There was only one way the life of a poor farmer would play out: all their lives, they would toil away at the back breaking farm work until they caught a serious illness and died. If they at least had family they loved, they could continue to endure while thinking of their family. But he had none of that.

‘Instead of continuing to live like this, it is better to gamble just this once……!’

He strode ahead and grabbed the sword that was embedded into the ground. He only had to exert a little strength to pull it out.

“Argh! You are risking your life for a moment’s greed!”

The people of the village tut-tutted in frustration, lambasting him for his foolishness, while still fearing that they would all be punished.

With all kinds of gazes on him, Peter walked to the center of the village, the sword in one hand. The villagers dispersed to go do their work with fear in their hearts, while praying that the lord’s wrath would not extend to those who were innocent.

A knight came from the castle to look for Peter at his house later that afternoon.

The moment the news that a knight had come in person to look for him spread, the villagers secretly began looking to see what would unfold. Some even hid behind trees to watch the scene.

“Are you Peter Bills, the one who moved the Lord Marquis’s sword?”

“Ye-es…… it was I.”

Has the punishment they had all been expecting finally come? Peter swallowed nervously. He had acted full of confidence in front of all the villagers, but there was no way he could be without fear.

‘Is, is he really here to have my head?’

The sword hanging from the knight’s waist seemed to stand out even more.

Just as he thought that he should at least prostrate and beg for forgiveness, the knight spoke again.

“Peter Bills, kneel to receive the lord’s reward!”

“?!”

As soon as the knight spoke those words, the soldiers who had been standing behind him stepped forward.

Thud.

Two soldiers placed the chest they had been carrying on the ground. When they opened the chest, what it was filled to the brim with was……

“Huhh?!”

It was gold, its brilliance enough to blind the eye.

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-The tax rate will be limited to 40%.

-Compulsory labor will only be two days a week.

-Before commoners can be executed, a fair trial must be carried out, even if the other party is a noble.

-If those who ran away during Count Altair’s rule return, they will not be charged with any crimes and will receive no punishment.

-The same rules apply to migrants.

“It is good that it is concise and easy to read.”

Nadia was looking at the decree that had been posted throughout the village with a satisfied smile. Now all the people in the territory must be talking ceaselessly about Peter Bill’s new fortune and about the new lord’s decrees. She turned her head as she asked.

“Ah, yes. Glenn, has your sword been returned?”

“It was returned a while ago. I had wondered what you were going to do with the sword. Turns out you were trying to get them to trust us.”

“You have to do that to make your rule easier.”

Commoners did not trust noble people. That was because, to the nobles, the promises they made with ‘people below them’ was worth less than the pebbles found on the streets. Due to that, the villagers had only thought that the lord was bestowing the gold on a whim: having just won new territory, the lord must have been happy and wanted to throw his wealth around. That was until the administrators came with the new decree and said:

“How was Peter Bills able to receive that fortune? Of course it was because he believed in what the lord said. Now you can’t get that any more. The boon of being rewarded gold for moving the sword ended yesterday.”

“But take a look at the decree! That is the promise the lord is making to all of you. The lord has promised to give you a fair price for your labor, the right to take days of rest, and a system through which you can complain if you are treated unjustly.”

“If you trust the lord and work loyally, you will be able to enjoy a more comfortable life than just receiving gold!”

Having suffered under Count Altair’s tyranny for so long, they were all shocked by this. They talked and talked about the new lord, and all the new changes he had made. And because of that, the news was spread all over, just as Nadia had hoped.

When the news reached far away regions, farmers began heading to Vallong castle again.

“Glenn.”

“Uhm?”

“You should get ready. You will become very busy in a short while.”

Not long after, Nadia’s prediction came true.

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