They say the Chancellor made the sacrifice no one else dared make, for many of the emperor’s subjects had longed to end their master’s life but to do that deed would be to forfeit their own.
The emperor was descended, or so it was claimed, from almighty Jupiter himself and thus his word was law. If he demanded for you to leap into the sea you would do so. If he desired to bed your wife or daughter, you’d smile and stand aside.
When the emperor spent the summer solstice by the mediterranean sea, a local fisherman collected a huge haul of fish and neglected to share this bounty with his lord. The emperor upon learning of this, had the fish rubbed against the man’s body until he bled to death.
The same fate awaited another fisherman who offered the emperor his catch but was punished for even approaching the royal tent.
Thus, the chancellor’s final act while publicly condemned was privately seen as a heroic sacrifice, but in truth he made no sacrifice, for he was doomed no matter what he did.
For on that fateful day, the emperor feeling rather gleeful and mischievous decided to amuse himself by asking his chancellor who was the greatest, the emperor or Jupiter.
The chancellor burst out laughing, “Oh bravo sir,” he exclaimed “well done, well done. That’s indeed a tricky one. If I were to say that you are greater than Jupiter, then I’d commit heresy. But if I said Jupiter was greater than you, I’d be guilty of treason. Now if I may ask, what is the punishment for treason?”
“Death” the emperor answered
“And what is the punishment for heresy?”
“Death” the emperor answered again.
“Ah and if I refuse to comment?”
“Then you’d be guilty of refusing your emperor’s request and the penalty for that is death.”
The chancellor rolled his head back in guffaws: “Oh whatever will I do? I’m doomed, aren’t I? Oh, you are a witty master, no doubt about it, no doubt about it at all but oh wait, wait I’ve just thought of something…”
And he drew himself closer to the emperor and the emperor was uncomfortably aware of how the gay joviality had left the chancellor and instead a cold sternness ebbed from his face.
“What is the punishment for regicide?”
And the emperor didn’t respond with the curt crispness that was his usual manner but instead gulped and said “death” in a voice that almost quivered.
“Well then,” replied the chancellor as he drew a dagger from his robes.
