BXBX NOVEL Chapter 161 - More Than A Puppet
"Your majesty, someone is here to see you" The only maid in the mansion called for Alfonso late in the night, it was almost ten o\' clock and Alfonso was ready to review his duties for tomorrow, after hearing this, he had an idea who was coming.
"Tell him to enter"
The maid bowed and a man entered the manor, it was a middle-aged man.
"Your Highness" Said the man while bowing.
"Taylor, I didn\'t expect your visit so late in the night, please have a sit," Said Alfonso.
Taylor took a sit and looked at Alfonso with a strange look. After a minute of silence, Taylor made a bitter smile.
"His Highness is wise indeed, it seems that you already know that I will come here and why did I come" Said Taylor.
"Haha, I got an idea," Said Alfonso.
In fact, he knew well why Taylor came, after, he had been in a similar situation back on earth, to be honest, a lot of people had been on the same spot.
"Then I won\'t waste your highness time and ask…" Said Taylor while looking at Alfonso into the eyes.
"Your Highness, Did I fail you?" Asked Taylor.
"No, never," Said Alfonso.
"Did I do something to upset you?" Asked Taylor.
"As far as I know, you have never," Said Alfonso.
"Then… Do…Do you some kind of favoritism with women?" Asked Taylor.
"That question is very rude, Taylor, however, I will answer, no, I don\'t, " Said Alfonso.
"Then… I don\'t understand…" Said Taylor.
"What do you don\'t understand?" Asked Alfonso.
"Why… why didn\'t his highness choose me as a minister?" Said Taylor with some anger.
Anger and frustration, this was the sentiment that Taylor had since the meeting this morning. And, to be frank, it was understandable.
"Taylor is the only scholar in Wasteland Valley, he is more than qualify to be the minister of education, and yet, the one in charge is a foreigner who doesn\'t have that much of education and, to put the cherry in the cake, she is a woman, in these times, women are looking down, at least, if we talk about education, in earth and here, it was usual that women didn\'t study, at least, they were the only heir of a noble house, Susana was a good example, Felio never remarried after her wife died, so, he only had one heir, Susana, so she, by right, had to study; giving the circumstances, it will be a miracle if Taylor wasn\'t, at the very least, bothered" Though Alfonso.
"So, Do you think I made a mistake?" Said Alfonso.
"No… I… I wouldn\'t dare to question your highness, until now, your decisions have always been right, and you possess such wisdom that even the great sages from Dragon city don\'t possess! You are always right!" Said Taylor.
"If you don\'t question my decisions, why are you here?" Said Alfonso.
"I…" Taylor didn\'t know how to answer.
Alfonso only smiled and took a sip of water, he stood up and looked up at the window giving his back to Taylor.
"You know Taylor, there are a couple of things you need to understand, maybe that will clear your mind," Said Alfonso.
"Please" Said Taylor.
"Let me ask you this… Do you know people of the church?" Asked Alfonso.
Like in earth, here also existed the church, however, their power wasn\'t that big, at least for now.
"Yeah… I used to have a friend there" Said Taylor.
"What were your impressions of them?" Asked Alfonso.
Taylor took some time to think.
"I… I believe they are madmen," Said Taylor.
"And why is that?" Asked Alfonso.
"Because they don\'t question anything that the only god\'s book says! They only follow their decisions like puppets and, to make things worse, they always think that they are right!" Said Taylor.
"That\'s right, If we had to put in other words, they are in a trance, they adore the only \'god\' like it was a perfect being and do whatever it asked them to do without a second thought, however, they believe they are in the right, tell me something them, are you like them?" Said Alfonso.
"Of course not!" Said Taylor.
"Then why are you saying that I am always right?" Asked Alfonso.
Taylor was stunned.
"I am not perfect, not in the slightest, I make mistakes like everyone else, I feel and bleed like everyone else" Said Alfonso "Taylor, I am a human, and being human, is the same as saying that I am an imperfect creature, I am not a god, I don\'t need \'puppets\' at my side, I need allies, that\'s what I need you to understand, that\'s why I didn\'t choose you as a minister… Taylor, when we were in the meeting, I was testing you, being a minister isn\'t just about knowledge, its about character, my ministers need to be my right hand, and being my right hand means that, when I made a mistake, they will be there to correct them, in terms of knowledge, you are superior to Susana, however, in terms of character" Said Alfonso.
"You are way behind"
Taylor was stupefied.
"If you had talked in the meaning, even if it means that you would have to contradict me, I will let you be a minister" Said Alfonso.
"I… I am… ashamed" Murmured Taylor.
"You are a good and talented person, Taylor" Said Alfonso while turning around and grabbing Taylor\'s shoulder.
"However, you have room from improvement, go and reflect in what I told you, come back tomorrow at the same time, if you still want the position, then I will give it to you" Said Alfonso.
Taylor was surprised; however, he only nodded and exist the room.
"You can come out now, it seems that you have something to ask me" Said Alfonso while looking at the corner.
"You have other plans for him, right?" Asked Artemis, who has been here the whole time standing besides the pillar at the corner.
Alfonso only smiled and looked outside of the mansion, he saw Taylor been guarded by the wolves on his way home.
"He has the potential to be more than a minister, I hope he doesn\'t disappoint me" Said Alfonso while closing the curtains.