Banished Prince Charming

Chapter 58 -Benevolence, Compassionate And Respect

No words could exactly describe what we were feeling right now. The air around the village was suffocating and it proved hard to breathe for others. When everyone had stifled backed the tears and blew their noses, they took turns to wash their faces from the clay earthen pot at the foot of their houses.

I bawled because I had suppressed almost all of my pent up emotions that were contained within me as I soldiered on, putting a brave face mask but no one knows the turmoil and turbulence were my pent up emotions inside both my heart and mind.

When everyone had finally settled down, only then I would be able to form words in my head and I have to replay the words for some time before I finally let it escape to form the words that I think was appropriate to use at that time.

"Chadwell, there is nothing for me to be angry and there is nothing for me to pardon. God has finally shown His mercy and He had brought your little angel before Him to be in His garden of Eden."

I was shocked when my words came out hoarse and croaky. But I managed to take a sip of water in between, cleared my throat and continued what I wanted to say to him.

"However that 'infant' would stay with Kayla and she would arrange for burial for 'it'. If your children ask where the 'infant' has gone to, it should be you to tell them the tale of the stork that came and take her away. The continuation of your part would be done by me for all the children so they would not think too much about it."

"The next thing for you to do tomorrow is to tell every one of your infant's demise and say that it happened last night and you had Kayla checked on it and Kayla decided to handle the matters."

"Since you are in this condition, I won't be telling you what you actually need to do the next following day. Inform everyone at the crack of dawn that the 'burial' would take place before breakfast. Which means the whole works for tomorrow would be delayed. But things no matter how to have to push on and onward we progress."

"Remember to tell everyone not to leak anything to the children and inform the children to gather around here instead."

"Is that understood?"

"Yes, young master, I will inform everyone about it. In fact, the rest saw that we had never moved from our spot when everyone had hurriedly left after they heard your wrath, so they might be curious to find out what happened. The truth was unknown to them since the miners that I worked with right now are those renegades ones that would never work with a boss ordering them around."

"Next thing is the utmost importance. Whatever you do from this hour onwards, would not change anything in the past as God had His own plannings and decisions. But right in this hour, I want you to set your own words in the very stone that you would not touch those dices anymore...!"

"If you saw anyone who has any form of dices, ch.i.p.s or materials that depict gambling, I want you to haul them straight to meet the Justice Minister. GraceHaven has zero-tolerance for such vices...!"

"DO YOU HEAR ME?!" I was unable to contain myself until I slammed my open palm on the top of the table and a very loud smack resonated in the still of the night, even the chirping of crickets suddenly went silent.

I did not do that because of my anger at the man before me, I was angry because of his selfish actions.

"Y... Yes, yo... Young Ma... Master. I sw... Swear I won't be gam... Gambling again."

"Gwen, please show an example to set for the others..." I indicated for Gwen to stand up and show the technique of the whip and she did...

"CRAACK"

The sound of the whip that was flipped forward and was suddenly pulled back resonated in the stillness of the night and the Chadwell gasped in shock. "100 lashes, no more or less. If that person faints, he would be awakened and repeated. Faint. Awake. Whip. Faint. Awake. Repeat. Until the 100 lashes are completed. And this is only for possession of that gambling paraphernalia."

"However, if someone else discovered you are gambling or having such paraphernalia in your possession and have no perfect reasoning to give before the Justice Minister or me, you yourself would give me what punishments that need to be meted out and be voted by the eyes of the public."

"My words may not be the final say and this would be judged by your friends and neighbours. When that happens, you yourself can witness with your own eyes, who sides with you to take your place instead, who wanted to see you being condemned while laughing loudly in their hearts and who would vote you to give another chance and seek my fair judgement and benevolence."

"You will tell me what you need to have the kind of punishment that only you the one that would face it alone and none of your family members are involved because the cause is you alone that makes them fall...!"

"BOOM"

Another palm landed on the table and the loud smack resonated across the village once again. At least one person, in particular, was heaving sighs of relief to calm his uneasy heart as the study table he constructed for me from a mix of bamboo and reed does not yield one bit after being pounded by me. And the person was Ben himself.

Thinking that I was angry, Sir Blackie sidled next to me and raised its paws to rest on my t.h.i.g.h as it lay us head on it and whimpered and licked my hands. I looked at it and patted its head and stroked its thick fur and felt that it was a bit shaken to see my sudden change of emotions.

"Don't worry Sir Blackie, I'm not angry. I smiled at it and Sir Blackie gave a soft bark that sounded like "WRAFF...?" as it continued to lay its head on top of its paws, on my l.a.p.

"Ye...yes, yo... Young Master Sir..."

"To all men present, please find as many stones and rocks that you could carry after this and the ladies please carry the shovels for your husband. We are going to mark a final resting place 100 feet from the residential lots. Kayla, please take the 2' by 5' woven mat and wrap the 'infant' up. And yes, I need 2 benches, please and a torch."

"We are going to perform the preparation of a burial ground and the position of the 'grave' where it would be facing the east-west. A living person is like the sun rising in the east, full of life and vigour, while when he finally laid down to rest, the sundown would represent the end cycle of his life."

"The stones that gathered would be laid on the ground where the burial ground meets at the point. That ground would be to those who had finally closed their eyes and meet the Maker."

"Alright, Kayla you may get the woven mat, and carry it just like one would carry an actual deceased. I need two benches. Chadwell, you may go and fetch your children and bring them to rest in your house first. You should know what to say if your children ask where their little sister went."

"Alright, once Kayla is done with her 'ritual' we will get ready to leave. We will dig the ground first and then wait for the rest of the citizens tomorrow to complete the procedures."

"Dismissed..."

As soon as I mention the word dismissed, everyone stood up and immediately began to look for stones and rocks that they could possibly carry and places them in a small pile some 100 yards away from the residential houses which happen to be where the 6 miners were saying.

The moment the Chadwells enters the compound he was approached with concerned neighbours and were asking what happen and the men and women sat in hushed silence as they listen to the Chadwell telling them that their infant daughter was feeling hot and refuses to nurse and today the infant went still.

Those who listened can't help feeling sorry for the couple that had lost their loved ones. The Herefords who had an infant themselves showed the most emotions.

We saw them chatting and they insisted to help but we said there is no need because this involves only the pioneers as tomorrow would be the burial and everyone was expected to say their final 'goodbyes'.

After everyone had gathered enough rocks, we began to dig a 3' by 2' by 6' and the burial ground was near the riverbank where the soil was softer. After estimating where the actual west was, we started to place the rocks accordingly and by then Kayla had cradled the 'deceased' in her arms.

The Chadwells saw and started bawling again while we ourselves cannot stop our tears from falling as we saw Kayla placed the makeshift coffin folded on both ends and held down by twine around it. This prevents anyone from taking a peek.

Even though it was a fake death and a fake burial, but the realism was there and everyone was sobbing and sniffling as we reminiscences the actual sufferings that the family had actually gone through. The makeshift coffin was placed on the two benches that were placed together side by side and a torch were affixed into the ground to ward off wild animals from coming close to it.

When we had performed the initial proceedings, we head back to the courtyard and unknown to us the light in the sky in the Eastern hemisphere had started to throw some light, turning the sky bluish-black.

As we passed the windmill before the courtyard, Eagle approached us and lauded at my wise and justified decisions during the whole meeting. "I hid among the shadows to listen to the whole conversation, please forgive me for eavesdropping."

"A man who makes merriment has many friends around, A man who suffers sorrow and grief has no friends before him. Your Lordship, you are the most befitting to be the next ruler of this land and surrounding lands. Your Lordship is around when it is merry, and Your Lordship is there still when there is sorrow."

"Your Lordship, your words were carefully chosen. Every single sentence had a deep meaning. Your Lordship immediate actions during duress are highly praised. Your Lordship justification is very wise as the final words do not lay in Your Lordship but lay in the hands of the citizens. Your selfless decisions make loyal followers and you to be a great ruler in the future.

I am proud to see my student and the next ruler to be of utmost integrity, way beyond age."

"All the more we wished to serve under your wing and protect you with our lives, Your Lordship." Eagle lauded me and I have no words to thank him enough. Compassionate, benevolence and respect had been taught by the old King plus many other things.

I simply smiled, patted his shoulders and waved my hands as we all went back to to the main courtyard, arranged back the benches to its original position and prepared some water to boil in a large pot while a cauldron was already sitting on the rocket stove to prepare the morning breakfast.

We sat down at the dining table to take a short nap instead except for Kayla who started to prepare the grains and flour as she places them in the cauldron after the fire was set. No matter how this show must go on.

Even though breakfast would be slightly delayed and the start of the projects would be delayed too. So, despite having the burial, the last respects had to be performed even though it was long overdue.

After about 2 hours later, the rooster started to crow and I groggily picked up a small pebble and threw it at the general direction of the rooster's crowing and this made the rooster angered and crowed more until it nearly became hoarse and nearly choked on its tongue...!

"Huh...? It is already morning? I didn't have time to make the morning glory yet..." Jack m.o.a.n.e.d when he realised he was actually sleeping on the bench out under the sky...! He nearly fell from that height and if he does, Kayla would have a headache setting those old bikes back in place.

"Our men are ready to be utilised Your Reputable Lordship....