Ehrliche's Death
In the broad territory of Kapitale, It was hard to calculate the number of days in dreary weather, where sunlight was dim and blurred.
Since our great holy Cardinal, Ehrliche, received the news that starvation has permeated the Soudstaat, his days became hard to spend; Under the dim sunlight outside the window, he’s too anxious to keep daily diet and sleep. How he yearned to return there, to his homeland, to appease the poor refugees with the caress of our king; Yet the National Treasury went empty and our king nonchalant, what could be used to do this? Our solemn but stubborn, absurd, holy king, Verdammt, wouldn’t approve any petitions claimed by Ehrliche, even though our Cardinal claimed again and again, to comfort his people and loosen his policies of taxation.
Actually after the inauguration of Verdammt, all the subcelestial was fraught with complaints. The Treasury squandered so quickly, on the open fields there grew up innumerous buildings of luxuries, pushing the flourishing capital city into his casino. People were preparing for the heavy tax, or on the way to forced labors. Even in the entire surroundings, it was impossible to find a fine lady, due to the king’s plunder of them into his palace as toys.
Ehrliche was indifferent about national affairs before, afraid of being executed, while this time the catastrophe fallen on his homeland, Soudstaat, he wouldn’t escape any more.
This night Ehrliche heard runners catching people, hard to fall asleep. He sat up, went to the desk and wrote all words he’d like to express to our king through this long letter, determined to hand it in by himself. Supposing every possible consequence, preparing a lot of verbosity that may move the king, he thought it mustn’t fall into a failure.
The night was diminishing. Time to go to the palace see our king. Ehrliche dressed up delicately.
When he entered, thin light was running out of the inner palace. He asked the doorman about the king’s trace, but in vain. Hence spurred courage and resolution possessed him, making him enter the inner palace himself.
Laughter of our king appeared, when he arrived at the gate of the bedchamber. Two doormen hindered him but failed; Ehrliche suddenly pushed them away and rushed like an arrow, he knelt on the floor despite the turbulence inside, then cried:
“My majesty the king, Ehrliche the Cardinal come to see!”
Silence indoors, no Verdammt’s shadow. Ehrliche shouted twice, no response. He couldn’t wait but to stand up, stride into the chamber. A shabbily dressed king with a weeping lady on the bed. Ehrliche knelt again and handed his letter in, eyes closed.
“You cursed sparrow! How do you dare to enter?”
With a ruddy complexion, our king snatched the letter. Rage emerged so fast as he only read the first two lines! It said:
I humbly think, our majesty is like the sun shining on high, which might finally fall down under the cover of floating clouds and mist. Nowadays if you don’t comfort your people well, there would come an incredible result...
All similar words like these! Verdammt lost his patience and tore the letter, threw to Ehrliche’s face.
“You trifling wicked one, tried to curse me and ran into my private space, out of the law; What can you do unless going to die!” Vituperated the king.
“My majesty, think more about my advice, based on my loyalty!” Ehrliche explained.
“What a Cardinal! You must be paraded through the avenue and killed on the square at noon!” Verdammt then had servants take the wagon and push the Cardinal in.
“My majesty! What a pity!” With tears on his face, he’s exhausted in shouting to the king.
“Let the people see what a illegal deed would cause! No exceptions, whoever you are!” How bland his face was, considering not the Cardinal’s struggle, then went back into his chamber holding his lady to continue his flirt.
Dark clouds in the distance blinded the rising sun, and it was difficult to shine until noon. It’s still dark, the avenues were crowded, and the prison car carried our Cardinal all the way to the square in the city.
Ehrliche was tied to the guillotine, and only waited for noon, he would lose his life. All the people around were crying, and they didn’t understand how much crime he had committed and ended up like this.
“Let our Cardinal speak his last words!” One reporter said.
Ehrliche gazing farther to the south, with stead voice and incessant tears.
“I’m not qualified enough to save our world. If my death can be exchanged with a millennium, I wouldn’t carry any regret!”
Noon finally came behind his words. Rare sunshine pierced the floating clouds, on Ehrliche’s weak body.
Death. Silence.
