Ward

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Ward (华德)
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Leo Family; Kyle Castle
Occupation/Role	Family steward; manager of the Leo Territory's general affairs
Status	Deceased — poisoned by Anglie Leo after his betrayal was exposed 20
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Background / History

Ward had served the Leo Family for decades and was responsible for the territory's general affairs. He had also watched Baron Kyle Leo grow up, giving him unusual seniority within the household. 2

When Anglie returned to Kyle Castle after his riding accident, Ward met him at the gate, criticized the Baron's failure to arrange combat instruction sooner, and urged Anglie to remain in the castle to study under Audis for safety. 2 He continued to manage household matters, including maid recruitment and tax affairs, and relayed warnings that Anglie should avoid entering the deeper forest. 11 14

Ward sat with Baron Kyle and Audis when they learned that Dark Chapter had sent an assassin against the Baron. 8 After Anglie's battle with Dis, Ward visited while Anglie recovered and asked Cecilia to tell him to rest. 13

After the Baron was injured fighting the Raging Mountain Bear, Ward organized the call for the chief healer. He later reported Audis's discovery of a possible iron mine and offered to accompany the injured Baron, though Kyle ordered him to stay behind to guard the castle. 17 Before leaving, Kyle placed the castle's security and Anglie's protection in Ward's hands. 18

Betrayal and Death

While the Baron was away, Ward became visibly troubled after receiving private information from a soldier. He nevertheless agreed to arrange a limited tax exemption for Cilier's father's fruit shipments at Anglie's request. 18 19

Ward ultimately revealed his betrayal by entering Anglie's study with four armored swordsmen and demanding his surrender. He claimed that Baron Kyle's excessive taxation justified a campaign to overthrow him and “restore peace” to Leo Territory. 19 20

Anglie killed two of Ward's men, pursued Ward when he fled, and wounded him with a poisoned projectile. In return for Anglie's promise to preserve his family, Ward disclosed the location and condition of the Baron and his ambushers before dying from the poison. 20

Appearance

Ward was an elderly, somewhat gaunt man with gray hair, later described as having a head full of white hair. He typically wore black robes or black noble attire. 2 17 19

• Gray or graying hair, kept neatly tied behind his head at formal meals 17
• Gaunt, aged appearance 2
• Wore black robes while performing his stewardly duties 2
• Carried concealed weapons during his escape from Anglie 20

Personality

Ward initially presented himself as dutiful, cautious, and deeply invested in the Leo household's security. He openly worried over Anglie's safety, advocated martial instruction for him, and consistently handled practical matters on the Baron's behalf. 2 8 14

His later actions revealed that this loyalty had limits. Ward concealed his concerns while preparing to act against Kyle, then justified his betrayal as opposition to the Baron's rule. 18 20 Even when facing death, he bargained for his family's safety and provided Anglie with vital information only after receiving that assurance. 20

Abilities & Skills

Knight-Level Combat

Ward was a mid-level knight, but Anglie's peak-knight speed and strength left him unable to react effectively in their confrontation. 20

• Could activate a life-seed eruption to raise his mobility while fleeing 20
• Used a concealed black iron claw from his sleeve 20
• Threw a black dart at Anglie during his escape attempt 20
• Was decisively outmatched by Anglie in direct combat 20

Stewardship and Administration

Ward managed the Leo Territory's general affairs and exercised authority over castle operations. 2

• Coordinated household staff and recruitment of replacement maids 11
• Delivered security instructions and forest-travel warnings to Anglie 14 18
• Processed tax exemptions within existing scale restrictions 19
• Reported strategic developments, including the potential iron mine in Audis Territory 17

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Black iron claw — concealed in his right sleeve during his attempt to flee Anglie 20
• Black dart — thrown at Anglie during the chase from Kyle Castle 20

Relationships

• Baron Kyle Leo — Long-serving steward who had watched Kyle grow up; later joined the plot against him. 2 20
• Anglie Leo — Initially acted as a concerned household guardian and adviser, but later tried to force him to surrender; Anglie poisoned him after exposing the betrayal. 2 20
• Audis — Sat alongside him and Baron Kyle during discussions of the Dark Chapter threat; both were later implicated in the wider betrayal against Kyle. 8 19 20
• Cilier — Processed a restricted tax exemption for her father's fruit shipments at Anglie's request. 19
• Ward's family — Their safety was Ward's final condition for revealing the Baron's location to Anglie. 20