The New Lord

Mike scanned all the files, his eyes gleaming with a golden shine. "I could not believe they possess such immense wealth in this county," he remarked. If not for power, he felt that being a count was superior to being a Marquess.

The knock on the door drew his attention, and he frowned. Ignoring the disturbance, he continued making notes about the wealth he intended to request.

The upcoming meeting promised to be interesting. The door knocked again, and his brows knitted.

"What is it?" His voice conveyed impatience as the door opened, revealing an elderly man entering the room.

His brown hair was long enough to form a small ponytail, and his deep-set brown eyes had a sunken appearance. He forced a smile onto his face as Mike stared at him with a stern expression.

"My lord," the man felt a sour taste in his mouth but concealed it well with a polite smile, "I was told you are here to attend the weekly meeting."

Mike closed the parchment he was holding as the elder entered without permission and took a seat.

"I thought I should come and offer some guidance before the meeting so that you would not feel alienated." The man smiled despite Mike's icy gaze. It was for the sake of their master and mistress.

"And what guidance can you provide me about my own county?" Mark asked, raising a brow with a mocking expression on his face.

Calmond felt embarrassed to continue but he reminded himself it was for the lady.

"Well, why don't we start with learning the names of all the landlords and merchants who will be attending the meeting? Then we can move on to their business details, and if time allows, I can guide you on how to address their needs and handle their demands." The old man was certain that Mike was struggling with the overwhelming number of files.

Once he understood everything, Mike would likely become more receptive. Lady Camelia had assured them that he was a kind man.

"Why do I need to learn their names when I am their lord?" Mike tilted his head, a crooked smile forming on his lips. "Do you expect a commander to know the names of every knight in a battalion, right?"

The old man paused, uncertain about how to respond.

"Knowing their names could leave a positive impression on him, my lord. They might feel valued by you," he pleaded, worried about being compared to Damien, though the words remained unspoken.

"They should be more concerned with impressing me. I am well aware of how much these landlords are taking from the treasury under the guise of assistance. And you want me to charm them with sweet words and smiles? Ha! I'd prefer to get straight to the point." He paused, displeased by the disbelief in the elder's expression. "If you have nothing else to offer, you may leave."

It took Calmond a moment to process that his new lord was dismissing him from his office and had no interest in knowing who the attendees were.

"I apologize, my lord." He stood up and left the room, wearing a bitter smile.

His eyes met Noah's as he stood at the door, and they both shook their heads, suddenly exhausted.

"Should we inform the lady, or…" Noah hesitated, not sure if he should still drag Damien but Calmond nodded ready to bring the lord back if it could save them from this fool.

"I'll go and invite Lord Damien for now."

—------------------------

Lia stretched her back after arranging all the files and dusting her hands.

Crawford couldn't believe that a commoner could be so efficient in organizing the files and possess such an extensive vocabulary. While literacy among commoners was rare, those in good positions often learned to read and write from their masters. However, their vocabulary usually remained limited to common words. But Lia, she had composed such compelling donation appeals that even he, who had done this all his life, couldn't compare.

"These letters could potentially bring us a fortune," he smiled, joy reaching his tired eyes. "If that happens, I'll reward you generously."

She smiled, concealing her guilt. She hoped the man would accept her apology once the truth came out.

"I already receive a good salary," she replied, avoiding the topic. "I'd rather gather information about the orphanage so I can seek assistance from my master."

The man laughed and shook his head. Her response was so sincere; it confirmed that she was indeed a commoner. A noble would prioritize their own gain.

"Since you've helped me so much, I won't ask for more," he paused, surveying the vast room. He knew she was searching for something by the way she looked at those files. "However, if you'd like, you can search through these files. As long as it doesn't harm the orphanage or the children here, I'll turn a blind eye."

Lia was surprised that the old man was aware of her actions, but she shook her head. She had already checked on Mike's family from other sources. They didn't originate from this town, and she wondered if he knew.

If she needed information, he would be the one to provide it, not these files.

"About that couple…" she began, gaining his attention. "The one who adopted more than four kids from here—could you tell me which town they live in? I believe they would donate generously if we visited them personally and informed them about our struggles. Winter is approaching, and we aren't adequately prepared."

The old man sighed, ran a hand through his hair, and leaned back in his chair.

"That couple used to live in Lithos, the neighboring town. However, when the plague began spreading here a decade ago, they moved to the capital. Traveling so far for a donation is difficult. It might be better to seek support from other wealthy individuals in the town. Normally, it would be easy, but recently, a robber has angered the wealthy, causing them to withhold support for the underprivileged."