Soft golden light filtered through the glass dome of the castle's conservatory, where Countess Matilda was trimming a pot of white roses with scissors.
Matilda was a devout follower of Mother Earth, and her daily life mostly consisted of praying to Mother Earth and cultivating various plants.
The moment she saw Arthur, she dropped her scissors, stumbled towards him, and said mournfully, “I’ve heard everything.”
“Oh, my poor child, for Mother Earth’s sake.”
“What kind of cold-hearted person would send their own son to Qingfeng Valley? That’s cursed land!”
Anna, who was setting out the tea set, trembled, instinctively glanced at Arthur, then quickly turned her face away to avoid being noticed by her mistress.
The Countess’s doting on her youngest son, Arthur, had always been unconcealed.
Not only because Arthur was handsome, but also because he knew how to please women. It was this indulgence that shaped the previous owner's unruly character.
But the current Arthur enjoyed this indulgence greatly. His mother’s family, the Maud family, was prominent locally, the most powerful Baron family under the rule of the Evil Wolf Family.
In this world of swords and magic, Arthur needed every available resource.
To prevent his mother from continuing to complain about his father’s actions, Arthur timely changed the subject, “Did you receive my birthday gift?”
Matilda patted her son’s back: “Silly child, you know I lack nothing. I have a carriage.”
“But the one I sent is better, isn’t it?” Arthur feigned an expression of expecting praise.
The Countess pushed her son away, reaching out to pinch his face: “I like it very much, it is indeed exquisite, and you must have spent a lot of money.”
“However, your thoughtfulness is enough. Now that you are a Baron, you should keep the carriage; it will come in handy on the way to Qingfeng Valley.”
“But that was your birthday gift.”
The Countess smiled, then showed sadness again: “You have always been a sensible and good child.”
“Alas, if only Richard were as filial as you. He came back two days ago and hasn’t come to see me yet.”
“Keep the carriage! Don’t argue with me anymore, I have enough things.”
“Sit down, child, sit down, let me look at you again. Soon I won’t be able to see you.”
Arthur knew very well that his mother would not accept the exquisite carriage—as a devout believer, she had always lived frugally (compared to other nobles, of course).
He did this only to please his mother, hoping she could discuss with his uncle, who served as the Mayor of Wolf Den City, to help him get someone out of prison.
Once Arthur sat down, Matilda gave Anna a look. Anna understood, quickly served tea and refreshments, then walked into the small room nearby.
“Did you call me for something?” Arthur asked.
The Countess nodded: “Your father only told me the news this morning.”
“He is a hateful man; ever since I married him, happiness has left me.”
“He knew I would strongly oppose this, so he kept it from me for so long. I can only give you…”
Matilda looked at her personal maid, who was walking out of the small room, and Arthur also turned his head curiously.
Anna was holding a finely crafted wooden box in her arms.
“Time was too short; I could only gather these things,” the Countess continued, “These are my dowry jewels, worth about three hundred gold coins.”
“I also asked your uncle to prepare some other supplies. Oh, my mind, I get excited and forget. Anna, tell the Young Master in detail what else there is.”
Anna walked to Arthur’s side and said unhurriedly: “A good horse, a set of formal attire befitting your Baron status, and five donkey carts.”
“Yes, yes, that’s it.” The Countess took her son’s hand, “Don’t think it’s too little, my child, this is all I can give you now.”
His mother’s gift far exceeded Arthur’s expectations; he had never intended to extort money from this pure and kind woman.
After all, when everyone else had abandoned him, only Matilda remained loyal to him, firmly believing he was still worth saving.
“No, no, Mother.” Arthur was at a loss for words for a moment, “How could I possibly dislike it? I’m grateful to you beyond words.”
Anna placed the box on the tea table and discreetly left the conservatory.
“That’s good, that’s good. Listen…” The Countess looked up at the conservatory door, ensuring it was closed, “Listen, child. Although this money isn’t a lot, it’s enough for you to live comfortably in the Free City-States for a while.”
“Then, you run away. I will have your uncle figure out a way to arrange for good people…”
This left Arthur dumbfounded. He suddenly grabbed his mother’s hand, interrupting her: “This is my mission, and the glory of the Glamorgan family.”
“A family that uses its own son as a political pawn has no honor whatsoever,” Matilda said angrily.
Arthur persuaded her for a long while before the Countess finally abandoned her astonishing plan.
Then, she suddenly remembered something and spoke again: “Look at my mind, it’s getting more and more muddled.”
“Your uncle told me that a thief claiming to be from Qingfeng Valley was recently arrested at the dock prison.”
“I don’t know if this is true or false, but he thinks you can go to the prison to see this person; it might be helpful. He will speak to the Warden.”
This was indeed important information.
Arthur seized the opportunity to discuss his plan of getting someone out of prison with his mother again.
Unlike his father, the innocent Matilda didn't understand who was imprisoned. She only heard that it would benefit her son, and that was enough.
She promised to visit her brother, the Mayor, first thing tomorrow morning and ask him to help smooth things over with various connections.
Arthur chatted with his mother for a long time before leaving. When he walked out of the conservatory, the setting sun had already dyed the glass dome blood-red.
Before his transmigration, he was a grassroots poverty alleviation worker, having dealt with all sorts of people, so he was quite adept at handling them.
But dealing with so many people was truly draining, both mentally and physically, so a weary Arthur collapsed onto his bed as soon as he returned to his room.
“Young Master?” A voice, both familiar and strange, called out.
Arthur struggled to open his eyes and turned his head towards the direction of the voice. It was Vanka.
The frail girl’s presence was so faint that Arthur hadn’t noticed her when he entered the room.
She had been washed and was wearing an ill-fitting maid’s uniform, looking like a newborn fawn.
“Anna shouldn’t have assigned you to be my personal maid,” Arthur sighed.
He had no intention of taking Vanka to Qingfeng Valley, because there was no need to sacrifice another life, was there?
“No, it wasn’t Miss Anna’s arrangement; I asked for it,” Vanka replied, “As long as the Young Master doesn’t send me away, I will follow the Young Master forever.”
Arthur gave a wry smile: “That’s because you don’t know where I’m going yet.”
“No matter where we go, I will follow you and serve you.”
“Little rascal, I have to leave for Qingfeng Valley in seven days. Do you know Qingfeng Valley?”
The little girl nodded: “The adults in the village used to scare children with monsters from Qingfeng Valley. I know that place.”
“Then you still plan to follow me?”
“Yes!” Vanka’s tone was firm.
Arthur sat up from the bed, looking at the girl curiously: “Then aren’t you afraid those monsters will kill you?”
“No,” the girl shook her head, “I’ve already seen monsters, and I’m still alive.”
Arthur raised an eyebrow, then burst into laughter: “Good, good, good. I never thought my first loyal follower would be you.”