Encounters at the Baron's Estate: Unmasking the Rumored Noble

I'm not worried at all. And I have no reason to. This wasn't mentioned at all in the book so this shouldn't be a part of the game's main story.

I've got nothing better to do anyway. The carriage jostles and grinds to a halt causing Sonya to fall  forward and land on me.

"I'm so sorry my lady I didn't mean to"

She pushes herself off me and bows her head.

"Don't worry about it, What's going on out there?"

"We've got a bit of an issue my lady"

I step out of the carriage to see what's going on. A small crowd has gathered around and is watching us from a safe distance. On the ground before the carriage is a young woman, her hair caked in dry mud and her clothes nothing but tattered rags cling to her frail body. In front of her is a young man. He looks angry and is shouting at the coachman.

"She's seriously injured and who do you think is going to pay for it"

Looking back to the woman on the floor. Her leg is a bright red and is bleeding in some areas.

"Look here sir. She suddenly ran out in front of the horses how was I supposed to see her"

"I'm tired of these bloody nobles walking all over us common folk. Bring your master out here now"

I step forward and put myself between the two men.

"The both of you should calm down you're attracting unnecessary attention"

He's riling up the crowd with his words. Anymore and I'll have a full scale riot on my hands.

"So you're his master. How do you plan on compensating for her injuries"

Before I can speak a loud shout from in front catches my attention.

"Stop that thief" A short middle aged man holding a stick runs over to us waving it wildly in the air.

"Thief!! Don't think you can get away with my hard earned food, you vile and wretched creature" he uses the stick to hit the woman on the floor repeatedly.

The young man grabs his stick mid air and tosses it aside.

"Are you insane what do you think you're doing"

"This wretch stole from me, I'm simply demanding that she returns it"

I look back at the woman who's is now trembling and hiding her face. I walk over to her and grab her hand. There's a small bulge under her cloth. I raise up her cloth and a small loaf of bread rolls out and lands in the dirt.

"You wretched creature you'll pay for that"

The middle aged man is screaming at this point. His face contorted with hate and rage.

I head back to my carriage. This is way too much drama for me.

"Sonya hand me my purse" I tell her through the carriage window. I can't let this drama go on.

The young man is arguing with the middle aged man who's still shouting on the top of his voice. A larger crowd has gathered around us.

"I don't think it's fair to raise such a big fuss over such a tiny loaf of bread don't you agree?"

"Stay out this woman" He huffs angrily

I take out a silver coin and throw it at his feet. And the whisper among the crowd grows louder

"This should cover the cost of it"

He looks at the coin on the ground in shock before picking it up and pocketing it. Mumbling and grumbling he pushes his way through the crowd. I turn back to the young man.

"It's safe to say that this woman in a bid to get away with her theft suddenly ran out in front of my carriage getting injured in the process. I believe the fault lies with her and not my coachman. A word of advice if I may don't be too quick to take up someone else's case"

At this point out onlookers have lost all interest and have disbanded. I take out ten gold coins from my purse and give them to him.

"All that being said i admire what you did. It was quite brave of you. A bit foolish but still brave"

Anymore and I'd feel like the bad guy. I don't know what this woman's living condition is like or how much she's suffered but it's kind of comforting watching a scene like that unfold. Watching him defend her like she was his own sister. Most wouldn't do such for a complete stranger and yet here he is.

"Hopefully this should be enough to cover the cost for treatment"

"Woah! Wait a minute this is too much"

I can't help but chuckle at his shocked expression.

"It's nothing to me. Use it buy a meal or two for her. I believe I can leave that to you, coachman we'll be off"

What an interesting fellow, I hope we'll meet again.

I'm just glad it's all over but the real challenge lies ahead.

Almost forgot the reason why I'm out here. I guess the nobles in this region don't exactly have high regard for the common folk.

I wonder what the baron's is like. Perhaps he's like me and bad rumors prevent people from knowing the real him.

"My lady we're approaching the baron's estate"

I guess this little expedition will decide that for us.

I watch as Sonya's tenses up and her face gradually contort to form a small frown. I give her a reassuring smile and look out the window. The manor is large not quite as big as mine but is still impressive. Let's just get this over with.

The second we step out of the carriage we are greeted by a tall butler with jet black hair and spectacles a size too big for his face.

"Welcome Grand Duchess"

"Have you been expecting us"

"We spotted your carriage a mile away. I greet you on behalf of my master. Might I ask the reason behind your sudden visit"

"My business is with the Baron, a mere servant such as yourself has no right to question me" I'm a high ranking noble for goodness sake does no one here realize that.

"I apologize for my rudeness. I have committed a sin of great magnitude and for that I should pay with my life"

He brings out of a small knife from his pocket and points it at his throat.

"Wait just a minute! There's no need for that just take me to the Baron that's all"

What's wrong with this man. If you're going to commit suicide do it where no one can see.

"You are too kind of course right this way"

The inside is a lot more extravagant that the outside. Such lavish furnishing to be expected from such a ruthless business man. But everything is so flashy it's just embarrassing.

"Please wait here the Baron will be out shortly"

Even the chairs are an awful color. The purple is an awful contrast to the rest of the room. But I guess it's just to show off wealth. Purple cloth is expensive and difficult to come by.

"Greetings my lady what brings to my humble estate"

The doors swing open and a large and um.. how should I say this without sounding rude. A large, round and generally unattractive man entered the room

So this is the Baron Kent. Not what I was expecting in terms of looks. My eyes feel desecrated just by looking at him

Let's see if he's anything like the rumors character wise.