Continuing His Way

Arden and the blacksmith stood there awkwardly for a few seconds before Arden decided to ask something to him, "Your daughter?"

He said it as his finger point to the little girl behind the counter. The blacksmith took a glance at the girl and then answered, "Yea, her mom abandoned her, so I'm taking care of her now"

Arden raised one of his eyebrows, confused and at the same time, interested at the story of the blacksmith. The only way for him to know is to ask, so ask he does, "Your biological daughter?"

The blacksmith stared at him seriously while his face began to sweat, he then approached him slowly and put his mouth right next to Arden's ear, "No, I found her in front of my doorstep one day and I just adopted her"

Arden looked at the blacksmith and smiled lightly as the father slowly distancing his presence from him. While he did that, Arden could see the daughter peeking her head from the counter and confused. Arden smiled at her and then return his attention back to the father.

The blacksmith could be seen nervously sweating and afraid about a leak to her daughter about the truth. He looked at Arden and at a soft voice said, "Please don't tell it to my daughter, she would be so heartbroken"

Arden looked at him and nodded lightly. He ensured that the secret won't be spilled to his daughter in the future, so it doesn't make her sad.

Arden looked at him once again and offered a handshake to him and the blacksmith accepted lightly, "I'm Arden, may I know your name?"

The blacksmith is visibly surprised and shocked. He met the noble that owns the land and was pretty happy. He quickly calmed down and smiled and answered, "My name is Alvin, nice to meet you"

Arden smiled back at him and turned his back to him and began making his way to leave the store. As he passes the doorway that has no door in it, he waved to them without looking back at them.

Alvin and daughter waved back, even though Arden didn't know they did that and went on his own way. He continues on his way to Louis's house after he had left Alvin's shop.

The people on the street have the same reaction as before, seeing their lord outside his own castle made them surprised

He walked 5 minutes away from Alvin's store and a merchant suddenly shouted behind him, "Sir! Please look at my item"

He looked behind him and declined the offer politely and was about to go out in his own way. But then, he could hear the sound of the horse trampling the ground, becoming louder and louder as time passes.

He quickly took a glance back and then… he realized, the noblewoman's carriage he saw earlier, coming at him at a high speed and doesn't seem going to stop anytime soon.

He quickly grabs the merchant by his collar and throws him as strong as he could to the wall of a building. He quickly throws himself to the same direction, barely dodging the carriage at all.

He landed on his back quite roughly to the ground and feel some pain on his body as he tried to get up. The merchant was already up at this point and looked at the direction of the carriage before helping him.

Arden was dragged softly by the merchant to the wall of the building and he sat down there and leaned against the wall for a few seconds before feeling better.

He thanks the merchant while the merchant is comforting him and some passer-by did the same. The merchant returned his thanks, "No, I should be the one saying thank you, I would have died if you didn't save me just now"

Arden just smiled for a few seconds before getting up on his own and went on his own way while giving a wave to all the people, which the people returned with a smile at their face and a wave back.

He continued on his way while still feeling some pain at his body, but decided to push it. He thought about that noblewoman for a few seconds.

'If I met that woman, I won't let her get away even if she is a duchess or something' Arden then cusses a few bad words calmed down almost immediately after he saw the vast land of the wheat field.

He reached the outskirt of the town after all the things that happened to him on the way and he felt a little bit relieved, automatically making him smile lightly.

He remembered the carriage going this way, and it immediately ruined his mood, not wanting to meet the woman once again.

He quickly examined the surrounding searching for the "threat" and fortunately, didn't find any "threat" He sighed in relief and continued on his way.

Just a few more seconds walk until he reached Louis's house. He walked and walked, excited to get his first pet that he will surely love.

He reached the place while using his memory from yesterday as the map to reach the place. Luckily, he didn't get lost on the way.

He approached the door and knocked on it and waited for someone to open the door and that person never came. Suddenly, someone tapped his back which surprised his reaction was to reach for his sword and turned back to face the person.

There he saw it, the children of Louis, all of them in dirty clothes and their tool in their hand. Arden sighed in relief after seeing them and said, "You guys surprised me!"

The 4 of them looked at each other and laughed to each other and it lasted for a few seconds while Arden is confused about why they are laughing.

They put their tools at the wooden bench near the wall and stopped laughing. Instead… they apologize to Arden. Which Arden accepted happily. No big deal for him.

All 4 of them began showing the acceptance of his presence at the simple family of Louis and with a polite tone, the eldest son said, "Let's enter sir, the night is coming soon"

Arden waited for them to open the door as it would look impolite if he enters someone houses without permission. And also… it's not like he knows how to open the door anyway.

The eldest son just pushed the door with some power, and it opened. Just like that. There's no lock at all, which made Arden looked like a dumb person knocking on an unlocked door.

He let them enter first and followed them at the last of the line. While he closes the door, he examined it to study it why it needed a little power to push it.

Turned out, the door was rubbing the floor when it was opened so it will be hard to push it without any power being committed to the process of opening the door and closing the door.

He closed the door which made him hear the sound of the floor rubbing against the floor which made the uncomfortable sound for his ear to hear.

He committed more power on closing the door as fast as he could and finally he did it. He then proceeds to the eating room where Louis is already sitting on one of the chairs and the utensils are already placed on the table.

He looked at Arden and noticed the new leather armour he is wearing, the only thing that came in his mind was to compliments it, so he does that, "Nice armour sir, is that for today?"

Arden sat down at the seat and looked at him while smiling, "Yes, this is for today, I bought it just now, it would be great to use for today right?"

They were about to continue talking when Emma came in with the foods and the children of Louis followed shortly. They all finished and enjoyed the food within 30 minutes as it was too delicious to resist.

All of them completed the thing they did yesterday, bringing the plates to wash it and then sat down at the table. Once all of them were at the table, sitting while relaxing and doing nothing, Louis quickly stated.

"Let's go hunting!" All of his children and his wife were shocked at it was already too late to do it but Louis insisted as some animals came out at night.

Eventually, all of them agree and went to their room to do something while Arden, Louis and Emma sat at the table relaxing.

Emma was the first to talk as she was curious if the castle is hiring right now, "Sir Arden, is the castle hiring right now? I think it won't suit 4 of them if they spent their life at the field"

Arden raised one of his eyebrows and stared at Louis, he nodded while smiling lightly, meaning he approve what his wife said and Arden quickly understand the situation.

Arden looked at the table for a few seconds and thought about something, 'What position is needed at the castle? Guard? Nah…'

He didn't found the answer he wanted and so, he quickly continues his thought, 'Being the guard of my children seems like a great idea! They would protect my beloved children quite well,"