The Lord of Servants 4

Vixon and the men left the castle into the gate. As they walked outside, the nobles looked at them with disdain, even though King Nezar II abolished their punishment.

"Hey," the first man said to Vixon. "Thank you for expressing the words from us, commons."

"Seriously," the second man said. "I thought something bad would have happened if you didn't say that. You are a brave person."

"Don't mention it," Vixon said with a stoic face. "Let's just head home."

"Head home?" the third man said. "Let's enjoy this place for a while! Look around you, guys!" the man pointed around, amazed. "There are lots of beautiful ladies and tasty foods here! This place is paradise! "

"A paradise made of our sufferings," Vixon replied, silencing them for a minute.

"Anyway," the first man said. "Let's just stick here for a while before we go to the south."

"Pardon me," Vixon rejected. "I have to go back soon... I have to meet my parents."

"I understand," the first man said as he patted Vixon's right shoulder. "I hope your family is okay."

"Thank you," Vixon said as he walked away.

"This is our goodbye?" the second man asked.

"God's willing, we all shall meet again," Vixon replied.

The men went to their ways. Vixon walked around at the street of The Central Axyvur, looking at the surroundings. Unlike the south, Central Axyvur was very sophisticated and beautiful. Lots of beautiful houses and mansions owned by nobles and high-ranking soldiers were there.

Vixon pulled over to the quieter street, avoiding nobles. After half an hour of aimless pondering, Vixon realized he couldn't afford transportation to return home as he had no coins with him when the guards took him.

"Damn it!" Vixon thought as he clenched his fists. "I couldn't go back."

For a moment, Vixon regretted not accepting the compensation from the king instead. But there's nothing better than setting the misjudged and accused commoners free.

As he strolled, he saw two noblemen in their early 20s walking out from a fancy bar. They casually threw 15 bronze coins, their spare changes, on the ground. Vixon walked and picked the coins they dropped.

"For those rich bastards, these are worthless," Vixon thought as he squatted down to pick the coins. "But for us, commons. We have to struggle from morning to night to earn these! How unfair...!"

One nobleman looked back and saw Vixon picking the coins they just threw. He whispered to his friend, and both looked at Vixon and approached him with a grin.

"Why are you picking those?" the first nobleman asked, mocking, but Vixon remained silent and stoic. The second man squatted down and stared at Vixon with a disdainful look.

"Hey common!" the second called aloud. "He's asking a question! Are you, perhaps, deaf?!"

"You have no need of these, don't you?" Vixon asked as he looked at the second man with the hateful stare.

The second stood and whispered to his friend. They both grinned as they looked down on Vixon. Both of them started throwing bronze coins on the ground around them. As the coins hit the ground, they stomped those coins hard like stepping on trash.

"Pick those coins!" the second dared Vixon. "You need those thrash, don't you?!"

Much to their surprise, Vixon picked the coins, even after they stomped them.

"Commons!" the second muttered, disgusted.

"Hey common!" the first said aloud as he held three silver coins. "If you kneel and kiss our shoes, I'll throw these!"

Vixon gave them no response as he picked the scattered bronze coins with his hands. He got 35 bronze coins on his left hand. The second squatted down and looked at Vixon, angry for being ignored.

"Hey! Do you want those coins or not?!" the second asked aloud.

"I only pick what you both throw," Vixon replied with hate as he clenched his left palm full of coins. "Since you consider these as thrash."

"These don't even have worth!" the second claimed. "Only thrash value thrash—!"

"The trashes here are you both," Vixon replied coldly.

"What the?!" the second said, insulted. "You dare to say that you common pig—!"

"Forget it," the first said as he held the second's shoulder. "Let's leave this dog alone."

The second stood, and they turned back, leaving. As the second stood, Vixon noticed a bronze-colored coin fell from his pocket. Vixon put the bronze coins inside his pocket. Vixon examined the bronze-colored coin. It had a symbol of a noble family. Instead of returning it, Vixon threw it away and wandered along the quiet street.

Vixon went to a small bridge on the top of a water canal. He stared at the still water to calm his mind. As Vixon closed his eyes for a moment, he heard those two noblemen returning in panic. They were searching for Vixon.

They both found Vixon chilling at the top of the bridge and rushed to him like crazed pigs.

"You!" the second called as he pulled Vixon by his collar. "Where is it?! Where is my coat of arms?!"

Vixon grabbed his hands and gripped it, forcing him to release his grips over Vixon's collar.

"How should I know—?" Vixon replied.

"Dirty dog!" the second barked. "How dare you to touch me with your filthy hands! Return me my coat of arms at once!"

"I don't have it," Vixon replied calmly.

"Those coins!" the first said. "It must be among those coins we threw!"

"Give us those coins now!" the second demanded.

"Why would nobles like you desire trashes from a common?" Vixon asked.

"You...!" the second threatened. "Just give those back or—!"

"What?" Vixon asked, stoic.

The second launched his fist to Vixon's face, but Vixon caught his arm and twisted it.

"Argh!" the second screamed. "My arm! Release it, you dog!"

Vixon pushed the second back by his arm with force, causing the second to collide with the first. They both fell sitting down.

"You said I'm an animal, but the first to resolve to violence is you," Vixon said coldly. "Who's the animal now?"

"Grr...! Please!" the second begged with his tone lowered as he became desperate. "Give me the coins back—!"

"No," Vixon replied.

"Please!" he begged. ' I'll do anything!"

"If you both kneel and kiss my shoe, I'll return them," Vixon ordered.

Both of them stayed silent with a shocked and disgusted expression. They had their pride as a noble. They wouldn't do such a thing, even when no one was looking.

"Hey, do you want those coins or not?" Vixon asked aloud.

"Bastard!" the second snapped out as he rushed to punch Vixon.

Vixon immediately took the coins from his pocket and threw them all away to the water canal.

"The coins!" the first said aloud as he reached his arm.

The second, without further thinking, jumped to the water canal. Much to his surprise, the water was deeper than he thought, causing him to sink. The second tried to swim, but he felt his leg, the same leg he used to stomp the coins, cramped, thus disabling him from resurfacing.

"Please save him!" the first begged in horror as he saw his friend sinking.

"Why would a filthy common like me do it?" Vixon asked. "I don't want to dirty his clothes with my filthy, commoner’s hands."

The first clenched his teeth, speechless as he jumped to the canal to save his friend. The sudden jumping caused both of his legs to cramp. Now, both of them struggle to resurface as Vixon watched.

Vixon turned around, leaving them to sink to their pathetic death. Vixon went to another bridge far from them. As he stared at his reflection, he noticed a noblewoman standing next to him casually.

"Pardon me," she said.

It was a gorgeous woman in her early 30s. She had a tall, slender, and curvy body with pale skin. She had long honey blonde loose curl hair with a side blinding bang covering her right eye. She had sea-green colored eyes and a pointed nose.

Her lips were as red as roses from light makeup, and under the right, she had a mole. She wore a black noblewoman gown with white fur decoration on the shoulder and below the gown, and a white choker with a single pear-cut sapphire. She also had a black parasol to protect her skin from the sun.

"Forgive me for standing here, Your Highness," Vixon apologized as he turned, leaving. "I will leave at once."

The noblewoman grabbed Vixon's right arm before Vixon left.

"Wait—!" the woman said.

"Pardon, Your Highness?" Vixon asked as he retracted his arm.

"Let's have a chat," the woman offered with a warm smirk.

"No," Vixon rejected coldly as he turned again, leaving.

"Why?" the woman asked with a surprised look. "Is it wrong to chat with a beautiful woman?"

It was clear that the woman was desperate. Vixon stopped and looked at her.

"I'm a commoner," he stated. "An animal to nobles like you."

"Not for me, at least," the woman said, sincere, silencing Vixon in surprise. Her expressions were genuine. "You're the man who exposed Baron Yuwain's misdeeds, aren't you?"

"I am," Vixon answered, and the noblewoman got awkwardly close to Vixon.

"I'm Archduchess Judecah Marie von Ludwig," she introduced.

"V-Vixon Wildrow," Vixon introduced as he took a single step to distance himself from the woman.

"Vixon Wildrow..." she muttered. "May I address you as Sir Wildrow?"

"No, Your Highness," Vixon answered. "Please address me as Vixon."

"Mr. Vixon, hm?" she moved and leaned forward. "You look very charming up close," she complimented with a smirk.

"T-Thank you for the compliment, Lady Ludwig," Vixon said as he took another step back. Her actions discomforted Vixon.

"What does she want from me?" Vixon thought, suspicious.

"Are you in a hurry?" she asked.

"I'm not."

"Perfect," she muttered as she walked closer and leaned her head on Vixon's chest, surprising Vixon while she shielded them from the sunlight using her parasol.

"Y-Your Highness?" Vixon muttered in surprise. Vixon wanted to get away as soon as possible from her but, he didn't want to touch her. "Lady Ludwig, please, distance yourself from me."

"Why?" she asked.

"A common man shouldn't be anywhere close to you, Your Highness."

Lady Ludwig did what Vixon asked and distanced herself from him for about one meter away.

"Can you tell me about yourself?" she asked.

"I'm but a son of a miner."

"Oh. Pardon me for saying this. You're from a poor family, right, Mr. Vixon?" she asked.

"I am."

"Do you want to change your family welfare?" she asked, startling Vixon. Vixon would do everything to make his family's life better.

"I... I want," Vixon muttered.

"Then, why don't you work for me," she offered.

"W-What kind of work?" Vixon asked.

Lady Ludwig reached her right hand on Vixon's right cheek and caressed it softly.

"Be my guard," she said.

Vixon grabbed her right hand softly and removed her hand from his cheek.

"I'm an inexperienced fighter, Lady Ludwig," Vixon stated.

Lady Ludwig retracted her right arm.

"I know," she said. "You will do nothing anyway."

"Then, why do you need me?" Vixon asked.

"I have my reason," she replied. "If you accept the offer then, I will make sure your family doesn't live in poverty anymore."

"All right," Vixon said after brief thinking. "I accept your offer."

Lady Ludwig smiled.

"Follow me," she said as she pulled Vixon's right arm.

They walked onto the street where people could see them. Vixon held the parasol with his left arm while Lady Ludwig grabbed and leaned on his right arm. A nobleman passed them and looked back at them with shock on his face.

"Why is Archduchess Judecah von Ludwig with a dirty commoner?!" he thought.

Vixon felt uneasy because everyone was staring at them while they were walking together closely.

"Lady Ludwig," Vixon said. "Everyone is staring at us."

"Let them see," she said with no care.

As they walked, some common-born children were playing and running on the street. The children ran past both of them, but one boy bumped on Lady Ludwig's leg and fell on the ground, injuring his forehead.

"Oh, my!" Lady Ludwig said, startled.

The other children stopped running and tried to help their friend to stand. The boy was dirty with soils covering his palms and face, dirtying her gown as he bumped. Two noblewomen in their early 30 saw what happened and scolded the kids.

"Stupid kids!" the first scolded aloud. "Look what you've done! You dirtied Archduchess von Ludwig's expensive gown!"

"Do you know how much does this gown cost you?!" the second scolded aloud. "More than your parents' life-savings, you hear that?!"

The kids were looking on the ground, afraid, while the bumped kid was crying loudly.

"I'm sorry!" the boy muttered, afraid. "I'm sorry."

"Damned nobles...!" Vixon thought as he clenched his arms, angry. "They're but adolescent children!"

Vixon was about to stand up for those kids, but Lady Ludwig took a handkerchief and cleaned the wounds from the bumped kid, surprising everyone.

"Archduchess von Ludwig-!" the first said.

"It's okay," Lady Ludwig said. "They're just children."

Lady Ludwig hugged the bumped child while caressing the boy's back to calm him down.

"It's okay," she said comforting.I"'m not angry about that. Don't cry okay?" The boy stopped crying, and Lady Ludwig patted his head. "Boys shouldn't be crying. If you cry, women will not be interested in you."

"T-Thank you," the boy said with a blush. The children then bowed to Lady Ludwig and continued playing somewhere.

"I never thought she would have done that," Vixon thought as he sighed out of relief.

"Did I make you wait for long?" Lady Ludwig asked as she clung to Vixon's arm.

"Let's just continue the walk," Vixon replied.

Lady Ludwig led Vixon to the castle entrance, while still clinging on to his arm, intimately. The gate guards stopped both of them from entering.

"Excuse me, Archduchess Ludwig," the guard said with respect. "We can't allow a commoner to enter with no permission."

"He's an acquaintance of mine," she claimed.

"U-Understood," the guards said as he stepped away, letting them both pass.

Lady Ludwig called a horse carriage driver for both of them. The carriage was enough for two people to enter. The carriage driver helped Lady Ludwig, but he ignored Vixon.

Vixon entered the carriage by himself and distanced at least 30cm away from her. The horse carriage moved to Nobles' Housings. Inside the carriage, Lady Ludwig got closer and leaned on Vixon's shoulder while caressing his chest with her right hand.

"How old are you, Mr. Vixon?" she asked, curious.

"Seventeen."

"Seventeen?" she said, surprised as her eyes widened. "You look very mature for seventeen years old." Lady Ludwig caressed Vixon's cheek.

"Beg pardon, Lady Ludwig," Vixon said as he pushed her body gently. "I think we shouldn't be doing this."

"Why?" she asked.

"Only couples do this."

"Then," she teased as she giggled. "Aren't we a couple already?"

Vixon remained silent as he looked forward, averting his eyes from her while keeping his stoic face.

"Is there any woman who has captured your heart?" she asked.

"No."

"Say, Mr. Vixon," She got closer to him. "Do you prefer a young lady or a mature woman?"

"I-I don't know," Vixon pushed her gently. "I haven't thought about that matter yet."

The carriage arrived outside a beautiful manor owned by Ludwig Family. The driver opened the carriage door and helped Lady Ludwig to descend while Vixon got down by himself. The carriage driver bowed before leaving with his carriage.

"This is the place where you will work for me," She said as she opened her parasol and gave it to Vixon. Vixon held the parasol, covering them both while she leaned to Vixon's right arm.

"Understood."

A butler was waiting outside and opened the door for both of them. As the butler opened the door, butlers and maid had assembled behind the door, forming two horizontal lines. The grand foyer was very spacious. There were several supporting columns decorated with chiseled art. Red carpets coated the floor while various paintings were on the wall. Immediately in the middle of the room, there's a broad stairway leading to the second floor.

"Welcome home, Archduchess von Ludwig," the servants welcomed as they bowed in deep respect.

Lady Ludwig ordered them to raise their heads, and they did. Lady Ludwig gave the parasol and the dirty handkerchief to a butler and ordered a maid to prepare the tea. Lady Ludwig brought Vixon to a parlor with an outdoor view of a garden, and they sat facing each other while enjoying the scenery.

"Isn't it beautiful?" she asked.

"It is," Vixon replied as he looked at the garden.

The garden was quite small, with shrub hedges surrounded the garden. In the middle of the garden, there was a pond and a gazebo. Several gardeners were taking care of the garden.

The maid arrived, bringing a serving tray with tea and toast for Lady Ludwig and Vixon. The maid served the teas and the toasts for both of them along with the dining knives, forks, and handkerchiefs. She bowed to them and left.

Lady Ludwig took a sip from the tea while Vixon just stared at the way she drank.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing."

"Go ahead, drink."

"I know not of nobles' table manner," he thought as he examined Lady Ludwig's manner. He took a sip from the tea, the same manner she did.

"Is it good?" she asked.

"Surprisingly, it is," Vixon thought.

"Yes," he replied.

Lady Ludwig used the knife and fork to eat the toast, and Vixon perfectly mimicked her. They both finished their meal at the same time. Lady Ludwig used a handkerchief to clean her mouth from the bread crumbs, and Vixon did the same.

They put and folded the handkerchief next to the empty plate. Lady Ludwig looked at Vixon and noticed the bread crumbs of Vixon's lip corner.

"Oh my," she said with a smile as she wiped Vixon's mouth with her handkerchief.

"L-Lady Ludwig, I can do it myself."

"It's fine," she said as she smiled.

She folded her handkerchief and admired Vixon from his face to body while Vixon continued to admire the beautiful and calming scenery. Lady Ludwig reached her right hand to Vixon's.

"Lady Ludwig?" Vixon said as he looked at her.

"Your hand..." she commented as she caressed Vixon's hand. "It's very rough."

"Rough hands are commons among the commons," Vixon said.

"Even knights' hands aren't this rough..." she said as she retracted her hand.

"The nobles, especially Lord Yuwain, forced us to work like animals," Vixon explained.

"Sorry..." she muttered with a sad face.

"Sorry?"

"It is... It's my husband's fault," she replied.

"Huh?"

"I can't give many details," she said as she looked away. "Sorry..."

Their conversations ended rather awkwardly as Vixon stared at the garden, while Lady Ludwig sunk in her thoughts. She looked at Vixon again with a worried face.

"Mr. Vixon," she called.

"Yes?"

"Can you..." she requested as her lips quivered. "Massage my shoulder?"

"Sure," Vixon said as he stood behind Lady Ludwig.

Lady Ludwig lowered the sleeves from the gown, showing her back. Vixon reached his hands to her body, but he stopped and lowered his hands.

"On the second thought, I don't think I should be the one doing this, Lady Ludwig," Vixon said as he faced away.

"I want you to do it. It's an order from me," she said as she grabbed his arms from the back.

"As you wish..." Vixon muttered as he gathered his courage to massage her shoulder. Vixon looked away as he began massaging.

Lady Ludwig's skin was beautiful and silky smooth. It felt so tender and quite cold. Her skin was fragrant like honey and rose.

"Vixon, the back, and the side rib too," Lady Ludwig said.

"Ah? B-But-!" Vixon said, startled as he withdrew his hands in a heartbeat.

"Just..." she muttered. "Do it. I beg you..."

Her voice was sad, causing Vixon to obey her with hesitation in his heart. He reached his hands to her body again, to her side ribs. Vixon's face turned red; this was his first time touching a woman's bare body with his own hands.