Chapter 4: Alley Encounter

One bright morning, Leona decided it was time to venture beyond the walls of her home. She had been indoors for months, consumed by studies and responsibilities, and now she longed to explore the kingdom. Upon hearing of her plans, her father, Duke Von Hearth, offered her the finest facilities to travel comfortably. However, Leona politely declined.

"I've read in so many novels that during this time mostly the male leads will appear for sure, so I don't think it's good for me to roam in a lavish carriage and clothes," Leona thought to herself. Determined to blend in, she donned simple attire and set out as a commoner, accompanied only by her faithful maid, Anna.

As they walked through the bustling streets, Leona was mesmerized by the view. The kingdom was alive with activity: merchants hawking their wares, children playing, and the scent of freshly baked bread filling the air. Colorful stalls lined the streets, selling everything from exotic spices to handcrafted trinkets. The sun bathed the cobblestone roads in a warm glow, making the entire scene feel like a vivid painting.

"Lady Leona, are you sure this is safe?" Anna asked, her voice filled with concern.

"Anna, don't worry," Leona replied, smiling. "I just want to see the kingdom from a different perspective. It's refreshing."

As they continued their stroll, Leona's attention was drawn to a commotion in a nearby alley. A small crowd had gathered, and curiosity got the better of her.

"Lady, maybe we should avoid this," Anna suggested, her anxiety growing.

Ignoring her, Leona edged closer to see what was happening. Through the crowd, she saw a group of thugs bullying a young orphan. The boy was trembling, his wide eyes pleading for help.

Leona's mind raced. How could she save the boy without drawing too much attention? As she pondered, she noticed a figure approaching from behind. The man seemed intent on intervening.

"Hey, don't go there," Leona called out.

"Huh?" the stranger responded, confused.

"Don't go there, it's dangerous," Leona repeated, more urgently this time.

"So?" the stranger replied, his tone indifferent.

"What do you mean by 'so'?" Leona asked, turning to look at the man. The stranger was wearing a mask, obscuring his face. However, his tall, well-built frame and strong presence were evident. Judging from his face structure, he seemed to be very handsome, but his aura was intense and almost demonic, as if crafted by both God and the devil.

Leona gulped. "If you go there, you'll get hurt. There are lots of thugs, and it's impossible to win against them. But I have an idea, so please don't go if you don't want to get hurt."

The unknown man studied Leona for a moment. "This girl... Who is she? Judging from her low mana energy, there's no doubt she's weak. And her clothes are commoner's garb. She can't have any significant magic power, so why is she stopping me?" the stranger thought. While he pondered, Leona slipped away and confronted the thugs.

"Hey, you all! Stop bullying the kid!" Leona shouted.

The alley fell silent as everyone turned to stare at Leona. The thugs looked at each other, then back at Leona, bemused.

"And who might you be, little heroine?" one thug sneered.

Leona's heart pounded, but she stood her ground. "Leave the kid alone. Now."

The thugs laughed, advancing menacingly. Leona's mind raced as she quickly concocted a series of ridiculous yet clever excuses to distract and confuse them. Her antics bewildered the thugs, who eventually backed off, muttering curses as they left.

The masked stranger watched from the shadows, a smirk playing on his lips. "Interesting," he thought. "This commoner has some nerve."

Leona knelt beside the orphan, who was sobbing quietly. "Hey, it's okay now. Don't roam alone; it's dangerous, okay?"

The boy sniffled and nodded, but his voice trembled as he spoke. "It's my fault. I hid from the thugs, and they found out. They always come to collect taxes, or they say they'll hurt us."

Leona's eyes widened in shock. "Taxes? There are no such taxes. It's the lord's duty to protect you, not extort you."

Determined to inform her father of this injustice, Leona stood up. But then she remembered the masked stranger. "Where did he go?" she wondered aloud.

Meanwhile, in a secluded corner of the alley, the masked stranger was approached by a man in a uniform. "My lord, I've been searching for you everywhere!"

The masked stranger turned, revealing himself to be Duke Adrian. "I just went to watch something interesting," he replied with a smirk.

"We are late, my lord. Duke Von Hearth must be waiting for you," Sir Samuel, Adrian's confidant, said urgently.

"I heard some rumors that his daughter is horrible," Samuel added.

Duke Adrian shrugged. "I don't care. I'll get my work done and return."

"I was just informing you, my lord, in case of an emergency," Samuel said, concerned.

"Mmmh," Adrian murmured, his thoughts elsewhere.

***

As the sun began its descent in the sky, casting a golden hue over the kingdom, Leona and Anna made their way back towards the Hearth estate. The streets were beginning to quiet down, with vendors closing up shop and families retreating to their homes for the evening. Yet, Leona's mind was still abuzz with the events of the day.

"Lady Leona, are you alright?" Anna asked, her voice filled with concern.

Leona nodded absentmindedly. "I'm fine, Anna. Just thinking about what happened back there."

The memory of the orphan boy's tear-streaked face haunted her. She couldn't shake the feeling of injustice that had washed over her upon learning of the thugs' cruel extortion tactics.

"And that masked stranger," Leona mused aloud. "Who was he? And why did he disappear like that?"

Anna furrowed her brow, deep in thought. "Perhaps he was simply a passerby, Lady. Someone who stumbled upon the scene and chose not to intervene."

Leona shook her head. "No, there was something about him... an aura of power and mystery. I can't shake the feeling that he's somehow connected to all of this."

***

Meanwhile, back at the Hearth estate, Duke Adrian and Sir Samuel were greeted warmly by Duke Von Hearth's personnel. The servants bustled about, preparing refreshments for their esteemed guests.

Duke Adrian's eyes swept over the grandeur of the estate, taking in the opulent surroundings with a mixture of amusement and disdain. "Impressive," he remarked dryly to Sir Samuel, who nodded in agreement.

"We are late, my lord. Duke Von Hearth must be waiting for you," Sir Samuel reminded him, glancing nervously at the ornate clock on the wall.

Duke Adrian waved off his concerns with a dismissive gesture. "I'll get my work done and return. There's no need to rush."

Sir Samuel hesitated, then spoke again. "I heard some rumors that his daughter is... less than admirable."

Duke Adrian raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And what rumors might those be?"

Sir Samuel shifted uncomfortably. "Nothing substantial, my lord. Just whispers among the servants. They say that young Lady Leona is... difficult."

Duke Adrian chuckled darkly. "Difficult, you say? Well, I suppose we shall see for ourselves."

With that, they made their way through the grand halls of the estate, Duke Adrian's presence commanding attention wherever he went. Duke Von Hearth personally greeted them, servants bowed and curtsied as they passed, but there was no sign of young Lady Leona. Unbeknownst to Leona, who was still wandering the streets, the male lead had arrived at her home.

"I've been tasked by the emperor to conduct an inspection of your estate," Duke Adrian announced.

"Ah, indeed. With the abundance of mana stones here, it's no surprise the Emperor wants to ensure everything is in order," Duke Von Hearth replied.

"You're quite astute, Lord Von Hearth," Duke Adrian nodded.

"Please make yourself at home during your stay here, Lord Adrian. If there's anything you require, do not hesitate to ask," Duke Von Hearth offered.

"Thank you, Lord Von Hearth. I appreciate your hospitality," Duke Adrian replied with a cold demeanor.

"We shall commence the inspection tomorrow, then."

"Indeed. I expect your full cooperation, Lord Von Hearth."

"You have it, Lord Adrian. For now, please allow my steward to show you to your quarters. Rest well."

"Very well. I shall see you tomorrow, Lord Von Hearth."

"Indeed. Until then, Lord Adrian." Duke Von Hearth signaled for his steward to guide Duke Adrian to his accommodations.

On the other side, as Leona and Anna made their way back to the estate, Leona couldn't shake the feeling that this day was just the beginning of something much larger. Little did she know, the encounter with Duke Adrian would set off a chain of events that would change her life forever.

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