Seeing the look in the man's eyes who ruled over this barony named Esvet, James realised his anger got the best of him. They were discussing the hygiene issue, but he just got angry about some other completely different matter. He never got angry like this, but this time the situation got out of hand.

"I...am sorry." said James bowing down.

"No...no milord. It's ok. It's his fault that he did nothing. Your anger is totally justified." said another man named Samuel. He was one of the people sent by the duke and knew very well about Leonhart's nature. So he was trying to cool down the situation by sweet talking.

"Yes, yes... Lord Leon. I am really sorry. It's my fault. I was being irresponsible. Please give me some time I will fix everything." said the fat man named Garrat, the previous baron of this land in a pleading tone.

"Oook... Then."

Soon the knights got into action and cleared the surrounding which were covered with bystanders. And then the group returned to the Mansion with no one out voicing their thoughts about the matter. They were too scared to look him in the eye.

James felt a little strange about his sudden outburst, nothing like this had happened before. It was not the first time he had seen something like this where human incompetence had caused problems for others, but this time, he had power. The capacity to change something. And the people beside him were too scared to even face him.

***

Inside a cold and dark room, which was illuminated by some candles and the sunlight coming from the windows, sat six individuals with tense expressions. They were the people sent by the Duke to help his son, but now, from the very beginning, they were facing issues they hadn't accounted for.

"So...you are telling me he just grabbed your throat, just like that?" asked an old-looking man, probably in his mid-sixties with a white beard and white hair, named Sigard. He was here to supervise and report everything.

"Yes... Yes... He Did." replied the fatty man.

"Don't lie to him, Garrat. He just pulled your collar."

"Ohhh really... You know better than me. Huh Sam. He grabbed my neck and pulled me towards his face. If the captain hadn't intervened, I would have died there."

"Really... And whose fault was this to begin with...?"

"What...? You say that it was my fault. You know, I don't give a damn about those filthy commoners, neither do you nor anyone else here. So why the fuck are you showing this patriotism?" asked Garrat with in an offended voice. His rounded pumpkin like face was full of anger.

"What... Patriotism. I am just telling the truth." replied Samuel casually.

"Oh. Really...?"

"Yes."

"Shut up, you two." shouted Sigard.

"..." Hearing the man's loud voice, both became silent.

"Samuel, tell me everything from the beginning."

"Yes. So we were..."

The man named Samuel explained everything to Sigard, leaving no detail from how they were walking to how Leon stopped to see a happy family and how he pulled Garrat's collar.

"... then we returned. But no one dared to say anything to him after that. And that is all. He acted fairly normal but suddenly got a little violent..."

"Hey, that was not a little violent... he tried to...." said Garrat, getting up from his seat.

"Garrat.... Sit down." Shouted the old man.

"I...am sorry."

"So... he just became violent out of nowhere."

"Yes."

"..."

After hearing everything from Samuel, the old advisor fell into deep thoughts. Leonhart was scorned throughout the empire for his obnoxious attitude and behavior. Him being violent qualified his character, but why? Why he became so violent for no reason?

Everyone in the noble society saw the commoners as nothing but filths and slaves who were disposable. They never valued their opinion or did anything for their good, and Leonhart was no exception. He had assaulted countless common people just for fun. But now he was showing sympathy towards them. It didn't fit his character.

If Leonhart had hit Garrat for being disrespectful towards him, then it was alright, but he grabbed his collar just because he didn't improve people's daily life. It was odd... really odd. Like no one had seen something like this.

"Sigard...." asked another man with the same figure as him.

"Yes."

"What should we do now?"

"..."

"We should report this to Duke. He would decide what should be done with his son."

"Garrat...do you want to die?" asked Sigard in a heavy tone.

"Whaaaat? No..."

"Then shut the fuck up."

"What do you think will happen if we report this to the Duke? He would be proud that his sub-ordinates are doing nothing and wasting the taxes paid by the people for their own good. Right?"

"No..."

"Then why do you think it's a good idea to tell him?"

"I just..."

"Be grateful that you are alive. Leon left you doing nothing. Even if he had killed you, do you think any of us have the power to do anything?"

"No...I..."

"Espers are not taught like Arlet's, who would understand diplomacy. They solve everything by sheer will and raw force. No one in this empire stands a chance against them, so be grateful to him that he let you go just like that..."

"So what now?" asked another man, interrupting Sigard's words.

"Nothing."

"What do you mean by nothing?"

"Nothing means nothing. We will do nothing cause we can't do anything." replied Sigard in an annoyed tone.

"But... what about me... He tried to kill me...?"

"Garrat... did you understand anything so far or not?"

"I understand, but still he..."

"No, you didn't. You understood nothing. Add some common sense in that thick headed brain of yours not in that dick." The man named Garrat had three wives and had already seven children, but his thirst for lust never ended.

"I... But still... The Duke should compensate me..."

"Fuck it. You won't understand anything." said Sigard in an irritated tone.

"Yes."

"Yes."

Apart from the pumpkin faced man, everyone in the room nodded in unison. And the meeting ended with the ultimate word that they would do nothing. It was beyond their capabilities to control the actions of the man named Leonhart's and even if they tried, they won't be able to. So what's the point of trying?

***

A handsome man with hair which resembled the colour of snow and deep violet eyes was standing atop a small hill, looking towards a certain mine where countless people were working. He was sent here to overlook and report the current situation of the mines and the situations of the workers so they could replace them with new workforce if needed.

It was his third visit in just 3 months. He couldn't understand why he was here instead of chatting with the princess inside a warm room, perhaps he could even lie down with her. But all his fantasies were torn apart when he was once again ordered to go there, as if two times were not enough. It was a freaking long journey and would take at least a week to get back. But it was a direct order from his father the duke, which nobody in their right mind would deny, so he came despite his inner protest.

But still couldn't understand what the necessity of him being here? Was it profited his state? He could do many things if he stayed at home, but no... he was not allowed to. He had to be here on this cold mountain.

"Why am I here...?" mumbled the young Lord with a long defeating sigh.

"Milord..." asked a man who was standing behind him, probably in his twenties, wearing a finely tailored three-piece suit in black.

"Not again...." The man with violet eyes knew who this man was. How could he not know his own personal advisor and closest friend?

"What is it, Casper?"

"I have some news." Replied the man with the black suit in a professional voice.

"I know you have some news. That's why you are here."

"..."

"Speak then, or you want me to order some tea for you?"

"No lord."

"Then..."

"I heard your arch nemesis is here."

"Nemesis... Who is that? Never heard of him."

"I mean, another duke's son is here."

"Whaaat? Who would be here in this cold? It too cold for those twits to be here." It was not the cold season, but still this area was cold and was far from what would suit those guys.

"But they are here."

"Care to tell me about whom we are talking about?"

"Leonhart..."

"Really..." said the man with white hair, massaging his eyelids.

"Yea..."

"You moron... You could have told that from the very beginning. What's point of adding those useless twists?"

"I thought... It would be fun..."

"No, it isn't. It is not funny. You do that every time. For God's sake, say something once without these stupid quirks." Shouted the young Lord.

"I... a-m sorry." Replied the young man with a black suit bowing down. He had known the man in front of him since they were kids and knew how to get on his nerves. In reality, he was just playing. He was confident that his master would do no harm to him.

"..."

"..."

An awkward silence fell between the two men. No one spoke anything. They just kept staring at the distant mines.

"Casper..."

"Yes lord."

"Why are you here...?"

"To relay you some important news."

"Then for the love of God... why don't you speak....?" once again yelled the youth with snow coloured hair.

"Ahh...I forgot."

"You..."

"No... No wait... I am saying.... I am saying."

"Talk then."

"I heard... Leonhart is here."

"Really..."

"Yes."

"Like here... literally here."

"No..."

"Then where...?"

"In Esvet..."

"What...? What is he doing there?" He knew where Esvet was, but what was Leonhart, one of the laziest man in the entire empire was doing there?

"I don't know... He arrived 10 days ago."

"Hmm...10 Days..."

"..." Casper kept looking at his master, who was immersed in deep thoughts, saying nothing.

"Hey... How far is Esvet...?"

"Probably 3 hours by carriage and 5 hours by walk."

"Let's go then..."

"Where..." Casper did not know about what the young Lord was planning.

"To Esvet..." said the man with snow coloured hair, as if it was a normal thing to do.

"Like now..."

"Yes."

"Then what about these mines?"

"What...?"

"Who is going to write the report?"

"Well... why do you think you are here?"

"No...you don't mean..."

"Yes..."

"No... Please No..."

"Oh... Yes."

"Please Lord Theo, you always do that...."

"No... I don't"

"But..."

"Whatever... Let's go...."