Losa fell silent.
"Even money earned from selling one's body is taxed?"
"Of course, and not lightly, either. Then consider the tithe, corvée, and military levies, not to mention the new taxes the Lord invents for his own selfish desires..."
Laine paused slightly in his speech: "Sir, your father was a kind-hearted lord, but most lords don't see common people as human."
Losa nodded and glanced at Prajna, recalling the conversation they had that night.
Since he was a transmigrator, he had to do something in response to this world.
Even if he couldn't change this world, at least in the future, he'd ensure his people have happier lives.
By the roadside, sick people or those too starved to walk sometimes collapsed face-first into the mud.
Someone holding a broken bowl came to Losa to beg: "Noble lord, have mercy, my wife is about to starve to death, please gift me some grain."
Another raised a self-made Crusader banner and shouted: "Lords Knight, we are also Crusaders, please let us follow you. We can be attendants, servants, feed your livestock, and till your fields."
An old woman with tears all over her face held her daughter, who was as thin as a bag of bones, pleading: "Please, take in my daughter, she's on the brink of starvation."
Losa was somewhat moved.
But Model immediately whispered a reminder: "Sir, you can't help everyone."
Losa nodded: "Indeed, even if I can help in one moment, I can't help for a lifetime. Handing out some silver coins and charity of bread won't save lives."
This group of impoverished Crusaders led by poor priests might in the end be less than a third who reach the Holy Land.
"But one must do something regardless."
Losa quietly instructed, "Model, later go and give some food to that woman, and help others however possible, hand out half of the dry provisions we carry."
He cautioned, "Remember, don't draw too much attention, lest others come to snatch it away and we end up harming rather than helping."
Someone pulled a fair-skinned boy over to Nisian's warhorse, flattering: "Lord Knight, those gaunt girls like matchsticks aren't any fun; why not try this."
"Get lost!"
The knight, wearing a horned helmet, raised his riding crop and rebuked: "How dare you offer such unclean things to my noble lord, trying to lure my lord into an unforgivable sin!"
In public teachings, homosexuality is considered a grave sin!
The merchant who tried to sell was immediately filled with terror. He had thought this equally valiant-looking knight was a companion of Losa's, yet turned out to be merely an attendant.
In his eyes, Losa's status rose from knight to a high noble, as it was unheard of for a knight to have another knight as his subordinate.
"Forgive my transgression, but he is not a man; rather, he is an eunuch castrated from a young age using Eastern Empire court secret arts, not unclean. Eastern Empire emperors love appointing eunuchs as confidants to govern their country."
The merchant was filled with terror.
Eunuchs have been seen as third-gender in many places, beloved by royalty and nobility.
But still, many people consider eunuchs to be incomplete men, deeply despising and loathing them.
Losa waved him off, signaling for him to leave quickly.
"Hans, don't be too excitable, eunuchs have existed for hundreds of years. In the Eastern Empire, there was even an eunuch who served as Great Shepherd, a rank equivalent to His Holiness the Pope."
He lowered his voice to say, "I wonder if you are a knight of the Heavenly Father or solely serve me, even if I entrust myself to a Devil, remaining unwaveringly loyal."
Losa mounted and rode ahead.
Hans' face changed dramatically under the helmet.
His lips lost their color, shivering constantly.
A moment later, he slowly directed his horse to follow, saying to Losa, "My lord, apologies, I may have assimilated too well into this world. If the Heavenly Father truly exists here, you are still my creator, the sole lord I worship. Please forgive my presumption in making decisions for you; I will immediately go find that merchant and buy the eunuch."
Losa said with a smile and a sigh, "That's unnecessary; I don't fancy that eunuch, nor do I have such peculiar tastes, but your loyalty is greatly valued, Hans."
"A philosopher once said loyalty must be absolute; otherwise, it is absolute disloyalty."
Losa spoke with seriousness.
If he became a lord, conflict with the Church would be inevitable, as he couldn't allow the Church to share half of his power nor accept his people being more loyal to the Church than to him.
Hans quickly said, "Please, believe in my loyalty; my sword and lance exist for you, and are at your disposal."
Prajna's calm voice arose: "He did not lie... Losa, you need not worry about our loyalty. We exist because of you, and regardless of my dislike or resentment towards you, I must obey you and cannot act against you."
"I understand."
Losa nodded lightly, then tentatively asked, "Prajna, do you dislike me?"
Prajna was momentarily stunned, furrowing her brows, after a while, she quietly responded, "I do not."
Losa's face immediately broke into a smile.
Hans followed behind him with a face full of frustration and guilt, thinking even General Prajna has a special regard for the lord, while a mere One-Star Attendant like himself dared to make decisions for the lord, which was truly overstepping.