13 Messy Plan (3)

A nobleman who was lost due to attacks by assassins continues to seek help for his life. He walked with wounds all over his body, hoping that someone would help him. But what he saw was the darkness of the night, the sounds of the birds and animals that were active at night, the trees... and the raindrops that wetted his body and made his blood run to the ground.

The air is getting humid, a nobleman is getting closer to the limit of his life. His life was threatened due to a lack of blood.

He did not know the way home to return to his royal castle. He just followed his footsteps with full hope of surviving. His eyes were droopy and covered by the rain. His nose could only smell the damp earth and damp air. His mouth was open, hungry and wanting to scream for help. His hands kept holding the trees to help him walk. His mind was only focused on finding someone who would help him and the monsters who wouldn't attack him anymore.

"Liz..."

He mentioned the name of someone he remembered, on the verge of death. It was the name of his little sister who he hoped would help him.

Liz is a woman who has extraordinary sword skills. He hoped that Liz would come and help him get out of the verge of death, and avenge the deaths of his bodyguards who were killed by those assassins.

A nobleman did not think that his life would be targeted even though he had been kind to people all this time. This was very strange to him, it seemed like no one liked him. He knew that his position was indeed high, even very dear to the king, but why did it even make people jealous of him? Is this what is called greed for power?

What's wrong with all this? What's wrong with him? He just did what he thought was right, but why didn't they like that? Then, who did that, ordering the assassins to kill him?

A noble is not wrong. He wouldn't find that answer. Because after all, it was them who wanted him to die.

It was they who were at fault and had to change their envy with respect for that noble. Had they been like that, they wouldn't have done that to a noble.

The world is too annoying when people envy what they don't have.

"Ah..."

A nobleman looked at the lamp. He saw a settlement right in his sight. However, his body was already unable to withstand the injuries all over his body. He passed out before making it there.

***

The noise woke him up. It was the voice of people who were so busy that they sounded in the ears of a noble.

"Where am I?"

He asked, trying to get himself up but couldn't. After that, a woman suddenly came to him.

"Are you awake?"

It was the voice he had been waiting for. It was the sound he wanted to hear while escaping his death. Someone is there to help him.

"Where am I?" He asked that again, to confirm his whereabouts.

"You're in Miyuki Village. I saw you lying in the rain while trying to pick up the herbs."

After the silver-haired woman said that, a noble confirmed whether it was true or not. He looked around and found that he was in a room made of wood. He thought that he was in the village he saw before he passed out.

Some shabby furniture that he saw. Not far from him, there was that woman. Not far from the woman, there was a clay jar that could easily be crushed. The bed he slept on was a very rather thin cloth. After confirming that, he looked at the woman.

"So I see. You helped me. Thank you."

"No problem. By the way, is your body still sore?"

"Ah. I was helped thanks to you. My body is lighter than before."

"Is that so? Thank goodness it's like that. I turned out to be choosing the right herbs. I thought they were leaves for killing insects, but they turned out to be herbs for healing wounds."

"...By the way, what is your name? I am Androcles de Jansen."

"D-De Jansen? Y-You are a noble from the De Jansen Family?" The woman was taken aback by some of the questions. After that, she suddenly bowed beside Androcles de Jansen. "I-I'm Cecelia."

Androcles was silent for a moment, smiling a little as Cecelia did that beside him.

Well, it was the courtesy of the people to the royal nobles, so Androcles knew that and chose to smile a little.

"No need to be so polite in front of me. Keep your head up, Cecelia."

"I can not."

"Why? Enough, raise your head."

"I can not."

"I told you, raise your head!"

"I told you, I can't."

Androcles confirmed the reason why Cecelia didn't want to obey him.

"..."

He fell silent when he knew that Cecelia was holding her back. He found and argued that Cecelia was unable to lift her head and body because she had gout. For that, Cecelia's position would be like that.

Androcles forced himself to stand up, and after that, he pushed and pulled Cecelia's body so that she could stand up straight.

"Why did you do that when you knew that your body...?"

"Hehehe. Thank you very much, Mr. De Jansen."

"Just call Androcles. You've helped me, so call me that."

"I can not."

"Why now?"

"That's very disrespectful. Therefore, I won't-"

Before Cecelia could finish her sentence, Androcles suddenly kissed Cecelia's lips.

"Eh?"

After that, he held Cecelia's shoulder who was still shocked.

"That's rudeness too. So we're both disrespectful."

Cecelia just nodded, still shocked by the kiss.

"So I'd prefer it if the woman who helped me called me Androcles."

"O-Okay."

"Cecelia, I say thank you again."

"O-Okay."

After that meeting, Androcles and Cecelia were together all the time. It was their first meeting.

It will take time for Androcles to return to his king's royal palace. He stayed in the village until he was completely healed of his injuries. With his friendly demeanor, there was no problem for Androcles to stay in the village and unite as a citizen of the village. For that, many people respect him and make him a good noble.

Androcles got a horse to return to his king's royal palace, but he didn't want to leave Cecelia just like that. Therefore, he decided to take Cecelia there with him too.

And finally, he invited Cecelia to go there. Androcles has found his love. Androcles wants to marry Cecelia and asks the king for permission.

However, getting there, to get there is very difficult. His brothers and sisters did not approve of that. They don't want to get sisters from the poor. They knew that Cecelia was a poor countrywoman, not up to par for a noble family. For that, they did not agree with the marriage.

But, unlike them, the king allowed Androcles to marry Cecelia. The king knew that Androcles had found a woman who could make him happy, that's why the king blessed their relationship even though Cecelia was a village woman.

It made the other nobles jealous of Androcles even more. They even always badmouth Cecelia and hurt her. That's why Cecelia hesitated to marry Androcles even though she was very much in love.

Androcles thought of dealing with this situation. He did not want his future wife to continue to be hurt by harsh words from his brothers and sisters. He was looking for a way how Cecelia could be happy with him for marrying him.

Androcles thought back to the village where Cecelia lived. He remembered that there was a large piece of land where a house could be built. The location of the land was very strategic, a little further from the village and the forest.

They discussed it privately. Androcles plans to stay married to Cecelia and decides to stay there. However, Cecelia didn't want to ruin Androcles' relationship with the other nobles and including the kind king. They argued with each other that night about the matter until Cecelia finally agreed with her uneasiness.

Androcles and Cecelia remained married even though the other nobles still did not like Cecelia's existence. The king was pleased with the marriage and agreed to Androcles' wish to build a castle near Miyuki Village.

When the wedding took place, Cecelia was very beautiful in front of her future husband and noble families. They fell silent in awe at that, but they also remembered that Cecelia was a poor woman from that village. Meanwhile, Androcles was very happy to see his very beautiful future wife wearing a white dress.

They were married in front of hundreds of noble families in the royal palace and witnessed by the king. But still, even if it was a happy day for Androcles and Cecelia, some people wanted to thwart that. But luckily, Androcles' little sister, Liz, can handle it. She managed to make the marriage work properly thanks to her ingenuity and ability.

After a few days, after the wedding, the king ordered some of his servants to look after Androcles in the new place they were going to occupy. However, a servant named Fran Beltran politely refused. He advised the king to leave it all to him alone. That way, the king will not lose the servants who swore allegiance to him. The king also agreed with that, gave up his most loyal servant for Androcles and Cecelia, and considered it a gift for them.

And slowly, as the palace built near Miyuki Village was finished, and while Androcles and Cecelia were living there, they slowly gained maids and servants. It's all because of their kindness to help someone in need of a job.

***

"When you and Master Ernesto were born, they were very happy. Their family is complete, even close to perfection. That's why you and Master Ernesto are very dear to them," Fran continued.

"I see," Arsenio said, looking at the bathroom door as he rode Fran into the library. "So that's why my mother always takes a bath during the day? She must have a hard time having to maintain her dignity as the wife of a noble. I see. I understand."

"She did that so as not to embarrass her husband in front of the other nobles. I don't mean to insult your mother, but they see your mother as a poor, curmudgeon woman, who doesn't deserve to be part of a noble family."

"You seem to know a lot, Mr. Fran."

"Because I have received this order, Lord Arsenio."

"Umph? What orders?"

"No, it's nothing. I'll take you there immediately, Lord Arsenio."

"Okay. Nice old horse. Run like a donkey!"

"Very well, Lord Arsenio. Hold on! Hiiyyaa."