"Ernst! Why have you got so many carriages? Where are you going?" Constantin asked as he looked at the several carriages lined up neatly in the courtyard.
"Father, Christmas has just passed. I was thinking of visiting the children at the school. They're all orphans with no family, so I planned to go see them," Ernst answered.
"Mm! Well done, Ernst. I also want to visit those poor children. Wait a moment—I'll go with you. The two of us can head to the school together," Constantin said.
As nobles, the clever ones generally cultivated their reputations by, for instance, providing relief to disaster victims and vulnerable groups.
Of course, there were also those iron roosters who would not pluck a single feather, wishing they could strip the last bit of savings from the pockets of the people under their rule, tarnishing the reputation of the nobility as a whole.
But most nobles had their heads on straight. Even if they had no compassion, they would still put on a show.
The Hechingen Royal Family had always enjoyed a good reputation locally in Hechingen. During holidays and festivals, Constantin would also provide aid to Hechingen residents struggling to make ends meet.
The carriages rolled along slowly, with Ernst and Constantin seated inside one.
"Ernst, I know you're busy, but one cannot spend a lifetime buried in work. Sometimes, you should spare some concern for other matters as well," Constantin began.
"Uh... Father, could you just say what you mean?" Ernst asked.
"Idiot, I mean your marriage! How long has it been since you went to see your fiancée?" Constantin said, frustrated that iron could not be forged into steel.
Ernst froze for a moment. Thinking back carefully, the last time he had seen that little girl had been several months