A New Beginning

As the group neared Baymard, Landon’s eyes widened in awe. The city, which appeared to be nearly as large as the capital, was nestled within towering city walls, reaching about 16 meters high. There was only one outer gate, a singular entry and exit point for the entire city. The layout was reminiscent of medieval cities seen in movies, and it immediately impressed Landon. This is no barren land, he thought with conviction. Father must have only heard rumors about the situation here and never bothered to see for himself. What a fool.

As their carriage rolled through the streets, people began to murmur and stare at them. The whispers were hard to avoid, and Landon could hear fragments of their conversations.

"Is that the new lord and his family?"

"Do you think they will help us?"

"I heard the new lord isn’t favored in the empire."

"Really? Oh no... Do you think we’re finished then?"

Landon felt a pit form in his stomach. The people of Baymard were extremely poor. They didn’t have much to sustain themselves and relied on fishing and the occasional hunting for food. Landon quickly assessed the situation. He needed money to run this kingdom—a lot of it.

Fortunately, both his mother and the old Landon had been incredibly savvy in saving. His mother had begun saving coins from the moment he was born, and Landon, starting from the age of seven, had done the same. Royal children received monthly allowances when they began their knighthood training. For most royal children, it was a standard amount, but his mother had always been cautious. While the king’s wives received 500 gold coins per month, his mother took only 200, saving everything she could once she realized that her time in the capital was limited.

Landon’s allowance as a young page had been 50 gold coins per month, compared to his brothers who received 300. He had given all of his money to his mother to save. They lived modestly, never needing much. Now, however, everything was changing.

Before, they had only themselves to worry about. Now, they had an entire kingdom to manage, with wages to pay for the knights and servants. The new responsibility was daunting. Landon quickly calculated that their savings could keep everyone afloat for at least six months, but after that, they would need to find a way to generate income.

Fishing is good for food, but we’ll need more. Landon reflected. We’ll need to build infrastructure and equip the knights with the tools they need.

He took comfort in the starter pack he had received. When the crops began to grow, they would have a stable food supply. But as of now, the kingdom had little to offer.

They arrived at the castle, the only structure of its kind in Baymard, and were greeted by a group of maids who curtsied and welcomed them. "Good day, Your Highness and Highnesses," they said with respect.

Landon smiled, trying to maintain the façade of confidence. "Be at ease. I am your new lord, Landon Barn. This is my mother, Kim, my friend Lucy, my loyal retainers, and my staff. Now, let’s see our new home."

After being shown around the castle and introducing the staff, Landon gathered everyone in the main hall. The staff consisted mostly of young adults—many in their twenties, with a few in their late teens and early teens.

Landon addressed them. “How many people work in the castle?”

A young woman stepped forward and answered, “Answering my lord, thirty. There are twelve gardeners, four stable boys, three cooks, and eleven maids.”

Landon nodded. “Good. Nathan, Daniella, please step forward.”

The two stepped forward, both with respectful nods. Nathan, a 47-year-old butler, and Daniella, his wife, had served his mother for many years. Their only child, Gary, was one of the knights serving with Landon.

"Nathan, you are to train the boys, and Daniella, you will train the girls. You will all be paid at the end of the month. Your salary will be 350 copper coins. Use it to care for your families. If you face any difficulties, please inform any of us. After all, we are all family."

The staff was stunned and then overwhelmingly excited. To them, this was a sign of hope. The average salary in Baymard was only 250 copper coins. To hear that they would receive 100 more was a blessing. They realized their new lord was not only generous but cared deeply for them.

Once he dismissed the staff, Landon gathered his retainers. “You’ve served my household loyally for years. This is our new home, our new life. The empire has cast us aside, but that does not mean we are finished. They think we are weak and insignificant, but we will prove them wrong.”

His knights looked at him, their eyes burning with anticipation. Most of them had been told all their lives that they were worthless, trash, and would amount to nothing. The injustice they had faced in the capital had always stung, and now, under Landon’s leadership, they felt empowered.

"They think we’ll die without their help," Landon continued. "But we will thrive. We will turn this place into a kingdom they cannot touch. They will regret ever thinking we were weak."

"Are you with me?" Landon asked, his voice rising.

"Yahhhhh!" they cried in unison, their voices full of fire.

"I said, are you with me?" Landon repeated, his tone even more commanding.

"YES!" the knights shouted.

Landon smiled, a sense of resolve settling over him. “Good. I need knights who will train harder than ever. We’ll pay the salary of a true knight. Pages will earn 1000 copper coins, Squires will earn 2000, Lieutenants 3500, Captains 6000, Majors 9000, Commanders 12000, Master Commanders 15000, and finally, Provists will earn 18000 copper coins a month.”

The room fell silent. The salaries were astronomical compared to what anyone had ever earned in Baymard. But Landon was no fool. He needed his knights to be exceptional, and that would require proper motivation.

"This is a new era," Landon said. "A new time, a new home, and a new King."

“Long live the King!” the knights cheered in unison, their spirits high.

“Long live the King!” they shouted again, their voices reverberating in the stone walls.

Landon looked around at his knights, the staff, and his family. He knew the road ahead would be difficult, but together, they would rise. Baymard would not just survive — it would flourish.

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