"...."
There was no reply. Reika's expression began to sway from the different atmosphere that felt unexpected. Boros turned familiarly without being flustered by such a reaction.
"Then come inside. I'll show you to the state of the territory."
The group went into the carriage together and traveled through the estate at the command of the driver in accordance to Boros' directions.
The first thing Reika saw were dirtied, naked and skinny people. The children were looking up at the carriage with their fingers in their mouths. Asher frowned at the pitiful sight.
'It's… too different.'
In the past, Belaturia was a place full of energetic life, even though it was poor. There was no concern about the people's wellbeing and everyone was happy.
But now Asher felt like he was looking at a slum. The people's eyes were dead and their movements were lifeless. Every now and then, there were people yelling and crying at others.
When Reika looked at the village's condition, Reika's face became dark and Boros opened his mouth with a bitter face.
"You'd better be careful. The atmosphere is not good because there's been rumors of a murderer targeting women, and the atmosphere is not good."
"Yes…."
Reika replied with a distraught and saddened look.
***
"What is this!"
Reika, who was guided to the castle's quarters, shook the hem of the dress roughly.
"This is the hero's territory? What a slum!"
"Uh, Miss…"
Charon was still fumbling in embarrassment to regain his surprise as well from the visit. Reika sat roughly on the bed.
"I think it would be better to just live in the middle of a battlefield than to live here."
Reika rubbed her hands on the covers of the bed. A soft touch wrapped around her hand.
"The rooms are luxurious to no end. I heard they always looked at the common people from the same place of mind. What a load of crap."
"But in the past, he really did."
"Not now, What does the past matter anyways if it isn't the present?"
"I can't believe it either."
Asher bushed his fingertips over the smooth walls of the room. The bright red linen on the wall was embroidered with gold jewelry that could easily be sold for high amounts of gold in an auction.
'yeah…different.'
In the past, Balbaca Belturia's relatives begged Balbaca every day. That as a lord, he always should protect the minimum amount of dignity at the very least.
And Balbaca refused, holding a potato in one hand and a plow in the other, asking if dignity would make him a wholesome human being.
'It's weird.'
"But hopefully the Lord will be gentle."
Reika murmured with light hope in her voice. Balbaca was a good man with the title of a hero, right? She had the expectation that such a man couldn't be too strange.
The very next day, they met with Lord Balbaca.
"Welcome to this place."
Reika's first emotion when met with Balbaca was disgust. Balbaca spoke at the table with a wrinkled face without even looking at Reika.
"You must have had a hard time coming all the way from that country bumpkin estate."
Charon and Reika's faces hardened at the rude words that could not possibly be meant to be spoken in hopes of a political marriage.
"I told you not to ask me to do this, Boros. Take care of them yourself."
"But shouldn't the Lord see the guests of the estate at least father?"
"Ugh.. words of a dog."
Balbaca spat out with disgust at his son Boros.
"I'm already busy, Starleena…."
Asher narrowed his eyes. It was so different. There was not much of a difference looking at Balbaca from a physical standpoint. The Balbaca in front of him, was just moderately aging as he should be.
But the atmosphere was very, very different. In the past, the atmosphere was humble, soft even. But, now a cold, heartless, and disgustingly impolite Balbaca had seemingly replaced the old Balbaca he once knew.
"Bring me a drink, Starleena."
A maid at the side of the dining table shivered and brought a bottle of liquor. She spilled a little bit of alcohol while pouring the liquor into Balbaca's glass.
"… I'm sorry!"
The maid kneeled immediately as she pressed her face as hard as possible on the ground. If it were Balbaca in the past, he would have laughed and said it was okay, but Balbaca's face contorted in rage.
"You don't need a hand that can't work properly. Guards take her hand and cut if off."
"Lord, my lord!"
The maid lifted her head in a hurry.
"I have been with you for twenty years!"
"You've been serving me for 20 years and you can't even pour alcohol? I don't need a maid like that. Shut up and take your punishment."
"Lord! Lord!"
The maid kept struggling as she was dragged by the guards. Boros grabbed the guard's arm with a stiff and cold expression of disgust.
"Stop it.", Boros spoke out.
"I am the Lord. Boros, get out of the way."
"We can't behave like this in front of the guests, father. I think it's a good idea to keep your manners to some extent."
"What's the matter with… Ah yes…"
Balbaca stopped after a long pause. He looked at Reika. Reika stepped back unknowingly at the glance that seemed to be eyeing her entire body up and down.
"…yeah, okay.. let her go. You, what's your name again?
"Re, it's Reika…."
"Yes, I see now."
Balbaca made an insidious smile. Reika was terrified.
***
"What!"
Charon shouted harshly. Shortly after his meeting with Balbaca, Reika was assigned another room. To the room near Balbaca. It was an assignment that clearly showed ill intent and malice. Charon bit his lip.
"What the hell is going on? Mr. Balbaca, why would the hero…."
"I guess he's not a hero anymore."
"Don't talk nonsense."