Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 42

"This town is nice," Mila said softly, her voice filled with a quiet admiration. "I've never been to a place where the people are so full of love and consideration for one another. It makes me feel better about what we've been doing, giving everyone a chance at a better life." She sighed, a deep sense of contentment settling over her as she gazed up at the sky, which was slowly turning orange as the sun began to set.

The warmth of the setting sun mirrored the warmth in her heart, reassuring her that their efforts had not been in vain. Each town they visited, each life they touched, added to the growing sense of purpose she felt in her journey.

Beside her, ZH lay quietly, but after a moment, he turned his head toward her and asked, "Mila, how long do you think you'll be doing this?"

The question caught Mila off guard, and she turned to face him, her eyes meeting the concealed gaze behind his mask. She realized with a start how close they were, their noses nearly touching. The proximity surprised her, causing her to pull back slightly, though a smile quickly spread across her face. Without thinking, she reached out and took his hand, a gesture of trust and comfort as they continued to lay side by side.

Mila's smile deepened as she pondered his question. "I don't care if I do this for the rest of my life," she began, her voice filled with quiet determination. "It makes me happy to know that I'm doing something for people who were never at fault, who suffered because of the wrong rulers and leaders. I want to keep traveling, to help as many as I can, until my heart is content." Her words were sincere, driven by the compassion that had always guided her actions.

ZH hadn't expected such a heartfelt response. He had been looking for a simple answer, a number perhaps, something more concrete. 'Silly girl,' he thought, a fond smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. 'I asked for a timeframe, not an open-ended answer.' But as he listened to her speak, he couldn't help but feel a warmth spreading through him. Her selflessness, her unwavering commitment to helping others—it was a rare and beautiful thing.

Mila's focus was on others, not herself, and that was something ZH admired deeply, even if it meant her future was uncertain. There was no clear plan, no timeline, just a relentless drive to do good in a world that often seemed dark and unforgiving.

After a moment of comfortable silence, Mila squeezed his hand gently. "Let's head back. They're probably waiting for us," she said, her tone light and filled with the usual cheerfulness that ZH had come to expect from her. With a quick pull, she helped him to his feet, and they began making their way back toward the town.

As they walked, hand in hand, the peace of the day was suddenly disrupted. Their path led them to something unexpected, something that instantly shattered the tranquility they had been enjoying. The sight before them was enough to make their hearts sink, casting a shadow over what had been a perfect day.

-edit-

"The governor has been secretly stealing some," one of the townspeople murmured, his voice low but filled with frustration. "He makes it seem like we're the ones taking it, but he doesn't spend a single day working in the mines. He's not the one breaking his back for a few scraps."

Mila listened intently, her heart sinking as she overheard the conversation. She had initially thought Rustmount was different, a place free from the troubles she had encountered in other towns. But now, hearing this, her hope faded. 'What?! What is going on with every single town in the Mireraweth Kingdom?!' she wondered in disbelief. It seemed that corruption ran deeper than she had imagined, and no town was untouched by it.

Another worker chimed in, his voice heavy with resentment. "Tch! He pretends he's the one slaving away all day, but it's us doing the work. We barely earn enough to feed our families."