# After returning, the family was ruined (29)
The date for the public execution of the baron and his two sons was quickly set.
An official notice was posted in Poet in just one day, and on the second day, numerous people flocked to the square in the city.
A guillotine erected in the square.
The residents of the territory who saw the baron and his two sons up there sneered as if they were accusing them.
“Tsk! “You bastards!”
“He was a nobleman and practiced tyranny, but it turned out well! “You damn bastards!”
“Kill it quickly!”
The eyes of the residents gathered in the square were full of hostility.
For the past ten years, we have been suffering from the baron’s tyranny.
Life has become much more difficult than before.
Seeing children starving to death on the streets was a part of Poet’s daily life.
Besides, if only Baron Helmut up there was trash, that wasn’t the case either.
Helmut’s two sons, Ruin and Dexter, were just as bad as their father.
If there’s a woman they think is a bit decent, they threaten them, and in extreme cases, they kill her family and even kidnap her.
Is that it?
In addition to his personality of beating Young Ji-min to death because he had a cocky look in his eyes while passing by on the street, he was also a villain who committed all kinds of tyranny in the business place with his gang of eight dark men, causing all kinds of damage.
They’re such idiots that you can’t like them even if you try to like them.
The reason all the residents gathered in the square was to see for themselves the scene of the men being beheaded.
It was right then.
“The Archduke is entering! Everyone be quiet!”
A voice filled with aura resonated loudly throughout the surroundings. There was silence in the square at the knight’s shout.
Archduke Ethan.
It was a well-known fact that he was the eldest son of the Duke of Ardan.
A descendant of a famous family of heroes who woke up from a coma after ten years.
Not only did he capture Baron in an instant, but he was also known for eradicating the 8 Gates of Darkness in just one day.
As this was his first time appearing in person, it was inevitable that there would be a lot of interest.
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed behind the knight.
The territory residents swallowed their saliva.
Numerous rumors had already spread in Poet about the Archduke.
A muscular knight who is well over 3 meters tall.
It is said that he has such a cruel look that a crying child stops crying just by looking at his face.
A monster-like knight who uses a sword so large that it is difficult for a person to lift it.
We had already heard all sorts of rumors. Is that really what the Archduke looks like?
I couldn’t help but be curious.
Step by step.
Step by step.
When the Archduke revealed himself like that.
The residents of the territory could not help but widen their eyes.
‘It’s completely different from the rumors, isn’t it?’
He’s over 2m tall?
Absolutely not.
No matter how high you estimate the Archduke’s height, it didn’t seem like he would exceed the mid-180s. Moreover, the face was very different from what I thought.
I really thought it would look bad enough to make a crying child stop, or else it would be full of scars.
He was a much prettier youth than I thought.
If I hadn’t known, I would have thought he was just a handsome young man from a noble family, not a knight.
‘It’s a little thin, but…’
It’s not so thin that it makes you frown.
It just feels a bit delicate for a man. Fortunately, there was something similar among the rumors.
The two-handed sword hanging behind his back seemed so heavy that even a decent person would have trouble lifting it.
This must have been the case since the entire blade was made of steel and was large in size.
Soon he went up to the podium.
“The Barony of Kargath is one of the fiefdoms of the vassal family within the duchy. However, Helmut here has not only broken the vassal contract he made with the duchy, but has also been engaging in all kinds of exploitation from the barony.”
“….”
“I, Ethan, according to the family law, will reap the wealth of these three men and sentence them to death for their sins.”
“Wow!”
“Long live the Archduke!”
“Hail!”
The residents of the territory cheered.
The thought of those three disappearing immediately made me feel relieved, as if a tooth that had been hurting was falling out.
The execution ceremony was carried out amidst loud cheers, like a festival.
After the three bodies were removed, a brief speech followed.
The residents of the territory cheered loudly when items that would bring immediate benefits, such as the abolition of the protection tax and tax reduction, were announced.
Archduke.
He was a benevolent monarch who was completely different from previous rulers.
* * *
A hunting annex located in the Barony.
A fancy carriage arrived there. Sylvia got off the carriage and looked at the annex.
‘This is where the Archduke lived.’
Two-story log cabin.
It was too shabby a place to be the place where the children of the famous Duke of Ardan lived.
Even Helmut’s inner city was dozens of times more splendid than this.
While I was looking at the annex for a moment.
A maid quickly ran out from inside.
“Do you have any business?”
Judging from the sight of the fancy carriage, it was clear that it had not been visited by someone of ordinary social status.
Of course, my attitude had no choice but to become cautious.
“Is the Grand Duchess inside?”
“yes. There you are. But who is he?…”
“My name is Lawrence, and he is in charge of the Archduke’s affairs. “Here is a letter from the Archduchess. Please give it to the Archduchess.”
“All right.”
The maid who received the letter went inside. Less than three minutes later, Elena quickly came running out of the annex.
‘She is the Grand Duchess.’
Grand Duchess Elena.
She was truly a woman with the appearance of a gorgeous rose.
There is a story that the members of the Duke’s family have been handsome men and women for generations.
The rumor didn’t seem to be false.
A knight was quietly following behind her.
Although his swordsmanship was no different from that of an ordinary worm, he could at least tell at a glance what a person’s spirit was like.
At least it wasn’t like I was talking about something.
Sylvia had a hunch.
Meanwhile, Elena, who had run to Sylvia, hurriedly asked back.
“Are the contents of the letter true?”
“yes. “Grand Duchess.”
“Oh my god… taking over the Barony…”
Complex emotions appeared on Elena’s face. It’s definitely good news, but it’s also news that you can’t just like.
As Ethan stands out, won’t the danger that comes in the future increase? I knew that my younger brother was an excellent technician, but as the older sister, I couldn’t help but be worried.
‘I killed a member of the 10 collateral families…’
The remaining nine families could have made up their mind to move. That was when Elena’s face filled with sadness.
“You don’t have to worry too much. “Your Majesty is making his move after completing all calculations.”
“Ah… you said Mr. Lawrence, right? This is not the time. Let’s go inside the carriage and talk. “Lord Paulton…”
“Oh, I have a horse, so it’s okay. “If you move first, I will follow suit.”
“yes.”
Elena and Sylvia entered the carriage.
“Did you say you were a tactician?”
“That’s right. You may feel free to say that. The Archduke is doing the same….”
“Ah… yes.”
Elena nodded and looked at Lawrence. Although he looked delicate on the outside, being a strategist was not a position where appearances were important.
What is important is the wisdom contained in that mind.
Therefore, there was no particular prejudice.
“Can I hear Ethan’s plans for how he will move forward?”
“of course.”
The Grand Duchess was the person who cared for the Grand Duke, who was in a coma, for as long as ten years.
In fact, the Archduke also treated his older sister with great respect.
When I was told to bring her in this morning, I was given instructions to behave as politely as possible.
A person like that had the right to know about the Archduke’s movements.
“Do you know that the 10 collateral families are not completely one?”
“Recently, I heard that factions have been created.”
“The Counts of Pernes and the Counts of Amelton. Two families serve as the heads of each faction. “The Archduke plans to use this fact to continue defeating each enemy.”
As the carriage moved toward the baronial territory, Sylvia continued her story. No matter what question Elena asked, Sylvia’s answer was flawless.
“Wow, you are really smart?”
“…That’s too much praise.”
“no. “Because you’re such a wise kid, Ethan must have kept you as a trickster.”
Elena’s eyes sparkled.
As we talked, I felt very close to him, and he also looked delicate, so I felt like he was a cute younger brother. Elena said, holding Sylvia’s hand.
“I’ll take care of you in the future.”
She is a woman who is so superior in everything, including her status, appearance, and mentality, that she cannot be compared to herself.
I can’t believe a woman like that was talking to me while holding my hand.
Sylvia was embarrassed as she was experiencing something for the first time in her life.
To her, nobles were like clouds flowing gracefully high in the sky.
Sylvia, who had calmed down her shaking pupils, managed to answer.
“…I will do my best to assist the Archduke.”
Her cheeks were slightly red as she answered in a calm tone.
* * *
The carriage arrived at Naeseong.
Ethan, who had come to meet her in advance, greeted Elena in person.
“Come on.”
“Wow… it’s really big.”
Elena’s eyes sparkled after seeing her introspection. It was a building whose size could not even be compared to the hunting annex.
When I thought about living in a place like this in the future, I couldn’t help but feel my heart pounding.
Meanwhile, a knight got off his horse and approached Ethan.
He bowed his head politely and introduced himself.
“I have heard a lot about you, Grand Duke. “My name is Paulton.”
It’s Paulton.
This is an article whose name I have never heard of.
Still, it seemed like a knight with some tricks of his own.
‘He must be a 6-star knight.’
6 stars.
He was at a level called an elite knight.
Normally, a person with this level of skill could be said to be a person of sufficient skill to be treated well by even a high-ranking noble family, such as a count or higher.
It was as if the Marquis of Bessus had assigned personnel in a way that was not regrettable.
Knights of 6 stars or higher are likely to be truly skilled, possessed only by a small number of families at marquis level or higher.
“It’s Ethan.”
“yes.”
The moment I shook hands with him.
Paulton’s mana very secretly scanned Ethan’s body.
It was a move so secret that it was difficult to notice unless it was a knight of the same level.
‘That’s pretty good mana control.’
However, it was not enough to avoid the energy of Ethan, who was a transcendent in his previous life.
As soon as the mana was scattered, Paulton’s mana, which was attempting to search, dispersed like a mirage.
I was shocked for a moment.
An emotion began to stir deep within the boy’s pupils.
It was just a desire to win.
Ethan said with a grin.
“Please take care of me in the future.”
“…yes.”
If a knight like this were to act as an escort, there would be no major problems with Elena’s safety. Soon after, I walked around the castle with Elena.
Her eyes were sparkling every time, but when she saw her room, her mouth dropped open.
“…was this room originally like this?”
“no. It’s newly decorated. Do you like it?”
Sofas and chairs surrounded by soft peacock skin. It was an item ordered directly from the Marquis of Bessus.
From the gorgeous chandelier to all the jewelry decorated in the room. It was a place that could not even be compared to the room we lived in at the hunting annex.
Do you like it?
I couldn’t even lift it, so my heart was pounding like it was going to explode. When she saw Ethan, she hesitated and said.
“These… must be expensive…”
“They’re not expensive at all.”
“Still…”
“The Grand Duchess of Ardan shouldn’t be surprised by a sight like this.”
“…is it?”
“It’s like that. “I’ll give you a teacher to take care of your education starting tomorrow, so get some rest.”
“teacher?”
“In the future, there will be a lot of families that my older sister will have to take care of.”
It was Ethan who did many things as the head of the family. However, his essence was ultimately a knight who cut down his enemies with a sword.
Even if you only focus on what you can do best, time is not enough.
‘I should teach you internal affairs from now on.’
Then, wouldn’t we be able to continue to advance without any burden in the future?
I also happened to have a good teacher.
A Frexian who held the position of administrative chief in his previous life.
He would be able to provide quality education to Elena, who could be considered a beginner in internal affairs.
“okay. “I will study hard, Ethan.”
After the housewarming party, we settled down until dinner.
I went straight to Paulton.
He was staying near Elena’s room.
“Do you have time?”
“yes.”
“Then let’s have a fight.”
6 star knight.
At this level, he was a pretty good sparring partner. Paulton’s eyes sparkled at Ethan’s words.