July 28th.
The afternoon wasn't necessarily hot, however, the crowd that had made their way to Marcus's estate made it feel warmer than it was.
Just over three thousand people had previously found temporary residence around his estate. Many had been sleeping in tents, made from good materials that the women in charge of the loom machines had made.
Since his return in this life, Marcus had asked the masons to focus on building a wall that could withstand attacks, around his estate.
Though they had already started making plans for this. This afternoon, Marcus had to pull them out of that project.
Providing temporary accommodations for thousands of people took precedence.
Building a wall around his estate made sense to him before he opened his Pulses.
Moreover, his estate was already filled to the brim with a population of over three thousand.
Now that there were over thirteen thousand more, a wall made less sense and would leave even less space.
The people who had already found peace in the estate were even more scared when they saw the crowds being brought in droves, on carts.
Those who could manage to walk, were on their feet.
"Uncle Raul!" Someone in Marcus's estate screamed out as though she had seen a ghost.
A man with sunken eyes and a skinny build raised his head in the direction he heard his name.
"Ma…ria?" He whispered under his breath. Unable to believe his eyes.
His already malnourished and weakened body trembled as he raised his hands, forcing the words out of his throat.
"Maria?"
"Uncle Raul!" The young girl ran towards her uncle with tears streaming down her face. When she reached her uncle's side, a hand stretched out, stopping her in her tracks.
It was Jonu.
"He's very weak at the moment. Colliding into him could kill him." The young man cautioned.
Damn girl! Are you trying to have the young lord punish me?
Jonu thought as he recalled Knight Brown's warning.
"The young lord is furious, and even more heartbroken that he had failed to save more people. We have to make sure that everyone returns to the estate, alive."
The look in Jonu's eyes would have been enough to scare some people, but Maria was too emotional to notice it.
She nodded her head and carefully drew her uncle into her embrace.
"I-I thought you died! It's been three years. I thought you left me alone to suffer in this world! I searched everywhere for you! Uncle Raul."
"I couldn't bear to leave just yet, Maria. I promised your father that I would take care of you and find you a good husband to marry–" the man began coughing heavily, slowly becoming short of breath.
"–How could I dare to die without fulfilling this promise?"
Though this sounded like an inflated statement, it had been the mantra that has kept him alive and going over the past few years of captivity.
Despite the suffering he had experienced and seen, Raul refused to give up because he wished to fulfill a promise.
Many others within the estate saw people whom they recognized.
A distant family that had gone missing. A neighbor who was thought to have left Agard for a better life.
Former merchants and scholars who were fairly famous in the State when Marcus was still a teenager.
People seeing family members they thought dead… cries of joy and sadness filled the air.
The reunion came with mixed feelings.
They were happy to see these people, but at the same time, they were terrified when they found out where they had been over the years.
The matter about cultists being in Agard wasn't a secret and had been propagated over the last few days.
But seeing this, knowing what the cult is capable of and what they had done, terrified them.
Marcus expected a similar reaction from the populace. But there was little he could do.
No speech of his would incite bravery in the hearts of these people. The only thing he could do was to provide for and treat the wounded.
With their presence came more problems and responsibilities.
Coming off the back of his horse, Marcus held his chest. His Heart Pulse still ached.
He had refrained from closing it. As he climbed onto the stairs in front of his mansion, a voice called out to him.
"Milord…"
Marcus turned his head to see a conflicted Bradley. "You've pieced a few things together?"
Bradley nodded slowly. How could he not understand, when he had spent the last decade trying to manage Agard only to fail?
The guilt that had also been eating him up turned into a silent fury.
Seeing his eyes dart from side to side, Marcus placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't think too much. Let's just face what's in front of us first."
"...Yes, sir."
"We'll have to buy more food…" Marcus's gaze went over the crowd. "And hire a lot of Healers."
"My lord, we don't have the funds to hire a lot of Healers," Bradley revealed.
"I know… I might have to take a loan from a merchant house."
"But, the interest would be high."
"We have no other choice. We can afford to pay the interest over time."
"I can give you a loan." A soft voice interjected.
Marcus didn't even need to turn his head to see who it was.
Veronica.
"The amount we'll need will be north of three hundred thousand gold. Can you afford it?" His eyes squinted at the young lady in disguise.
She has already helped enough today. Why is she still trying to help some more?
Though Marcus was grateful for her assistance, he still couldn't figure out what she wanted, which made him hesitant around her.
To him, she's powerful. Not only by name, but in and of herself. Even now, the image of her transformation before he died in the previous life was still in his mind.
"I am a child of El Salvador, do you think that I can't afford that price?" Veronica said slowly, as though she wanted to imprint each word on Marcus's ears.
It was a bit insulting to be asked that question.
"What's the catch? You don't have to help me, or my people. You have already done enough for me to be in your debt. Why burden me some more?"
Veronica tilted her head at this young lord. She too couldn't understand him.
One minute he was expressing his gratitude, and the next, he seemed to want to push her away.
She had recently thought that it was because he had secrets to hide. But hasn't she already confirmed what his secret is?
"There's no catch."
"Why?"
Veronica began searching for a reason and stumbled upon a memory. "My mother used to say this when she would watch me and my brother play with butterflies…" her eyes seemed to drift off as she paused.
"To tear the cocoon for the butterfly when it's trying to break free is to steal its first breath of war.
Yet I would cut it free a thousand times, asking no flight in return.
For kindness does not seek reward, and some cages are only worth breaking when no one is watching.
The only witness is the weight of a struggle that was never mine to answer."
Marcus listened and comprehended.
This saying… was deep and had several meanings to him. He couldn't help but frown as he reasoned.
Literally, it referred to metamorphosis. Metaphorically, it was tied to the struggles one would face and personal growth. Philosophically, it was basically kindness without reward.
And then came the last one… a systemic suppression.
As though she could read his thoughts, Veronica spoke up, "There doesn't have to be a catch. And they don't have to be my people before I can help. We are all humans, right? When do you think you'll be able to pay back?"
"Three hundred and fifty thousand gold, in eight to twelve months."
"We'll do ten months then."
"What's your interest rate?"
"None," She put her hands in her pockets as she replied.
Marcus stared at her, trying to figure out what she would be getting from this one-sided deal.
"I refuse."
Huh?!
Veronica, Bradley, and the few other knights who could hear their conversation were stunned.
Could there be a deal better than this? They all wondered.
"Why?"
"If it's a donation then call it that. If it's a loan, then let it be. You'll be getting nothing out of giving me this loan." Marcus explained.
Are you stupid? Why can't you accept my help?
Veronica thought about it. That wasn't a problem in and of itself. However, donating it to Marcus might bring her family's unwanted attention.
A loan wouldn't matter as much as a donation.
"Fine, no interest rate, but there's a catch. In the future, you will have to do one thing for me."
Marcus was just about to refuse when she interrupted him.
"I won't ask you to do anything against your moral codes, nor will I ask you to do anything you're not capable of."
A few seconds passed before Marcus finally replied.
"Okay. Bradley, prepare the contract."
Several people sighed in relief at the same time when they heard Marcus agree to this.
Milord… maybe this is why you don't have friends. Bradley thought.