floor and wailing at the sound of a whip or what else could be dreadful.

‘Ugh, that stings.’

I realized there was a light yellow liquid flowing from Prince Christopher’s pants. I had no idea it would be so effective.

Even the princess on the opposite side was sitting there, trembling, and watching her, I was thrilled by the ‘power’ that the whip had…!

“Viscount! What on earth are you doing!”

“Your Majesty, is this what you wanted by hiring instructors from the palace?”

“That’s unbelievable…”

The emperor, who was furious upon seeing the behavior of those princes and princesses, couldn’t say a word in response to my words.

“Look at these princes. How can they be exemplary nobles? If other nobles see them like this, what will they think of the royal family?”

“…”

The reason why I resorted to actions that would seem insane to others lies right here. It is to show the Emperor without reservation the biggest problem caused by Godmilla’s punishments.

The punishments in this era are significantly more severe compared to the world I lived in my previous life. In other words, it’s not a big deal for parents or teachers to discipline children. I, for one, have been beaten by my father for an imaginary thing and lived with it. Did anyone make a fuss about it?

Despite such a society, as I mentioned before, Godmilla has subjected the princes to punishments that even made me think, “Ah, this is a bit too much,” in her presence.

Honestly, at first, I thought about how painful it must be for the princes to receive those beatings. The only incident I witnessed directly was when I struck Princess Selenor after she attacked me first.

Being beaten by my father until my buttocks turned stone-hard gave me a shallow idea of the level of Godmilla’s punishments.

But this perception changed as I gathered information about Godmilla through Niressa, Patricia, and Lina.

The information about Godmilla included what happened to the princes and princesses, and the punishments collected were shocking even to the gatherers themselves.

Godmilla had subjected the princes of our kingdom (who, although they committed far more cruel and numerous sins than ordinary criminals) to punishments that surpassed what even criminals would not experience.

To be whipped while having your feet bare in front of all the delegates in the palace, not reaching extreme measures, couldn’t begin to describe it. At that time, it was impossible to beat the princes until their surroundings were satisfied. It was merely a way to embarrass them in the eyes of the onlookers.

According to the information, Godmilla had occasionally tied up Christopher or William in some place during an annual event and whipped them almost to the point of death. Some people might underestimate the power of a whip, but if it is wielded properly, it can literally tear flesh apart. Do you know why there is a loud bang or crackling sound when you swing a whip, like “Pang” or “Tang”? It’s the sound produced when the whip breaks the speed of sound during the swing. Godmilla had thus tormented the princes and princesses with such a whip.

Therefore, even though the punishments the princess Selenor suffered were not at the same level as the princes’, she would have gone into convulsions just by hearing the sound of a whip. In fact, this level of punishment was impossible even in the medieval era of my past life. Perhaps it was possible because there was a priest who possessed a miraculous healing ability. As long as the injury did not result in severance, it could be completely healed.

Now that I think about it, I wonder why people always started fighting when they were around commoners. It turns out it was because of this. It wasn’t just because it was a backward medieval era, but because violence lost its significance due to the presence of priests who could heal all wounds and traumas.

Here comes the question: is it desirable for the princes to react so sensitively to these whippings?

Of course, NO.

All male nobles in this era are knights. In other words, they must be ready to bravely charge at enemies on the battlefield.

The king is the pinnacle among those nobles. And if such princes of the king become terrified by a mere “whip,” wetting themselves on the ground, even when they haven’t actually been beaten, it could not only make them an object of ridicule among other nobles but also lead to thoughts like, “If that guy becomes a king someday, I’d rather be him.” There are countless cases in history from my past life that support this.

And I am showing that exact point to the Emperor. That Godmilla is the one who made it possible.

“Your Majesty, Lady Godmilla’s crime is not something like forgery or embezzlement written on the legal documents. The true ‘crime’ of Lady Godmilla is that she turned princes, who should act braver than any noble and actively engage in battlefields, into cowards who wet themselves just at the sound of a whip.”

“…”

“Lady Godmilla raised the princes and princesses not as sophisticated, honorable, and noble royals, but as despicable mongrels. How is training dogs to obey commands with a whip any different from what she did?”

“..!”

Those who have

“When I did not come, that is, when Your Majesty and Your Royal Highness were unable to reconcile with each other, it was inevitable for Your Majesty to continue employing Lady Godelia. But not anymore. Lady Godelia’s presence, no matter how much Your Majesty may shield her, is no longer beneficial to the royal family. The fear and resentment that your children have towards Lady Godelia, even if she promises to no longer use violence, will damage the relationship between Your Majesty and your children.”

“It is an era where the concept of ‘trauma’ has not yet been defined, but in any case, even if Godelia suddenly transforms into an angel who wouldn’t harm a fly, the possibility of the princes and princesses liking Godelia due to PTSD is close to zero. Even if she changes her ways, right?”

“So if we continue to keep Godelia around, it will only have a negative impact on the relationship between Your Majesty and your children.”

After Your Majesty hesitated to fully understand the meaning of my words, you managed to speak.

“I… Godelia…”