Levi smiles and sighs "I'll attend it, but looks like our bonding has to stop here, friend, i got to head back to Ravenholt" he waves goodbye
Seraphina smiles and waves him goodbye "stay safe on your travels, levi!!" she mutters quietly in a voice only she hears "i love you, idiot..." she goes back in the carriage eating the candy apples Levi bought her.
Levi rides off towards Ravenholt racing the setting sun "f-fuck I got carried away" ran a hand through his hair "d-damn it" flustered shaking his head denying
after a while Levi arrives in Ravenholt thats being repaired currently, the soldiers finishing up the task so they can go home for the day
Altharion approaches "your back Levi"
Levi smiles "yes i got a bit distracted i was supposed to come by here by the morning, but I had to bond with an old friend of mine"
Altharion pats his back chuckling "Looks like Ol love to me" teasing him
Levi glares at him "wait a minute shouldn't you be in bed resting?"
Altharion whistling slowly sliding off "ignore that, you went to the capital for some reason" yawning
Levi facepalms "Father, i mean Your Majesty called me" smirks "ANDDDD you better address me differently here"
Altharion looking at him blankly "like what bastard, you're my disciple"
Levi smirking, an evil grin on his face "address me as Lord now, I am the Lord of Ravenholt now!"
Altharion jawdropped at the information "WHAT?!?! My student grows up fast" fake wiping off tears "i should get a raise" coughs
Levi stared at him and said "no, and never"
walks away heading towards the half built castle, while walking he looks around the town, Citizens glaring at him, some with disdain, some with hope, some with pain. He sighs noticing the glares, he thinks to himself "How can i get them to like me as their new Lord."
Levi arrives to the castle thats still being repaired by soldiers.
one greets him bowing "Your highness"
Levi looking around "how long till this place is finished?"
the soldier replied "two or three days your highness"
Levi puts his hand on his chin "I see, and how long would it perhaps take if I help?"
Soldier waving it off "no, no, your highness you already helped last time"
Levi puts his hand on the man's shoulder "I Insist, the faster the better either way"
Soldier giving in "2 days maximum maybe and a half, w-what is it for your highness, if i may... ask.."
Levi clears his throat "it's because I've been appointed by your Majesty as the new Lord here"
All the soldier who was doing their work stops at a halt looking at Levi suddenly mixed with awe and confusion
the soldier infront of Levi yelps "WHATTTT?!?!!?"
Levi shrugs it off and helps them
Soldiers kept asking bombarding him with questions, some even praising him, some asked how to be like him
Valerie enters the castle "Alright, he's still the prince and now the Lord."
Soldiers stops and bows and says in unison "Sorry Your Higness, pls forgive us for our sudden questions" before getting back to work.
Valerie leans at the castle gate "Alright Levi, General calls for you"
Levi sighs and stands up "Lead the way then" following her
Valerie leads the way to where the General is staying at. Shortly after arriving Valerie leaves
"I'll leave it to you then. dipshit" laughs
Levi enters the room, the rooms mood different
General Garrick didn't look up as Levi entered. "Food shortage. Half the nobles fled. The rest refuse to recognize you."
He finally set the papers down and stood. His gaze locked onto Levi. "Do you understand what you've been given?"
A brief pause. "Your father didn't hand you a cake with cherries on top…"
He stepped closer. "He handed you the ingredients."
Levi didn't answer immediately.His eyes drifted to the map. "…Then I'll build it myself."
He looked back at General Garrick. "Starting with the foundation."
He stepped closer, placing a hand on the map. "but if ingredients dont cooperate..."
his gaze hardens "...then they should be replaced isn't it?"
General Garrick crossed his arms.
"Good.Then start talking. What's your first move, Lord of Ravenholt?"
Levi tapped a section of the map. "Food comes first."
he looks back at General Garrick "A starving kingdom doesn't care who sits on the throne."
"Send word to nearby territories. Trade, requisition, whatever it takes."
he points at the battlefield they fought in, on the map. "get soldiers to ask around the city on who would be willing to start a farm there, as long as it secures what farmland we still have"
"Next… the nobles." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Call them back. Those who return keep their titles."
"Those who don't…" A brief pause. "…lose them."
He turned, taking a few steps as he spoke.
"and those who lose their titles, due to not returning his fingers brushing along the edge of the table "Replace them with people who actually want this kingdom to stand."
he turns around taking a few steps where he went "and those who have a record on being corrupt, or stolen money from their citizens."
his gaze locks onto the General "arrest them, take every single money they stole from the citizens, and use it to fund this Kingdom."
he smirks "do whatever you want with those nobles, execute them in Ravenholt's capital if you want"
he placed a hand on his chin, and he grins "Actually just do just that, it should give hope to the citizens, that they are in good hands wont it?"
Garrick watched him in silence for a moment.
Then a smirk. "Not bad.You're thinking like a ruler."
Garrick's smirk didn't fade. He stepped closer, tapping the map. "But executions?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're trying to rule them… not scare them into silence."
Levi didn't hesitate. "Fear isn't the goal. it never is. Trust is the goal."
He gestured toward the city outside.
"Right now, they have neither. If I let corruption go unpunished…"
he smirks "...then how would they trust me, trust us. and after all, We will need money after we spend on fixing the food shortage"
Garrick studied him for a moment… then laughed. "Well thought out…"
A pause. "My Lord."