?Slamming her hand down on the office desk, Anna’s voice resonated through the room.

Her hand, a striking contrast of pallor against the dark wood, was adorned with slender, aesthetically pleasing fingers.

Howard, gazing at her hand, drifted into a trance as Anna spoke, “Howard, being the good guy just doesn’t cut it. When your enemies are ruthless in their pursuits against you, you’re only diminishing your own strength.”

Anna showed a lack of understanding, but upon Howard’s insistence, she agreed to take action.

After she left, Howard turned to Golan and asked, “Do you understand me?”

Golan’s face twitched slightly on the left side before returning to normal, replying, “Your Majesty, the land is yours to command.”

Howard sighed, his mind wandering to Margaret, envying her carefree spirit.

Half a month later, all the transfer formalities were completed.

Margaret’s father, leveraging his daughter’s departure, had acquired land over ten times the size of his own, ascending to the rank of a duke.

Standing atop the castle walls, the newly appointed duke was filled with a sense of triumph, unaware of the conspiracy brewing against him.

Howard was indeed a kind-hearted person, reluctant to stray from the knowledge found in books or to neglect the obligations laid down by the nobility.

In this matter, he fulfilled his noble duties with utmost responsibility.

In his everyday dealings, however, Howard consciously tried to delegate power to the people, a practice not typically favored by the nobility.

Discussing how Howard’s vassals perceived him would reveal a different story; indeed, Howard was a noble who often found himself at a disadvantage, seldom reaping the benefits of his status.

However, Howard couldn’t possibly be aware of or control every thought and action of his subordinates.

Military Minister Resarite and Duke Anna, driven by their respective ambitions and ideologies, conspired together to orchestrate the assassination of Margaret’s father.

This act, ignoble and treacherous, once again brought the independent duchy under Howard’s dominion.

The deed committed by Resarite and Anna was utterly disgraceful, something that would utterly tarnish their reputations if ever brought to light. .

Yet, they proceeded with their plan.

The assassin they dispatched was of a caliber befitting a duchy, a meticulously selected ace in the art of murder.

The assassination was executed with a chilling precision; a blend of deception, disturbance, and escape.

Under the watchful eyes of many, Margaret’s father met his end in a manner akin to a drunken man tumbling from the castle walls, a scene that left onlookers baffled and without explanation.

However, the members of the study group, adhering to their tradition, were inclined to investigate such malevolent deeds.

These scholars, enthusiasts of learning and proponents of positivity, had a deep aversion to all things evil.

Thus, one night, a group of teachers robed in red approached the gates of Howard’s palace.

Upon meeting these educators and perusing the investigative report they presented, Howard’s demeanor underwent a startling transformation.

His initial composure and eagerness to learn gave way to shock and bewilderment, which soon turned to anger and a profound sense of disappointment.

Howard had the urge to throw the report to the ground in a gesture of emotional release, as bitter as the taste of coptis.

However, Howard held immense respect for the just authors of the report.

It was meticulous and irrefutable, with both eyewitness and material evidence, including the confession of the guard who had been bribed to open the castle gates for the assassin.

The report left no stone unturned, no question unanswered.

Suppressing his emotions, Howard, with trembling hands, returned the investigative report to a teacher who was clad in a red robe with a purple lining, a symbol of his distinguished status among his peers.

“I trust your investigation,” Howard said solemnly.

“This tragedy occurred under my reign, and I bear an inescapable responsibility. I am a man devoted to learning, a lover of positive energy. It baffles me why my vassals would commit such an atrocity on my behalf.”

As he spoke, to his own surprise, tears began streaming down Howard’s face.

Initially, he had thought the study group was there to recommend some renowned teacher’s annotations or similar academic matters.

Instead, he found himself emotionally overwhelmed by the revelations in the report, leading him to weep uncontrollably.

Howard’s grief was profound, far surpassing the sorrow of losing Margaret’s territory.

Land is external, but the human heart resides within.

Above the land live the people, and within the heart lies one’s true self.

The teacher in the red robe with the purple inner garment, evidently the highest in rank among the group, steadied Howard as he nearly stumbled, offering comforting words.

“We have thoroughly investigated and found that you, our king, were indeed unaware of this incident. The nobility’s world is fraught with corruption, a fact we educators are well aware of. Do not grieve excessively, Your Majesty. Our leader still holds you in high regard, acknowledging that you are different from other nobles, possessing a vision of greater good.”

Howard, struggling with his emotions, asked, “What should I do now? If they committed these crimes for my sake, then it is I who should make amends.”

The teacher spoke gently, “Your Majesty, do not burden yourself with excessive guilt. Our grasp of the situation aligns with what is just and right. Listen to me, this matter does not concern you directly. Do not resist the truth for the sake of benevolence, nor should you entertain the thought of bearing the blame for others. Each action must be accounted for independently; whoever commits a misdeed must face the consequences.”

Howard was deeply saddened.

The death of Margaret’s father weighed heavily on him, leaving him uncertain about how to explain this to Margaret.

Even if she were to return, how could either of them dare to share smiles and laughter as before? Even if they did not become enemies, the ease of their conversation was forever lost.

Resarite and Anna, both initial chief ministers of the same rank as Margaret, were now central figures in this tragedy.

If the principle of ‘life for a life’ were to be applied, then both Resarite and Anna would face death.

Was Howard prepared to lose three key ministers in one stroke?

He was at a loss.

Catherine, awakened by the noise outside, rose to find Howard missing from her side.

Following the sound, she stumbled upon the gathering of teachers confronting Howard.

Initially, Catherine thought they had come to discuss educational matters, but she quickly sensed something was amiss.

Gently embracing Howard’s head, Catherine conversed with the teachers.

After a brief exchange, they mutually agreed to rest within the palace for the night and resume their discussion the next day.

The next day, Howard, somewhat revitalized yet harboring a deep-seated pessimism, concluded his discussion with the teachers.

Without any notable resolution, he firmly instructed, “Go and find Resarite and Anna. Let them face the punishment for the crimes they have committed.”

Catherine, in a rush of concern, urged the teachers not to take Howard’s words to heart, suggesting he spoke in the heat of the moment.

On the fifth day, a decree from the empire arrived, astonishingly announcing that the Emperor had pardoned both Resarite and Howard for their involvement.

The proclamation was met with a chorus of hisses from the teachers, revealing their disapproval.

It turned out that Catherine had secretly contacted Nora’s people, enlisting Nora’s help to extricate Howard from this predicament.

Subsequently, Catherine presented the teachers with a substantial sum of money.

After some deliberation, they decided to let the matter rest and departed from Howard’s palace.

Howard, for his part, remained mostly silent, displaying a hint of dissatisfaction or perhaps sarcasm.

It appeared to him that the study group, which he had regarded with respect, was swayed by money.

Moreover, Catherine and Nora, seemingly at odds, had unexpectedly established a secretive channel of communication unbeknownst to him.

Later, Howard sought out Resarite and Anna in person.

He confronted them, and then told them: Even though the study group has chosen not to pursue your accountability, be aware that I know of the sins you have committed.

I do not insist on your deaths, but from this day forward, I never want to see either of you again.

On a rainy night, Howard, cloaked in a gray mantle, knocked on Resarite’s door.

Upon hearing Howard’s words, Resarite set aside his historical tome and said, “Howard, aren’t you meddling too much? Let’s speak plainly. Yes, I admit, I did hire someone to commit murder. But what concern is that of yours?”

Howard gazed coldly at Resarite, politely refusing the roasted flatbread offered by Resarite’s wife.

Seated opposite Resarite, under the terrified gaze of Resarite’s son Cotler, Howard shook his head wearily and waved his hand dismissively.

“Resarite, spare me those words. I know, the affairs among vassals aren’t for a lord to meddle in. I, too, have been reading history these past days, about the war between Fran Kingdom and Ing Empire, the tales of factional assassinations. But what does that prove? Others’ wrongdoings are their own, our integrity is ours.”

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