Chương 4: 4 : Promoted on the first day
As the high-pitched curse echoed through the horse shed, the gathered servants turned their attention to the source of the commotion. Lord Roderick, clad in noble attire, stormed in, his face contorted in anger. "Bastard, who allowed you to touch my sister's horse? Where is that damn lady?" he bellowed, his eyes locked on Eric with fierce accusation.
The servants, recognizing the gravity of the situation, quickly congregated around the unfolding scene, their whispers and nervous glances adding to the tension. The in-charge ladies, alerted by the uproar, hurried towards the group, their expressions a mix of concern and apprehension.
Eric, standing calmly beside the princess's horse, faced Lord Roderick with a composed demeanor. "My lord, I was assigned to clean and care for the horses," he began, his voice steady.
"And who gave you the right to lay hands on a royal steed?" Lord Roderick interrupted, his voice rising with every word. "Do you realize the severity of your actions?"
The horse, sensing the mounting tension, shifted uneasily, its eyes darting between Eric and the irate nobleman. Eric, maintaining his calm, responded, "I assure you, my lord, I treated this horse with the utmost respect and care."
The crowd of servants watched in silence, their eyes darting between the two men.
"Respect? You, a Qi condensation stage nobody, dare to speak of respect for a creature you have no right to even approach!" Lord Roderick spat, his hand moving towards the hilt of his sword in a threatening gesture.
The lead lady, stepping forward, tried to mediate. "Lord Roderick, please, let's not hasten to judgment. The horse is well and unharmed."
Lord Roderick, however, was not to be placated. "This is a matter of principle! He has overstepped his bounds. This insolence cannot be tolerated," he declared, his gaze still fixed on Eric.
The atmosphere was charged with tension, the servants' anxious faces reflecting the gravity of the situation. Eric stood silently, his expression betraying none of his thoughts.
As the confrontation between Eric and Lord Roderick intensified, the in-charge lady stepped forward, attempting to defuse the situation. "Lord Roderick, the fault is mine. I should have specified which horses he could tend to," she said, her voice laced with urgency.
Eric's gaze shifted towards the small group of young men who had orchestrated this setup. They stood smugly at a distance, confident in their belief that a mere Qi condensation stage cultivator like Eric stood no chance against the wrath of nobility.
Lord Roderick, however, was not appeased. His anger only grew at Eric's lack of a submissive response. Till now Eric didn't apologize him or begged for any mercy. This irritated Roderick more. "Enough of this! Guards, take him to the underground barracks!" he commanded, his voice booming through the shed.
Just as the guards took a step forward, a regal figure entered the scene, halting the guards in their tracks. The lady, adorned in luxurious ornaments and exuding an air of authority, walked in. Instantly, the servants began to kneel.
Eric, however, remained standing, an act of defiance or ignorance, it was unclear. In his entire life he never kneeled before anyone. But thankfully, the princess didn't feel offended because she felt Eric is dumb. His demeanor was stoic, almost detached.
"What's happening here?" the lady demanded, her voice cutting through the tension.
Lord Roderick, taken aback by her sudden appearance, began to explain, "This servant dared to—"
She held up a hand, silencing him. Her eyes fell on her horse, and she approached it, examining the animal closely. To her surprise, the horse looked well-cared for, its ornaments arranged perfectly, not a single speck of dirt marring its decorations.
"Who cleaned my horse?" she asked, turning to face the crowd.
"It was him, my lady," the in-charge lady gestured towards Eric.
The noblewoman's eyes narrowed as she studied Eric. "Show me. Clean the horse again, right now," she commanded.
Eric didn't think much about it. He approached the horse like it's his own horse and began removing it's ornaments one by one. Eric arranged them one side neatly and stretched his fingers before touching the horse face.
As Eric began to work, his hands moved with a grace and precision that captivated the onlookers. His technique was gentle yet effective, a blend of care and expertise that was rare to witness. But many people didn't understand what Eric is doing as they only saw his fingers moving all along the horse hair.
The noblewoman watched intently, her initial skepticism giving way to a begrudging respect. "I never thought someone could touch my rank 3 spirit horse beside me. You have a unique way with horses," she remarked, a hint of surprise in her voice.
Eric, finishing his task, simply nodded.
"You're not much to look at, but your skills are undeniable," she continued. "Do you know how to ride a horse? And drive a chariot?"
Eric nodded again; his expression unchanged.
"Good. Tomorrow morning, ready the royal chariot. I'm going on an adventure into the sect's spirit forest, and I need someone to look after the horse," she declared.
The young men who had set Eric up exchanged glances, their smugness replaced by disbelief. Lord Roderick, still seething, had no choice but to step aside as the noblewoman's orders took precedence.
As she turned to leave, she paused and added, "Make sure it's done well. I have high standards."
Lord Roderick took an angry look before running back to the princess.
Slowly, the crowd dispersed, the servants murmuring among themselves about the unexpected turn of events. Eric, who had been moments away from imprisonment, now found himself with a promotion and a critical task ahead.
The in-charge lady approached Eric, a mixture of relief and admiration in her eyes. "You've impressed the princess. That's no small feat. Be ready for tomorrow; it's a big responsibility."
"Thank you for defending me earlier." Eric said without explaining what happened.
"It's ok. You have a good fate. I will show you around the royal barracks and your new shelter place and make sure to kneel next time when you see the princess". She said in a lecturing tone as she showed the way for Eric.
_
Note: More chapters on the way... "Please vote power stones" as it will help the book in WPC ranking. TQ so much.
Your's lovingly,
PETERPAN
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