Chapter 564: Punishment 3

Chapter 564 Punishment 3
After the meeting with a group of courtiers was over, Paul told Steward Philip that he wanted to be alone for a while, and he silently walked towards his office.

After entering the room that he once thought he would never return to, Paul stretched vigorously.

Night had begun to fall, and the last remnants of the sun’s light still lingered in the sky. The office was dimly lit without candles. With the light from the window, he could see that the interior was the same as it had been before he left, and how familiar it was that he was finally back here.

Paul gently walked to his desk, there was still a pile of documents on it, Paul still remembered that they were all official documents that he had not yet finished.

He went around to the back of the table, put his hand on the “ergonomic chair” that he designed, and there was a warm, familiar touch on his hand.

“Oh, old boy.” Paul said to his chair, “I thought I’d never see you again.”

He sat up and leaned back, resting his feet on the table in front of him and let out a long breath before staring up at the darkened ceiling.

It was then that Paul suddenly felt a sudden surge of exhaustion attach itself to his body from all sides, making him want very much to get a good night’s sleep, yet when he did close his eyes sleep disappeared in a flash.

He stayed in this state for who knows how long, when a sudden knock on the door interrupted Paul’s continued emptiness.

“Come in!”

After a creak, Philip’s butler’s head poked in through the door.

“Startled me, Lord Gleeman, why don’t you light a lamp.”

The old butler walked into the office and skillfully lit the candles on the candlestick, and the room brightened up all of a sudden.

“Philip, what can I do for you?”

He had just given the butler instructions that he wanted to be alone for a while, so there must be something Philip wanted to see him about.

“Lord Graiman, Sir Abbott is back again and he wants to talk to you face to face about something.”

“Hansel?” Paul was a little surprised that he was looking for him for something. Couldn’t something be said in the meeting just now, and he had to be approached alone.

Paul had Philip, “Why don’t you send him in, I’ll just wait for him here.”

“Yes, Lord Gleeman.” The old butler bowed slightly and retreated.

In less than two minutes of work, footsteps sounded again in the corridor outside, and then there was another knock on the door.

“Please come in, Hansel.”

The door to the room was pushed open, revealing the face of the head of the Department of Agriculture.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, Lord Graiman.” He stepped into the room and turned to gently cover the door again.

Paul continued to recline on his back in his chair, only lazily tilting his head toward the couch next to him, on which Hansel sat on his butt.

Paul asked him, “What else do you have to talk to me about at this late hour.”

“Uh …… actually, I’m not here on my own behalf, but …… on behalf of everyone.”

“Everyone?” Paul’s face surfaced a puzzled look, and it was then that he suddenly realized that the expression on Hansel’s face was incomparably grave, knowing that this guy was always a cynical cockney look on weekdays, and this current expression was incomparably rare. Paul asked strangely, “The everyone in your mouth means Old Ford, Cecil, Victor and the others? Did they let you come?”

Only then did Hansel squeeze out a smile, “Lord Gleeman, don’t misunderstand. As a matter of fact, no one has assigned me this job, it’s just that I can guess certain thoughts in everyone’s mind, and it also fits certain thoughts in my own heart, that’s why I feel the need to come here on behalf of everyone. As for the so-called certain thoughts well, perhaps it is a little embarrassing for those who are usually close enough to you to say it to your face, while I ……”

Paul pointed at him, “A stranger from Crystal Glory, and a representative of the royal family.”

Hansel nodded, “Yes, perhaps it would be more appropriate for me, a somewhat distant person, to talk to you about this.”

“Interesting!” A smile appeared on Paul’s face as he stood up from his chair, walked around the desk to a small table set up in the corner, picked up the wine set up on it and poured two glasses, lifting one in each hand and handing the one in his left hand to Hansel, the two of them gently clinking their glasses as they each took a sip.

Paul said, “I did not expect that these generations of loyal to the Gleeman family subjects …… actually have words that can not be said directly in my face, huh. In that case, Hansel, you will say it for them.”

“Lord Gleeman.” Hansel resumed his stony expression and went straight to the point, “During the meeting just now, the note you handed over to Judge Thomas – that is, the one about how to dispose of the traitors, regarding the content on it, it seems that you… . was there any misgivings about it?”

“Well ……”

Paul didn’t know how to answer.

The Chief Justice handed over the paper, which read simply – for everyone involved in the rebellion, execution of the clan.

This kind of punishment, if not specifically indicated, is to put an entire family of people – not distinguishing between men and women, old and young, even including close servants – to death, eliminating the root and branch.

At the time, after reading it, Paul was not directly in favor of it, but did not oppose it either, because he wanted to show himself to be more decisive in the face of rebellion.

But that mere moment of hesitation was still seen by someone who was interested.

“Hansel.” Paul said somewhat helplessly, “I hate that class rather than some specific individuals. This kind of indiscriminate and sweeping approach is a little …… bit too much, I think.”

“Even if it is a danger to your life this time?”

“Hansel, don’t confuse it, the assholes who pose a threat to my life I’m sure I’ll have to clean up after, but their families, women, children, old men, who may not have known anything since the beginning of time, being thrown in jail or even losing their lives because of being implicated, that …… “

Paul shook his head.

“Lord Gleeman!” Hansel said with a straight face, “The fact that you have such thoughts shows that you are a kind person, which is good. But what if the descendant of the traitor grows up, and, assuming that he has mastered a great deal of power under his deliberate efforts, seeks to wreak vengeance on you? Have you thought of that?”

Paul replied, “Of course I have thought of that, but it does not seem possible, provided that strict precautions are taken. Just think how much strength a family that is finished can have in its descendants to come after me.”

“Lord Graiman, you need to think of things in the worst possible light, you can’t just wishfully expect the other side to go your way.”

Paul replied quietly, “If after everything that needs to be done is done, I’m still being …… then I can only say that it’s fate.”

Snap-snap-snap!

Hansel applauded for Paul, but the expression on his face grew more and more sarcastic.

The protagonist in this book is sometimes the target of the author’s criticism, haha.

(End of chapter)