"Haaa"

With a lengthy sigh, Ray closed the door behind him. Since he started speaking with Selwin, his hands wouldn't stop jittering. During the conversation he hid them under the table, hoping the Count wouldn't notice, but his anxiety never left him. With no real leverage or backup options, the gamble he took would have cost him everything; As little as that was now.

The servants who brought him here were already gone, going after their own business.

Walking down the hallway, Ray's steps, heavy as they were, echoed through the mansion. His thoughts strayed pondering about the future. Although he experienced a minor victory, as he had convinced the Count not to enslave him, in reality, he only maintained the status quo. The world was still a mystery. Nobility was still above and beyond. And worst of all, he was still being pushed around like a puppet.

As he reached a window, he leaned on it. Contemplating, the soldiers downstairs came into view. Their training was still not done, the shouting continuing as ever. A few men and women sunbathing in the shade were the only addition to the scenery. As a stark contrast to the sweating men of arms, these people joyfully laughed and ate, drank and sang, regaled in obscenity and hedonism.

On closer observation was not only the Knight captain Lockhall in the lot, but the notary of the gate Baldwin was also there. With a few Ladies and another two gentlemen, they strained their smiles and made small talk or exchanged their favorite gossip.

Listening in was not possible, but the atmosphere was typical for those of high society — lots of laughter with even more hidden hostility. The passive aggressiveness was radiating all the way up to Ray.

One of the joyful friends stood out more than others though. With a puffed out chest and broad gestures, he dictated the group's mood. Most of the time all eyes were on him, and the conversation seemed to revolve with him as the center as well. His curly red hair resembled one of the girls, sitting with a parasol in her hand. She was the only one who interrupted the youth sometimes, adding something of her own.

A hand on the frame, Ray got even closer to the window. He wanted to break away from the people and circumstances that bound him, but without a firm foundation, it didn't seem possible. At first glance, the Count seemed like a reliable partner and patron, if he only could trust him more than he could throw him.

As he was right now, whether it was Selwin or someone else, once he outlived his use, he would inevitably be thrown away.

He needed someone or something to alleviate his status. An event to prove...or at least seemingly prove his worth...

Thinking of this a smirk crept upon Ray's lips.

'I choose you.'

...

"But it was nothing that impressive. I simply had to-"

Midsentence the red-haired youth stopped telling his tale, while his expression crumbled. He saw how none of the people, who should be captivated by him, were listening to his story.

As he followed their eyes over his shoulder, he noticed the offender coming closer with large yet unhurried strides.

...

The ground crunched beneath his feet, as Ray approached the group. Hands in his pockets and chin slightly raised he walked in leisure, exaggerated slow.

While he neared the red-haired youth snapped his head back to look at him and immediately broke into a sneer.

He eyed the girl resembling him and said,

"Cecilia, my dear, isn't that the gentleman everyone is talking about. What was his name again?"

With a small chuckle, she responded,

"It is, dear brother. They made it seem like he had a second head; I was long since bored of all these rumors, but unfortunately, I don't know his name either. Commoners rarely have memorable names."

Ray scoffed. He had expected as much when he decided to come here and knew better than let them get under his skin.

At a distance of about three arm lengths, he stopped walking. Taking his hands out of his pockets he tried himself at a ceremonial bow. A leg behind, his right arm at over his stomach the other one stretched. Although he didn't know any actual customs or appropriate manners, they surely wouldn't blame a peasant for being ignorant about the art of introduction.

Locking eyes with the Knight captain, he initiated a conversation.

"Lord Lockahll, good to see you again. I couldn't help but be saddened by our abrupt parting. I hope you will accept my humble apologies and gratitude."

A slight surprise washed over the group, as Ray ignored their taunts and didn't even bother to respond, but it was nothing compared to what Frederic was feeling at that moment.

His eyes widened. The Ray he had known, and the one right in front of him seemed like day and night. Confidence and calm emanated from him.

But he knew it was still the same peasant he had rescued; The same who had begged him for his life and the same who, for some reason, was an acquaintance of the Count.

Suppressing his thoughts and feelings, he said,

"Indeed, it was a shame. I still had some questions, but since it was the Duke's order..."

Without breaking eye contact with Frederic, Ray continued,

"Agreed." He said, "But unfortunately I cannot give His Lordship any appropriate answers as I would need the Count's, if not the Duke's approval. I hope for your understanding."

Bulshitting on the spot and deflecting any questions unfavorable for him, to Selwin, he drove the exchange.

"But that is not the reason I've come to you on his lovely day." Ray exclaimed as his smile widened.

He raised his arms as if to hug the air in front of him and looked, slightly glazed, into the distance, reminiscent of feelings he didn't have.

"I have always dreamed of the wonderful life of Nobles. Going to banquets and dances, eating only the greatest food and travel to the most exotic places."

"As a valiant Knight slaying our foreign, or worse even internal, enemies. In Court defending our rights and ruling over the masses with an iron fist but a compassionate heart."

He dropped his arms, and his smile vanished.

"I held the culture and heritage passed down from our ancestors in high regard and thought the very heirs of said customs would be the same..."

"But looking at you now...It is an embarrassment" He scoffed.

All people present stopped breathing for a moment. The soldiers in hearing distance halted their training, the whispering soon starting. As what Ray said spread like a wildfire, the other men followed their comrades' example and proceeded to stand on the spot in shock or amusement.

The small party of Nobles in front of him didn't say or do anything as they watched this unfold. Some still hadn't registered what was happening, looking in between their friends, searching for answers. As if on queue, at some point they all looked towards the red-haired boy, even the unruly sister quietly reading his mood.

The youth in question though didn't react in any significant manner, his sneer not moving. One could think he didn't hear what Ray had said, but his frown gave him away.

He stared a hole into Ray, sizing him up, not at all minding the soldiers' stare or his groups' plea for direction.

'Almost there...'

While waiting for the soldiers to calm down and the youths to process what he had said, Ray formulated the next part of his speech.

He turned around, as he felt enough time had passed, and directed his words at the men behind.

"Not only did these future Lords have the audacity to hold their picknick in the training grounds of his Grace's, the Duke's soldiers. No! Their blatant arrogance in mocking the (arguably) strongest and bravest army in these lands while feasting on their ground only worsens their offense."

As he spoke with increasingly higher voice and vigor, the soldiers slowly started fidgeting, some of the braver (or just easier irritable) one's shooting the aristocrats' nasty looks.

Ray glanced up to the balcony; he had been on just moments ago. The Count still sat at the table, drinking his tea, but Ray could see the occasional peek Selwin shot him.

'Now it's perfect' He thought.

With a swift motion, he pointed at the youths and shouted, "My fellow citizen and brothers in arms, while I can tolerate disrespect at me, my comrades and even my family if necessary. I will not stand in silence, watching them disrespect what we fight and live for! What we protect and love! What this great nation and our home were built upon and represent!"

Slowly coming to an end, Ray turned to face the Lordlings again. As agitated and enraged the soldiers were, Ray knew they wouldn't take any action. Unlike him, these people lived under the shackles of Aristocracy their entire lives, and a certain obedience and fear were long since instilled in them. A quick speech from some fresh blood may be enough to recall some of their fighting spirit and fury, but that was it.

Luckily he didnˋt need them to do anything. The less they got involved, the better.

"Lords and Ladies here before me, please tell if anything I'm saying is wrong, but have you not expressed your disdain for these brave men? Have you not sullied their honor with distasteful jokes and mockeries? Have you not used your superior status to oppress them into silence, while tasting on their fruits of labor?

As if representing the charges, brought against them, Ray's tone was full righteousness and condemnation. He had seen some of the youths trying to speak up but quickly shot the attempts down by shouting some semi-revolutionary crap that flew through his head.

Red and shaking the group held their heads high. Although they couldn't get a word in between to defend themselves (or to attack Ray), they very much appealed their innocence with gestures and body language.

Only Frederic looked at his shoes with clenched fists. Aristocrat or not, the man was part of the military Ray was defending, so mixed feelings were a given.

Finally, as he thought this stalemate of accusation versus non-verbal defiance would continue until the guards came and hanged him for treason, the red-haired boy stepped up.

And without even realizing it Ray broke into a smile, as much as he tried to suppress it.

'Finally' He thought. His voice was already coarse and the things he had left to say sparse. A few more moments and his inspiring speech would have turned into an awkward silence.

Putting his best 'I am prepared for death' face on, Ray stood his ground against his adversary.

"Even if you wish to hang me now after I've spoken the truth, I won't resist nor scream in indignation. Not because I'm not saddened by my fate or enraged by the Lords and Ladies who sully their families name. It is because I know that even if my name slowly drifts into obscurity, the brave men here present won't forget what I've said and the vile acts you have been committing! It is because I know, as long as you don't murder every soul who has heard my message, this life won't have been in vain!

So M'Lord, drag me to the gallows and show the masses my corpse, I have nothing to regret..."

As silence commerced, the red-haired youth halted in his advance. He hadn't taken as much as two steps when Ray began the final part of his speech. Without actually doing or saying anything he was accused of wanting Ray's death. And with all eyes now on him, he couldn't hastily act.

No matter which world or time period, distinguished households always cared a great deal about their name and reputation. A fact vastly abused by Ray.

The crevices on the youths face only increased as time passed, his frown deepening with them. After, what felt like an eternity for all involved, he seemed to have come to a decision.

Pressing his lips together he strained a smile.

"Well, Well, no need to be overly dramatic, our unnamed guest. Nobody is sending you to the gallows. In fact, I was quite touched by your speech and wish to express my admiration."

Turning his upper body to face his comrades he lowered his voice and said, "Don't you think so too?"

The group was quick to agree and even quicker to fawn over the youth, praising his magnanimity and open mind.

He dismissed the comments with a casual wave, a few touches of laughter and a humble attitude, but didn't seem to mind the distraction from the topic at hand.

Ray rolled his eyes at the childish attempt to divert the subject. If he was going to be outplayed by such simple antics, he wouldn't have bothered at all. After all, he wasn't here to actually administer justice.

With a pulled down face, he returned the conversation on track.

"M'Lord, I'm glad at least this much reason has remained in you, but my word still stands. I hope you won't be offended if I ask for an explanation."

The youth's face twitched, a vein faintly visible on his temple.

"My, My, you are an insistent one, aren't you?" He said, turning back to Ray. "And let's drop the M'Lord. It sounds so formal. My name is Richard Hartford, but you may call me Lord Richard. Lord Hartford is my father."

Locking his arms behind his back, his foot started to tap in a steady rhythm. He appraised Ray one more time before saying, "As for the explanation...I'm positive you owe us one too, Mister No Name."

Richard paused a short moment before walking next to one of his friends, tapping him on his shoulder.

"You see, although I don't mind the common folk speaking their mind, my friend Thomason here is a lot more of a traditionalist. Can't you see him shaking in outrage?"

The boy he had tapped looked bewildered at first, but after a short glare of Richard and his sister realization hit him and surprise turned into anger. He clenched his teeth and frowned as best as he could, but to those around him, he only looked like number two was on its way.

But apparently, that was enough for Richard. With a shaking head but laughing eyes, he looked back up, meeting Ray's gaze.

He, on the other hand, couldn't notice such subtle nuances as shock and disbelief filled his mind.

'What an...idiot' He thought 'And here I was panicking for a second. Well, at least it's easier to deal with it this way.'

Anyone with half a decent mind should have noticed by now that Ray was trying to create trouble. He wasn't even of this city (not to mention world) and doesn't have any reason to stand up to the Nobles of it without proper cause or goal. All he wanted was to provoke some arrogant kids, so he can take it up with them as a brave speaker of the people and gain some cheap fame or shaky power. Had Richard continued to defuse the situation, Ray would have been forced to stand down, and the whole thing would have ended with him gaining enemies and another embarrassing story, but thankfully one could always count on the useless pride of a rich brat.

Still no matter what he thought, concentrating on the subject at hand took priority. He knew things could go south in a heartbeat if he messed up now.

He pressed his lips, and without sparing Thomason a look he said,

"I'm not sure what you are trying to suggest, Lord Richard, but whatever punishment you see fit, I will not object."

"...Punishment? Hahaha...No. I already said that I don't mind peasants like you to speak their mind, so how could there be punishment?"

Richard patted Thomason's shoulder as a smile crept up his face.

"When I said my friend here is more of a traditionalist, I meant he handles his grievances the old fashioned way, like many of our fathers have before us."

Nobody seemed to mind the fact that Richard was speaking for his friend who was supposedly so offended. It was, in fact, quite natural.

Similar to Ray earlier Richard threw his free hand up and shouted,

"Therefore, in front of all those assembled here, I will bear witness to Thomason Petland, firstborn son of Baron Petland, challenging you to a duel of life and death!"

After a moment of pin-drop silence, the soldiers cheered and the lordlings smirked. Only Thomason and Ray didn't react, seemingly petrified. No doubt none of them had thought it would turn out like this. Ray's scheme had technically succeeded. He had his head still on his shoulders, and the young Lords had given him an appropriate response, but something seemed wrong. Something he couldn't put a finger on just yet...

With a hearty laugh, Richard rounded up his friends and spoke a few more words about the glory and honor one would receive after winning such a fight. He walked away, leading youths to the mansion, his smugness lingering in the air long after he was gone.

And while the soldiers slowly returned to their training and other duties, Ray was still plastered to the ground.

'...duel of life and death...Death...wait...What!?'