Ethan's life, as the sixth son of a serf family in the southern territories, had always been harsh. Born into poverty, he matured early, understanding his responsibilities as a child of ager ans. To avoid angering his perpetually irritated father, Ethan diligently completed his assigned tasks and never neglected to help his frail mother, worn out from nurous childbirths.
Though four more siblings were born after him, only one brother and two sisters survived. Despite days spent toiling in the fields until his bones ached, the family subsisted on rough bread mixed with sand—and even that was a luxury.
At sixteen, Ethan married his childhood friend, Anna, from the neighboring house. However, the sweetness of their newlywed life was short-lived, ending with the stillbirth of their first child. The hard labor Anna endured during her pregnancy, coupled with poor nutrition, had taken its toll.
Anna fell into a deep depression, her vitality gradually fading.
"Why the fuss? A baby dies, and she collapses? She's got it easy, hasn't she?" whispered the villagers, their hearts hardened by unending labor and loss.
Though Anna eventually recovered, her weakened body could not regain its forr strength. To support her, Ethan worked even harder. Slowly, her smiles returned.
But one day, when things seed to be improving, a farm overseer's subordinate brought crushing news.
"Ethan, you've been reassigned to the rocky fields. Just a heads-up."
"What? But… we've already finished planting," Ethan protested.
"Co on now, you know no one will buy those rocky fields. It ans you'll be sold off soon," the man replied bluntly.
"And my parents? My wife?" Ethan asked, panic creeping into his voice.
"The elderly and weak won won't be sold. Your wife will probably remarry so widower in the village, and your brother can take care of your parents."
Ethan's thoughts flashed to his older brother, who had returned from the lord's war with one arm. Despite his efforts, his harvest was half of what others managed. After taxes and tributes to the lord, he often relied on handouts from Ethan and their married sisters.
And Anna? Could he really leave her to marry soone else? He pictured her shy smile from their wedding night.
No. Never.
"My lord, you know my brother's condition. I'm the only one supporting my family. Please, I beg you!" Ethan pleaded.
"Enough! The lord has already decided. You're not the only one—every able-bodied man and unmarried woman in the village is being sold," the subordinate replied with a pitying shake of his head. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire
The village's poor yield the previous year had left it vulnerable. Though the land was naturally barren, the lord needed imdiate funds, and the villagers were the sacrifice.
Ethan collapsed in despair as the cries of families being torn apart echoed throughout the village.
Days passed in a haze of hopelessness until the subordinate returned with surprising news.
"Ethan, I've got good news for you."
Ethan, his eyes hollow and lifeless, looked up.
"Is it ti for to be sold?"
The man coughed awkwardly before speaking in a placating tone.
"Not quite. The lord who purchased you is a generous man. To prevent families from being separated, he's decided to buy the families of all his serfs as well."
A glimr of life returned to Ethan's eyes.
"Really? Then I won't be separated from my family?"
"That's right. It's a relief for too. Prepare to leave in three days. Your one-ard brother and your sisters' families are included. The whole village is being moved," the man explained.
Overwheld with gratitude, Ethan's tears flowed freely.
"Thank you, my new lord…"
What Ethan didn't know was that similar scenes were unfolding across other southern estates.
With his ticulous nature, Ethan spent the three days preparing as best as he could. While so neighbors scoffed at his efforts, others followed his example, organizing their families for the journey.
Ethan gathered cloth to wrap their feet, stripping even the window coverings from their small ho. He fashioned walking sticks that could double as weapons if needed. Into their bundles, he packed smoked at from winter poaching—enough for each family mber to have a piece for strength. He even included the baby clothes of their first child, treasuring its mory.
The journey was grueling. So of the elderly and children died along the way, their bodies buried hastily before the group moved on.
After countless days of walking, their destination finally ca into view: the Crassus estate, accessible only through a narrow gorge.
As they waited for their guide, Anna clutched Ethan's sleeve, her wide eyes fixed on sothing in the distance. Following her gaze, Ethan saw a knight descending on a dark blue jaguar-like beast.
"Is that an angel?" Anna whispered.
"No, it's a magical beast. They say nobles ride those creatures," another villager murmured as the crowd began to buzz.
Ethan, stealing a glance at the knight's face as he dismounted, was stunned. Could soone really look like that?
Under the soldiers' guidance, they were led through the gorge to their new ho, a place that seed like paradise.
Each family was assigned a tent equipped with simple beds and lockers. The beds, made from stacked logs, were both practical and efficient, as the logs could later be repurposed as firewood. Fresh straw was laid on top of the beds—a luxury Anna marveled at as she ran her fingers through the clean, dry fibers.
"That knight—he's the heir to the Crassus estate, isn't he?" Anna asked, her voice tinged with wonder.
"Yes, and this place seems truly exceptional," Ethan replied.
His older brother, Yurik, looked equally pleased. Having recently promised his future to a young widow from a neighboring estate, he was filled with hope.
Assigned to tents near the farmland, they soon set out to work. Though the planting season had passed, the fields clearly needed extensive clearing and preparation.
Their allocated plots were larger than what they were used to—large enough to leave surplus even after taxes. Moreover, the taxes here were significantly lower than at their previous estate, and there was no need to pay tributes.
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