The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 256: A Prestigious And Kind Knight (I)

Chapter 256: A Prestigious And Kind Knight (I)

"What now? I already paid him, and the matter is already resolved!" the horse owner looked at Drystan with an unsatisfied expression.

"That matter is resolved indeed. However, you still owe to the horse. You mistreated her, and to be precise, you whipped a pregnant mare," said the knight.

"What are you trying to say? I own her! I can treat her whatever I choose!"

"No! Whether you own them or not, you should never engage in animal abuse! They can feel pain and have emotions, too. Even though the law does not specifically address this, it is common sense that everyone should possess," Drystan said.

"I am a businessman! If my horse cannot work, my entire business suffers! She would be useless to me! I need her to work to generate profit!" the horse owner protested vehemently.

"You have already complained about her disobedience and called her useless. Even if you take her back now, she will likely continue to cause trouble and tantrums," Drystan calmly pointed out.

"She’s pregnant. Once the foal is born, I can sell it and make a profit. That could compensate for my losses," the horse owner said confidently.

Drystan shook his head.

"The foal needs to be weaned before you can sell it."

"That’s my business, not yours!" the horse owner retorted defensively this time.

The knight felt his anger rise, but he knew he couldn’t forcibly prevent the man from making decisions as the mare belonged to him. He let out a sigh.

"Fine then. Sell her to me," Drystan suggested.

"What? You want this stup*d horse?" the horse owner asked, surprised by the proposition.

"She’s not stup*d! Now, name your price!" the knight urged.

"Since she’s pregnant, it won’t be cheap, you know," the horse owner smirked insincerely.

"I am not here to haggle. Tell me how much you want," Drystan’s tone grew more demanding.

"Fine! I want five hundred Doras!" the man shouted, driven by greed.

"A grown horse’s standard price is typically around two hundred Doras, and a foal would be half of that," Drystan stated, as he knew the prices of horses in the market well. "Considering this mare is of a common breed, you are asking for double the usual rate."

"You said to name a price and won’t haggle!" countered the horse owner.

"I did. I’m just stating. Since I have demanded so, I will adhere to the offer."

With that, Drystan reached into his money pouch and handed the agreed-upon amount to the horse owner. The man’s face lit up with a broad, delighted grin as he counted the money. Satisfied with the transaction, he left happily.

Whispers began to circulate among those present as they saw the occurring event. Their eyes and murmurs revealed contempt for the avaricious actions of the horse owner. They saw that he had no concern for the mare’s welfare or the health of her pregnant foal.

The people were happy and relieved when the knight seized the chance to protect the mare from further mistreatment and brutality. Their respect for him grew even more because of his empathy and readiness to intervene.

The knight, being the new owner of the mare, gently pulled on the reins, leading her to a nearby pole where he securely tied her. As he patted her back tenderly, he spoke reassuringly, "I’ll be back for you." The horse responded with a soft neigh as if understanding his words.

Turning his attention to the stall owner, who was busy clearing the debris, Drystan approached him with a helpful demeanour.

"Let me assist you," he offered, rolling up his sleeves and starting to help with the cleanup.

"Thank you, Sir Knight. Your kindness is greatly appreciated," the stall owner expressed his gratitude.

"It’s not a big deal. After all, it is a knight’s duty to uphold chivalry," Drystan replied with a warm smile.

The onlookers, now witnessing the honourable knight willingly lending a hand to a man from the common class, felt their spirits lift at the heartening scene.

"We’ll help too!" one of them exclaimed, stepping forward to assist.

"We have extra canvas and stands that you can use to erect a new stall. We can lend them to you," offered one of the neighbouring stall owners who had already opened their business for the day.

"I have ropes and hooks over here," another person chimed in.

"I can contribute a table and stools!" shouted another enthusiastic helper.

Inspired by Drystan’s act of kindness, the crowd began working together. Each person brought forth items and gadgets that could be used to rebuild the stall.

With everyone’s combined effort, the damaged items were swiftly collected and set aside, making way for the establishment of a new, sturdier stall.

The goods to be sold were thoughtfully and neatly arranged on the stall, showcasing a variety of fruit products, such as jams, pickles, dried fruits, and fresh ones.

The stall owner, overwhelmed with gratitude, expressed his thanks to Drystan and the others who had lent their helping hands.

As the work was completed and the stall owner’s livelihood was restored, the crowd gradually dispersed, their expression of fulfilment evident on their faces.

They had come together, united by compassion and a desire to make a positive difference. It was a small but meaningful act of solidarity, leaving behind a sense of community and hope.

As Drystan turned his attention towards the mare he had purchased, he noticed a woman standing nearby, gently rubbing the horse’s neck with a warm smile on her face. The mare seemed to revel in the attention, playfully nudging her head for more, eliciting laughter from the woman.

Noticing them, the stall owner stepped forward, a hint of apology in his voice.

"Forgive me, Sir Knight. The woman playing with your mare is my wife. She has always had a deep fondness for horses. We used to own one but had to sell it when we needed the money to start our business. I hope you don’t mind."

Drystan nodded understandingly, his gaze fixed on the stall owner’s wife as she interacted with the mare.

"She seems to have a natural affinity with animals," he acknowledged, impressed by her gentle demeanour.

The stall owner spoke with pride, "She truly does. We have cats and dogs at home as well. Despite our financial struggles, my wife couldn’t bear to see stray animals wandering without food. She always finds a way to care for them."

The knight pondered for a moment, weighing his options. Then he made a decision, a small smile forming on his lips.

"I tell you what... Why don’t you take the mare?"

The stall owner’s eyes widened in surprise.

"I’m sorry, Sir Knight! I can’t afford to buy a horse. Besides, you bought her at a high price, double the usual rate!"

Drystan shook his head, dismissing the concern.

"Who says I’m selling her to you? I’m asking you to take her," he clarified.

The stall owner stared at Drystan, his expression mixed with astonishment and disbelief.

"You must be joking! There’s no way you would be giving her to me for free!" he exclaimed.

As Drystan listened to the stall owner’s response, he chuckled and shook his head.

"Of course, it won’t be entirely free. You will need to feed her, ensure she receives proper care, and prepare for the arrival of her foal. It will require your time, money, and effort."

"Oh, Sir Knight! Do you truly mean it?" the stall owner asked, seeking confirmation.

Drystan nodded with determination.

"I do mean it. You mentioned that you had to rent a cart to transport your goods here and need to make enough money to rent another for your return journey. While a horse may be expensive for you, a cart is not. I am confident you will earn enough to buy a cart, and when you return home, you will have fewer items to transport. Having a horse would be convenient for you. She can still carry light loads, making her useful for your journey."

Overwhelmed with gratitude, the stall owner exclaimed, "This is truly remarkable! But... but... why would you simply give her to me?"

Drystan’s gaze softened, his voice filled with sincerity.

"I can see the goodness and sincerity in your wife’s actions, even without you telling me. I am confident that she will take excellent care of the mare. Besides, I already have a warhorse of my own to tend to."

The stall owner’s excitement grew, and he couldn’t contain his joy.

"My wife will be overjoyed when she hears this! Thank you so much!"

Filled with a sense of fulfilment, Drystan observed the stall owner rushing to his wife, standing beside the mare. He watched the woman’s face lit up with delight, jumping in joy and embracing her husband upon hearing the news. The knight couldn’t help but smile, pleased to have brought happiness to the couple.

Just then, Drystan’s sharp eyes caught sight of a small hand reaching behind the vacant stall, attempting to grab a piece of fruit.

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