Chapter 51: Don’t Let the Heart Lose Its Warmth
After a full twenty days of recuperation, Yam finally felt that his body had completely recovered.
And once he had fully regained his health, he was drafted like a conscript into the operation to capture rebels within Red River City.
In just a few days, at least a hundred people had been arrested within Red River City.
But how many among them were truly rebels, aside from Monica and Marquis Visen, no one knew.
…
Yam rode on a tall horse, followed behind by twelve guards ard with long spears.
The soldiers marched in two columns, heads held high and chests puffed out.
The residents of Lily Avenue turned pale at the sight of Yam. Many who had planned to go out imdiately turned back into their hos, and several shops even shut down in fright.
Seeing the reaction of these commoners, Yam let out a helpless sigh inwardly.
He too had co from the lower class, and before the age of ten, he had never seen anyone aside from mbers of the Iron Wolf rcenary Group. His first ti entering a city had been when he was thirteen.
Especially in a place like the Gem Territory, he understood all too well the bitter hardships of the common folk.
Now, looking at the way these civilians gazed at him, he suddenly felt that he was no different from those Bloodline Knights in the Gem Territory who had once oppressed others.
Though he felt ashad, the rational part of him clearly told him that these were things he had no choice but to do.
The three major districts in the southern part of the city were Whitespring Avenue, Lily Avenue, and Red River Avenue.
Each area was populated by different groups: Bloodline Nobles, wealthy rchants of Red River City, and rchant groups from the Red Eagle Territory.
The first group would never "harbor" criminals, so the saboteurs dissatisfied with the Kasein Family could only be found in Lily Avenue and Red River Avenue.
After all, the upper class resented being exploited by the Kasein Family and thus tried to incite the poor in the northern part of the city to create chaos and launch attacks; as for the rchant groups, they had the ans to transport all kinds of supplies, so even dangerous, into the city, and naturally posed a serious concern.
As for why Yam was assigned to deal with these "upper-class people" of Red River City, it was simply because he was not from the Red River Territory.
Eventually, he would return to the White Mountain Territory with Baron Ster, so no matter how harsh his current thods or how much resentnt he stirred among Red River City’s elites, once he left the city, it would all be written off. In fact, those people might even praise the Kasein Family afterward.
The dealings and operations with the rchant groups on Red River Street, on the other hand, were handled by Atork and Hales.
These two brothers from the Senels Family of Bayor Territory were true Bloodline Nobles.
They understood the weaknesses of the rchant groups and therefore knew their bottom lines, as well as how to negotiate with them.
Entrusting the task to them ensured that the complicated web of relationships behind the rchant guilds would not be rashly provoked, and naturally, the comrce of Red Eagle Territory would not be thrown into turmoil.
And if, in the worst case, the two brothers handled things poorly, they still had the Senels Family behind them. If enemies were made, it would be the Senels Family's enmity, not the Kasein Family’s.
Thus, from the outset, the Kasein Family had placed themselves in an invincible position in handling the aftermath of the attack and abduction of Joshua and Anna.
Yam might not have understood the full intention behind Atork and his elder brother Hales being sent to Red River Street, but he did grasp the reasoning behind his own assignnt to Lily Avenue.
Naturally, he also sensed the intent Monica had when assigning him, and that was why he felt ashad, and even guilty, toward the common people.
The group soon arrived in front of a three-story building.
With a wave of Yam’s hand, the twelve guards swiftly stepped forward, broke down the door, and entered. Screams, cries, and crashing noises quickly echoed from within.
Seeing that their own hos were not affected, the nearby pedestrians dared to inch closer, whispering among themselves.
As a Bloodline User, Yam had enhanced hearing, so the whispers were no secret to him.
Soon, from the murmurs of the crowd, he learned about the family who lived in that house.
The hoowner’s son had once served as a private soldier of the Tinsk Family, the lords of the Red River Territory.
Thanks to that connection, the family had operated a shop and done reasonably well.
But since Red River City fell and their son died in battle, everything had gone downhill.
The shop had closed, and they had survived on their savings for the past half year, naturally fostering so resentnt toward the Kasein Family who had conquered Red River City.
A few days earlier, the hoowner had drunk too much and complained aloud in a tavern, drawing the attention of those who were listening.
Normally, such incidents were minor and neither Marquis Visen nor Monica of the Kasein Family would care, perhaps even laughing them off.
But unfortunately, due to the recent attack and abduction of Joshua and Anna, this family ended up on Monica’s death list.
Among the over a hundred people arrested in recent days, most were unlucky like this.
There were only a handful of actual spies and collaborators.
But whether it was Yam, Atork, or the other lords, they all clearly understood that this was rely the Kasein Family’s thod of making an example.
They intended to plant seeds of terror, of rciless retaliation, of preferring to kill wrongly rather than let one enemy gox into the hearts of everyone in Red River City, and even across the entire Red River Territory, to ensure that no one would dare betray the Kasein Family again in the future.
Yam could not approve of such thods.
But what he discovered was that his younger brother Akar actually saw no issue with these actions. In fact, he admired them greatly, which led to the first disagreent between the brothers.
…
“I heard you had a quarrel with your brother?”
In the room at the Marquis’s Estate arranged for the Soderbell brothers, Anna brought so fruit as she ca to visit Akar.
This was the first ti she had co to see Akar since she and Joshua had safely returned to the Marquis’s Estate.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to co, she simply hadn’t found a suitable opportunity.
After all, her status ant she couldn’t just visit Akar casually.
“No, we just had a difference of opinion about so things,” Akar said with a carefree grin when he saw Anna, responding casually without concern.
“Was it… because of ?”
Hearing the slight guilt in Anna’s voice, Akar was montarily stunned, then hurriedly stood up to reassure her, “Of course not! It was about so of the things Miss Monica arranged. My brother thinks the thods are too ruthless... Hmph, my brother is just too upright and kind, that’s why he couldn’t accept it.”
“And what about you?” Anna suddenly asked. “Do you also think… Monica’s thods are too cruel?”
“Absolutely not.” Akar shook his head. “I actually think her approach is quite good, just like how Sister Lily handled those rchants in White Mountain City back then… I believe Miss Monica and Sister Lily would have a lot to talk about.”
“Sister Lily?” A trace of confusion appeared on Anna’s face, but she quickly understood. “You an Lily Bole?”
“Yeah.” Akar nodded. “She’s my brother’s fiancée. Lord Baron Ster has already granted the marriage. Once we return to the White Mountain Territory, my brother should be marrying Sister Lily.”
“You’re probably of age too, right? Don’t you have a betrothed?”
“No.” Akar shook his head. “Even if I did, I wouldn’t marry.”
“Why?” Anna looked up.
But the mont she asked, she imdiately understood why.
Because Akar was looking at her with burning eyes.
“I’m four years older than you.”
“I don’t care.” Akar shrugged.
“But you should know, my betrothed is Joshua…”
Hearing Anna’s voice grow smaller, Akar’s eyes gradually dimd, and he rely replied with a nasal “Mm.”
The atmosphere suddenly beca heavy with silence.
“I might be leaving here tomorrow.”
After a long pause, Anna spoke again, “Monica is sending Joshua back to Eaglehead Territory; it seems to be the Marquis’s order. I’m going back with Joshua… I won’t be returning to the Gem Territory.”
Akar said nothing.
He didn’t even look at Anna.
After a mont, he suddenly forced a carefree laugh. “Congratulations, Miss Anna.”
At those words, Anna’s heart twisted sharply, a sudden, suffocating pain welling up inside her.
“I…”
Anna looked up at Akar, only to see that he was not looking at her, but turning his gaze toward the small balcony outside the floor-to-ceiling window.
It was there, more than twenty days ago, that he had first seen Anna.
At that ti, Akar hadn’t thought much of it, and he certainly never expected that in less than a month, he would be alone with Anna in a room.
It was just that this being alone together wasn’t quite what he had imagined.
As Anna looked at Akar’s profile, she felt that this face, not conventionally handso, possessed a peculiar kind of charm. Finally, she couldn’t hold back and asked, “Have you sworn fealty to anyone?”
“No.” Akar shook his head. “My brother swore fealty to Brother Giggs… oh, that’s the eldest son of Baron Ster. My father and I haven’t sworn fealty to any lord, though for now, we serve the Bole Family under Baron Ster. He granted fiefs to and my father. But truthfully, my father and I haven’t sworn fealty to him.”
“Then…” Anna hesitated for a mont, then, as if making a decision, suddenly asked, “Would you be willing to swear fealty to ?”
Akar turned his head, looking at Anna with eyes full of astonishnt.
“Even if I can’t give you a fief, and can only offer you the title of a Household Knight, in the na of Anna Billy, would you be willing to swear fealty to ?”
…
Yam finally finished his duties for the day as night fell, dragging his exhausted body back to his room.
The mont he opened the door, he saw Akar packing his belongings.
“No need to rush. We still have a day to rest tomorrow, we’re not heading back until the day after.” Yam smiled, suddenly overco with the real sense that his younger brother had grown up. “But are you really fine with your injuries? Shouldn’t you rest a bit more?”
“Brother.” Akar stopped what he was doing, then suddenly turned around and looked at Yam with a serious face. “I have sothing to tell you.”
“What is it?” Yam suddenly sensed a very subtle atmosphere.
“I swore fealty to Anna.”
“You’re insane!” Yam’s expression changed drastically.
“I’ve already inford Baron Ster, and I’ve returned Fisher Village to the baron as well.”
“You…” Yam’s face looked rather unpleasant. “Do you know what you’re doing?”
“I do.” Akar nodded earnestly. “I’ve never felt as clear as I do now. I know exactly what I want, and… I’ve sworn by my bloodline, just like you did when you swore to Giggs.”
Yam’s face imdiately darkened.
But he knew clearly that from the mont Akar had sworn fealty, he could no longer stop him.
At that mont, he suddenly found himself sowhat resenting that his younger brother seed to have grown up.
…
“Monica.”
Monica, who had been busy handling affairs in Red River City, looked up when she heard the voice and saw Anna walking through the door.
A sweet smile appeared on her face. “Sister Anna, coming to see this late, what’s the matter? Aren’t you and Brother Joshua departing for Eaglehead Territory tomorrow? Why not get so good rest at this hour?”
“Akar Soderbell has sworn fealty to . He’s now my Household Knight.”
The smile on Monica’s face froze for a mont, then slowly faded.
She put down the quill in her hand, her brows furrowing slightly. “He swore fealty… only to you?”
“Yes.” Anna nodded.
She understood what Monica ant by that question, so her answer was equally straightforward.
“Then that’s a good thing.” Monica’s face quickly lit up with a smile again. “Congratulations, Sister Anna.”
Facing Monica’s smiling face, Anna did not return the smile this ti. Instead, she asked seriously, “Having Joshua marry , that was your idea, wasn’t it?”
Monica looked confused. “Sister Anna, what are you talking about…”
“I’m not stupid.” Anna shook her head. “I just shouldn’t act too smart, because I lack aptitude, and I have no inheritance rights. My father wants to be obedient and ignorant, so do both of my older brothers. …Don’t forget, I grew up in the Kasein Family and received the sa education as you all.”
The smile remained on Monica’s face. “Sister Anna, you’re overthinking. I…”
“When Burton was still around, I honestly didn’t bother thinking about these things. But these past twenty days have made clearly realize one thing, it's best to hold your destiny in your own hands, isn’t it?” Anna said slowly.
“I will marry Joshua, you don’t need to worry. …I just hope that the next ti I’m kidnapped, soone of my own will co to rescue , instead of lying there waiting to die in despair.”
Monica fell silent.
“I’m sorry, Sister Anna, I…”
“Monica.”
Monica looked up slightly and t Anna’s gaze.
“Don’t beco like the Marquis, with nothing left in your heart but calculations, no warmth remaining.” Anna sighed softly.
“In my heart, you are my family. So I’ll help you deal with Shuke, and Andre will die in the upcoming war against the Red Soil Territory. …As for the Gem Territory, it will belong to the Kasein Family. Joshua won’t even need to marry into it.”
“I’m sorry, Sister Anna, I…”
Monica stood up, walked around the desk, and hugged Anna tightly.
She held her with such strength, as if only through it could she prove the sincerity of her feelings.
But behind Anna’s back where she couldn’t see, the corners of Monica’s lips curled up slightly.
What Monica didn’t see either, was that while hugging her, Anna’s lips had curled up just the sa.
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