Struggling Reforms

Three days later....

Erebus had departed with Jafar for the Central Capital which took atleast a week to reach their destination.

Meanwhile Luciana had grasped the economic condition of the domain with Blake's help.

She had engrossed herself in studying different plants and oriental potions and medicines with Derran assisting her in every way possible.

"Our initial goal is to manage the annual budget of the estate." She discussed things with Blake regarding the finances and expenditure of annual budget.

She was at loss for words about the poor handling of resources within the estate.

She began with reforming the whole fort with days.

Blake worried that she would feel stressed but her experience over the years handling the empire's affairs made it like a hand's play.

"The servants who are living here for a long time will be facilitated accordingly. And we need to take better measures for handling the soldiers." She pointed and the document.

"But what about the budget for armory milady?" Blake couldn't figure out how she would generate the income.

She went through the documents one after the other quietly.

The domain was in detrimental condition.

The docks were destroyed and abandoned due to frequent wars and stormy seas.

The roads were unfit for travel. The villages suffered from poor harvest and lack of resources. The towns mostly made their income by selling ironware and yak products. Few villages earned through selling herbs and wild berries harvest.

The villages were mostly attacked by the wild beasts located near the mountains and forest.

She let out a heavy sigh. More than two thirds of the documents in the office were complaints and requests.

"Did he even go through these papers?" She felt despondent.

He was in a pitiful state. With no understanding of his own position as a lord. He was never considered as a part of this society. Just rewarded with empty title with rundown territory isolated from the rest of the world and being used as a dog with leash around his neck.

His very existence was shunned wherever he went.

She slowly came to an understanding of his belligerent behavior.

It was because of his guilt and insecurity of being treated like an outcast his whole life.

"My lord is indeed hopeless don't you think so my lady?" Blake smiled wearily.

She saw him smiling as if he nonchalantly recalled fonder memories than depressing ones.

"He is a simple man. That boy... When I first met him, he was newly given the title of the lord. He was cold and unwavering. I felt like it was time I served a master like him. But it was hopeless. He was not nobility. A commoner who accomplished a feeble title of Margrave only through his contribution in great war. He was like lifeless war machine. Forced to carry out all the dirty work of royalty and high class nobles. I was originally from the capital. So when he first received documents he only stared at them from dawn till noon. Everytime a document was handed to him he would try his best to understand what it said. It then occurred to me that he didn't receive any kind of formal education. I knew how to read and write to some extent. I bought him old books and sometimes cheaper ones from the merchants or whenever I went to the capital city. But he gave me such a hard time. I had to be patient with him while teaching."

Luciana giggled imagining his words. He was not the type to sit with a book.

"I feel like I already have had similar experience about educating troublesome children." She referred to Aria and Avlynn. Both of them often skipped their lessons. Aria in particular stirred trouble at the academy and Aphrodite had to put her into detention for a fortnight.

He nodded with his stereotypical smile.

"It took years off of my life to educate him. Lord Jafar was a fast learner. He would only watch him read and learn and was quick to pick up.

So I offered him to join the studies with master. Both of them learnt basics and war tactics and whatever I could do within my knowledge to shape them up.

The only thing he quickly picked on was battle tactics.

He's a more practical man. When he struggled to understand what the documents meant he'd immediately go and try to help the locals out of his own sense of responsibility.

We've always been short of manpower, but people of this domain are in need of someone who is able to lift their morale. They saw him as one such being who they could count on. They atleast did not feel abandoned and hopeless."

-"Maybe there's hope."

"Do they trust their lord?"

It was an obvious question to Blake.

"They have no choice but to trust him my lady."

She resumed back to look at the documents that Blake had helped her sort out.

She picked up the stack that was bonded together.

"It seems like we need to first put our plan into action." She rose from her seat and with Blake escorting her she gradually put her plan into action.

After disguising herself, she gathered the staff and the guards division to explain the reforms.

"My lord husband has entrusted the estate affairs in my hands. Some of you might oppose to this idea. However, I still hope to seek your cooperation with me to ensure better living standards for all of us. I will be looking forward to your assistance."

"We will do whatever you ask of us madame!" Zehel consented with her reforms.

The other servants looked a little hopeful. Some still held doubts and fear to incur Erebus' wrath if they opposed her.

"Where do you plan to start from my lady?" Blake inquired about her plans.

"The servants are top priority when managing the residence. I need to pass out a new budget so I will have to personally inspect the servant quarters. And then we'll move on to the soldiers and guards."

Blake nodded eagerly.

"Much obliged to assist you my lady."