"Ugh..."

After taking two punches from her sister, Clara felt completely dizzy.

"That’s enough. What are you doing?"

Just as Jane raised her fist again, she suddenly felt someone seize her arm midair.

Turning around, she saw Phield frowning at her with clear anger on his face.

"Why are you bullying her? I already gave the order that fighting isn’t allowed."

"Ah? I..."

The moment those words reached her ears, Jane instantly sobered up, and then overwhelming fear flooded through her body.

"Baron, we’ll deal with her ourselves."

"Please don’t dirty your hands over this."

The guards rushed over immediately, all visibly startled.

Although their lord usually appeared gentle and benevolent, they had also seen Phield kill before. When he did, he showed absolutely no mercy. He would stab even a dog several extra times just to make sure it was dead.

"Please don’t, my lord. She’s my sister. We... we were just playing around."

Still dizzy, Clara held her head as she sat up, only to see her sister being lifted like a chicken by the guards. Slaves who assaulted other slaves were punished with five lashes. Her sister would definitely die from that. She didn’t want her sister going to the afterlife for a rematch because she obviously wouldn’t win.

"Stop."

Phield raised his right fist, signaling the soldiers to halt.

His gaze moved back and forth between the two girls.

"Other than the swollen face, they look exactly alike." Sam, standing guard nearby, scratched his head and leaned closer to whisper a reminder.

"I know. They’re easy to recognize. Nightfall Domain only has one pair of twins. Well, aside from those twin sheep in the pens."

He had recognized them as sisters from the start, but the older sister had been hitting far too viciously, without the slightest restraint.

"Please, my lord, let my sister go. We were really just playing."

Clara tugged timidly at the hem of Phield’s trousers.

The little girl was filthy from head to toe, but Phield showed no disgust. He crouched down, looked at the bruise on her face, took out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth, then placed a bottle of medicine into her hands as well.

That simple act nearly made Clara cry.

"You can tell me the real reason another time. I’m not going to eat either of you."

He turned to glance at the stunned Jane. Thoughts flashed through his mind before he let out a slow breath and smiled lightly.

"Put her down. Since little Clara says so, I believe the two sisters can handle this themselves."

If he truly dealt with them harshly, the two girls together still wouldn’t survive a beating from the guards.

Besides, there was no need for him to play the villain and turn the sisters against each other.

"I came here to inform both of you that you’ll be attending lessons together from now on."

Phield stood up and patted both girls on the head.

"Come on. I’m taking the students out to learn how to hunt corrupted corpses today anyway."

The girl had risked her life to report the rebellion. Phield already held a favorable impression of her.

Back then, he had been too busy suppressing the unrest and had only summoned the younger sister for classes. Thinking about it now, that decision would only create a rift between them.

"We’ll talk about your work arrangements later. Before we leave, go find my maids and get cleaned up first."

"Sam, gather all the raider cavalry and have them wait for me at the east gate of the manor. Oh, and bring Tate’s daughter too. If you can’t find her, go ask Kaor at the winery."

"We’ll do a field survey of Nightfall Domain and let the students practice killing corrupted corpses while we’re at it."

After rapidly issuing his orders, Phield headed toward the stables with Tisiana.

"Uh..."

Now it was Jane’s turn to feel dizzy.

Could this imposing knight really be the Baron of Nightfall Domain she had feared all this time?

Wasn’t the Baron of Nightfall Domain supposed to be an ugly, perverted drunk?

What was wrong with her? How could she have beaten her own sister like that?

Jane stared at her hands in disbelief.

"Let’s go, Sister," Clara whispered softly as she held her sister’s hand without the slightest resentment.

Meanwhile, after leading a horse out from the stables, Phield turned and noticed a man and woman hesitantly approaching him. Both wore ingratiating smiles that made them look suspiciously like assassins.

"Stop." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

The guards immediately lowered their halberds, their sharp blades trembling faintly. The moment the pair made any suspicious move, the guards would strike without hesitation.

The two people were so frightened by the display that they collapsed onto the ground, stammering incoherently.

"Don’t be afraid. As long as you don’t pull out a knife, my guards won’t hurt you."

Seeing how terrified they were, Phield didn’t laugh at them. Instead, he calmly asked in a steady voice,

"I recognize you two. You were among the latest group of slaves restored to freeman status. What is it you wish to report to your lord?"

Only then did the pair shakily stand back up. They didn’t even bother brushing the dirt off their bodies. Bowing deeply, they carefully asked,

"M... my lord, may we perform comedic acts in town?"

In this world, comedic acts referred to entertainers dressed like clowns performing acrobatics and cracking witty jokes.

"That?" Phield raised a brow. "Why not? Any open area in Windrise Town can be used. Just don’t blow horns or bang drums too loudly. It’ll disturb the residents."

The couple nearly burst with joy upon hearing the lord’s permission.

The man immediately praised him.

"Thank you for your mercy. By the heavens, anywhere else, I’d probably get called an idiot and kicked straight into a pit of manure."

The woman quickly chimed in with exaggerated expressions.

"And that would only dirty the lord’s shoes."

"Hahaha!"

The guards burst into laughter.

"I’ve never watched one of these performances before."

"I heard there’ll be clowns and dogs jumping through fire hoops."

The guards whispered excitedly among themselves.

So they had already started putting on performances?

Phield chuckled.

"I’m not going to call you idiots over this. People shouldn’t feel ashamed for pursuing a better life or seeking entertainment and relaxation."

"Thank you, my lord!"

After the two repeatedly expressed their gratitude and left, Tisiana carefully chose her words before speaking.

"My lord, do you truly think that way?"

"Think what?"

Phield looked puzzled as he mounted his warhorse, stroked its mane, and checked the supplies hanging nearby.

"Well... how should I put it? You actually allow the people to indulge in entertainment. That feels unbelievable. Normally, wouldn’t it be best for commoners to devote themselves entirely to labor?"

"Entertainment and indulgence are two different things. Entertainment is necessary. Honestly, I’m more troubled by how little entertainment exists in the territory."

As thoughts raced through his mind, Phield understood Tisiana’s confusion.

The teachings of the Holy Light Church classified entertainment as sinful. Although she was no longer truly part of the Church, those doctrines were still deeply rooted in her.

She was indirectly asking about herself.

"Stop overthinking things. The Goddess of Holy Light entrusted you to me. Right now, what I say goes. Nobody else gets a say."

"Mhm."

Tisiana nodded, blushing faintly.

By the time Phield arrived at the east gate of the manor, everyone traveling with the group had already assembled.