Hansel sat in the carriage, his mood as dark as the overcast sky outside. He had been in this state for two weeks now, the weight of disappointment pressing heavily on his shoulders.


    More than half a month ago, he had opened the letter of appointment from the royal family with excitement, only to be dumbfounded by its contents. He was being sent to a place he had never even heard of before—a permanent representative to the Earl of Lehmann. It might as well have been a place where the birds wouldn’t even dare to rest.


    As if that wasn’t enough, he had encountered an old man on the way to the barracks, someone he had met during his escape from a previous assignment. The man had already settled his affairs and was preparing to return home, and that’s when Hansel recalled the Earl of Greymans was from the same region. At least he wouldn’t be alone on this journey.


    His thoughts drifted to Matthew, an old classmate who had managed to secure a position under the princess’s command. “Though our roles differ, we are all loyal to the King!” Matthew had said, his tone dripping with sarcasm that Hansel couldn’t shake off.


    “Bah! As if Your Royal Highness needs your advice. You think I’d take notes on your so-called ‘virtues’?” The thought of Matthew made Hansel’s stomach churn.


    In stark contrast, Ford, who shared the carriage, was in high spirits. The princess had readily acknowledged Paul Greymans’ succession to the title, and with the current pressure from pirates on their territory, the franchise was relieved from sending troops to serve the king. Ford had even managed to secure 50 pairs of leather armor and 50 spears for the cause.


    As they traveled, Hansel gathered information about the Graiman family from Ford. Their lineage could be traced back to a significant family in the ancient Bella Empire. When that empire collapsed, the Graimans established themselves, later becoming a loyal house to the Aldo Dynasty. However, a miscalculation in a political struggle cost them their wealth and prominence, leading to their decline and eventual relocation to the barren Northwest Gulf. Hansel understood now why the family had faded from the kingdom’s political landscape.


    “Ah... my life feels so bleak,” he thought. “Unknown nobles, a backcountry I’ve never seen, and not even a decent town along the way. Am I destined to be buried in obscurity?”


    The more he pondered, the more resentful he became of his background. If only his mother had been of higher birth, if only he hadn’t been the result of a concubine’s union. But dwelling on the past was futile. He forced himself to focus on his current mission: to work diligently and one day return to the side of the King and the Princess. His efforts would be recognized, he resolved.


    Ford’s voice broke his thoughts. “Look, Sir Abbott! In front of you is Lake Arda, the namesake of this land—Ardaland. We’re heading to Deepvein Town.”


    As the trees thinned, a vast lake came into view, its far side obscured by mist. An island dominated the water, with buildings scattered across it, most notably a castle that rose majestically in the center.


    “This ‘town’ is the capital of an earldom? It looks worse than the countryside near the capital,” Hansel thought dismissively.


    Yet, he reminded himself that many lords built their castles in such strategic locations, often on high ground or isolated islands for defense. Young nobles like him, however, rarely ventured far from the royal capital, leading to his ignorance of such practices.


    As they approached the lake, a massive pontoon bridge came into view. Connected by boats, it seemed designed to be dismantled quickly in case of an enemy attack.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    “Should we get out and walk?” Hansel asked, his anxiety about the bridge palpable.


    Ford chuckled and reassured him, “Sir Abbott, this bridge is sturdy enough. A carriage is no trouble at all.”


    With a deep breath, Hansel settled back in his seat. Once they crossed the bridge and reached the island, he felt a wave of relief wash over him.


    “Now, Sir Abbott, I need to report to the lord. Please follow my servant to the guest room while I arrange your meeting,” Ford instructed.


    “Of course, Ford,” Hansel replied as the carriage rolled through the castle gates, where Butler Philip approached.


    “Ford, you’re back!” Philip greeted, his face brightening.


    “Just in time, Butler. I need to see the Earl immediately.”


    “Funny you should mention that,” Philip replied, a hint of concern in his voice. “The Earl has taken the newly recruited soldiers out for training and may not return for several days.”


    “What? He led a group of recruits out? Doesn’t he know how dangerous the pirates are right now?” Ford exclaimed, worry etching his features.


    “I tried to persuade him, but he insisted. Master Claude is accompanying him with the castle guards for protection.”


    Ford sighed in relief, “Then let’s send someone to find the Earl immediately. He must know that the royal commissioner is here waiting for him.”


    “Yes, I’ll send word right away,” Philip said, bowing slightly before hurrying off.


    Ford turned to Hansel. “I apologize, Sir Abbott. It seems you’ll have to wait a while.”


    “It’s no trouble. If the Earl is unavailable, may I take a stroll around?” Hansel asked.


    “Of course! You’re a distinguished guest here. Treat this place as your home,” Ford encouraged before departing, leaving a servant to guide Hansel.


    Feeling a thirst for something refreshing, Hansel instructed his guide to take him and Tommen to the local tavern. The tavern was lively, filled with chatter and laughter. Suddenly, a well-dressed young man entered, followed closely by Ford’s servant. The atmosphere grew quiet as patrons sensed his noble status.


    “Boss, bring me three beers. Make sure the glasses are clean,” the young noble ordered confidently.


    “Yes, sir! Right away!” The tavern owner, flustered, rushed to comply.


    Hansel chuckled to himself, noting how small-town folk reacted to nobility. He found a seat by the window, ordering his guide to set the table.


    The tavern was an excellent venue for gathering news, and Hansel intended to make the most of it. He watched as the proprietor brought over the beers, taking one for himself and offering the others to Tommen and the guide.


    He scanned the room, noticing most patrons avoided his gaze, anxious not to offend him. Only one young man, sporting a fur hat, sneaked glances in his direction.


    “You, come here! Yes, you in the fur hat!” Hansel called out.


    The young man, initially startled, approached with trepidation. As he knelt before Hansel, he began to stammer, “Master, I was just curious, I swear! I didn’t mean any harm!”


    “Relax! I’m not going to harm you,” Hansel said, amused. “I just want to ask a few questions.”


    The young man stood, visibly relieved, yet still nervous. “Sit,” Hansel commanded.


    “Me? Sit here? How could I?”


    “Sit down when a baron asks you to!” Tommen chimed in, grinning.


    With no choice, the young man took a seat, thanking Hansel profusely.


    “I’d like to know—how serious is the bandit situation right now?” Hansel inquired.


    “Terribly serious,” the young man replied, his voice trembling. “They haven’t attacked here yet, but people are terrified. Now, even traveling between villages requires a large group for safety.”


    “Is the lord doing anything about this?”


    “Of course! The old lord died fighting against the bandits. The new lord, Master Paul, has begun recruiting soldiers since his ascension. He’s determined to deal with them.”


    “I heard he’s just a child?” Hansel pressed.


    “Yeah, he’s quite young and inexperienced. The old Earl spoiled him; he was always getting into trouble…” The young man suddenly fell silent, realizing he was talking about his lord in front of another nobleman.


    Hansel smiled, sensing an interesting story behind the young lord. He ordered the tavern owner to give the young man a drink on him, intrigued by the challenges facing this “kid” in charge.


    As he listened to tales of the new Earl—who had introduced public toilets and cleanliness initiatives—Hansel found himself impressed. “Not bad for a country lord,” he thought. “I hope he’s not like the other country bumpkins in the kingdom.”


    Standing up, he rewarded the young man with a few coins for his time and beckoned Tommen and the guide to continue their exploration of this new, unfamiliar land.