The bustling town of Garon, in the downtown area.
One of the old guards was walking down the street, his attire immediately identifying who he was. The envious and jealous eyes of the serfs and the complex looks from the knightly nobles gave Raymond a unique feeling. Who would have thought that a fugitive slave from Lyonnais would have such a day?
Old guard? Raymond felt somewhat proud. In such hot weather, there was no need to wear a bearskin hat. Although the end of July marked the end of the hottest season in Brittany, wearing the bearskin hat still felt a bit warm. He knew exactly why he chose to wear the old guard's uniform home.
With a few gold coins in his pocket, Raymond walked down the familiar yet unfamiliar streets toward his home. Familiar, because there were road signs everywhere. Since joining the army, Ryan had implemented some literacy programs for soldiers. After becoming a company commander and receiving the rank of sergeant, Raymond had been semi-forced into a cramming education. Now, his literacy level was equivalent to that of a common village elder in Brittany, able to read and write a few hundred words.
Unfamiliar, because Garon had changed so quickly. The town seemed to have been blessed by the Lady of the Lake, changing drastically every year, every month, every day. It was as if the Lady of the Lake had drawn a circle in the south of Brittany, miraculously gathering all the nearby serfs and knights to form the city it is today. It was a miracle.
This miracle was turned into songs by many bards and spread far and wide. It was named "The Story of Spring." Now, Garon's market had become a large trade center where you could find any kind of goods from the Old World. Imperial dark beer and various specialties had become part of the people's lives. From the poorest quality halfling swill (grape wine made by halflings) to the finest Winford Grand Cru "Roussanus," from the worst coarse cloth to the highest quality Cathay silk, dyes, oils, grains, flour, from the worst black bread to the finest black pepper steak, all could be found in Garon's market.
However, there were still some luxury goods out of reach for the serfs, such as spices and enchanted golden statues from Lusatia, coffee imported from Tilea, handmade jewelry and clothing from the wood elves, deer meat strictly forbidden for serfs, and the most expensive of all, high elf chocolate, which could sell for seventy to eighty gold crowns per pound, only affordable by great nobles.
Raymond thought he would like to try some if he had the chance, but not now. He arrived at the entrance of a butcher shop, bustling with people coming and going. This butcher shop looked unfamiliar, likely newly opened, run by a shepherd from Carcassonne. Since Duke Ryan's victory in the recapture of Mousilon, Duke Hubald had finally decided to fully follow Ryan's lead.
As the locals would say, many "sheep" had recently come from the south. This had two meanings. One, a lot of sheep had indeed come from Carcassonne, leading to a drop in mutton prices so that every household could afford it. The shepherds from Carcassonne brought batch after batch of sheep to sell, leaving content with bags of gold and silver coins. The second meaning was that many freemen from Carcassonne had come to the town to try and settle down, making the already crowded town even more packed. This caused some discontent among the locals, especially those serfs who had settled there before Ryan's arrival. However, due to improved living conditions and less competition for jobs, along with the fact that both groups were from the knightly kingdom, conflicts remained under control. Ryan had already issued the Mousilon Development Order, preparing to relocate enough serfs from the crowded towns to the new territory of Mousilon.
Raymond's family, now holding freeman status, had no interest in moving to Mousilon, but many serfs willing to change their fate were eager to go.
Seeing an old guard appear, the market buzzed with excitement. People curiously and fearfully approached, pointing and murmuring about Raymond.
"Wow, that's an old guard!"
"That's someone who must have fought in three major battles and served at least five years to become an old guard!"
"Look at the medals on his uniform! He followed the Duke in the Battle of Blackstone Fortress, the Battle of La-Maisonnel Abbey, and the conquest of Mousilon!"
"What a handsome uniform!"
"When my child grows up, I must send him to join the army! To become an old guard!"
"You think it's that easy? Can your son survive three major battles?"
"Better than being a serf for life!"
Compared to the reverence and admiration for the Grail Knights, the town's residents felt a closeness to the old guards. They knew the knightly class might be unattainable, but anyone could aspire to become an old guard through hard work. No one wanted to be a serf forever; everyone dreamed of becoming a freeman and gaining honor. So, when Raymond appeared, people felt free to point and discuss.
He's a soldier who came from among us serfs!
Seeing the situation, Raymond felt a bit helpless. He knew they were bound to be watched as role models, so he sternly nodded to everyone as a greeting. Then he approached a butcher shop clearly run by a Carcassonne native.
How could he tell it was a Carcassonne native? Because the shop displayed the Carcassonne Duchy coat of arms: red and blue stripes with a sword in the middle and fleurs-de-lis on either side. The butcher sold both raw and cooked mutton, as well as Carcassonne specialties like mutton pies and mutton bread, and mutton stew. The owner, a typical Carcassonne man, not very educated but strong and skilled, like most from the duchy, was a fierce warrior due to the region's history of repelling invaders from the south. The best way to handle the endless threats from the Black Mountains was to become more savage than the greenskins and beastmen.
"Hello, esteemed old guard, what can I get for you? Come in, we have the best mutton from Carcassonne, both raw and cooked," the butcher greeted Raymond with surprise, forcing a smile.
"I'd like some cooked mutton," Raymond nodded.
"Help yourself, just tell me how much you want," the butcher replied politely.
Raymond bought two pounds of cooked lamb chops, the best kind, costing him a few silver coins. Carrying the wrapped meat, he headed home.
With good public security in the town and his house relatively near the center, his mother was sitting at the door cleaning vegetables. Although her eyes were somewhat clouded, her spirits were high. She recognized her son from afar. "Raymond! My son!"
This shout drew the attention of the entire street. Raymond immediately felt dozens of eyes on him. He quickly ran a few steps, saluted his mother habitually. "Mom, I'm back!"
"Oh, it's good to have you back. Thomas kept saying when would his big brother come back!" His mother stood up, eyes blurry with tears. Her excitement turned to a bit of apprehension as she quickly wiped her hands on her apron, feeling a bit inferior despite wearing good linen clothes. Nervously, she said, "Raymond, I..."
"Mom, where's Thomas?" Raymond didn't mind. He handed over the cooked lamb chops. "I brought something good for Thomas."
"Thomas is still at the dwarf's school... Oh, we don't lack anything at home. Why did you buy this?" His mother took the lamb, her joy turning into reproach. "Why did you buy this?"
"Doesn't Thomas like mutton?" Raymond was puzzled. He remembered his brother loving mutton.
"No, no, it's just that, knowing you were coming back today, I..." She hurried inside and brought out a lamb leg.
Seeing the lamb chops he bought and the lamb leg she prepared, they both burst into laughter. "Hahaha~" The house filled with joyful air.
That night, with the lively younger brother Thomas home, the family reunited for a meal. They couldn't believe they, once fugitive slaves, were living such a good life.
They had two maids, one for household chores and the other a young, pretty girl about fourteen or fifteen. His mother said she found her working odd jobs on the street, took pity, and brought her home. With many Lyonnais people in town, especially women, Raymond wasn't surprised. But when his mother suggested the girl could serve Raymond in the barracks, he quickly declined. "No, Mom, the old guard's discipline is strict. No family members allowed in the barracks. We train, eat, and live together in the barracks, only going home on leave every ten days."
"Can't you get married?" His mother was surprised.
"We can marry, but even then, we must live in the barracks, only going home on leave or Sundays," Raymond explained. "Unless we retire from the old guard or are assigned another duty."
"That's too strict..." His mother grumbled, but knowing the old guard's benefits, she couldn't complain much. Like all serfs, she blindly trusted and revered the Duke.
Thomas, now twelve, had grown stronger and taller. He buried his head in his bowl, eating the juicy lamb voraciously. Raymond chuckled, "Thomas, don't rush, no one's taking it."
"Brother, you're finally back." Thomas looked up, his face smeared with grease. "I got my butt kicked by the dwarf master today!"
"Why? Did you misbehave?" The old guard was puzzled.
"I told him I was taller
than Mr. Dwarven," Thomas said sheepishly.
"…If it were me, I'd skin you," Raymond laughed.
"Hehe... Hehe," Thomas giggled, looking down. "Brother, I want to study in Nuln."
Here it comes! Raymond looked up, setting down his fork. "Study in Nuln? Is that the school's idea?"
"Yes, the school plans to send three hundred kids like me to study in Nuln. The Duke has made arrangements with Nuln." Thomas nodded. "Honorary Dean Ms. Emmanuelle has agreed, so they're selecting students now. I have the best grades, so the dwarf master asked if I wanted to go."
"I know, the five-year study abroad plan. The Duke mentioned it." Raymond frowned, feeling conflicted.
Letting Thomas study in Nuln seemed right, but what about their mother? The house would feel empty without him.
"A five-year study abroad plan…?"
Meanwhile, in the Duke's castle, at the Lady of the Lake's Tower.
"Yes, a five-year study abroad plan." Ryan sat with his wife Sulia, head maid Sylvia, and personal maid Olica. He explained his plan to Sulia, "They'll study in Nuln, learning advanced Imperial technology and knowledge, then return to build this country."
"Nuln is the Empire's industrial and academic center. The students will benefit greatly," Sulia agreed, then added a bit sourly, "Emmanuelle agreed quickly~"
"Because I placed an eight thousand gold crown order for weapons in Nuln!" Ryan retorted. "Emilia started at ten thousand, and it took me a while to negotiate."
"You're meeting with Counts Durin and Larote tonight, right?" Sulia changed the subject.
"They're old Mousillon nobles coming to pledge loyalty." Ryan nodded.
"The southern part of Lyonnais has also decided to submit?" Sulia pondered, then focused on her maid. "Take Sylvia with you. She'll represent me and assist you."
"…" Ryan couldn't read Sulia's intentions. He glanced at Sylvia, noticing her blushing and seemingly enduring something. Seeing Ryan's look, she nodded.
"Alright." Ryan agreed.
He didn't notice the dark elf maid behind him smirking at Sylvia, who shook her head in fear while Olica kept sneering.
After dinner, Sylvia led Ryan from the Lady of the Lake's Tower. She whispered, "Lord Ryan, both Count Durin and Count Larote are prestigious Mousillon nobles. Please be respectful to maintain family honor."
"I understand," Ryan assured.
"I..." Sylvia walked a few steps ahead, then suddenly turned beet red and squatted down, biting her lip, struggling to endure something. "Ugh..."
"Sylvia, what's wrong?" Ryan asked, puzzled.
"Nothing… nothing..."
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