"How much for the apple, little girl?" Kent asked
"Only 3 copper coins sir." The pale girl quickly replied in the utmost urgency.
In response, the lord ruffled his pocket and pulled out the first coin he sees, a shiny silver coin laid in his palm.
Kent: "Keep the change."
The pale girl couldn't hide her surprise, mouth wide open and eyebrows arched. Never in her life had she seen a silver coin, let alone a gold coin. She deeply wished to keep the coin, but a lingering discomfort dwindled in her.
All this change, however, didn't escape the eyes of the benevolent lord in front of her.
"It's ok. Take it."
The girl couldn't withhold her emotions as tears shred out of her eyes. But still, she maintained her composure.
"May the spirit of Tarenmouth bless you." Standing tall in front of Kent, the girl gave him a bow, followed by a wholehearted prayer, as per tradition, before running off in the distance.
Passer-by stared at the recent scene, the event of which a rich man handed a girl one silver coin didn't go unnoticed by the people who were nearby. Kent noticed the looks but did nothing about it.
He stood motionless at the same spot he met the little girl; in the middle of the marketplace, eyes gazing as he followed the movements of the girl among the poorly laid stone road, before disappearing behind the walls of buildings.
It was a sorry sight, to see even desperate underaged kids working to make a living, and this is happening in Kent's domain no less.
The lord's investigation has already given him more insight into the difficulties the people of Hestanar has been going through. What was already certain was that the citizens lived in great difficulty, struggling to pass each coming day. He needed to make changes to the city. The sooner the better.
The comforting wind from the seashore blew against Kent's face. His attention was drawn to the shoreline.
In Kent's memories, Hestanar was a city established directly near the open sea. Boats and ships could come to establish trade with the city of Hestanar through this channel, as the city is located far away from any nearby settlements.
Added by the complexity of the nearby terrain, a boat was the simplest way of transportation in and out of Hestanar.
Kent made his way to the southern parts of the city. As he slowly analysed the situation of the city, something doesn't add up. Hestanar was well near the open sea, with great potential for catching lots of seafood daily.
How could such a great source of food not help feed the city?
When Kent arrived at The Port, the guard couldn't help but feel surprised. An elegantly dressed man came by his station, when was the last time he saw such a wealthy man? But on closer inspection, he immediately recognised the man as the previous city lord's son, Kent Alfhard!
If not for the Alfhard family crest on Kent's left breast pocket, the guard could have mistaken him for a wealthy travelling merchant.
The guard immediately rushed to Kent's side and said, "Welcome lord Kent."
The lord nodded to the soldier. "Please follow me. I have some questions that need answering."
"But sir, what about my post?"
"It will only take a fraction of your time."
"Well then… Yes sir. I would be happy to help." The guard replied with due diligence.
Kent walked in front, whilst the soldier walked behind him. As they approach the shoreline, stone laid path gradually turned to sand. The cool ocean wind blew against their faces, chirping of birds blew filled the otherwise much empty shore.
What appeared in the two men's sight were boat docks that extended far into the sea. These boat docks were at the centre of the beach, allowing various boats to dock on the Hestanar shoreline.
"What's your name?" Kent asked whilst he stood on the beach.
The guard had no initial reaction, but he soon realised that the question could be only directed to himself. After all, no one was anywhere near the two of them. "Roland. Roland is my name."
"How long have you been working on your post?"
"Two winters, milord."
Kent nodded. "Then you would certainly understand the situation more than me."
"Tell me more about the Hestanar, Roland." Kent inquired
"Milord, please forgive me for my foolishness. But could you be more specific?"
Kent could only smile. He pointed at the numerous boats stationed in the port.
The guard recognised what his lord wants to know and told him. "I am only a guard, so I don't know much. But I have heard that the fisherman had trouble at sea. Something about strong wind."
Kent nodded in understanding. It appears that the condition of the sea caused a shortage of food supply, especially seafood. But once again he thought deeper, if the famine is simply caused by high winds, couldn't the fisherman just go out to sea when the wind is low?
"So, the reason why everyone is starving is because of this… wind?" Kent asked.
Roland laughed in awkwardness. "I am only a guard. These are the things I've heard from the people that pass through my station. you should ask them for more answers, lord."
"Then what about the people. Why do I see so few Hestanians on the street?" The lord changed the subject.
Roland's body froze when he heard that question, but he still replied. "Well, it's because… you know… the people are…. concerned. We are, and I am sorry but this, but— we are not confident in your abilities."
…
'The gods played a cruel joke on me.' (Kent shook his head)
Kent had considered many possible reasons why Hestanar was so short on people. He had many guesses but never had he thought that nearly everyone in the city left because of the previous Kent's public opinions.
But once he thought about it, it was not without reason. The previous Kent's reputation had been, quite frankly, horrendous. It would be quite an achievement if Hestanar didn't fall to ruins under the previous Kent's leadership.
Kent admired the view. The city lord gazed at the blue shoreline, waves rushing on the sand with rhythm, in sync with the seagulls' chirp. Open blue sea, vast, winds blow and sing like the fairies. had the previous Kent ever seen this side of the city?
The inexperienced lord asked himself this question, but deep down, he already knew the answer.
The Lord faced the person on his right and opened his mouth. "Then tell me, why did you stay? Roland?"