What defines a person to be good or evil? What is the line that is drawn between the two? I never really wondered about that. In fact until that fateful moment in the library, everything seemed rather black and white to me. Evil was evil and good was good… there were no shades of gray, no trickery. Everything in my life was stable.
But killing a person… how could that be good? I watched Aaron slaughter a man with an expression of pure rage on his face as he gazed into the fading eyes of his expiring enemy. I wonder what he felt when he yanked out his bloody sword and stared into those wide, unseeing eyes. Satisfaction or guilt? I certainly didn’t stay long enough to find out. It wasn’t soon after, though, when I could hear the sounds of an escalating arguement in the palace.
On shaky legs I stumbled out of the library, my studies forgotten as I focused on the rising voices. It was my father and Aaron.
“If anyone saw you,” my father growled, pausing momentarily to catch his breath. “Aaron, you could be reported for murdering a civilian.”
Aaron scoffed. “You’re telling me that you’re more worried about a man dying than the safety of your daughter?”
“We don’t even know that anyone is going to try anything!” my father exclaimed. I shuddered, my back slipping against the cool stone walls of the palace as I tried to wrap my mind around Aaron’s words. Was that man’s death my doing? I tried to listen as my father continued. “And you certainly didn’t give the man a chance to explain his actions.”
“His actions were obvious, Lukas! Elizabeth was in the library studying… alone. Who knows what he was about to do. If I had not discovered him…”
My father interrupted, “If you had not discovered him he might be back with his family. Alive.”
“I can’t believe you’re willing to risk your daughter’s life. Morals shouldn’t take precedence over your family’s safety, Lukas. Besides she is fated to be the next empress.” Aaron’s words saddened me.
I could almost picture my father shaking his head. It seemed as if the fire that had built inside of him had frozen. “I trusted you when my head told me not to, Aaron and you became my closest friend. I beg you to trust me. I would never risk my family and you should know that. But declaring an attack on Elizabeth would not only frighten her, but create chaos throughout the region. I cannot allow that until I know the facts.”
“Yes, my Emperor,” Aaron whispered. “I will apologize for acting foolishly… but I do not regret my actions. I ask you to respect that.”
“You are dismissed, Aaron,” my father quietly replied, and as he spoke those words, I quickly rushed back to my bedroom. I still do not know if my father decided to respect Aaron’s decision. And even if his actions were to protect the greater good, I don’t know if I can accept it.
Does it mean that sometimes it’s alright to perform an evil action in order to protect something good?
