Reborn, Its Time To Save My Family And.. My Enemy!
Chapter 195: Manipulation.

Chapter 195: Manipulation.

"Where is Olivia?" he asked, voice low but sharp.

Abi looked up, startled, exchanging a glance with Leo. It was Leo who answered carefully, "She left with Cyan. They needed more herbs to finish the project."

For a heartbeat, Damon simply stood there, not moving. Then, slowly, his jaw tightened, a dark storm gathering behind his calm face. Without another word, he turned on his heel and left.

He found Shaya in the corridor, arms folded, standing near the stairwell as if she had been waiting.

"You knew," he said coldly. "You let her leave."

Shaya lifted a shoulder in a half-hearted shrug. "You do not tell me everything, my lord," she said lightly. "Why should I feel the need to oblige?"

The breath Damon exhaled was sharp, almost a growl. "You know the dangers that lurk outside the walls. You know—"

"I know enough," she interrupted, her tone sharpening. "More than you seem to trust me with." Her gaze was steady, unforgiving. "You chose your secrets, Damon. Olivia chose her own path today."

He stared at her for a long, tense moment, the muscles in his jaw working furiously. A thousand warnings, a thousand fears churned inside him, but he said none of them.

Damon turned sharply and stalked away, ignoring the flare of pain that rippled through his side. He couldn’t show weakness. The vassals were waiting for him before he could leave the manor to go and find her.

"Your grace." five of them were there. They stood up all at once as they stared at him. "We are here to congratulate you on your new post.. And.."

"And reap the benefits now?" he raised a brow, looking at them coldly. They looked away with embarrassment but did not deny him.

Damon laughed softly but his mocking gaze did not go unnoticed by them. He walked and sat on his seat.

"Baron Moore! You have embezzled the amount given to make new orphanages in your territory. I promised to correct it. Yes?" the man nodded with eager eyes.

"Yes, I have already counted. It would only take fifty thousand golden coins. As long as you give them to me.."

"Why would I give them to you?" Damon asked, cutting the main in the middle. The man frowned and looked at Damon uneasily.

"That was that amount you have embezzled from the orphanages. The amount should have gone to them in the first place. Since you took it, I returned it to the orphanages. You can visit them and confirm. They have already used the sum wisely and prepared for the upcoming winter." he smiled smugly. The baron could feel it in his bones that he was fooled.

He had already spent a good amount in the gambling house thinking that he was going to earn a fortune. But now..

"Do you have any complaints, Baron Moore?" The man did not dare to speak when challenged. He bowed his head and took a step back, yet his hatred for Damon grew.

Damon’s gaze swept over the remaining four vassals seated before him. each man shifting uncomfortably under his scrutiny.

He turned his attention to Lord Harren of Eastmoor. "Lord Harren," he began, his voice steady, "you petitioned for additional grain stores to support your people through the winter."

Harren nodded eagerly. "Yes, Your Grace. The harvest was poor, and our reserves are low."

"I’ve already dispatched shipments from our central granaries," Damon replied. "They should arrive within the week."

A flicker of surprise crossed Harren’s face, his smile widening. "Of course, Your Grace. Thank you."

"But... we do not want to trouble you since you already have so many tasks in his hands. My men would distribute the grains in the plaza. They will personally check that each family would receive equal proportion depending on the size of their family and no one would embezzle it. I am sure you would be relieved that such a difficult task had been taken from you. Right?" the man flinched.

He had enough grains. He had asked for more since he was worried Damon would not offer a bribe. He was going to sell all the grains he had collected in the neighboring land and earn himself a fortune.

But if the grain was distributed to the public. It would be impossible to take it back. Or.. he could threaten them. His eyes flickered when Damon smirked.

"And to make sure my men did not make a mistake. Your and my men would make a panel where anyone could come and complain about their grievances. In that way, we will be assured that the work is fair. You do not need me, thank you." The man looked pale with horror.

What if someone told Damon that they did not grain in the first place. No, he must return and make sure that his people would not create a scene.

"I.. Thank you, your grace. I must return and make the necessary preparations then." he did not even wait to see what happened with the other three.

Next, Damon addressed Lady Elira of Windemere. "Lady Elira, your request for funds to repair the flood-damaged bridges was noted."

She inclined her head. "Indeed, Your Grace. The floods have isolated several villages. But my lord. If you send your men, my men would not get work and stay unemployed. While your men would suffer from overflow of work.

If you would provide funds, I will manage it well." she assured me with a smile on her face.

Damon paused and only nodded and finally she could taste the success in her mouth.

"Then, my men would only arrange work for your men and pay them according to the job done. I will send Theodore to personally look over the whole matter so that others did not suffer.

He would keep the wealth and financial records. I am sure it would not matter, right?" she gulped. If they doubted earlier, now they were sure that Damon knew their intentions from the start.

He was only toying with them to earn his position.

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