Chapter 97: The Kingdom Comes to Vincent
Kicking his feet lightly in the air like a child, Vincent felt some peace and quiet amidst the chaos while waiting for the commander.
Anastasia looked at his expression and asked, "You sure are enjoying yourself, young master."
Vincent turned to her. "Is happiness a crime, honey?"
Anastasia: "..."
She cleared her throat lightly and said, "Young master, please refrain from such remarks when we’re in public. I’m just a lowly maid of yours, you should address me as such."
Vincent continued to kick his feet.
He smiled at her and replied, "If I hear such stupid words again, I’m gonna have to shut your mouth. Right here, right in public."
The words only just registered in her mind when Vincent continued, "And I’ll do it with my lips, and also always call you honey or babe or darling or cupcake when we are out in public."
Anastasia was at a loss for words.
She couldn’t understand the source of her young master’s newfound confidence, but she felt he was getting really cocky for some reason.
"Young master, I don’t think you’ll be able to shut me up if I don’t actually bend down to reach your level."
Vincent’s smile stiffened.
The corner of Anastasia’s lips curved up.
"You—"
Before Vincent could say something to her, Commander Vaust arrived with a group of guards, Captain Rolan, and the man Vincent first met.
"Lord D’Arc?" He asked.
Vincent turned him. There was slight annoyance on his face as he asked, "Can you dismiss everyone rushing around? If you want to save your people, I suggest you recall them and stop the fighting."
Commander Vaust frowned slightly. "They’re defending the orchards, medicinal farmlands, grain fields, irrigation stations, many small villages, and so much more. If we simply recall everyone, everything will collapse. What will we eat if we don’t have the farms?"
Vincent’s feet continued to dangle. He remained calm and said, "By engaging with the monsters, you’re only making the situation worse. If you truly wish to save everything, including your farms and whatnot, recall them."
Commander Vaust was displeased by the blatant order.
If Vincent wasn’t an influential person and someone the kingdom needed, he wouldn’t have merely listened.
"I’m sorry but I can’t countermand orders issued by the Royal Ministry."
"The what now?" Vincent asked.
Commander Vaust knitted his brows slightly. "Simply said, I cannot dismiss the guards and soldiers as these are orders from above."
"Okay, so who can?"
"The Minister of War, the Royal Marshal or His Majesty," Commander Vaust said.
"I see. Which one is nearby?"
Vaust’s face twitched slightly while Captain Rolan, and the man from before began sweating bullets once more.
Before only the man had flashbacks, but now even the captain remembered what Vincent had said after such a question was answered.
Oblivious to the two, Vaust answered, "The Royal Marshal is currently overseeing the northern defense. The Minister of War is at the provincial estate."
"Alright. Fetch them both then," Vincent couldn’t care less about the distance and causally said.
Captain Rolan and the random man from the gate almost fainted hearing that.
Nobody had ever spoken to the regional commander like that, and this man dared!?
The regional commander gritted his teeth and said, "
"You cannot summon ministers of White Apricot as though they are your household servants."
Vincent looked at him.
Anastasia kept her hand on her sword, ready to strike if the situation demanded.
Vincent’s expression turned serious and he said, "Alright. I’ll take my leave and you can continue whatever seems the best to you. It was wrong on my part to actually care for the people who weren’t my county’s subjects."
Vincent looked toward the distance. "You guys can figure out why the wolves and deer — predator and prey — are coming from the mountain together. Why those beasts aren’t just hunting each other, and why your weapons can’t pierce their tough hide and so on."
Vincent turned to him and flashed a kind smile.
"Good luck figuring out how to cut them down quickly or stop them from destroying everything."
He jumped down from the cart.
"Let’s go back, babe. These people don’t deserve our kindness."
The faces of many officers nearby twisted.
The regional commander felt a churning feeling in his stomach, like a foreboding to a major disaster.
Captain Rolan and the man from the gate weren’t superstitious people, but despite being at the bottom level of the kingdom’s hierarchy, they could feel that rejecting Vincent might not have been the best idea.
Sure, he was really haughty and looked down on them all, but what if behind that cockiness there really was a solution?
The kingdoms were in crisis and these two were the only outsiders who could help.
Even if there wasn’t any good solution from Vincent, he could at least go back and inform others to help these valley kingdoms.
Rejecting him and worsening their relationship was not the wisest thing at this point.
They looked at Vincent’s departing back.
Now that he thought about it clearly, Vincent had only asked for people with authority who can make some decisions.
Even if he gave them the solution, they might not be able to act on it.
He hurt their pride, but what worth was pride if they wouldn’t even be able to survive?
While these people were contemplating, Vincent was holding Anastasia’s hand and walking away.
Anastasia was surprised at first when Vincent called her such an endearing term and held her hand, but now she was in a slight panic.
She couldn’t help but lean down and say in a low voice, "Young master, you mustn’t walk away. These valley kingdoms are really important."
Vincent did not look at her and said calmly, "Honey, there’s a popular saying: don’t try to save the ones who don’t wish to be saved. And don’t worry..."
He turned to her and smiled.
"Your Lordship, please wait!"
A flicker of surprise ran through Anastasia’s eyes.
She turned and saw Commander Vaust running toward them.
She turned back to Vincent and saw him still smiling, as if everything was under control.
’What...’ Anastasia was in absolute disbelief. ’How did he get so confident and turn such a situation in his favor while acting so haughty?’
Commander Vaust appeared before him and first apologized for what he said before, then asked Vincent to be magnanimous and let this outburst slide.
He then said he’d follow his orders and asked what he could do.
Vincent’s response was still the same.
"Go fetch your superiors."
Commander Vaust went back to his subordinates.
"Send the royal emergency signal."
That changed things quickly.
The bell tower above Harrowfield began ringing in an unfamiliar pattern.
Three long tolls.
A pause.
Then five shorter ones.
Beyond the town, another tower answered.
Lights appeared farther across the valley.
One after another, distant points illuminated along the dark horizon until Vincent could follow the signal moving through farmland he could barely see.
’Okay. That’s pretty cool.’
It turned out the isolated kingdoms had developed an entire network for floods, fires, invasions and irrigation disasters. Harrowfield’s request travelled far faster than Vincent expected.
He went back to sit on the cart and waited.
The response was fast and soon, the Minister of War arrived first.
Soldiers surrounded the town square and no civilians were allowed nearby.
The man from the gate was an exception as he stood beside Captain Rolan and Commander Vaust.
He had never seen such a major commotion before, and kept wondering who exactly Vincent was to cause such changes.
Whatever the case be, he seemed to have done the right thing to approach him.
Shortly after the Minister of War, the Royal Marshal arrived.
The two greeted Vincent while he continued to sit on the cart and let his legs dangle freely.
If he went down the cart to stand up and greet them, he wouldn’t be able to meet their eye level or look down at them like he was doing now.
Sitting was a strategic choice, and to maintain intimidation.
A few moments later, the square had become so crowded that the civilians wondered whether there was a festival going on.
People filled balconies and windows. Soldiers kept the central road clear while expensive carriages arrived one after another.
It was all due to the royal emergency signal.
The King of White Apricot was already travelling toward the affected regions when he saw the signal and came to the town square with his royal guards.
Vincent did not go anywhere and everyone important came to him.
Now that even the King was here and greeted Vincent, the young man returned the greeting but still did not get down from the cart and asked,
"Can you recall everyone fighting outside?"
"..."
Commander Vaust, Captain Rolan, the man from the gate, and everyone else had traumatic flashbacks.
It was only when the King commanded, "Recall everyone," did everyone sigh in relief.
Vincent smiled and got down from the cart.
"Great. We can now properly discuss how to save your kingdoms."
He wasn’t even half the height of the King or the many soldiers and authorities nearby.
He almost disappeared in the crowd, but everyone maintained distance and did not take him lightly.
Anastasia followed quietly behind and there was an immense pressure coming from her, letting everyone know to not do something stupid.
Tables and chairs were laid out at the town square.
The King sat at the head seat while Vincent was right beside, and next to him was Anastasia.
Maps were soon laid out and the discussion began shortly afterward.