112 The Young Prince (1/2)

News of the comprehensive victory in Tivoli was spread out across the capital, the region was buzzing with a sense of superiority over their long time rivals from Sasko.

More shocking news was to come as sketchy details of the operation pointed to the new lord of the western hills being an integral part of the success to retain the gemstone mines.

People in certain circles had expected big things from the youth based on the fact that he had earned the young prince's trust, but definitely not this soon. The person most surprised was in his office alone at at his massive desk, natural light crawled across the room as the man with streaks of white running through his hair carefully read through a plethora of parchments.

The top secret reports sitting scattered across his desk were astounding, he had read and re-read certain documents just to make sure that he was seeing the right thing. From the operation they had captured a captain and a commander from Sasko, this was unheard of before in skirmishes happening in an affiliate country.

If one faction was losing they would just retreat while erasing the evidence of them ever being there then deny all involvement.

Apparently Hartley had personally captured the two high level captives and slaughtered countless infantry, even more daunting was a top secret parchment marked ”for the prince's eyes only” written in bold red letters.

When Prince Jian read this document his eyes almost popped out of their sockets. Hartley had single-handedly killed an expert in the 9th layer of the xiantian realm, a top prospect from Sasko touted to be their next saint.

When he had brought the youth into his circle, honestly he was just doing it because of Commander Genk's enthusiasm but now it seems he had hit the jackpot. To think that blasted poof Sir Lingwei had almost made an enemy of the youth. The prince felt as if he had dodged a knife to the heart.

”The youngest powerhouse ever to walk the continent.” Prince Jian said to himself lost in his thoughts. He certainly didn't see this coming. Commander Genk really had an eye for talent, even if the brute of a man was lacking in diplomacy he thought to himself....

The following days at the manor Hartley saw countless nobles come to visit and acquaint themselves with the new lord of the western hills trying to leave a good impression. Hartley was now seen as someone of the younger generation with massive potential to make it to the top in the aristocratic circles.

Some brought with them expensive gifts for the upcoming wedding or just to curry favor.

Though Hartley didn't put these people in his eyes and had nointention of fostering any relations with them, he greedily accepted their valuable gifts shamelessly.

It was a contemptible piece of shamelessnesson his part but if a shameful thing was to be done in relieving these wanna-be hangers-on of their wealth, Hartley might as well be the one to do it. In this new cut-throat world he had found himself in, there was no advantages for the honorable or overly righteous.....

A week later, while Hartley and commander Genk traveled towards the prince's castle there was an altercation back at the manor of the western hills....

”Return to your duties now you plebs! Capture them all all and tie them up.” A fat noble man screamed with irritation as he barked orders at his contingent of fur clad guards while pointing out some of the former bandits who now worked for Hartley for immediate capture.

The fat man's guards drew their weapons and advanced towards the former bandits who in turn drew their own weapons and stood their ground with scowls of derision. ”Come if you have no more use for your lives,” one of the former bandits shouted at the incoming soldiers.

This caused a frantic scene at the front of the manor with both groups shouting at each other while locked in a stand-off. The fat man's guards were taken aback for a bit when they saw that the former bandits weapons and armor were no worse than their own. These were people who used to grovel at the feet of the fat nobleman and had to do any unreasonable tasks the man could think of.

Now they were brandishing quality weapons and dared to talk back?

Women doing their duties dressed in thick furs scooped up their children and retreated from the fracas in panic, not sure what to do in such a situation.

This was the first time since the young lord had taken over the western hills that anyone had dared to come and cause trouble.

”I demand to see Sir Hartley this instant.” The fat man dressed all in white shouted at the people on guard duty sending them scurrying away.

This man was Hong Zang and his territory was a hundred miles south of the western hills on the flat farm lands. In the winter no crops could be planted, and when the crops were reaped very little would go to the common people on his lands, these people would barely survive the winter only to endure back-breaking work in the springtime.

This led to anumber of the commoners on his land running away but because there was a unwritten rule that nobles wouldn't hire runaway commoners from another noble's lands, he had thought it a matter of time before he would round up these commoners again.

This man was shocked to see familiar faces wearing furs and looking healthy during the winter. He had come to deliver his gift to the lord of the western hills but now he was furious...

A couple of the serving staff sprinted into the manor to report the disturbance.....

Moments later Zhi Ruo appeared at the front door of the manor, her red hair knotted in a bun with a few loose strands dancing down the left side of her face.

She glided across the snow-covered ground with lithe and elegant steps as her regal blue dress fluttered in the cold wind, the swirling snow flecks fluttered around her body without touching her. This natural beauty and grace made everyonelook on in awe.

The red hair beauty took up a position between the former bandits and their assailants and with a simple gesture from her both groups calmed and quietened down.