The next day, as I roamed the castle hallways, my thoughts remained clogged with Laura's betrayal.
Now that I knew she had reported me, how exactly should I treat her?
Trusting her was out of the question.
If not for the fact that she was so damn competent, I would've gladly thrown her out without a second thought.
And yet—
There was also the fact that she saved my ass.
Did I owe her for that?
Maybe.
Either way, I decided to let things play out on their own for now. There were more pressing matters to focus on.
It was time to reward my competent miners.
The townsfolk should already be gathered—just as I had commanded.
Before I could exit the castle, I spotted Tauriel standing at the gate.
She seemed… different today.
Her expression lacked the usual reluctance, replaced with something sharper—determined, even.
Was she finally ready to commit?
Not like she had a choice.
Her only other option was to rot away in the mines.
With a smile, I approached.
"Tauriel! Good girl, you arrived early."
She returned a subtle smile.
"Yeah. Didn't really want to stay home."
I flashed a knowing grin.
"Memories, right? Always a nuisance. They stop people from moving on."
She tilted her head slightly. "Personal experience?"
I frowned for a second.
What did she mean by that? Was she insinuating something?
Shrugging, I mirrored her head tilt. "Not in particular. Just an observation."
She looked like she wanted to say more, but I cut her off with a raised hand.
"I'm heading to the town. Since you just came from there, you can explore the castle while I'm gone."
She nodded and walked inside.
I made my way toward the town.
Upon arrival, I found the town square bustling with people.
And—surprisingly—they looked better off than before.
Their clothes, while still simple, were cleaner. Their faces—once haunted by misery—now gleamed with something rare: happiness.
Of course everyone will be happy with a good 'piness'. *Cough*
Of course, the roads and houses still looked shabby, but the progress was undeniable.
Laura's work was evident.
She really was competent at administration.
I cleared my throat and roared:
"My people! You have worked splendidly this past month! As your lord, I am pleased with your efforts!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices echoing praises.
This…
Felt good.
With a smirk, I raised my voice again:
"Silence."
Instantly, the cheers died down, replaced by quiet anticipation.
Good.
They still feared me.
I had doubted whether my authority was diminished because of my absence—but it seemed it wasn't.
Maybe that was her doing, too.
I continued.
"I know you are excited—and you should be. Today, I will reward those who have worked the hardest."
More cheers erupted, but I quickly silenced them again.
"I have selected five individuals who have contributed the most to the mines. As a reward, they shall be granted a noble rank."
The crowd gasped.
Clearly, they hadn't expected this.
Good.
Now they would work even harder next time.
I let them murmur among themselves before speaking again.
"These five individuals will be given the title of Baron. Each will govern one of the five regions of Grimfall—Southern, Northern, Eastern, Western, and the Central Town Square."
The cheers came back with a vengeance—louder, wilder.
They were eating this up.
So, was I.
"Now, I will declare the names of these individuals. Step forward when called!"
The square fell into pin-drop silence.
"Ronan, Oswin, Hugh, Julia, and Livia. Come forth!"
With the crowd cheering behind them, the five stepped forward.
I studied them closely.
Ronan(The Bigger guy)—A big guy. Muscular, built like a boulder. He had actually landed a few hits on me before. Looked even stronger now.
Oswin—The classic noble type. Fat, cunning, and oozing arrogance. Would probably try to scheme his way to the top.
Hugh—Another big guy, but older. Had a darker complexion, which was rare here. Quiet, but had a watchful gaze.
Julia—A brown-haired woman in her late twenties. Gave off a sharp, intelligent aura. The kind of person you'd want to keep an eye on.
Livia—Short, innocent-looking girl. Leaked pure, naive energy.
I bet she'd be the most corrupt one.
After a brief pause, I congratulated them.
"Now that you have been granted noble status, I expect only great things from you."
I let my voice turn icy.
"However—let me make one thing clear. If you fail to improve your region, or if you become lazy in your duties, your title will be revoked."
They stiffened, taking my words seriously.
"But," I added with a smirk, "if you succeed—your rank will increase."
That did it.
Their eyes burned with determination.
They clenched their fists, excitement radiating off them in waves.
Good.
Just keep that excitement burning. Work like machines. Rake in the gold.
I motioned for the crowd to quiet down again.
"Now, I must address another matter."
The square fell into silence once more.
Interesting.
It seemed the reward had worked wonders on their motivation.
"Each of these new Barons will be assigned a personal maid to assist them in ruling their region, one of my personal maids."
A few gasps rippled through the crowd.
They knew who my personal maids were.
This was no small privilege.
I continued.
"Aside from that, I will be starting two major projects."
Their interest piqued further.
"First, an arena will be built to train warriors for the protection of our miners."
Several men in the crowd nodded eagerly.
Expected.
"Second, we will establish a care center for children. This will allow working mothers to continue their jobs without worry."
I had anticipated backlash for this one.
But—
The reaction was… surprisingly accepting.
Some even nodded in approval.
Huh.
That went smoother than expected.
Either way, today had been a resounding success.
Maybe—I should reward them more often.