章 4: Another Ashbourne?
"Are these magic stones?"
Eritrea asked as she got closer to the basket.
"Magic stones are just stones infused with mana. They're basically useless, but this is the egg of a diamond-ranked beast, the Hexakad Hen Queen."
Gasp!
All the commanders sucked in cold air. Their actions weren't because of the name of the beast; none of them had ever met or read about a Hexakad chicken before, but the rank sent chills down their spines.
A diamond-ranked chicken would no doubt be a delicacy.
"Lord Asher did this?"
Eritrea's breath hitched as she held one egg. It felt cold.
"Yes. This is Lord Asher's doing. He also assigned me to distribute to the four of you. So…"
After Kelvin distributed, Lambert's expression became ugly. He held five eggs, but Alex and Alec held ten eggs each. Eritrea also had 10, and Kelvin left 10 in the basket, stating it was for him.
Lambert knew Alec and Alex were his superiors, but he refused to accept Eritrea having ten eggs.
"Why does Eritrea have ten eggs and I have five?!"
Kelvin looked at him.
"Did I say I'm done distributing the eggs?"
It was then Lambert looked at the basket properly and discovered there was still an extra 5 added to the 10, which was Kelvin's.
"How did I not see that earlier?"
Alec snorted and left, causing Lambert to scratch the back of his head.
Some time later, Kelvin distributed 300 eggs to the military and gave the rest to more important citizens, like Lois the tailor and Dan, the blacksmith.
When he returned to the castle, he found Asher in his study, writing with an ink pen. "Kelvin, you're done with the distribution?"
"I am, My Lord."
"Good."
Asher rolled up the letter, picked up the Ashbourne seal, and pressed it into hot candle wax before sealing the letter.
"I heard there's now a village called Silver Leaf."
"Yes, there is, My Lord. Silver Leaf was created by the miners in order to ease the stress of always returning to the stronghold after a day of hard work."
"Who is the head of the miners?"
"Ark. He's a 54-year-old man with a family of five. He's also an experienced miner who has survived a collapse three times."
Asher raised an eyebrow.
"I guess he has a lucky charm. Very well, this letter will inform him of my arrival, so hand it over to the information department to send a messenger falcon."
"I will."
Kelvin took the letter with a soft bow.
"Oh, before I forget, I'm renaming this stronghold. From now on, it won't be known as Ash Stronghold but Nineveh."
"The stronghold of Nineveh sounds great, My Lord."
Asher chuckled.
"Have it pasted on the newsboards all over the stronghold."
"It will be done, My Lord. My Lord, when are you leaving for the silver leaf village?"
"In a day or two."
After the discussion, Asher and Kelvin went their separate ways.
Asher had a sumptuous lunch with lots of eggs, and his strength increased by 2000 catties! After the meal, he left for his room and found Mary cleaning up. She had cleaned the room after he woke up but was here again to clean even when no one had touched a thing since her last clean-up.
"Mary."
Hearing her name, she turned and bowed immediately.
Asher sat down on his bed and kept looking at her in a way that made her shiver. She subconsciously took a step back, causing Asher to tilt his head.
"I never knew your mind would become so dirty at such a young age."
He chortled.
Mary's cheeks flushed.
Asher removed his boots and pointed at the Ashbourne records on his desk.
"Get me that book and a cup of warm milk."
Mary gave him the book, left to get the milk, and returned after a short while. Asher averted his eyes from his book, took a sip and examined his personal maid. He had seen other maids, and Mary looked like a malnourished child compared to those her age.
He wasn't kidding when he used the word 'child.' Mary didn't even look like someone who is a year older than him.
He remembered her to be a proactive individual who stood up for him even against other nobles. She was daring and was quite a knowledgeable little girl back then. Mary was brought by his father from beyond the Ash Mountains.
His father told him she was an abandoned child who was badly wounded, and till date, no one has come in search of her.
After thinking for a long while, Asher discovered what made her so audacious and willing to give her ideas back then. It was his trust.
After he woke up, he had never acted like someone who knew her, and that must have made her shrink away.
"No wonder you had that look when you saw me hiding." Asher laughed bitterly.
"What did you eat this morning?"
Mary's lips trembled.
"Have you eaten?" His voice grew colder.
"I… have…" She nodded like a chicken, but a part of her wasn't happy and roared out in anger.
Gu gu!
Her stomach rattled.
Asher stood up. His frame easily towered over hers.
"What about your lunch? Don't lie to me."
Asher held her hand and dragged her straight to the kitchen and met the cook, who was in his 30s.
Upon seeing Asher, the cooks and other maids present bowed.
"Why haven't you fed her?"
The cook's eyes widened.
Other maids looked at themselves. They could not believe Mary dared to report to the Lord. Such audacity made them furious, but they decided to hide it.
Kelvin was too busy handling matters even during Peter's reign that the cook was left in charge, and during that period, Mary became the object of bullying. She was to do whatever they wanted to be fed.
Seeing their faces, Asher realized the reason Mary fell back when he just possessed this body wasn't just because she stumbled. The weak young lady was starving! Naturally, she would have little strength and stamina.
"Men!"
When the maids and the cook heard that, they began to plead for mercy, but Asher's expression remained cold. He didn't employ them, so their actions weren't surprising considering the man they served before him.
"Send them to Sirius; he should be hungry."
Even his men and Mary trembled at Asher's cold verdict.
[Ding! The host has completed a hidden quest: 'Rescue Mary Ashbourne from oppression in the castle'.]
Asher's eyes shook.
'W… What?!'
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