Chapter101

Elara stepped forward and knocked on the cell door. The dull thud on the wood didn't make the person on the prison bed turn over. Kristof only shifted slightly, then went still again.

"Sir, could you tell me yourself why you were imprisoned?"

Kristof stayed lying on the prison bed and answered lazily without turning his head, "Didn't that prison head already tell Your Highness?"

"I want to hear it from you."

The bed fell silent again. A few seconds later, Kristof finally turned over slowly, propping himself up and squinting as he looked at Elara outside the cell.

"Why doesn't Your Highness believe what the prison head said?"

"It's not that I don't believe him. But he was the only one talking just now. Judging a case by only one side is always a big mistake. If I don't even ask, wouldn't that make me biased and unjust?"

Kristof suddenly laughed. His ragged body rolled off the bed and fell onto the dusty floor.

He didn't mind. He got up quickly, sat cross-legged at the small table in the middle of the cell, and placed his wine bowl on the table. After pouring a small sip, he said:

"Alright, since the princess wants to hear it, then I'll pull out this pile of old nonsense and talk about it."

Kristof picked up the wine jar and poured himself a full bowl, speaking as he drank, "What the prison head said wasn't wrong. Two years ago, I did offend a big figure in the capital. That year, Scholar Fu and I both passed the imperial exam. Scholar Fu caught your eye because of his gifted looks, while someone like me was taken away by the Yan and Lin families."

"The Yan and Lin families?" Elara looked at him. "Those big aristocratic families under Lord Gregory?"

Kristof nodded. "They had me sort and count some of their private assets. Honestly, being a corrupt official is the most profitable business if you're in the court these days."

"At first, they only wanted to test me with a bit of money. What they let me manage was just a tiny portion, but even that was enough to cover five years' worth of taxes for all the commoners in the capital."

"When I saw all that money, I was shocked. But then my hands started to itch, because you see, I've always had this thing since I was young. I like balance. I can't stand seeing everything piled up on one side while the other side is left with nothing."

"So when I saw all that silver stacked in the Yan and Lin estates, I couldn't help but want to move it to where it was most needed. To maintain balance. But even though I can't always control this issue of mine, my head was still clear enough to know that if I really moved their money to keep things balanced, my head probably wouldn't stay balanced on my neck."

"So I came up with a little trick. I made a mistake in front of the Yan and Lin families, not big but not small either. They kicked me out of the capital, and I ended up here."

"But unfortunately, I underestimated my own obsession with balance. When I got to Marigold City and saw the same thing happening with people like Gao Qiong, their wealth piled high like mountains while the poor had empty sleeves like feathers, I tried hard to hold back. I really did try for a long time. But I still gave in to the urge and moved all the money stacked up in Gao Qiong's estate."

At this point, Kristof picked up the wine and took a long drink. He smiled and said, "When I moved all that silver out and saw those refugees, once so poor and empty-handed, finally filling their sleeves with money and leaving Marigold County with their families overnight, I really felt much better. I finally did what I always wanted to do. It was truly satisfying. As for the consequences, well, they're just what Your Highness is seeing now. I've become just another messed up, broken man."

Elara had never heard of such a strange kind of obsession in either life.

Kristof wanted wealth to be evenly distributed? Was it because he had seen too many corrupt officials and couldn't bear seeing commoners being exploited, so he developed an obsessive urge to spread the wealth?

He even risked everything to empty the vaults of people like Gao Qiong and give the money to the poor…

If what Kristof said about himself was true…

Elara suddenly turned to look at Scholar Fu. She didn't say anything, but he clearly understood what she was asking. His gentle face gave a slight nod, confirming that Kristof had told the truth.

"Kristof, top scorer in the imperial exams, is gifted in both literature and martial arts. Before the exam, he had already vowed to serve the court, eliminate traitors, and build peace for the people. His talent was no less than Mathias. And his appearance was equally blessed by nature, graceful and handsome. He wasn't any less charming than Mathias. Back then, the only reason Your Highness didn't choose him was because Kristof deliberately covered his face and made himself look plain, so you didn't notice him."

So that was the reason? Actually, from the first time Elara saw Kristof, even though he was wearing ragged clothes and looked dirty and messy, if you looked closely, you'd find his features were very proper. He had a tall and broad figure and the kind of frame that made clothes look good.

She had wondered a bit about how someone with such good qualities, once a top scholar, could have left no impression in the original host's memory. Now it made sense. He had purposely hidden his true looks. He really was quite an interesting person.

"Hey! Scholar Fu, should I thank you for not exposing me back when I looked like a mess, or should I blame you for now spilling the truth in front of the princess?"

Though he said that, Kristof's face was still full of amusement. Clearly, he was teasing and not really blaming Scholar Fu.

Scholar Fu met his gaze, and the corners of his pale lips lifted slightly. "Her Highness came to the prison today seeking talent. Since I've already agreed to help, I won't hide anything. As for Scholar Kristof, he can certainly live up to the name. No need to cover anything up."

This exchange made it clear that they knew each other and probably had a good relationship.

Kristof, who always worked for balance in society's wealth, would be a great help to both the people and development if placed in the right position.

Elara looked at Kristof. Scholar Fu had already helped explain her purpose in coming here. So she asked directly, "Sir, are you interested in continuing to help balance the wealth?"

After Scholar Fu's comment, Kristof leaned back again, laughing as he drank, clearly not taking Elara's request seriously.

When she asked, he paused, his hand holding the wine bowl still. He raised his eyebrows and looked at her.

"Did Your Highness understand clearly just now? I'm sick, and not mildly either. Aren't you afraid that someday I'll act up and give away all your money and food?"

"What's there to be afraid of? Your illness is triggered when too much money gathers in one place. If one day my people are wealthier than me, wouldn't I hope you'd fall ill just to help move the money back where it belongs?"

Kristof paused with the bowl at his mouth, clearly not expecting her to say that. His eyes widened a little as he stared directly at her.

After a while, he laughed. "Your Highness, that's quite a joke. How could the common people ever be wealthier than the powerful in this world?"

Elara replied without hesitation, "That's why I came today to invite you to help build this ideal with me."

Kristof slowly lowered his wine bowl and placed it on the table. His lazy posture straightened a bit. He stared at Elara silently.

She went on, "Let's take all the officials and nobles of Marigold County as one end of a scale, and the citizens as the other. From now on, if the nobles can eat their fill, the people must also eat their fill. If the powerful can ride horses and hire workers, then after paying taxes, the people must be able to stock grain, trade goods, and save silver. From then on, officials will be officials, citizens will be citizens, merchants will be merchants. They'll rely on each other but not harm each other. What do you think of this balance?"

Kristof stared at her for a long time, then glanced at Scholar Fu, lifted his bowl again, and took a sip. "I have to admit, this is the most perfect balance I've ever heard of. But such a perfect balance usually only exists in theory. It might not be possible in reality."

"You haven't even tried yet, how can you say it's not possible?" Elara followed his words calmly. "You must have heard that High Qiong and the other corrupt officials of Marigold County have already been executed by me. The county is in ruins now. It's the perfect time for someone like you who cares about the people to step forward and rebuild, giving them a fair system of wealth distribution."

"I came to this prison today to see if anyone would be willing to achieve that vision with me. Meeting you is fate. So I ask, will you help me build this dream together?"

The prison fell silent again.

Kristof quietly looked at the well-dressed, beautiful girl standing outside his cell. After a while, he suddenly lowered the wine bowl and began to laugh softly.

Elara didn't ask why he was laughing. She just watched him quietly.

As he laughed, tears slowly welled up in the corners of his eyes.

He wiped them casually, then suddenly sat upright, bowed respectfully to her with a smile.

"I used to hear that the Plumera Kingdom's princess was a lustful devil who bullied men and scared children at night."

Elara also smiled. "Didn't someone just call you a greedy schemer who embezzled funds?"

Kristof laughed again, loudly and freely. "Good! I've spent the first half of my life wandering alone, always being framed and sabotaged by wicked men. I never expected to meet someone like Your Highness in this hopeless prison."

He looked her straight in the eyes. His gaze, now sober from alcohol, was bright and sharp.

"If Your Highness doesn't mind, I'm willing to serve you with all I have to make your vision come true. But you already know about my condition. If one day I find you hoarding all the wealth while your people suffer, then don't blame me if I have a relapse and give all your riches away."

Elara raised her hand slightly, and the guard opened the cell door swiftly. She stepped inside, leaned down, and helped Kristof up by the arm.

"Don't worry. I won't give you that chance."

He stood up with her help. Only then did he realize that the girl he'd just been talking with barely reached his chin. She had a slender and delicate frame, dressed elegantly, almost too frail. Yet her still-developing eyes already showed no trace of immaturity or frivolousness.

Kristof met her gaze directly without avoiding it. As she watched him, he also observed her carefully. Then he stepped back, straightened his back, and gave her a respectful bow with a smile on his lips.

"I share your vision."

After taking Kristof out of the cell, Elara walked alongside her newly recruited scholar and chatted with him as they left.

As they turned a corner, the sound of heavy pounding could be heard again from ahead.

This time, before Elara could ask, Kristof spoke first.

"Is Your Highness still in need of generals?"

She turned to look at him. Kristof had already clasped his hands and gave a small smile.

"Since Your Highness wants to rebuild Marigold County, with all the rebels and bandits outside the city, you'll need strength to protect it."

Elara had only discussed the market situation of Marigold County with him and hadn't yet mentioned that she had already started a military recruitment program to gather talents.

But he had already anticipated this.

She didn't rush to explain and instead asked, "You want to recommend the person making all that noise? Do you think he has the qualities of a general?"

Kristof's smile widened. "Yes. Please come with me."

Kristof led Elara and Scholar Fu through several narrow and deep passages in the dungeon, finally stopping at a heavily reinforced cell deep underground.

Inside, a strong man bound in thick iron chains was using his shackled hands to lift a large stone block and slam it repeatedly onto the prison bed beside him.

Though he looked like a grown man, a closer look showed he was just a tall and powerfully built young man.

From a distance, Elara estimated he was about twenty-five or twenty-six, but his towering height almost touched the ceiling. He had to be nearly two meters tall.

His clothes were also torn, revealing solid muscles. Broad shoulders, a strong waist, and firm legs gave him a sturdy build.

Even as he crouched in a half-horse stance, his leg muscles were visibly defined. His upper body was wide and powerful. Both of his arms were swinging a stone block nearly half a meter wide.

That block had to weigh at least a hundred pounds. Yet in his hands, it looked like a toy, crashing and echoing loudly through the cell.

When Elara and the others arrived, they saw that all the nearby guards were keeping far away. They looked nervous and dodged carefully, clearly scared to yell but too afraid to ignore him.