╚╩╩╩╝ Earl Terrence Gelling ╚╩╩╩╝

There did not exist a term for how angry I was at this very moment. If I took a trip down to the larder, all the bread would sour, the cheese would mold and the meat would grow maggots. When I would get into trouble as a boy, my father would scold me by saying that he was ‘not mad, but disappointed’, which I knew was a bald-faced lie each and every time. The man in front of me, however, was not my son. He was an employee of sorts. I was given a task, which I then placed into his, what I once thought were capable, hands.

“Please have mercy, my lord.” Said the pitiful failure lying prostrate in front of me as I sat atop my throne.

I chuckled as I thought that If the king heard me refer to my seat as a throne, he would probably have me on the gallows. Though the chances of him hearing that were very slim since I hardly ever left my estate. Any business outside could be dealt with by others. That is the privilege that someone like me deserves. 

The failure on the ground kept on rambling about mercy and making up for it, but I was very much done with this conversation.

“So Camparn, what should I do with you? This is not the first time you’ve failed me like this. Other nobles are beginning to suspect me of supporting you.”

“My lord, I assure you. We can find what you are looking for. I have my men out searching as we speak.” Camparn pleaded desperately.

“Looking is not what I need! What I need is that artefact in my hand!” I shouted.

Shouting like this was not something a dignified noble such as myself should do. This made me even more furious.

“I-I’m sure that we will find it soon. O-One of my men spotted a-a little girl running from the area where we found the f-feather.” Camparn whimpered.

Wait…

“A feather? I didn’t send you after a lousy feather!” I cried out, louder than ever.

“B-But-”

“No buts! Get out there and find my artefact!” I was sure that my face was redder than a tomato at this point.

Camparn, or Campo, or whatever ridiculous name those troglodytes of his call him stood in a panic. I pulled him out of a hole that he had dug for himself, the least he should do is succeed.

“Y-Yes my lord! I will leave now and gather my men.” Camparn stuttered as he rushed from the room.

After the room had emptied, a heavy pressure filled it, an echoed voice following close behind. This voice was painful to hear. Every word scraped my insides, pierced my ears and made my eyes bulge. 

“Good men are hard to find in nearly every age.” The voice rang through the room.

“Y-Yes. He did well in the past, so I gave him one last chance.” I agreed, feigning confidence.

“Be careful with chances. Too many chances will make a man lazy.” The voice warned, its words tickling the back of my mind.

His choice of words were deeply insulting. Being in my position, it is my right to eat as much as I desire. Though I knew that speaking out would get me devoured.

“It is only a matter of time before we find that artefact. Please be patient with me, my lord, as I have been patient with my men.”

“Very well. Though be careful. There are many in this world who would gladly accept my task in your place.”

With that, the pressure faded, leaving me to myself.

“Butler! Bring me the usual!” I called out, exhausted from this encounter.

My butler came in through a door to my right.

“Cheese, cakes and wine, my lord?” My butler asked.

“Bring me some entertainment as well.” I continued.

Shortly after, my butler came back to the room with a cart topped with plates full of the greatest delicacies money could buy and bottles of the finest wines produced in the country.

Following behind the butler came another man, dressed in all black, holding a thick chain with both hands. The man came to the room and pulled on the chain, dragging whatever was on the end into the room. With both hands shackled, a man that more resembled a skeleton stumbled forward, falling forward into the room. The black-clothed man then grabbed a plate and set it down on the ground not too far away.

I watched, sitting as my butler fed me whatever was on the cart, as the man dragged himself towards the plate, but stopped as the black-clothed man pulled back on the chain, keeping him just out of reach of the food.

Applauding, I spent the next hour watching as this man suffered for my amusement.