As soon as Luo De entered the door, he met the gaze of the young girl.
Her bright eyes were fixed on Luo De, clearly identifying at a glance who was the core of the group.
"Thank you for saving my life, noble sir."
The girl's voice was bright, her tone gentle and polite, "I'm so hungry, could you give me something to eat?"
Luo De nodded, turned around, and instructed a guard to bring jerky and dry rations for the girl, then poured a glass of water.
It was apparent the girl was very hungry, but she still tore the food into small pieces and quickly placed them in her mouth, instead of biting directly.
It was obviously an instinctive behavior cultivated by noble etiquette.
She ate with intense concentration, her head down, delicately and rapidly chewing the rations like a rabbit, swallowing forcefully before quickly tearing another small piece and placing it in her mouth.
The log cabin instantly fell into silence, with only the sound of the girl's munching and rustling.
After she finished eating the whole dry ration, Luo De finally spoke.
"I am Luo De Tulip, lord of Black Pine Ridge. I'm glad to see you're awake, but it wasn't me who saved you."
Luo De didn't hide the truth, recounting the events that happened when they arrived and his speculations.
"I'm sorry, it was my fault that the hunter, sir, got involved."
The girl said, bowing slightly with a sense of loss.
The hunter's three children had not yet emerged from their grief, keeping their heads down without speaking, faintly sobbing.
"It's all the bears' fault. After the spring plowing, I'll organize a hunt to drive them back into the forest."
Luo De broke the atmosphere of sadness, taking out a brooch and handing it to the girl, saying,
"Alya found this on you when she was checking your wounds. I believe you must be the lord of Razor Plain who was rumored to be killed some time ago?"
"Forgive me for not introducing myself, that was rude."
The girl apologized again, and then said, "You are right, I am the eldest daughter of the Earl of the Red Griffin, lord of Razor Plain, Avril Red Griffin."
He guessed correctly.
Luo De thought to himself, although this girl was different from what he had imagined.
She looked too delicate.
Her father, the Red Griffin Knight, in his youth, led five guards to break through the encirclement of over a hundred rebels, fiercely quelling those attempting to overthrow his brother, a bravery unmatched by most.
It was impossible to see a trace of this in the girl.
Actually, it was normal for a noble lady to be elegant and gentle.
The question was, how could someone so fragile come to the Northern Territory?
Luo De was filled with questions.
"Unfortunately, my domain was occupied by mobs, or else I could take care of these three children." Avril said helplessly.
"No need, I'll take care of their lives myself."
Luo De decisively cut off Avril's thought.
Luo De would be responsible for his own subjects, even if they were just children.
"Why did the people of Razor Plain try to kill you?"
Luo De changed the subject, frowning, "How much tax did you charge? Seventy percent?"
His own sixty percent tax was on the verge of the subsistence line, and if Avril charged seventy percent, it would indeed be hard to accept.
But in any case, from a lord's standpoint, it was wrong for them to attempt to harm Avril.
Avril shook her head.
"Hmm? Even higher than seventy percent?"
Luo De said in surprise.
Could this seemingly frail girl be harsher than himself?
Avril shook her head again and said weakly, "No, I only charged twenty percent tax, I don't want anyone to starve."
Luo De was silent.
Durant was also silent.
Twenty percent tax, even lower than Luo De's tax meant to gain people's favor.
Gang Le, watching from the doorway, was also shocked, his eyes widening as he turned his head,
"You didn't misspeak right, noble miss? Twenty percent tax? And they still wanted to harm you?"
"I knew they had a hard time surviving, so I only charged twenty percent tax."
Avril's gaze lost focus, staring blankly at the floor, "I don't understand either, I thought I treated them well, even sharing the cheese I brought with them."
Luo De crossed his arms over his chest, speaking softly, "In a place like the Northern Wasteland, where only the fittest survive, kindness often means weakness. Appropriate kindness is a virtue, but constant kindness breeds greed."
"But... they used to get along with me well, everyone smiled and saluted when they met me."
Avril looked at Luo De puzzled, "When I was at Griffin Castle, I treated the townspeople the same way, and they often brought me gifts."
Her fragile appearance resembled the delicate sister-in-law Luo De had seen in past life films, stirring people's sympathy.
Luo De softened, speaking soothingly, "I believe what you said, perhaps there are many honest subjects, but in the Northern Wasteland, there are also many mobs."
"Have you considered that in Razor Plain, where you have no foundation, the honest subjects wouldn't stand up when you were harmed, allowing the mobs to step into power?"
"And then, the situation became as it is now."
Luo De helplessly spread his hands.
Avril nodded, somewhat grieved, "Baron Luo De, you are right, I was indeed wrong."
"It's okay, as long as you are alive."
Luo De comforted her, then curiously asked, "So how did you manage to escape? You know, there's already a rumor that you're dead outside."
Avril hesitated for a moment, timidly asked, "Can I, can I not tell you?"
Luo De was slightly taken aback.
He had considered Avril might not answer because it could involve some life-saving secrets.
As for the way Avril refused to answer, he had imagined countless scenarios—excuses, deception, even silence.
But he never expected her to inquire so timidly.
This child was too straightforward, wasn't she?
"Of course, everyone has their own secrets."
Luo De smiled as he stood up, saying, "Then rest well. Tomorrow, I'll send someone to take you back to Frost Leaf Town, and then you can return to the Red Griffin Family. It's all over now."
Luo De comforted Avril, his handsome face rarely showing a sunny smile.
"Noble Baron Luo De."
"Hmm?"
Luo De turned around curiously, "Is there something else you need to talk about?"
Avril glanced over the other people around, then softly said, "Could I speak with you alone?"
Luo De hesitated for a few seconds, then waved his hand.
The others tactfully stood up, left the log cabin, and closed the door.
"Please, speak, Baron Avril."
Luo De sat on a wooden chair, quietly looking at Avril.
"May I not return to the Red Griffin Family?"
"Hmm?"
Where else would you go if not home?
Luo De, of course, didn't say this out loud, just looked at Avril in confusion, waiting for her to continue.
"My father is elderly, and he's not lucid most of the time; my stepmother and uncle currently lead the Red Griffin Family,"
Avril sighed slightly, her eyes full of sorrow, "She doesn't like me, and I was sent here to the Northern Territory by her as an exile. If I return to the family, she will arrange for me again, perhaps to marry some noble, or something else."
This information was unexpected to Luo De.
Luo De frowned, pondering for a moment, then asked, "So was your stepmother involved in the plot to harm you?"
"I don't know; I only know the family is no longer a safe place, so I was thinking,"
Avril looked at Luo De with vulnerability, "Could I stay here with you?"
"Forgive me for being blunt, Baron Avril, but Black Pine Ridge is not exactly a safe place either."
Luo De wasn't eager to keep the noble young lady.
According to Avril, her stepmother ran the Red Griffin Family, and her stepmother wanted to harm her.
If Luo De took Avril in, wouldn't that be opposing the Red Griffin Family?
Besides, Luo De wouldn't gain any benefits from hosting her.
"It's very safe here, and it's also the closest to Razor Plain."
Avril pleaded in her soft voice, "You rescued me, you are a kind and handsome baron..."
"No, but I am not kind, I am a fierce baron."
Luo De quickly waved his hands in denial.
In this era, kindness leads to losses, I dare not be kind.
"Alas——"
Avril sighed, contemplating for a long time, she unexpectedly began to unbutton her clothes, revealing her underwear underneath.
Luo De hurriedly stopped her, "Please compose yourself, Baron Avril."
"You misunderstand."
Avril chuckled, taking out a green, diamond-shaped crystal stone from the lining of her undergarment,
"This is a Life Gem, storing it closely can enhance one's physique, and it's said to improve the efficiency of Breathing Technique training."
Luo De slowly stood up, tightly focusing on the gem.
An Extraordinary Gem.