Law Of The Devil

17. Three Hundred Gold Coins

At dawn, the old butler Hill personally arrived at the study with the breakfast trolley. As he pushed open the door, he found the family’s young master standing on the bookcase ladder, entranced by a thick work on astrology in his hands.

 

Apparently the young master hadn’t slept, and even though he looked a little peaked, his spirit was still lively. He just seemed a bit dirty…… Don’t tell me he was rolling about in those ledgers all last night?

 

He had also removed a dagger from the wall and placed it on the desk…… Oh dear, that was an ancestral antique.

 

The old butler sighed, immediately summoning people for the young master to freshen up.

 

Duwei stretched after eating breakfast: “Did you find a place for the people that came with me from the capital last night?”

 

“Of course, they’re at the back of the castle. Your guardsmen have all been folded into the castle guard regiment, in accordance with family administration…… Excuse my presumptuousness, respected young master, you seem to have recruited a knight on the way, and a female knight at that. Originally I wanted to arrange a place for the knight within the castle, but she refused…… Since you also brought a prisoner. As I didn’t know how that captive had offended you, I arranged for a cell in the dungeon. Last night that female knight and her retinue stayed in the dungeon room.”

 

“Very good.” Duwei exhaled: “Then is there anything I need to do during the day…… Continuing reading these accounts? I think that in order to finish these I would need at least three or four days…… That’s just too boring. Hill, I have to find something to do.”

 

Three or four days? It would be good if you did it in ten.

 

The old butler swallowed such words and kept his face deferential: “Yes. You are the master here. Everyone in the castle are your servants. Here your will is law. As for the accounts, there is no need to finish them immediately. These are all last year’s accounts anyway. I actually think that if you hereafter can find a bit of time, it would be more effective to choose a couple of places in the clan estates to inspect than to read these musty old accounts.”

 

Duwei smiled, raising his eyebrows: ”A good suggestion, Hill, a good suggestion! That what do I do today? Here…… is there any schedule?”

 

“Eh……” The old butler had a difficult expression: “Here, you see, is a lot less busy than the imperial capital. Even the closest town requires a day for a round trip on horseback. There are no particular activities to pass the time here in the castle, but the surroundings are pretty good. If you’re interested you can take a ride, or bring your cavalrymen to hunt in the woods. Even if there isn’t much prey in this season, just going out is a good option.”

 

Duwei nodded and sipped his black tea, when abruptly his mind stirred: “That captive I brought back…… Would there be any problems? I mean, do I have the authority to……”

 

“The authority of law enforcement? My heavens…… Young master, this is Rawling Plains! The whole plains belong to the Rawling clan! As long as you don’t rebel against the Empire, the Rawling family’s wishes are law here! And at present, you are the most senior member of the Rawling family in this castle.”