31 "I was born with magic..."

[Francine's POV]

As the man turned around to look at my direction I instantly felt a shiver run down through my spine. Uncle Gerald even stepped forward to hide me behind his back. He was a bonafide Knight of the Realm , unlike those braggarts that call themselves 'knights' challenging the people here. All those people were just mercenaries and travelling knights, sure some were indeed Questing Knights but those were young impatient people wanting to find the grail.

But Sir Gerard is a true Knight of Brettonia yet I could tell he was tense as he stood between me and Signeur Mark. He was an experienced fighter and if he wanted to he could have already become a Grail Knight with blessings of the lady. Yet he stayed due to a debt of gratitude he has towards my mother for giving him aid when it was mostly needed. His alertness speaks much of how the rumors of Signeur Mark was so untrue, he was much more dangerous.

"Don't be afraid Lady Francine, I don't bite." Signeur Mark said as he smiled warmly before gesturing to his guards who went to take the weapons of the men of the Baron. He then went back to his seat where he started staring at her seemingly in thought.

I was feeling uncomfortable at that stare that it made my heart thump but I must do what I must to gain his support. Rumors alone made many peasants want to move into this place hearing of tales how every person here seemed happy and content. Thus I learned from my father's spies that the nobles in the nearby area are planning to make trouble to Signeur Mark.

"Signeur Mark, I am here today to forward a message as well as a letter given by my father." I then handed the letter towards my handmaiden to give it to our host. Inside the letter was the certificate of acknowledgement from the Duke as well as a letter stating how glad Lord Father is with his performance but the truth is it was a veiled invitation by my father of having Signeur Mark inside his own circle.

"Please call me Mark my lady, I am still not used to such honorifics." I was flattered as from what I heard his fame right now if higher than most counts that it nears even the renowned Earls. His deeds as a warrior as well as tales sung by bard how he fell the minotaur with his bare hands was heard all over the places nearby.

That was why I hope he does accept my Father's invitation as it would bring some prestige towards the name of our family. Especially after seeing him fight I was more certain that the rumors give no justice of how a strong warrior Signeur Mark is. All that I saw were blurs of how he struck them down in matter of seconds.

"I'm afraid that is quite hard to adhere to, It is taught to me to have common decency to address people of their proper titles. Is it okay for me to call you Lord Mark instead?" I smiled as I stared at his expressions as he read the two letters but I was disappointed as he had shown nothing much of a reaction towards the two letters.

"Whatever the lady likes." He said. It seems it would be hard to get a read on this new town lord, but from what I have seen it was indeed true that the people here seemed happier and relaxed. Unlike ours in the city where there is gloom and depression all over, as lavish my Father's party is as poor our people in the large walled prison.

This trip of hers had opened her eyes how miserable the lives of their subjects here. She had studied in the Royarch Academy in Carcassone, she thought that maybe the people there were happier as they were a prosperous city and everywhere else were the same. Who could blame her? All her fellow nobles studying in the Academy only talk about their family's greatness and the nonsense that follows with it yet none of their people's plight.

It seems I have a lot to learn in this town so I may be able to show father ways to improve our lives. I looked around and saw the men from the empire were still unconscious yet I see no blood flowing or wounds made other than broken noses and mouths. She had never seen a mortal man being this fierce in fighting.

"The way you fight Lord Mark, where did you learn such a fierce way of fighting?" She was indeed curious as she was quite studious in the Academy so she knew of various fighting styles but she had never seen such ways.

[Mark POV]

'I see.' Mark thought deeply as he understood the hidden intent within the Letters thus made him more sure of his deductions.

It seems it was inevitable for this Land to fall completely in the future as the Local Nobles here seems to defy the Duke in many ways. Even the commander of Marienberg a man from the Empire showed no respect at all to the first daughter of the Duke. It seems the Duke needs something which is mostly money, thus having this prick of a third son go to the Beaumanior Family to propose.

Yet what could the Duke provide that the Baron of Westerland doesn't have? Money? No they have lots of Merchant traffic there so is it Soldiers? Maybe, the Empire right now is currently in a civil war as Three claimants to the throne has appeared. But the war is now between different beliefs, like how Christian believers fight against Islamic believers. This time it was between three churches of Taal, Ulric and Sigmar.

I really scoff at their petty fights, why can't they just respect other's beliefs and be done with it. People are suffering that it would have a large influx of refugees travelling all over. But from what I remember it might be the reason the other Nobles of the Empire didn't stop them because having refuges meant more people for their cities.

More people meant more money, more people meant cheap labor and more people meant cheaper soldiers. Refugees get hungry too so their only choice of income would be to enlist in the nobles private army. This breeds more greed in the nobles, which is most likely what drew the Baron's sights here but what does he need in Bretonnia that they don't have?

Hmmm…. Sailors!! I remember Brettonia being known for having the finest sailors and ships in the mortal world other than their chivalry. Where to get other than a Duke who is desperate to keep his family afloat? Peasants here couldn't resist the orders of nobles. Chivalrous as the nobles of Brettonia are, they are also arrogant and selfish.

Maybe that was why there would be a rebellion by the end of this 16th century of the Imperial Calendar. But he remembered it was also brutally ended by the nobles, such is the fate of the powerless. This might be also why Marienberg was able to develop into the Merchant Giant they are in the Future. They would even develop into a democratic State that claimed independence from the Empire.

Refugees mean cheap Labor plus Experienced shipwrights and sailors means more ships for trade. I really want to take this pie from them but what could I give? I thought more and more of thins I could do to gain the help of the Duke. It seems easier now but I don't have enough information yet. I was then taken out from my thoughts by the question of Lady Francine.

I looked up and realized that this girl was indeed a beauty, I just didn't give much attention to that knowing she is currently 15 from last I heard. There is no FBI here but I must still have standards, like Mature and experienced standards. ;D

"The way I fight? Do you mean my Martial Arts my lady? I learned them from my time in Cathay." I smiled inwardly because Cathay has large similarities to ancient China so it would fit I say I learned it from there. It would also cover the fact that he had just appeared out of nowhere and even if they ask the townsfolk they would say he indeed lived here. Mark knew it was the system's doing but he didn't think much of it.

"Cathay?! You mean the Legendary Land of the first Civilization of men? That Cathay? How did you arrive there? Is it by ship or did you trek the Mountains of Mourn?" I was shocked at the sudden outburst and the excited expression of the Young girl in front of me.

"Yeah that Cathay, why is it a surprise to you my Lady?" I asked confusedly. But I soon understood that this young woman is one curious person, he found it cute when she blushed realizing what she had just done. Her guards and handmaidens also shook their head as it seems they knew of this part of their young Lady's persona.

"Why? There are no records of roads available yet to go there. Even Merchants of the Southern men and the Empire dare not travel that far. I hear that the Mountains of Mourn were infested by many dangerous beings." Lady Francine calmed herself down but I can see she was still excited. It was then it occurred to me that the Silk Road has not been discovered yet. It would be at the end of the 17th Century in the Imperial Calendar.

"I was brought there when I was a small child by a small group of loyal knights under my Father Lady Francine. A large group might find it hard to traverse but with an experienced ranger and loyal men then it would be possible." I then gave a sad smile as I looked at the side glancing at the golem knight.

The others looked at the Golem knight and suddenly had a realization as well as a sad expression. I did this to make them think the Golem was the only survivor of the group that was with me. Bullsh*t-no-jutsu is at work in hyperdrive.

"But why did your Father send you there Lord Mark?" Lady Francine asked realizing this part.

"I was born with magic my Lady, you know what happens if a Damsel of the Lady finds me when I was young." I then gave a sad smile as the eyes of the people behind widened in realization. This was another thing he came up on the spot but it would also support his disappearance for years.