Founder Of The Greatest Noble Family

Roland took a few days to oversee the estate and prepare the things.

After that,he took the children and his men mounting them onto a caravan while he rode on horses.

However the children became restless and wanted to ride alongside him.

As Roland's caravan gently rolled across the uneven country road, the laughter of children filled the air.

Hilda squealed with joy as she clung to the saddle horn, her tiny frame bouncing up and down on the warhorse. Beside her, Nora and Noah clung to the reins with pale faces, their excitement quickly turned to dread. Nil, the eldest, tried to keep his composure, chin raised, but Roland could clearly see his legs trembling with every step the horse took.

Roland scoffed under his breath, "Hmph. Who told you to ride horses in the first place?"

Nil and Hilda had thrown a tantrum earlier, begging to try riding. Against his better judgment, Roland had compromised. Now, shaking his head, he reached out and gestured for them to dismount.

"Alright, enough. Down you go. Back to the caravan."

There was no grand carriage—Roland hadn't brought one. Not because he couldn't afford it, but because those required master craftsmanship, and in this region, such things were rare and time-consuming. Still, as he watched his children return to the covered wagon, he made a mental note.

"I should commission a few for the women. Even if they don't travel now, who knows about the future..."

The journey continued at a comfortable pace. Roland wasn't in a hurry. Though a part of him remained anxious about the estate, he trusted Count Wellington's patrols. Surely, fate wouldn't be cruel enough to strike during a few days of absence.

But then, the calm shattered.

A group of ragged men emerged from behind the hills. They had no armor, no steel just a chaotic mix of clubs, farming tools, and sticks in hand. They rushed forward shouting incoherently.

"What the—?" Roland's brow furrowed.

Even his youngest guard, Argon, could take them out alone. They looked more like beggars than bandits.

The men halted a few feet away, eyes wide when they saw the armed escorts suddenly pull out gleaming swords from beneath their cloaks,they knew they had met knights instead of simple guards of merchants.

One of the older attackers immediately threw down his stick and raised both hands.

"S-Sir! We didn't mean any harm!"

Another stepped forward. "Our children haven't eaten in days… someone said a wealthy merchant was passing by with a few guards. We thought maybe..maybe we could loot a few sacks of grain, nothing more."

Roland narrowed his eyes. They had no real weapons, no shields, no armor—just desperation on their faces.

Behind him, Nora pointed an accusing finger.

"Bad guys! You shouldn't steal! It's a bad thing!"

Before she could continue, Noah clamped a hand over her mouth with a panicked expression while Nil grabbed Hilda who wanted to spout some righteous things.

Nil glared at them both.

"Shut up. Don't make a fool of yourself. Let father handle it."

The children stepped back, silent now. Roland remained mounted, scanning the group. Their clothes were torn and muddy, faces thin and gaunt. His heart wavered.

"Is it because of the harvest?" he asked.

That simple question broke them.

One man collapsed to his knees, tears streaming down his face. "The harvest was fine, sir… but the taxmen came and took everything."

"They said the nobles needed it to fight war for the kingdom. Left us nothing.The children are hungry and dying.We aren't lying Sir,you can even examine the younglings."

The people fell onto their knees.

Others began to sob, some cursing under their breath, others shaking with helpless rage. Roland's gaze darkened. So this is what the region had become where peasants stripped bare by corrupt officials while the nobles fattened.

He clenched the reins tightly,thinking inwardly.

'If I help them, more villages might come. Can I carry the weight of every starving family?'

He looked at his children, tucked inside the caravan, oblivious to the cruel decisions that often shaped the world.

His fingers trembled slightly.

As Roland stood before the ragged villagers men with gaunt cheeks, barefoot children clinging to their legs, and women trembling as they held back tears his heart sank.

The guards beside him remained cautious, hands resting on the hilts of their blades, but unmoving. The farmers held only sticks and rusted tools. Even Roland's steed sensed the tension and let out a huff.

And then… a voice from his past echoed in his mind. His father, stern yet kind, once stood before a group of desperate men much like these.

A voice from deep within his mind stirred.

A memory. An old one when he was still a boy.

It was the time of protest and pleas of people which irritated him.

He asked his father, why don't you just ignore them if you can't find solutions?

"You can ignore it now, but you can't ignore it throughout life... Problems are like boomerangs..the more you throw them around, the more they will return to you."

"A noble's worth is not weighed by his vaults, but by how many lives stand tall because of him. A true Lord must hoard honour and spend money for people's welfare."

Roland closed his eyes.He took a breath.

And when he opened them, the indecision had vanished.

"Where is your village head?"

Hearing this, an old man walked out and saluted.

"I am Baron Roland... not some petty guy..."

The moment they heard he was Baron, everyone fell on their knees in fear and shock.

What? He was a Baron?

He was a noble…

Did they just attacked noble

The reference version of this chapter is on M*V*LEMPYR.

It's over..They're gonna be executed..Of all people they just complained about a noble to another.

Panic offset them.

"You and some strong men accompany me to the nearby city. I will buy some ration—and don't worry, no one can harass you."

"For real."

The man's eyes widened and he was about to offer an apology when Roland raised his hand to stop him.

"I am not giving it to you for free. I am hiring you. Show me this place. I'm sure many other villages might act like you. You can calm them by sending your people. I don't want to be harassed."

The old man's eyes widened further, and he nodded.

"Yes, My Lord… we will do our best."

"Nil," Roland called calmly.

"Yes, Father."

"Give them some ration as advance payment."

Nil saluted and immediately moved to command.

The boy nodded and ran.

Roland turned to the villagers.

"I cannot change your lords. Nor can I challenge what those nobles have done… yet."

His voice was steady but carried a certain magic."But if your need is real, and your hearts are still whole,I'll not let children starve in front of my eyes."