Chapter 16: All Are Whispers of Demons

Helena was actually standing in front of him.

Leo felt somewhat dazed. It was difficult for him to imagine that the person standing before him, shielding him from the knights, was the girl he had once rescued.

He still remembered Helena's helpless gaze when he barged into the old nun’s room.

This frail girl, even knowing how limited her strength was, still chose to stand before Leo.

Yet, her courage would go unnoticed by those knights.

A nun?

Staring at Helena, the two young knights were momentarily stunned, then turned to await orders from their leader.

But they were unaware that their leader was just as perplexed.

How could a nun appear here? According to his memory, there wasn’t even a convent in this area. Besides, Chanonza was barely more than a speck on the map—what business would a nun have here? Was she here to preach to these clueless townsfolk?

If that was the case, this nun was very likely a fake.

The leader nodded, as if making up his mind, and waved his hand again.

“Seize her first!”

Receiving their superior’s command, the young knights immediately turned back, reaching out to restrain Helena.

Helena didn’t even have the chance to resist; she was subdued by the two burly men without effort.

Her strength was far too feeble—the knights hardly exerted themselves to overpower her.

“Bring this girl over here, let me see if she’s still a virgin!”

The lead knight insulted Helena, questioning her identity as a nun.

Leo could no longer endure it.

He strode to the ox cart by the wood pile, drew a longsword from it, and tossed the scabbard to the ground.

Ever since arriving in this world, Leo had never suffered such humiliation.

“Hey, hey, what are you doing?!”

The lead knight, seeing Leo’s actions, immediately grew tense. At his shout, the two knights holding Helena turned, watching as Leo approached with a fierce air, sword in hand.

Without hesitation, they released Helena and drew their own swords from their belts, ready to physically suppress this lawless troublemaker.

At that moment, a furious roar erupted from behind them.

“Stop right there!”

The rough shout froze the knights in their tracks, making them dare not move.

Leo stepped forward, kicked over one of the young knights, helped Helena up from the ground, and brushed the dust from her skirt.

“No, no, sir, he attacked one of ours!” the lead knight protested, looking towards the source of the voice, his shrill tone full of displeasure.

“Attacked? I’d say you’re blind!” Alberto rode up beside the knight, dismounted, and yanked him down with force. The knight barely had time to react before he hit the ground, coughing as dust swirled around him.

A fist the size of a sandbag crashed into his face, one blow after another, leaving the younger knights stunned.

After delivering a few punches, Alberto finally let go, his anger still visible.

He turned to the two young knights.

Seeing Alberto’s gaze, the young knights didn’t dare protest, lowered their heads, and slunk away from Leo, leaving only Leo and Helena behind.

Alberto, breathing heavily, walked up to Leo.

“Are you hurt?” He sized Leo up.

“I’m fine, but she…”

“What about her? Sir Leo, how does it feel to be driven to anger for a lady?”

As Leo supported Helena, Matilda appeared, her presence serene. She wore a wine-red gown, the chaperone gracefully draped over her shoulders, sitting sideways atop a tall white horse. Golden embroidered boots peeked from beneath her skirt, resting on an exquisitely crafted side saddle.

Her tone was languid, as if she had just enjoyed a fine spectacle. Yet Leo sensed a subtle trace of melancholy in her words.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, Your Highness.”

Leo promptly bowed to Matilda, avoiding a direct response.

Matilda glanced at Helena, her brows knitting slightly before relaxing as she turned to Leo.

“Come here, Sir Leo, help me down from the horse.”

For some reason, Helena kept her head lowered, unwilling to meet Matilda’s gaze.

Perhaps it was a woman’s intuition that made her sense Matilda’s hostility.

Leo, unable to attend to Helena, went to Matilda’s side and offered his hand.

Matilda drew her legs together and dismounted with practiced ease.

The knight who had just been beaten got up, dazed, and seeing the duchess nearby, thought it was his chance to complain.

“Your Grace, he’s been selling goods in the town!”

The knight clutched his face and pointed at Leo.

“Him?” Matilda’s voice was puzzled. “What harm is there in him selling things?”

“But—that’s clearly against the law! Your Grace!” The knight was so anxious he nearly stamped his feet.

He couldn’t understand why the usually just and strict duchess seemed utterly indifferent.

Listening to his protest, Matilda nodded thoughtfully.

“You’re right, so from today onward, Sir Leo may freely buy and sell goods within my domain. Now it’s not illegal.”

The knight’s eyes widened.

The duchess was blatantly taking sides!

He had been beaten for nothing, humiliated before his peers, and now the duchess was favoring the outsider.

A nameless fury welled up inside him.

“Your Grace, I’ve always respected you, but why do you support him—?”

“I think you’ve eaten too much bread and it’s muddled your mind!” Alberto landed another punch on the knight. “He’s the pontifical envoy! The one who helped the duchess repel Vittorio! You fool, stop disgracing her!”

The knight had been resentful, but upon hearing Leo’s title, his anger instantly dissipated.

Who didn’t know that the duchess had a powerful, fire-loving pontifical envoy in her ranks?

With both ecclesiastical backing and the duchess’s support, he was not someone the knight dared provoke.

“Sir Leo, you needn’t pursue his mistake,” Matilda interjected. “He was only enforcing the law; I’m sure you can understand.”

“Of course, Your Grace,” Leo replied.

Now, Leo felt he had no choice but to comply with Matilda. Whatever she said was law; he dared not let her speak to him again in that melancholy tone.

Matilda’s satisfaction at her successful maneuver was barely perceptible.

She waved her hand, ordering the knights to leave, a faint smile touching her lips.

The balance of mercy and authority was a skill every ruler must learn.

Suddenly, she turned and said, “By the way, Sir Leo, what are you planning to do with all this wood you’re selling?”

“To raise funds.”

Leo answered briefly, then recounted his recent experiences.

“I hope to purchase some grain to get through the winter, but since I have no money, I had to resort to this.”

“I see…”

Matilda pondered for a moment, then said, “It’s my oversight, Sir Leo. I should have thought of this as your liege and provided you with funds. My failure to do so was neglectful. I’ll make it up to you.”

Leo was startled by her words, unsure of her intent.

“As your liege, it was my duty to consider such things. I’ll compensate you for the oversight.”

So that’s it, Leo thought privately.

Truth be told, having a liege like Matilda was a boon for most vassals.

A leader capable of self-reflection far surpassed her peers.

“Also, I’ll buy all your wood and distribute it to the townsfolk of Chanonza in my name.”

With a grand gesture, Matilda took all the wood Leo had brought, planning to use it to bolster her political reputation.

To craft an image of generosity greatly aided her rule. As a female ruler, she had to display virtues beyond the ordinary to earn respect.

In this, Matilda seemed remarkably astute.

“And one more thing, Sir Leo.”

Her words shifted back to Leo, making him slightly nervous.

“If you’re buying grain, you’ll need to go to Parma, won’t you? Then accompany me to Parma, will you?”

“Well…”

Leo hesitated.

His original plan had been to delegate the purchase to Carlo and return to Corezzola after selling his goods in Chanonza.

But Matilda would not allow him to refuse.

“If you don’t accompany me, those compensations will be difficult to deliver, Sir Leo,” Matilda said, her tone playful.

“I never said I was unwilling, Your Highness. It’s an honor to travel with you.”

At the mention of money, Leo’s gaze instantly cleared.

The notion of returning home? That was just the whisper of demons—not his true intention.

“Good, then. Just as well, I’ll need you to make an appearance in Parma.”

Need him?