In the early morning, the soft sunlight streamed through the ancient castle's windows, casting a warm glow on the bed and awakening the sleeping Rayalu.
He rubbed his tired eyes and stretched out in a big yawn. The two days he spent in bed had been extremely dull, and now he was eager to leave the room and change his surroundings. Without a phone, a computer, or any form of entertainment, lying in bed felt like a form of torment. If it weren't for the fear of being mistaken for a demon and burned, he wouldn't have pretended to be ill.
In recent days, important figures in the castle had come to visit him. Thanks to his exceptional memory, Rayalu was confident he would not mistake anyone. In this hierarchical noble world, managing upper-class relationships was crucial. Rayalu's breakfast was lavish and extravagant: a large cup of beast milk, a piece of bread, a fruit resembling a tomato, several sauces, butter, and a piece of roasted meat.
Such treatment was evidently not something a typical baron's son would enjoy; it was clearly the result of Pastor Quinn's persuasion. Given the high energy expenditure, it was only natural to replenish it well.
As soon as he stepped out of the room, he ran into the Baroness. Clearly, the news had been conveyed. Such matters did not require much investigation; as the lady of the castle, it was not difficult for her to secure a few loyal supporters.
"Rayalu, you're alright now, that's wonderful! May the great Morning Lord bless us. Do you know, I've been so worried these past few days that I could hardly sleep…"
Rayalu was somewhat skeptical of the Baroness's words. She was indeed worried, but not about the original owner's health; she was more concerned about her own son, who was tied to the pillar.
Although he was bedridden, Rayalu was well aware of the castle's situation. According to the maid, on the day of the incident, the angry Baron Redman had severely beaten Lesaul, and even the Baroness, who tried to mediate, was punished.
Perhaps out of stubbornness or a need to explain himself to others, Baron Redman had ordered Lesaul to be tied to a pillar. If Rayalu hadn't "taken" his place, Lesaul might have already suffered worse.
"Swapping life essence," no matter how you look at it, wasn't a mere prank. It was, in a more serious light, an attempt on his brother's life.
The awakening of the life seed has always been fraught with danger; in ancient times, it almost always resulted in death. It wasn't until the greatest alchemist of the Aslant Continent, Kemboy, invented the life essence that things began to improve.
Life essence not only increased the success rate to fifty percent but also ensured survival even if the awakening failed, no longer resulting in either death or severe injury as it did in ancient times.
Because of this, the success rate for knights increased dramatically, and knights blessed by the gods gradually became mainstream on the continent. Of course, whether they were truly "blessed by the gods" is still subject to verification, but history records it as such. Knights who have awakened the life seed are not only physically stronger but also have a greater affinity with beasts.
Almost all knights have their own steeds. On the battlefield, a knight's advantage is unparalleled. Despite being fifteen, Lesaul, who had no life essence to assist him, couldn't be unaware of the dangers, and the term "prank" clearly didn't explain his actions.
"Dear Lady Tassi, people must be accountable for their actions. Mistakes must have consequences; this is a rule that nobles should follow."
Rayalu's words were unrelenting. Although he didn't wish to clash with the Baroness at this moment, the tension between the original owner and the Baroness was always high. Maintaining a friendly demeanor in this situation would be more conspicuous.
"Rayalu, don't say that. Lesaul is your brother; he's still just a child…"
Before the Baroness could finish, Rayalu interrupted, feigning anger, "That's right, he's still a child. But that doesn't exempt him from following the rules of the game, unless you think Lesaul isn't a noble!"
This was a blatant sarcasm. The Baroness's background had always been a sore spot for her, making it difficult for her to integrate into noble circles. Normally, anyone who touched on this subject would face her ire. But now, with her precious son still tied to the pillar, she was powerless to fight back.
Seeing the Baroness at a loss for words, Rayalu sighed. Her obvious hints were not understood, making the situation seem somewhat futile. Indeed, such intricate games were not something everyone could handle.
One might also think, if the Baroness were as skilled as she wished to be, it would be difficult for her and her children to grow smoothly. Perhaps this was why she became the Baroness; being too clever evidently didn't suit the role of a stepmother.
After a brief pause, Rayalu said with resignation, "Alright, Lady, for your sake, I can let Lesaul go this time, but it will require compensation."
The sudden shift took the Baroness by surprise. Her expression changed noticeably upon hearing the word "compensation."
"What do you want?"
As soon as she spoke, the Baroness realized her mistake. She was in a disadvantageous position now, and being eager to compromise didn't align with proper negotiation tactics.
Rayalu frowned; discussing the price directly was somewhat vulgar and didn't match his noble demeanor. However, considering his depleted wallet, he had lost his previous lofty stance.
"500 gold coins!"
He didn't want anything else because his father was still the true master of the castle, and besides some money, the Baroness had little control over other matters.
"Why don't you go and rob it?"
This almost instinctive reaction clearly exceeded the Baroness's expectations.
"Madam, please conduct yourself with dignity!" Rayalu said. "According to the customary practices of the continental wars, the ransom for a noble knight is 500 gold coins. My asking price is entirely within the rules. Please adhere to them."
Rayalu spoke with a serious expression. Anything involving rules always seemed solemn. Although calculating based on prisoner ransoms was somewhat far-fetched, it had its rationale.
Even though the Baroness knew Lesaul wasn't in any real danger, as long as Rayalu didn't relent, the situation wouldn't settle. If this matter wasn't resolved before the news spread and other members of the Koslow family got involved, the situation would become even more complicated.