Scolding with a whip?
Raciel was taken aback by the maids unexpected plea.
What? Scolding with a whip? Its just a broken glass from dropping a single cup. Just a little spilled honey.
Worrying about a whipping for such a small mistake, the maidservant lay flat on the ground.
Raciels expression hardened.
Could it be?
Raciel, the Crown Prince and the owner of this body. Did he ever whip the maidservants? Judging by the maids frightened attitude and reaction, it might be true.
He asked to confirm.
Have I ever whipped you?
Please say no.
Please tell Im not that kind of trash.
He desperately wished inside.
Did his wish co true?
N-no, Your Highness.
The maidservant shook her head vigorously.
Your Highness has never personally held a whip.
Huh?
Raciel has never personally held a whip?
Wait a minute, could it be?
Then, by any chance Did I order soone else to do it?
.
Really?
Ah, it was only because I had made a mistake. Im sorry, Your Highness.
Feeling interrogated by him, the maids face grew more and more sullen.
Raciels expression also hardened even more.
So, its true.
He couldnt believe it was actually true. Raciel had ordered others to whip the maidservant.
Crown Prince Raciel.
He thought he was just a sickly and weak person.
What have you done?
A myriad of questions arose.
He looked at the maidservant again.
Let ask you one more thing. What mistake did you make at that ti to deserve being whipped?
Th-that was
Its okay. Tell .
I accidentally splashed water
What?
On your highnesss sleeve I splashed water, and the sleeve got wet
Wait a minute.
Are you saying you were whipped just because you accidentally splashed a little water on my sleeve?
I-Im sorry.
Goodness.
Looking at the maids attitude, it seed she was not lying. It was absurd and unbelievable.
What kind of person were you, Crown Prince Raciel?
Suddenly, the novel Devil Sword Emperor ca to mind.
In that novel, Crown Prince Raciel was just a minor character who appeared briefly in the beginning. As a result, his presence and ntions were limited.
There were no detailed descriptions of his daily life or how he was perceived by those around him. His character was simply summarized as being frail, suffering from various illnesses, and eventually dying young.
This was why he had only envisioned him as a pitiable, sickly character. However, when he uncovered a deeper layer and caught a glimpse of his more intricate persona
Was he more of a trashy person than I thought?
Seeing the maidservant trembling in fear over a small mistake, he could sowhat guess how Crown Prince Raciel must have been in his daily life.
He felt bitter and clicked his tongue.
Enough. Stop begging and get up. I wont scold you with a whip.
What?
Didnt you hear ? Get up.
The maid stood up at the speed of light. However, she still seed frightened and continued to glance nervously in his direction.
Im fine, so just clean up the broken glass and go.
Ah, yes, Your Highness.
The maid hurriedly moved, looking slightly bewildered by the surprisingly (?) easy forgiveness. Raciel, watching her, couldnt help but say a word.
Dont hurt yourself by cleaning up hastily.
STARTLE!
The hand of the maid, who was about to pick up the broken glass in a hurry, flinched.
You can use a broom. What are you going to do if you hurt yourself while trying to clean up with your hands?
I apologize, Your Highness. I almost dirtied the precious floor with my filthy blood.
No, thats not what I ant
I wont let my blood spill on the floor even if Im bleeding, Your Highness.
Thats not what Im saying
Please, just not the whip
Thats not my intention
In the deepening misunderstanding, only the desperate sweeping continued hastily.
Finally, the maid, who had cleaned up the broken glass and spilled honey, hurriedly retreated like the wind. No, she fled. She even tearfully expressed her gratitude when he told her there was no need to bring more honey.
Her fleeing figure conveyed the deanor of soone escaping from a madman who had imprisoned her.
Crown Prince Raciel, what on earth
He beca curious at this point. Fortunately, there was soone left nearby who could answer his questions.
Gardin.
Yes, Your Highness. You called?
Yes, I did. But the thing is
Yes, Your Highness.
Why are you looking at with such a strange expression?
It wasnt an exaggeration, but the look in Gardins eyes as he looked at him was quite peculiar since a while ago. It was like the gaze of soone who witnessed an unexpectedly heartwarming sight.
For so reason, that bothered him even more.
And one more question. Why was that maid like that?
Um, wasnt she moved by Your Highnesss magnanimity and retreated?
Tsk. Dont give that sugar-coated talk.
Yes?
Even that maid said so earlier. She said I had ordered others to punish her with a whip.
Yes, she did.
Actually, Ive been very sick lately, and my mory is a bit jumbled. Thats why Im asking. It wasnt a huge mistake, and it was just because a few drops of water splashed on the sleeve.
Yes, it was.
So Im asking again, have any of the other maids or servants experienced similar incidents?
Your Highness.
Answer my question first.
Yes, they have.
Were they also punished with a whip? Did I order that?
Yes, Your Highness But, we believe in you.
Believe? In what?
Because there were rumors that you were generous and benevolent in your childhood.
So youre saying I wasnt like that when I grew up?
No, thats not your fault.
Then?
It was the wicked disease that tornted you and made your mind foggy.
Tsk. Thats just an excuse.
No, Your Highness.
Gardin vehently denied what he said and shook his head. But still, that seed like a plausible yet sugar-coated statent.
Raciel frowned.
To be honest, my mory has declined a lot lately because Ive been unwell. I cant rember past events well. So I want to hear the details.
Yes, Your Highness.
What kind of person was I? To you, the maids, and the servants here.
Of course, Your Highness
Tell objectively. Dont lie. Ill check with others too. If theres even a little lie, then Ill boil a strange potion right in front of you and gulp it down?
Yes?
The contents of the potion will depend on my mood.
Your Highness?
Now, tell . What kind of person was I?
That, that is
The effect of the self-hostage threat (?) was trendous.
Gardins mouth opened up smoothly.
After about half an hour of conversation, it was over.
Amidst the abundance of testimonials and first-hand reports, objective assessnts, and contemplation, Raciel was able to arrive at a dispassionate conclusion.
Crown Prince Raciel was a hypersensitive and tyrannical boss.
He wasnt fundantally a bad person.
He was said to have been quite decent during his childhood.
But he beca more and more sensitive as he suffered from the disease.
At first, he seed to be getting a little sensitive, but eventually, he crossed the line too often.
Gardins testimony portrayed Crown Prince Raciel as an epito of hysteria, with a tendency to get infuriated at the slightest provocation.
He was known to yell loudly, hurl objects, and express various forms of irritation. His wrath extended to the point of ordering the whipping of maids and servants, although he did not execute the punishnt himself, delegating the task to other servants.
As a result, the palace staff was constantly on edge in the presence of the Crown Prince, fearful of inciting his anger and enduring severe consequences.
Crown Prince Raciels authoritarian behavior and hysterical outbursts were of an enormous magnitude.
He punished them for breathing too loudly. He didnt let them sleep for two days because he heard a sneeze while sleeping. He starved chefs, servants, and maids for a day and a half because one type of sauce was missing during a al. He even slapped them for not wanting to hear the rustling of clothes. What a person.
The absence of any form of resistance or rebuttal against the tyrannical behavior of the royalty made it even more unbearable for those who were oppressed by it.
It was the worst.
Now he understood the reaction of the maid he had seen earlier. He also recalled the guards who had easily believed his crude excuses that night when he had accidentally set off a water bomb while testing the Circle Slot.
At that ti, I made an excuse that I broke the bottle because I was angry. But Crown Prince Raciel had been doing such things since before. Thats why the guards naturally believed my excuse.
Ironically, the excuse he had made was the usual behavior of Crown Prince Raciel. A bitter smile escaped him at this peculiar coincidence. But on the other hand, there was sothing he couldnt understand.
But Gardin.
Yes, Your Highness.
Ive heard what you said. Thank you for being honest. But, theres still sothing Im curious about.
Please ask, Your Highness.
Well, I can understand why other servants and maids are afraid of . But why are you not?
Yes?
I an, when I think about it, you said I acted so harshly. But so far, you havent seed to be intimidated or afraid of .
Its because I believe in Your Highness.
What?
Gardins response ca without a monts hesitation.
It was absurd to hear.
Believe? What in ?
Well, originally you were a kind person
So?
I believed that once I cured your illness, you would return to your forr deanor. Recently, my belief has begun to be rewarded.
Rewarded?
Your recent behavior, Your Highness.
I dont know how youll take this, but youve changed. Youre changing. It started the day you were writing in your diary, then coughed up blood and fainted.
Ah, that day?
That day would be when he entered Raciels body. However, Gardin, who didnt know that fact, spoke with a sowhat emotional tone.
Since that day, Your Highness, you have changed. Your speech and actions have beco a bit rough and outside of etiquette, but you havent shown irritation toward or the servants and maids. Not once.
Hmm. So you liked it?
It was heartwarming.
Heartwarming?
Im still grateful to the heavens.
You should be grateful to , not the heavens.
Thank you, Your Highness.
Thats right. Thats it.
Anyway, youre happy that Ive changed?
Of course, Your Highness.
Even if I hurt myself with a needle or sothing, right?
Well, that
Or if I boil poisonous herbs and take a shot, right?
You must be so happy, Gardin.
Gardins face crumpled, but upon closer inspection, it presented an unusual spectacle. Despite the circumstances, a slight, affectionate grin persisted at the edge of his mouth.
Maybe Im the sa.
It seed likely.
Although he teased Gardin like this, he was grateful. How could he not be grateful in front of the sincerity shown by such a loyal person? Raciel tried to hide his true feelings and laughed mischievously.
Phew. Anyway, what a ss during the al. Lets finish eating the bread. By the way, Gardin, have you had dinner?
I havent eaten yet, Your Highness.
Do you want to eat together?
Pardon?
Here, it seems like there will be so bread left.
Your Highness, I
Just take it.
Raciel sliced a piece of bread in half and handed it over to Gardin, who hesitated upon receiving it. Observing Gardins hesitation, Raciel couldnt help but smile.
At that mont, he made a silent promise to himself. He swore that the Gardin in the novel, who t his demise by remaining faithful, would not suffer the sa fate in reality. Raciel pledged to ensure that neither of them would perish, nor would they be unjustly blad and sentenced to death. They would survive, no matter what it takes.
The very next day, the emperors summon arrived at the palace.
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