CLEAVER OF SIN

The gates of the Wargrave Estate opened with a deep creak, and the carriage rolled forward smoothly, its wheels clattering against the stone path. Riding beside the carriage, astride her majestic Enduron horse, was Vice Commander Cassandra, her ash-colored eyes calm yet sharp, observing her surroundings with silent gaze.

The carriage entered the vast expanse of the Wargrave Ducal Territory with ease. As they moved through the familiar land, Asher slowly rolled open the window, his gaze sweeping across the territory. It had been six long months since he had last set eyes on these lands, and now, each passing tree and stone carried a sense of nostalgic familiarity.

His thoughts wandered, drifting back to the memory of the boy with a sick mother, swindled by thugs preying on the weak.

Asher imagined a different fate for himself, one in which he had been born not into nobility, but as a commoner. If he had reincarnated as a mere peasant, he knew one of the viable path to survival, and perhaps success, would have been to become a Knight in service to a noble house or royalty.

And if one wished to serve nobility as a knight, then it was best to pledge allegiance to at least a Count's household. The higher the noble's rank, the more substantial the earnings, and the greater the chances of being elevated to nobility oneself.

As they continued, the carriage passed through the heart of the territory. Around them, citizens halted their steps the moment their eyes caught the Wargrave insignia emblazoned on the carriage. The emblem commanded respect, reverence, and a silent awe that rippled through the crowds.

From within the carriage, Asher observed them closely. He could see the fascination in their expressions, the longing written across their faces. Some bowed deeply as the carriage passed by, honoring the symbol and the one it carried. His window remained open, allowing all to see him.

Yet, no one dared approach. Children, however, in their innocent defiance of decorum, waved cheerfully toward the carriage, their tiny hands outstretched as if trying to summon attention or approval.

Asher merely shook his head and shut his eyes momentarily, silently offering thanks to the stars above that, at the very least, he had been transmigrated into the body of a Duke's son.

A few minutes later, his eyes fluttered open once more. He continued to watch the passing scenery and casually lifted his hand to return the wave of one of the children. The simple gesture caused visible shock among the crowd.

A noble waving back? Unheard of.

Asher couldn't quite grasp the reason for their astonishment. It was, after all, just a wave. He exhaled lightly and decided not to dwell on it.

Instead, his gaze shifted toward Vice Commander Cassandra, who rode ahead gracefully. She was smiling and nodding at the commoners they passed, her gestures warm and sincere.

"Cassandra, you seem to have an interesting story. Care to share it with me?" Asher asked, his voice calm as his gaze returned to the road ahead.

"Story?" Vice Commander Cassandra echoed, her brow arching slightly in curiosity. She turned her ash colored eyes toward Asher, confusion playing on her features.

"I meant your origin, Cassandra," Asher clarified. "I've been watching how you smile and nod at them, so familiar, so natural. I just became curious."

A soft smile appeared on Vice Commander Cassandra's lips. She shook her head lightly and responded, "I am the daughter of a Viscount, Tenth Sun. However, I wasn't allowed to inherit our territory, as my father had already chosen to pass it down to my elder brother. He was the firstborn son, after all. Despite my capabilities in governance and my talents as a warrior, family traditions stood firm."

Asher listened intently without interrupting. He knew that many noble families followed similar customs. Some handed titles to their firstborn son, some to their firstborn child regardless of gender, and a few allowed their children to compete for succession.

"My father intended to marry me off to the son of a Count, someone who would assume the title over their land down the line," she continued, her tone calm and unbothered. "But I never wanted that kind of life. So I left. I ran away and came to Wargrave to become a Knight. After all, my father couldn't dare challenge a Duke, let alone one from the Wargrave family."

She chuckled softly at the end of her statement, the sound light-hearted, almost playful.

Asher nodded in understanding. It wasn't uncommon for nobles who weren't selected as heirs to either marry into another noble family or become knights in another noble's service, ideally someone higher in social standing.

It was a method of ensuring political ties and maintaining prestige.

But in Wargrave, such customs were not as flexible. If a child didn't become the Duke, they didn't marry into other noble families. Instead, they became Elders of the household, a role equally powerful. This practice helped preserve the purity of their bloodline and maintain the family's strength without external dilution.

"It seems you've had a hard life, Cassandra," Asher commented, still staring ahead.

Cassandra laughed gently, shaking her head. "I didn't have a hard life, Tenth Sun."

"You didn't? Then I must have jumped to conclusions," Asher said, raising an eyebrow.

She smiled as she clarified, "On the contrary, I was loved dearly by everyone in my family. My father's decision to marry me off came from a place of concern. He simply wanted to protect me from the dangers of battle. In our lineage, the noble title always goes to the first son. That's how it has always been. But I didn't want to live a life of tea parties and idle gossip. I chose a different path. I used my talents to join the Wargrave family. And despite everything, my brother still sends me gold coins regularly, just to ensure I'm well cared for."

'So it wasn't a tragic backstory after all,' Asher thought to himself, mildly disappointed. He had half expected some dramatic tale of betrayal or hardship.

"It seems you've been living a rather happy life, Vice Commander Cassandra," Asher said with a smirk.

"Well, I can't deny that," she replied lightly. "Possessing this level of talent and being born into a loving family, such fortune is rare."

Asher let out a small chuckle, then asked, "At what age did you join Wargrave?"

"I joined when I was twenty," she answered. "In noble families of our level, it's common to pass down the noble title early. That way, the heir gains experience in managing the territory early on while the former head advises from the sidelines."

Asher nodded again, fully understanding her point. But he didn't ask any more questions. Instead, he shut his window, leaned back against the cushioned seat, and closed his eyes.

He waited patiently for the journey to end, their next destination, The Orchid Auction House, drawing ever closer with each turn of the carriage wheel.