HTLCCBFT Chapter 206

Has The Lord’s Career Chart Been Filled Today? – Chapter 206

Gad could never have dreamed that in his haste to rescue his imprisoned son, he would instead become a fish on the chopping block, entirely at the mercy of others.

The charges of “disrupting the court of justice and attacking the guards” would spell utter ruin for commoners, but for nobles, they were not particularly severe—unless the offense was not against a knight of equal rank or common guards, but a noble of higher standing.

Yet it was by no means as simple as paying a fine to walk free.

Both Gad and his son ended up in prison. The father was to receive five lashes administered personally by the offended knight, was not permitted immediate medical treatment, and had to remain in a cell for three full days.

It wouldn’t be fatal, but it was intensely humiliating and excruciatingly painful.

As for his son Rayper and his accomplice Fuyero, their sentences were clearly much longer—Oliver upheld Loyel’s original judgment. Of course, this was on the premise that no other crimes were linked to Rayper. If further evidence emerged and victims came forward to press charges, his sentence would only lengthen, potentially reaching the maximum of twenty years.

Ticher and Daining were also in a daze: they could hardly believe that not only had they successfully accused the son of a noble, but they had also witnessed the humiliating downfall of the once-overbearing former sheriff father and son, both now behind bars. And most importantly… they had actually seen up close that lord who seemed to exist only in distant legends—holy, gentle, generous, and compassionate, yet so remote one dared not even think of approaching him!

When the guards escorted them out of the court of justice and they stood before the sheriff’s office, the two girls still felt as if they were dreaming, each step as soft as treading on clouds, with no sense of solid ground.

The guard had asked them to wait there briefly. Though they didn’t know why, they obediently stood and waited.

“Oh my goodness, Ticher.”

Daining, her eyes misty, finally began to regain her senses.

She tightly grasped Ticher’s hand, her face flushed with excitement: “I can’t believe how lucky we are! We actually saw the Duke! The lord! The divine messenger! Ahhh! It’s that most noble Duke!”

The girl was so thrilled she nearly danced on the spot, completely forgetting to lower her voice. Her incoherent outburst was overheard by the guards stationed at the entrance.

Trained to maintain composure while on duty, they refrained from laughing aloud, but inwardly, they couldn’t help but chuckle kindly.

“Yes, I can’t believe it either.”

Ticher also felt that last night, she had been trapped in a nightmare that made her break out in a cold sweat. With the trial, that terrifying dream had dissipated, and a bright, warm dawn had broken through.

The dark cloud hanging over them had been dispelled, the villains punished, and they were overjoyed.

To have seen that incredible, noble presence made them feel as if their entire beings had been purified, filled with an indescribable happiness.

She smiled at Daining, who was now bouncing with joy, all traces of her former timidity and fear gone, feeling nothing but immense gratitude for everything.

She was grateful to Miss Lucy[mfn]Raws says ‘Daisy’ 黛西(Dài xī), which I believe is a typo.[/mfn], who had scolded her into awareness, to the brave guards, the noble judge, and that lord who was as beautiful and dreamlike as a fantasy…….

Hmm?

As fragments of memory replayed in her mind, she froze slightly.

Why did she always feel… as if she had seen the divine messenger somewhere before?

That melodious voice also held a strangely familiar quality.

Impossible.

She quickly dismissed this absurd thought.

Those exquisitely beautiful features, that dazzling golden hair resembling solidified sunlight, and that slender, elegant figure… were all things that would leave a deep impression after just one encounter, impossible to forget in this lifetime.

Having lived in the filthy, stinking slums, covered in grime herself, merely approaching such a person would likely feel like getting too close to a fire source, causing a burning sensation.

Ticher shook her head with a wry smile, casting aside that greedy, almost shameless thought.

Why should she overlap her precious, cherished memory with today’s radiant presence?

They should each remain unique.

That handsome merchant who had given her long-lost respect, gently encouraged her, and bestowed hope upon her.

And today’s lord, who had established numerous laws to protect the weak and effortlessly silenced the arrogant former sheriff with just a few words, forcing him to surrender without resistance.

—Both were like the morning stars that could illuminate her night sky.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

After only a short wait, Siger, the squad leader who had helped them last night, emerged holding two cloth bundles.

“Open them and take a look.”

After handing one to each of them, he patiently reminded.

Ticher and Daining exchanged puzzled glances before carefully unwrapping the bundles.

When they saw the contents, their eyes widened in disbelief almost simultaneously, and they gasped.

Inside lay… a piece of fine linen cloth, which cost a full gold coin—something they could never afford to buy ordinarily—and quietly resting atop it were two gold coins!

With just one glance, Ticher tried to push it back as if scalded. “No, we can’t accept this!”

“This is compensation from the criminal,” Siger refused to take it back, explaining. “According to the laws established by His Highness, fines paid by criminals are distributed to the victims in a certain proportion. Especially you, Daining, your clothes were torn, weren’t they?”

“But we’re already grateful that the criminal was punished,” Daining stammered. “We can’t take these.”

“This is compensation from the criminal; it’s what you deserve,” Siger said with a shy smile. “Don’t worry, I know what you’re thinking. The lord won’t suffer any loss because of this… Though you received the compensation so quickly because His Highness personally ordered us to advance the funds from the sheriff’s office, we will definitely recover the amount from the criminal’s family later.”

Daining was nearly faint with disbelief, but Ticher persisted, “But that’s a fine; it should belong to the lord.”

They had attended classes at the divine temple as children and heard stories from their father.

They knew very well that all fines collected by lords were the lord’s property—how could they possibly have a share?

“Hmm.”

Never expecting these two slender girls to be so stubborn, Siger—who was never skilled at persuasion—found himself at a loss.

Under the secretly amused gazes of the guards standing watch nearby, he flushed slightly, scratched his head, and surrendered: “…Alright, wait here. I’ll go ask Lord Loyel for instructions.”

Hopefully before Lord Loyel leaves.

But when Siger arrived, not only was Lord Loyel still there, but even His Highness Oliver was present too!

Seeing Siger’s hesitant expression, Loyel’s brows immediately furrowed.

Siger felt his scalp prickle with dread, but there was no backing out now. He mustered his courage and recounted the incident, which was hardly a bad thing at all.

“Is that so?”

Having listened to the whole story, Oliver couldn’t help but laugh. “No problem, I’ll go talk to them.”

This shocked everyone present.

Loyel’s frown deepened, and he said without hesitation, “How could we trouble Your Highness! Please allow me to go instead.”

“Though I feel a bit sorry to say this, Loyel,” Oliver said, barely holding back a chuckle, “you are handsome and imposing, my loyal and dependable subordinate. But when it comes to comforting or persuading two delicate young girls… I’m afraid you might have the opposite effect.”

Loyel: “……”

The corner of Fosse’s lips twitched almost imperceptibly before quickly returning to a neutral line.

Before the butler could speak, Oliver had already taken the lead, heading toward the main gate.

Thus, the two girls waiting there were once again graced by the presence of someone who nearly made them faint with excitement.

“Ticher and Daining, right? I hope you’ll accept this,” Oliver said with a gentle smile. “This is compensation awarded to the victims by law from the convicted criminal. You are entitled to it. It’s also a reward for your courage in stepping forward to identify the wrongdoer and confront him in court.”

“…That’s not quite right, Your Highness.”

Being quietly gazed upon by this unbelievably beautiful person, Ticher felt as if her soul were about to drift away, her tone unconsciously taking on a dreamlike quality.

But upon hearing the word “courage,” she couldn’t help but recall her own timidity that night and the one who had truly spoken up for her—Miss Lucy.

She couldn’t shamelessly accept praise she didn’t deserve.

Summoning her courage, she carefully organized her words and slowly recounted what had happened that night.

By the end, her head was completely lowered, her voice growing softer with shame: “…I’m truly sorry, Your Highness. If it weren’t for Miss Lucy, I… I might not have been able to do it at all.”

Oliver was slightly surprised.

But he soon smiled.

He didn’t show the disappointment she had feared, nor did he grow cold.

“Ticher.”

He spoke suddenly, his tone like that of a gentle father looking at his mischievous daughter, tinged with helplessness and affection. “I don’t agree with what you said. First of all, this is absolutely not your fault. If Lucy could see how you and Daining acted today, she would be very happy.”

Ticher lifted her head in disbelief, gazing at this noble and beautiful lord, listening to words she would remember deeply for the rest of her life, forever—Words that would be forgotten: “Secondly, you have been tormented by unjust laws and bullied by irresponsible superiors—these are their failures.”

“Even if fear truly prevents you from stepping forward… I could never blame you. But next time, I hope you can bravely stand up to protect yourselves and your companions who might suffer the same fate.”

As he spoke, Oliver’s smile deepened at the corners of his mouth.

His gentle words fell upon her shoulders like soft flower petals: “But I am glad. Without waiting for next time, you have already courageously stood here today.”

“If that was a nightmare, then I declare you have gradually awakened.”

“The cat god will bless brave, kind, hardworking girls.” She gazed at him transfixed as she heard him say: “I also pledge with my ducal honor to my people—as long as I live, I guarantee your voices will be heard, your existence will never again be overlooked. What you must do is exactly as you are now—hold your heads high and walk in the right direction.”

---