I cannot bear to see people suffer.
Shafully, I used to pay little attention to how mortals lived. The identities of the Sunbird and Prince rendered my life extrely dull, and the very thought of a mortal’s life seed tedious. It wasn’t out of disdain that I rarely looked at them directly but simply out of indifference.
Until one day, driven by extre boredom, I left the Imperial Capital and ca to a small town on the surrounding plains, much like a child observing ants, curious to see the life of ordinary people.
After all, these ordinary people were referred to by my grandfather as his subjects, whom he cared for the most; they were also called ignorant by my father, who was always disappointed and worried about them.
Thus, I wanted to see with my own eyes, to experience personally why these people, smaller than ants when I flew in the sky or stood on mountain tops, would occupy their hearts and minds so intensely.
I saw many things that made feel uncomfortable.
I saw a couple, the man working on a farm, cleaning manure, picking eggs, cleaning the grounds, working extrely hard, while the woman washed clothes for others all day long, her hands soaking until they turned pale, earning just enough to scrape by.
I listened to their conversations, learning that their child was studying in the Imperial Capital, where the tuition was expensive with a significant shortfall. Their child was sensible, studying diligently in the capital, but the money was never enough; they planned to find more work at a candle workshop, twisting wicks to earn a bit more for their child’s living expenses, even though their bodies seed to already at their limit, squeezing the very essence of life.
"Nothing to worry about at ho; just study well."
I saw a young man coming from elsewhere to the Great Plains, intending to strive in the Imperial Capital. He worked day and night in a quarry, laboring diligently, and had to give half of his earnings to the local gang, a quarter to the guild. He saved the ager remainder, calculating the amount he desired, his eyes reflecting the bright moon above.
"Once I’ve saved enough, I’ll go back ho to buy a piece of land!"
I also saw a young girl with younger siblings, a sick mother, and an absent father. She weaved rattan baskets to sell, skillfully pairing them with so beautiful wildflowers. Though the stall was quite exquisite, business was poor, and city guards patrolled, driving her away or even extorting her, taking away her ager earnings, leaving her empty-handed after a tiring day. She could only force a smile when returning ho.
"It’s fine... Tomorrow, I’ll find a new place to sell; luck will surely be a bit better..."
There was more.
A ssenger, running errands and delivering letters, worked hard for a week, yet his wages were withheld, and he was chased out of the village. This village had several children stolen by traffickers, now resisting the admittance of any outsiders. The cries of the parents were tornting.
Along my way, there was no threat to ’order’ or crisis jeopardizing the ’continuation of society.’ The stability of The Empire, the majesty of the royal family, would not be affected by these ’trifles’ – workers extorted despite their diligence, street vendors having their goods confiscated by city guards, minor officials abusing power... These people and events were happening in every corner of the land, overshadowed yet not newsworthy.
The children taken by traffickers were drugged and held in a secluded farmhouse. Listening to the traffickers, their buyers seed powerful, which made them fear being silenced, but the entire organization was being controlled, their families and children monitored, leaving them no choice but to comply.
Ha-ha, even villains have anxieties, serves them right.
I helped, arrested, and saved all these people.
I returned to the Imperial Capital, overseeing the issuance of scholarships at Giliel Academy and arresting a group of Education Departnt officials and academy leaders for embezzling scholarships.
I mobilized the Court of Surveillance to crack down on gangs, rigorously punishing a batch of parasites leeching off the people.
I bought all of the girl’s rattan baskets and told her that the Royal dical Academy in the Imperial Capital annually had students who provided free city clinics to practice. If she didn’t mind, I could introduce her to so doctors.
As for the traffickers, I apprehended all of them and tracked down their backer, Viscount Hank. He had secret dealings with Fiery Fla Land, conducting atrocious biological experints, urgently needing a batch of children of suitable age as test subjects, and I happened to catch him.
Judging a noble requires considerable effort, but it wasn’t a big deal for . In any case, the ssenger got his money, and the parents who lost their children rejoiced.
I’m pleased I could help many people solve their problems. Although creating such a commotion wasn’t my intention, at least everyone was happy, and my discomforted heart found relief.
My father did not praise but implicitly consented to my actions. My mother encouraged but cautioned not to act so on my own next ti. My older brother looked at with peculiar eyes, my older sister remained indifferent, while my other siblings either gazed at with admiration or showed indifference.
"Let him do it," said my father, "This is his mission."
I truly cannot bear to see people suffer, but on my second journey away, I still saw many scattered sorrows and hardships.
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