The morning mist clung to the hills surrounding Blackwood Manor.
The old estate was unusually quiet.
Only the chirping of birds and the distant sound of an axe breaking wood disturbed the silence.
Kael stood on the eastern balcony with a cup of tea in his hand.
From here...
He could see nearly half of Blackwood.
Small villages.
Rolling fields.
Dense forests.
A river cutting through the valley like a silver ribbon.
It was beautiful.
Painfully beautiful.
Because beneath that beauty...
People were suffering.
Footsteps echoed behind him.
"Your Highness."
Edwin bowed slightly.
"The horses are ready."
Kael turned around.
"Horses?"
"I thought we agreed to walk."
Edwin smiled awkwardly.
"It is nearly twelve miles to Oakridge Village."
Kael laughed.
"Then we'll walk twelve miles."
"But—"
"If an old farmer can walk that road every week..."
"I can walk it once."
Edwin knew there was no changing his mind.
He simply nodded.
"As you wish."
Less than an hour later...
Four figures walked along the dirt road.
Kael.
Edwin.
Lily.
Bram.
No carriage.
Only simple traveling clothes.
The same ones they had worn before.
Kael preferred it that way.
People acted differently around crowns.
The road curved through golden wheat fields.
Most of the crops looked healthy.
That confused Kael.
Yesterday's reports had claimed food shortages.
"Something doesn't add up."
The system remained silent.
It didn't answer every question.
Some answers had to be earned.
After another mile...
They met an old farmer pulling a wooden cart.
One wheel wobbled badly.
The man struggled with every step.
Without saying a word...
Kael walked over and grabbed the other side.
The farmer blinked.
"Oh!"
"You don't have to, young man."
Kael smiled.
"It's easier with two people."
The old man chuckled.
"I won't argue with free help."
Together...
They pushed the cart up the hill.
When they reached the top, the farmer wiped sweat from his forehead.
"Thank you."
"What's your name?"
"Kael."
The old man nodded.
"Mine's Walter."
He studied Kael for a moment.
"You aren't from around here."
"No."
"I'm new."
Walter laughed.
"Then let me give you some advice."
Kael folded his arms.
"I'm listening."
The old man's smile slowly disappeared.
"If anyone asks..."
"Don't tell them you have money."
"And don't tell them you're staying long."
Kael frowned.
"Why?"
Walter looked around before lowering his voice.
"Because someone always hears."
Those words stayed with Kael.
Someone always hears.
By midday...
Oakridge Village finally came into view.
A wooden sign hung crookedly near the entrance.
Several letters had faded with time.
Children played near a stream.
Women washed clothes.
Blacksmiths hammered steel.
At first glance...
The village seemed peaceful.
Then Kael noticed something strange.
Nobody laughed.
Not the children.
Not the adults.
Not even the elderly men sitting beneath the old oak tree.
Everyone smiled politely...
But nobody looked happy.
As they entered the marketplace...
Conversation stopped.
Merchants lowered their voices.
Several people quickly packed away small items from their stalls.
One woman even hid a loaf of bread beneath a cloth.
Kael noticed everything.
He didn't understand it.
Yet.
They stopped at a fruit stand.
An elderly woman sold apples.
There were only seven left.
"Good morning."
Kael picked one up.
"How much?"
The woman hesitated.
"Three copper."
Kael handed her five.
"Keep the change."
The woman's eyes widened.
"No."
She hurriedly pushed two coins back into his hand.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
She looked terrified.
"If they find out..."
"They'll think I cheated you."
Kael's smile slowly disappeared.
"Who?"
The woman immediately lowered her head.
"I said too much."
She turned away.
"I... I have customers."
Kael stood there for several seconds.
He looked at Edwin.
Edwin avoided his gaze.
"You already knew."
The old butler sighed.
"I suspected."
"Suspected what?"
"That fear rules Blackwood."
The words hit Kael harder than he expected.
Fear.
Not hunger.
Not poverty.
Fear.
The system finally appeared.
"Imperial Observation"
Territory Status Updated
Economic Output: Recoverable
Agricultural Potential: High
Primary Obstacle:
Fear
Recommendation:
Discover its source before attempting reform.
Kael quietly closed the screen.
He didn't need the system to tell him that anymore.
He had seen it with his own eyes.
The village bell suddenly rang.
Dong.
Dong.
Dong.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Every merchant stood.
Every child stopped playing.
Every conversation ended.
Dust rose from the road outside the village.
Horse hooves.
Several riders approached.
The villagers' faces turned pale.
Walter, the old farmer from earlier, whispered just loud enough for Kael to hear.
"They're here..."
Kael turned toward the road.
Five mounted men entered the village. Black cloaks. Steel armor. Each carried the banner of a silver wolf.
One of them held a scroll.
Another dragged a heavy chain behind his horse. The villagers lowered their heads.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Even the children hid behind their mothers.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
He leaned toward Edwin.
"Who are they?"
Edwin's face grew grim.
"They're not Imperial soldiers."
"They're the Baron's tax enforcers." The lead rider pulled his horse into the center of the square. Without dismounting, he unrolled the scroll and shouted,
"By the authority of Baron Cedric Halwen!"
"The monthly tax collection begins now!"
The square fell silent.
One little girl tightened her grip on her mother's hand.
An old man quietly removed his hat.
A merchant closed his eyes.
Kael watched every face.
Not one of them looked angry.
They looked...
Defeated.
And for the first time since returning to Blackwood...
Kael realized something.
The people didn't need hope.
They had forgotten hope could even exist.
He took one slow step forward.
Edwin immediately whispered,
"Your Highness..."
"Not yet."
Kael kept his eyes on the tax collectors.
"I know."
His voice was calm.
"But I'm going to remember every face."