The Beginning of All Preparations

In front of Kuren, Lux seemed to have everything under control, as if she had a plan already.

However, after Kuren had returned to his room with peace of mind, Lux could only grip her dress sword tightly.

"Karya, what in the world is going on!"

Clearly, the little princess of the Crown Guard wasn't as confident as she appeared.

Or rather, she had gradually grown accustomed to this state of "even if things are far more bizarre than I can imagine, I must at least appear calm and composed."

And the root of her confidence was Karya.

Though she wouldn't admit it out loud, Lux knew very well that her teacher was a seasoned veteran. Even with limited information, he could see through the dirty schemes of the nobility with perfect clarity.

If it were up to Lux alone...

She would probably end up paying dearly.

Lux was confident she could handle things, but detours were always unavoidable before everything was settled.

Now, seeing that the trip to Silvermine City seemed to be exceeding expectations, Lux didn't hesitate to call for outside help.

Karya didn't refuse Lux's plea for assistance.

However, unlike the relatively simple noble interactions in the Demacian Imperial Capital before, this time Karya intended to let Lux make more decisions herself.

As for Karya himself, he transitioned from a mentor to a support role.

After all, this trip to Silvermine City was also a rare opportunity for Lux to grow. To truly become someone who could stand on her own, simply following instructions and observing from the sidelines wouldn't suffice.

Therefore, after Kuren left, Karya didn't directly tell Lux what to do. Instead, he first helped Lux with a "situation analysis."

"First, do you think your 'relatives' in Silvermine City have done anything unsavory?"

"Though it's hard to believe, come to think of it, it's highly probable." When the complex problem was broken down, Lux felt less lost. "However, I can't be completely certain yet."

"So?"

"So, I need to solve the problem based on facts, just as you taught me." Lux quickly found the first breakthrough. "I need to understand the situation around Silvermine City and see if it has truly suffered from frost."

"Then, the question is, how should we look into it?" Karya continued his guidance. "Time? Location? Method?"

"Near Silvermine City, I can just look at it piece by piece on the map." Lux blinked her eyes. "You know how to tell if Komugi has been frosted, right?"

"I can." Karya affirmed. "And the timing? Those people in Silvermine City are watching you!"

"Then... the Golden Cicada shedding its shell, you taught me that!" Lux smiled. "Well, I'm a noble lady from the Demacian Imperial Capital. Even though I lived here for a while before, it's easy to get tired from traveling and feel unwell!"

"Very good, your thinking is clear, but faking illness won't help you for long."

"A week should be enough." Lux applied what she learned. "I can directly stay with a farmer... in the guise of a traveler!"

"No one wanders around aimlessly in Demacia." Karya corrected her. "Pretend to visit relatives."

"Then I'll visit relatives." Lux readily agreed. "I can also take the opportunity to understand the local farmers' situation."

"That's a very good point." Karya looked pleased, as if teaching a promising student. "Some cunning nobles even play tricks. If I were them, I'd reduce the taxes collected when deciding to underreport them. That way, the farmers would naturally side with them!"

"It can be done like this?!" Lux was genuinely surprised. "That's too cunning. The lord and the farmers together..."

"So, think about it, if you encounter such a situation, what should you do?" Karya didn't give her time to dwell on it. "If you discover this, what will you do?"

"Naturally, I'll handle it according to the law!" Lux answered instinctively. "Collect the back taxes and punish the nobles who underreported."

"What if the farmers don't have extra money to pay taxes?" Karya pressed on. "They don't know that the tax reduction is due to underreporting. They only know that a young lady from the Imperial Capital has increased their taxes—and if things escalate to that point, the outcome will likely be disastrous."

"Then... I'll waive the unpaid portion, and this won't happen again?" Lux blinked her eyes. "Just dealing with the troublemaking nobles will be enough?"

"What if the nobles incite the farmers?" Karya still didn't intend to let Lux off the hook easily. "Don't forget, under this assumption, the normal land tax is higher than the current tax."

At this moment, Lux felt her head spinning.

In reality, Karya's assumption might not be true, but if it were, Lux would indeed be helpless.

"You see, this is one of the problems you might face." Karya then moved on to a broader topic. "Farmers don't want to pay taxes, and lords don't want to pay taxes to the main family—and besides your family, most noble main families also don't want to pay taxes to Jiawen III. So, some two or more links in the chain will collude."

"Hearing you say it, it does seem like that." Lux nodded. "But why is that?"

"This involves the relationship between rights and obligations." Karya chuckled. "Paying taxes is the farmers' obligation. So, what rights do you think this obligation exchanges for?"

"...The right to be protected!" Remembering the Grand Etiquette she had read, Lux's eyes lit up. "Farmers don't have to serve in the military for generations like nobles. Unless it's an emergency, at most they'll serve as militia or logistics personnel, or perform labor. Unless they voluntarily enlist, they usually don't have to go to the front lines!"

"From Demacia's—or rather, Demacian nobles'—perspective, that's indeed the case." Karya's tone became more cheerful. "But, if given the choice, do you think farmers would rather be nobles or farmers?"

"This..." Hearing the question, Lux, who rarely interacted with commoners, was stunned. "I haven't thought about it—but, haven't we strayed from the topic? This doesn't seem related to finding a guide or figuring out if there was frost!"

"Believe me, Lux, this is the fundamental issue." Karya said with a meaningful tone. "You see, if you don't even understand those farmers, how can you truly solve this problem that concerns them?"

"..."

Hearing this, Lux finally frowned and remained silent for a long time.

She felt that Karya was consciously guiding her to see or do something, but at least for now, Lux didn't know what Karya wanted her to see or do.

However... since Karya said she should go and see, then she would go and see!

Without delay!

Quickly throwing on her coat, Lux knocked on the door of the adjacent room.

"Mr. Kuren, I have a somewhat immature idea!"

The next day, the nobility of Silvermine City received the latest news. Miss Luxanna Crown Guard from the Imperial Capital had temporarily halted her journey due to a slight cold, staying in Vilos Town, a three-day trip from Silvermine City. The envoy, after seeing the pale-faced Lux, returned to report immediately.

Upon receiving the news, the assembled nobles were stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but feel relieved.

Good thing she's sick!

As expected of the young lady from the Imperial Capital. Three days was already a tight schedule to rehearse a play, and who knew Lux would get sick!

For the collateral branches of the Crown Guard family who needed time to cover things up, Lux's illness couldn't have come at a better time!

Everyone celebrated, but only Dili, who had been quietly contemplating, immediately called for his son upon returning home.

"You brat, show some charm!" Dili said, his face beaming. "Set off now, ride my fastest white horse, and go to Vilos!"

"To see our young lady?" his son, Gokan Crown Guard, who had perfectly inherited his father's good looks, blinked. He casually wiped away a hickey on his neck. "To capture her heart? But honestly, twelve is just too young..."

"Cut out that damn flippancy!" Dili said sternly. "Gokan, she's not like those floozies you've messed with before. She's a real ticket to the upper class!"

"So, this time I'm playing for real?" Gokan raised an eyebrow. "But... playing for real, twelve is still a bit too young."

"Gokan!" Dili reached out and grabbed the longsword on the shelf. "This isn't a joke – you foolish boy. Although others question the relationship between your mother and me, you should know the truth. We are a family. I can tell you honestly, I did gain the surname Crown Guard because of her, but our love was also faithful!"

Gokan grinned, saying nothing more.

In fact, despite Dili's reputation as a notorious rake in the past, his relationship with his wife had always been very good after marrying into the Crown Guard family.

Perhaps, as he said, it was a union of power and love.

Therefore, he also hoped that Gokan could truly be with Lux, just like himself.

"Do you still remember what I told you?" Dili held the longsword in his hand. "Lux is a person who deeply loves art, so from the beginning—"

"From the beginning, I need to approach her through art. She likes classical music, is skilled in relief sculpture and realistic painting, and has extremely high standards for etiquette, which she always maintains. Therefore, unless we are sufficiently close, I must absolutely not overstep boundaries for the sake of romance." Gokan finally put away his flippancy completely. "But, is she really as you say, attending banquets at just ten years old without any mistakes?"

"At the very least, she has completely cemented the iron triangle of Lightshield-Crown Guard-Buweier, and has also brought the Royalty-Fearless Vanguard and Illuminati into close alliance." Dili finally put down the longsword. "Honestly, I'm a little worried you won't be able to handle it – I had originally planned to give you more time."

"Alright, alright, she's just a twelve-year-old girl." Gokan finally finished getting ready, a gentle and natural smile appearing on his face. "Trust me – but, honestly, Dad, I really don't like this feeling."

"You'll enjoy it sooner or later!" Dili patted his son on the shoulder and handed him his riding crop. "Do your best. At least this time, you won't have to change your surname."

"..."

His father's lame joke made Gokan shiver. He nodded, strode out of the room, and mounted his horse.

"Giddy up—"

(☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞ Recommendation Votes

(☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞ Monthly Votes

Please, dear readers, take a moment to turn the last page and complete your follow-up reading. Follow-up data is very important!

Thank you all!