Inside a Nerd's Mind

A Tale of Sapientiae III

I have another funny story in court.

It was an odd one actually, yet still so common.

These lords who think they have control or power over how people want to do in their life is not different than the ones who murders or takes away lives. At least those who murders already finishes the struggle of those people in this wretched world while those who call themselves lords, force slaves to live their wretched lives in misery.

A lord came to me in court one day.

“Your Grace, I know you have your reasons, you have been ruling the kingdoms long enough. For this, I am thankful and I know that I cannot argue with your wisdom. But, your grace, winter is coming and I need men to work in the fields.” The lord asked as he bowed his head and kneeled.

I raised my hand upwards to signal for him to stand. “Good sir, you have made your request very kind so I shall grant them to you,” I said. “You shalt be given the men you need.” I added as I waved my hand farewell and to let the next person come in.

“Thank you, your grace.” He said thankful as he bowed his head. “But, your grace, I have another request.” He added.

“What is it, kind sir?” I asked.

“I… uh… I… don’t have the food… to accommodate… workers, your grace.” He stuttered.

“Wouldn’t you have more food if you get more workers?” I asked.

“Yes, your grace, but we also need food to store in the winter.” He said confidently.

I thought deep and hard but he did have a point.

“What would you have me do, kind sir?” I asked, curious on his request.

“I… would request… if you may, your grace… to… allow… s*****y… just for this winter.” He stuttered with shame in his face.

I had just recently banned s*****y throughout the kingdoms because of their unfair and unjust treatment of human beings in the workforce. I mean, they’re still humans and they should be treated the same as any other worker.

“Why? What’s the difference with having noble working men from having slaves?” I asked, curiously.

“Not to demean you, your grace, but our lives were prospering when we had slaves.” He stated.

Wow, what an asshole this guy is. How powerful does he think he is that he thinks he has the right and even the power to just sit and sleep away when other human beings devote their blood, time, and even lives just to survive.

I looked at him confused and judged whether he was crazy to even suggest that idea. But I had to appreciate his bravery of even thinking of saying that idea in front of me.

The whole court was silent. Everyone was either looking at me or at the brave lord.

I was just staring at him, judging him the whole time.

“your lives… prospering?” I blurted as I leaned forward.

“Y-Y-Yes… your grace.” He stuttered as he nodded his head nervously.

“How about the slaves’ lives, are they prospering as well?” I asked in a serious tone.

“Your grace, they’re… slaves… they’re not supposed to prosper.” The lord declared bravely.

“What… do you mean?” I asked in order to understand more of his point.

“They’re… slaves. They’re supposed to work… until they die.” He said stuttering whilst looking at the floor.

“Work? Until they die? You don’t even have the courage to say those words to my face.” I scolded.

“Your grace… I just think that having slaves would make all of our lives better.” The lord claimed.

“Better?” I raised my left eyebrow. “How? And whose lives?” I asked.

“All of our lives, your grace.” He claimed. “I mean… think of the women, the children, the poor, the weak, the old – they will all starve if we wouldn’t save for winter.” He added as he circled around the room trying to speak to everyone in the room.

I was enraged. I stood up.

“YOU DARE USE PITY… AND EVEN MENTION… CHILDREN… FOR YOUR OWN BENEFIT?” I shouted as I pointed at him.

I sat down, trying to calm down.

“I’m not trying to sympathize, your grace. I’m simply telling the truth.” He claimed.

“The truth?” I laughed. “The truth is you don’t have any regards for human life.” I boldly stated. “I pity your family, sir. For with that kind of thinking, I don’t know how they can ever stand you.” I joked.

Half of the crowd gasped as half of them laughed.

This division of the crowd shook me to the core, woken me up to the reality.

What am I saying? Why am I becoming mean? What is happening to me?

The lord is simply just stating his opinion, whether good or bad, whether smart or idiotic, it’s still his own opinion. I may not agree with it but I respect it at least because he has the right to express it due to Freedom of Expression.

Isn’t it crazy on how the idea of Freedom of Expression can either save you or bring you harm? You can say a good idea and it can initiate progress. You may say something horrible to a person but they can’t do anything against you as you just expressed your voices. But you still have to be careful because most kings, lords, and men wouldn’t acknowledge that freedom. Freedom of Expression doesn’t free you from the consequence that your expression may bring. If you want to say something, then say it but don’t expect people to treat you the same after you’ve said what you’ve wanted to say; they’ll either like you more for it or hate your guts.

I took a deep breath to calm myself.

“I apologize, kind sir, it was just an outburst of fatigue.” I said sincerely.

“It is fine, your grace,” He forgave. “I admire the control over your emotions,” He claimed while smiling. “If you were any other king, I would’ve been thrown out by now.” He joked as the crowd also did.

“But, your grace, you are not like any other king and you are not like any other men,” he said. “The common folk doesn’t have the same control as you do, your grace, over your emotions. If we lacked supplies and they felt the urge to survive, they would overthrow us, do everything that they can to get the food for themselves.” He argued.

I was intrigued. Somehow, he was making a point.

I leaned forward, interested, and asked “What does that have anything to do with bringing back s*****y?”

“Your grace, with s*****y… we can control the people.” He claimed.

What a bold claim he has. It doesn’t mean that if they’re a slave, they won’t revolt any more.

“And what makes you think they won’t revolt if they’re made a slave?” I asked.

“Your grace, we would… teach them… to obey, no matter what the cost, no matter what it took, just for them to learn to obey and obey only.” He said proudly.

“No matter what it took?” I asked.

“No matter what it took.” He clarified.

“Are you speaking of torture, kind sir?” I asked.

“Uhhh… No-“

“It is against the law to torture men as it is also against the law to put men into slavery.” I declared.

“Uhhh… Your grace-“

“You would have me lift two laws that is for the preservation of humanity and our lands, and for what?” I questioned.

I wasn’t convinced. I’m not going to lift laws that I’ve enacted and strictly enforced that easily.

I leaned back to calm myself and took a deep breath.

I stared at him for too long.

He bowed his head as he was murmuring something.

I cannot hear, I cannot understand.

“I cannot hear what you are saying, kind sir.” I said calmly.

“Uhhh… your grace… I’ve been to the City of Permos… and I just have to say that… they’re prospering as ever, their citizens are happy, and their productivity is at an all time high. One could even argue that… it’s better than our kingdom.” He murmured.

“Our kingdom?” I asked.

“s*****y is legal there and here, it isn’t. Guess which one is prospering more, your grace.” He boasted.

I was taken aback from what he said. He compared the kingdom to a city that is thousands of miles away, that is like comparing the needs of a pride of lions to a single sheep. They are two different species and they have different needs and thus it is why the methods that is needed to be done and the measurement of this so-called prosperity is naturally different.

“Just because it is legal in a city, it doesn’t mean it should also be anywhere else.” I declared.

“But, your grace, isn’t it wise to understand why others are flourishing and to copy their ways if possible?” He asked.

“Yes, it is. But then knowing your own strengths and your own weaknesses, and knowing how to ever use it as an advantage is wiser.” I preached.

“Winter is coming. Desperate times calls for desperate measures.” The lord declared.

I was about to say something when I was interrupted by a messenger.

I signaled the messenger to come near and what he shared to me shocked me.

A few days ago, I ordered the city guard to roam house-to-house and check for any more remaining slaves and free them. I’ve outlawed s*****y a few months ago but there were still some who insisted on violating it. I was shocked to hear that a few slaves were found in a basement in one of the lord’s establishments.

I nodded to the messenger and he went away.

I stared at the lord, furious.

He knows something’s up but he doesn’t know what it was.

I slowly stood up while my eyes were still locked at his.

Oh, I don’t know what I can do to a man like this. A man without honor, a man without shame, a man without respect, a man who dares to argue with me and speak against humanity.

“You.” I said, seriously, in a deep tone.

“You only want s*****y because you already have slaves.” I said, slowly.

He was shocked when I said those words, when he knew that I knew.

He immediately fell to the ground and kneeled.

“That is a lie, your grace!” He pleaded.

“I am loyal to you and your laws; I have never disobeyed you and have even never thought of doing so.” He claimed.

“A man without honor and a man that lies, has no place in the kingdom.” I threatened as I raised my eyebrows.

“Please, your grace. I have a family!” the lord cried out.

“Let this be a lesson to your family to not ever follow your footsteps.” I remarked. “You shalt be stripped of all titles and lands and shalt be thrown in the dungeons for the rest of your days for violating the laws of our sacred land.” I declared.

“Please, your grace.” He trembled. “I shall never speak ill to you again.” He pleaded.

I looked at him smug as I gave the order to lock him away.

“YOUR GRACE!” He cried as he was thrown away.

It’s funny isn’t it, that we only think about the consequences until it’s too late. We aren’t scared of doing what’s wrong, we are only scared when we are caught. When you were a child, you might’ve heard your parents say “I don’t care that you did it, I care that you got caught.” And I tell you now, your parents were s**t. If it’s something you know that is morally bad deep down then don’t do it. If you do, prepare for the consequences. Stand up and take pride in your decision. It’s your decision, it’s your choice.

Everyone has a choice. People always think that there are only two choices in every decision. There’s always a 3rd, a 4th, and there’s always more. We lock ourselves inside a room and see there’s only two doors. If we open our eyes clearly, we can see that there’s a window at top and a vent behind us. In every one of those doors, windows, or vents, there rests a consequence waiting for you whether it be good or bad, be proud that you made the choice and adjust to the consequence. Take pride in yourself, people can’t even do the first step towards making a decision. People would rather s**t themselves and wait for the s**t to smell first before making a step.

Remember that it is your room, it is your box, it is your own illusion.

Don’t trap yourself into the illusion of choice.