The luxurious lifestyle that ordinary people saw as extravagant was merely part of Count Les Kazan's daily routine.
He walked to the small lake within the estate, where the clear water rippled with sparkling reflections beneath the sunlight.
Standing on a small platform built along the shore, he took a short run before diving gracefully into the water.
After plunging beneath the surface, Count Les vanished from sight, leaving only his bathrobe drifting slowly atop the lake.
A full half-minute passed before his head emerged from the water more than ten meters away from the shore.
His chestnut hair hung wetly over his shoulders. Count Les wiped the droplets from his face and felt utterly refreshed.
"Comfortable!"
This small lake was connected to a Spring Eye in an underground cavern. Its water source was clean, and the conditions were quite good.
Being able to swim in a small lake on one's estate was already an exceptionally luxurious way of life.
However, whenever rainfall was abundant and the groundwater surged, the lake would overflow as well.
That was why a stone embankment had been built around it, with many little flowers planted on top as decoration.
This estate covered a vast area. Though it could not compare to the Marquis's castle in the core district, it still ranked among the largest estates in the first ring of the city.
Even going out required the carriage house and Stable to prepare mounts and conveyances in advance.
Living here as a wealthy gentleman was not a bad choice at all.
At least, that had been the case before the Lords descended.
Life had been relatively peaceful then, without so many flashy conflicts erupting everywhere.
The class system had also been very stable, which meant that those with vested interests could enjoy the benefits