Chapter 37: An Old Man, A Story
Chapter 37: An Old Man, A Story
"What outcome do you desire the most?"
"Of course, I wish for our family to live in harmony, without the rifts and disputes over money. I also hope my eldest son could be kinder and treat his younger brother better."
"Would you be willing to leave all your estate to your eldest son, in exchange for his future care for your younger son?"
"…I no longer dare to expect such kindness from him; this is what I've been struggling with."
"So, you'd prefer to leave the property to your younger son?"
"He's still too young."
At this point, Hastur understood the middle-aged man's dilemma.
He preferred to leave his wealth to his younger son, but the potential impulsiveness of his eldest son caused him much distress.
Solving his problem wasn't difficult; he just needed to delay the inheritance until the younger son grew up.
"You can divide the property into two parts and find a reputable notary to certify and protect this wealth. After ten years or upon your death, the notary can distribute the property according to your wishes."
Hastur offered his modest suggestion, although it seemed somewhat unfair to the eldest son.
But that wasn't for him, a lawyer, to worry about. He was there to protect his clients' interests within the bounds of Rune law.
If the person seeking help today had been the middle-aged man's eldest son, Hastur would have strived to secure his interests within the limits of Rune law as well.
In this regard, the lawyer's stance was quite impartial.
The middle-aged man hesitated, "But shouldn't the right of inheritance belong solely to the eldest son? That's what the nobles do."
"Firstly, you are not a noble; there's no title in your family to inherit. Secondly, Rune law has different requirements for nobles and commoners. Lastly, ensuring the eldest son's primogeniture does come with certain prerequisites, even for nobles."
Hastur explained, "If the eldest son is lacking in many aspects, such as being extremely unfilial, having a poor reputation, and being held in low esteem by others, then it's possible to appoint a more suitable heir."
Rune law also leaves some leeway for nobles in this matter.
As for commoners like the middle-aged man, their property distribution isn't truly safeguarded by the law.
In other words, the middle-aged man has more freedom in distributing his property than the nobles do.
"What if the notary office embezzles my property in the future? How can I protect my rights?" The middle-aged man was now intrigued.
That was something Hastur couldn't guarantee; even money deposited in a bank could be embezzled.
"In any industry, there are trustworthy and untrustworthy people. One can only hope to find a truly fair and just notary."
The middle-aged man remained silent for a long time before standing up, removing his hat, and bowing, "Thank you for your guidance."
"Being able to help you is the greatest compliment to me," Hastur responded with a smile.
"I feel I should pay a certain amount of pounds as a fee for this matter, but that seems like an insult to your noble character."
The middle-aged man blurted out these words just before leaving.
"…"
Hastur remained calm, though speechless inside.
After a minute's rest, the next petitioner walked in.
By the sound of it, it was a lady, troubled by her husband's infidelity and the issue of divorce.
The problem wasn't hard to solve; it was either divorce or continue living together in compromise.
Of course, if things got heated, it could even lead to a domestic homicide.
The lady no longer wished to continue with her current husband and sought more financial compensation for herself and her child, a reasonable demand protected by Rune law.
However, the couple couldn't agree on the amount of financial compensation.
The husband thought his wife's demands were too high, while the wife believed it was a fair request from the betrayed party.
After several unsuccessful negotiations, the husband laid down an ultimatum: accept the compensation he offered or take him to court.
After sharing her story, the lady whispered, "I've heard that if I really take him to court, the judge won't side with me and will think my compensation demands are excessive."
Hastur tapped his fingers on the desk, signaling the lady to focus. After a moment of silence, he spoke:
"Rune law does protect the interests of the party cheated on in a marriage, and during a divorce, the compensation may be increased due to the infidelity."
"However, the law doesn't specify the exact amount or percentage of the property. Normally, both parties are encouraged to mediate multiple times to reach a compensation range acceptable to both."
"If your husband refuses to mediate, it will be difficult to obtain adequate compensation from him, even if it's rightfully yours."
In this matter, Rune law tends to favor the male's interests, as infidelity is not uncommon among Rune nobility.
But the way nobles handle their marriages differs from commoners; even if they discover infidelity, they might continue living together and lead separate lives.
At that point, infidelity becomes a less valid reason for demanding more financial compensation.
For commoner couples, if one partner is unfaithful, it's a significant issue that likely leads to the disintegration of a once-happy life.
"How can I protect my interests?" the lady asked anxiously.
Hastur asked with a smile, "May I inquire if you are a devotee of the Goddess?"
"Yes, I've always been a devout follower of the Goddess. She is the pillar of my soul, and Her gentleness has helped me through these difficult times."
"Praise the Goddess!"
The lady devoutly traced a crimson moon on her chest.
"Does your husband have any faith?"
"He's a follower of the Storm."
At this, the lady bit her lip in anger, "I should have listened to my parents' advice and stayed away from followers of the Storm. They are so crude and heartless, utterly unsuitable for a lifetime companion."
Hastur pondered for a moment, "Is he still a merchant?"
"Yes, he's been involved in maritime business and has made quite a bit of money over the years. It was during this time that he betrayed our love."
"Well, then you should take him to court. But before that, you might want to visit the temple of the Goddess and share your grievances with the clergy, letting more people know about your husband's infidelity."
"Will that help?"
"It shouldn't take many days before he seeks you out for a settlement, and then your demands will likely be met."
The lady didn't know why the lawyer behind the curtain had such confidence, but his words were reassuring and helpful.
They chatted a bit more, and the lady made a small request to pull back the curtain to see Hastur.
To such a minor request, Hastur naturally declined with a smile.
Finally, the lady complimented Hastur's voice for being very gentle before she stood up to leave.
In the time that followed, Hastur, adhering to the basic qualities of a lawyer, provided advice to many petitioners.
The most memorable petitioner was an old man, likely in his sixties, speaking in a low voice and occasionally pausing to catch his breath.
Through his intermittent storytelling, a cruel tale unfolded.
The old man wasn't a native of Beckland; he came from the Winter County.
Due to its proximity to Fasack, the region's situation often changed with the relations between the two countries, with some areas engaged in perennial warfare against Fasack, a generational archenemy.
The old man hailed from such a family; his grandfather and father both died in wars against Fasack. After his father fell in battle, he too inherited the iron will of his ancestors.
He joined the army without hesitation to defend his country.
After years of countless battles, skirmishes, and surviving the terrifying death rates of the battlefield through courage and luck, he was severely wounded at the age of twenty-eight and separated from his unit. He fled across the border into Fasack territory.
He collapsed near a small stream, and like the protagonist of a legendary tale, he was saved by a village under Fasack's rule.
To survive, he lied about being a Fasack soldier who had narrowly escaped death in a skirmish with Rune's army.
Perhaps his acting was convincing, or the villagers were too naive and kind-hearted; he managed to deceive them and stayed in the village to heal.
His scars made him appear manly, attracting many admiring girls.
One young girl, in particular, caught his attention, and they quickly became involved, resulting in her pregnancy.
When the girl shyly took his hand and whispered in his ear that she was carrying his child, he awoke from his brief idyll.
He was a soldier of Rune, and these people were the children of Fasack.
Their daily discussions revolved around Fasack's invincible army, the enemies they had killed recently, including those from Rune Kingdom, their hunting targets.
These people were the enemy, descendants of those who had killed his ancestors!
The enmity between Fasack and Rune was an irreconcilable contradiction.
He struggled, felt cowardly, and secretly rejoiced at having an offspring, but his heart was filled with an insurmountable fear.
He forced himself to make a cruel decision, like the cowardly apostle in the ballads who knew better but still wished to bargain with the devil.
In the end, he acted.
During a village festival celebrating the harvest, he contacted a Rune squad lurking nearby in the mountains.
Disaster struck swiftly, and the entire village was massacred.…Even the young girl who loved him and was pregnant with his child could not escape; they all perished, and the village was reduced to ashes.
For his role in the tragedy, he was commended by his superiors and received numerous rewards.
He tried to avoid thinking about the morality of his actions, focusing instead on the battles against Fasack.
But the more he fought, the more he questioned his purpose. Was he fighting for the noble cause of defending his country?
Yet, he was also a mercenary, responsible for murder and arson. Rune's intentions to annex Fasack were no secret; who was truly just?
Eventually, he laid down his arms, left the battlefield, and departed from Winter County to Beckland, the so-called City of Hope.
It was there that he saw the true nature of the nobility, the triviality of war, and the cooperation of interests…
It turned out that the real enemies, the true archenemies, were only people like him at the bottom.
Looking at the capital he once defended, he wondered if his bloody struggles were merely sacrifices for the power struggles of the influential.
Would he have continued to fight so fiercely if he had known that?
What if he had been born in Beckland? Would his attitude towards the Fasack army have been different?
In a daze, he dreamt again of the girl who had adored him and their unborn child.
Would it have been a boy or a girl?
If he had stayed in that village, what might have…
would his children have already married and had children, or had children, and lived a good life?
If I had stayed in that village...
(End of chapter)