The Rich Cultivator
Chapter 164 - 163. Evergreen

Chapter 164: 163. Evergreen

A gentle breeze swept across the village nestled on the outskirts of the Rosefall Kingdom. The sun bathed the fields and cottages in golden light, casting long shadows as the day meandered into late afternoon. The tranquility of the scene contrasted sharply with the peals of innocent laughter echoing from a group of children playing in the village square. They were engaged in a spirited game of hide and seek, their playful shouts filling the air as they darted around hay bales and between wooden fences.

At the edge of the square, just outside the boundary of their game, a small figure stood, quietly observing. A little girl, no more than six years old, with golden hair cascading down her back, stood watching the other children. Her large, sky-blue eyes sparkled with curiosity, while her face—perfectly framed with soft, cherubic features—radiated an ethereal charm that seemed almost out of place amidst the rustic backdrop of the village.

Her name was Astrid. A princess, though the villagers knew her only as the niece of a reclusive nobleman who lived on the outskirts. She had spent most of her short life surrounded by luxury, catered to by servants, and adored by her family. But despite the love showered upon her, there was something magnetic about the carefree laughter of the children that intrigued her. For a moment, she considered approaching them, perhaps even joining in their game. But before she could make a decision, a loud voice called her name.

"Astrid!"

It was one of the house servants, beckoning her back toward the estate. With a final glance at the children, she turned and skipped back toward the grand mansion at the far edge of the village.

---

Astrid arrived at her uncle’s mansion, a large, elegant estate that contrasted with the simple homes of the village. As soon as she stepped through the gate, servants greeted her warmly. The mansion’s grand halls echoed with voices—staff bustling about, all of whom doted on her endlessly. Today, however, she had one specific request on her mind.

"Uncle, I want fireworks!" she declared as she found her way into her uncle’s study.

Her uncle, a kind man with silver hair and a warm, gentle demeanor, looked up from the stack of papers in front of him. His laugh rumbled through the room as he indulged her whim. Within moments, the mansion’s courtyard was filled with a display of colorful fireworks. Vibrant blues, greens, and reds exploded in the sky, painting the late afternoon with brilliant light.

The children from the village square, who had been playing their game of hide and seek, saw the display and ran towards the source of the fireworks. Their awe-struck eyes followed the dazzling patterns in the sky as they approached the gates of the mansion. Standing just inside, they could see Astrid, the little angelic girl, giggling and clapping her hands in delight.

Her uncle, seeing the children, ordered the gates to be opened. "Let them in," he said with a smile, deciding to share the joy with the village children. As the children hesitantly entered, Astrid spotted them and grinned mischievously.

With a quick flick of her wrist, she tossed a lit firecracker—a long, winding 1000-wala—right in their direction. The kids’ eyes widened in horror as the crackling explosion erupted, sending them screaming and running in all directions. Astrid’s laughter rang out, as innocent and melodic as it was mischievous, as she watched them flee in terror.

Her uncle, however, did not share her amusement. He reprimanded her sternly for her actions, reminding her that being a princess came with responsibilities, not just privileges.

"Astrid, scaring the village children isn’t right. You have to be kind to everyone, not just play with them when it suits you. Remember that," her uncle said, sitting her down for what felt like a lengthy lecture on the importance of empathy and fairness.

Though Astrid listened attentively, nodding with wide eyes and a seemingly contrite expression, the lesson didn’t seem to stick. By the next day, she was back to her usual, carefree self.

---

The next morning, Astrid ventured outside the mansion’s gates once again. She wandered the village streets, occasionally catching glimpses of the same children she had scared the day before. This time, she recalled her uncle’s words—specifically his advice to play nicely with the village children.

While exploring, her eyes fell upon a young boy with tousled brown hair and a mischievous charm of his own. He stood at the edge of a group of children but didn’t seem to be playing along with them. Curious, Astrid approached.

"Hey... boy... I wanna play too," Astrid said, her voice laced with a royal command that made it clear she wasn’t used to being told no.

The boy stood there, staring at her in stunned silence. His brown eyes widened as if he had just laid eyes on a real angel.

"H-Hello?" Astrid waved her hand in front of his face, snapping him out of his trance.

"Oh! Uh... hi. I’m Lutz," the boy stammered, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

Astrid smiled, her earlier royal demeanor melting away. "I’m Astrid. Let’s play hide and seek!"

Before Lutz could respond, Astrid grabbed his hand and led him toward the other children. They agreed to play, though the game turned out to be far from fair.

Whenever it was Astrid’s turn to be the seeker, the children couldn’t help but give themselves away. The moment her eyes landed on them, her smile—innocent, pure, and far too adorable—would send them into a daze. Even those who had hidden themselves perfectly found themselves walking out into the open, entranced by her angelic charm.

Later, during a game of tag, Astrid managed to win again and again, using her charm to distract anyone who came too close to tagging her. Whenever one of the children would chase her, she would put on a look of feigned sadness, her eyes growing wide and teary. The sight was enough to stop anyone in their tracks, too mesmerized by her cuteness to continue the chase.

"It’s not fair," one of the girls finally complained, crossing her arms.

Lutz, standing beside Astrid, couldn’t help but laugh. He turned the girl’s head back toward Astrid, who flashed another dazzling smile. The girl’s expression melted, her complaint forgotten. Lutz turned her head back and forth, watching as she alternated between looking dazed and then normal again.

The forest near the village was filled with the sounds of rustling leaves and birdsong as Lutz and Astrid ventured deeper into the woods. The sunlight filtered through the dense canopy above, casting playful shadows on the ground as the two children walked hand in hand, excitement sparkling in their eyes.

"I’ve seen it before! It only blooms around this time of year, the pink flower," Lutz explained enthusiastically. "It’s so cute."

Astrid, curious but skeptical, raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure it’s here, Lutz? It sounds too magical."

"It’s real! I swear I saw pink flowers falling like snow. It’s called... chakra or sakra... something like that," Lutz said, scratching his head, clearly trying to remember the exact name.

The two shadowy figures following them from a distance exchanged glances. One of the bodyguards whispered to the other, "Should we stop them from going into the forest?"

"As long as we keep an eye on them, it should be fine. We’ll bring them back at dusk," the other replied.

Soon enough, Lutz and Astrid arrived at the foot of a towering, ancient tree with wide, sprawling branches that stretched toward the sky.

"Hmph," Astrid pouted, folding her arms in frustration. "There’s no pink flower here. You liar, Lutz."

"I’m not lying!" Lutz protested. "I saw it! The flowers were falling, like snow. It’s called... um... Sakura, yes! That’s the name!"

The bodyguards hidden in the shadows stiffened at the name. One whispered, confused, "A Sakura tree? How could one grow here? That’s impossible..."

But before anyone could question further, their senses sharpened. Danger approached. The bodyguards instantly appeared beside the children, grabbing them and pulling them close.

"Run!" one of them shouted.

From the shadows of the trees, a cloaked figure emerged, his form obscured but his intent clear.

"Do you think you can run?" the cloaked man taunted, his voice dripping with malice.

Without hesitation, one bodyguard drew his sword, while the other hoisted Lutz and Astrid into her arms and bolted into the depths of the forest.

The sounds of clashing steel rang out behind them as the bodyguard fought to protect the children. But their safety was short-lived. A sudden whistle split the air, and the bodyguard carrying the children stumbled, an arrow embedded in her leg. She cried out in pain but made sure to place the children carefully on the ground before collapsing.

"We’re surrounded," she muttered through gritted teeth, as three more attackers emerged from the trees.

The injured bodyguard tore the arrow from her leg and tied a cloth around the wound before gripping her staff, determined to defend the children. Her fellow guard, still engaged in battle, quickly joined her. The two fought side by side, fending off the bandits with expert skill. But even amidst the chaos, something was terribly wrong.

Suddenly, with one swift strike, the guard wielding the sword turned on his partner. The blow was fatal, and the wounded bodyguard fell to the ground, lifeless.

Lutz and Astrid watched in horror as the betrayal unfolded before them. The guard who had once been Astrid’s protector now sneered at them.

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