Chapter 8
He was only one ordinary person among 1.4 billion people.
He possessed an Identity Blessing that sounded incredibly impressive, but in reality, in this new world, he was nothing more than a complete outsider with absolutely nothing.
His country did not exist anywhere on this continent.
In fact, it did not even exist beneath the same stars as this world.
Maybe he could fool the villagers of Fruit Basket Village, who had never left their village before.
But against a knowledgeable lord like Viscount Hughes, his lie would probably be exposed very easily.
And when that happened, he might even drag Anliya and the others into trouble, causing them to be punished by the furious lord.
Thinking of this, Xia Mingyu made his decision.
“Anliya, I’m tired.”
He spoke calmly.
Then, ignoring the pleading expression on the blonde girl’s face, he turned around and walked straight back into his room.
If something was impossible to accomplish, then it was better not to promise it in the first place.
Otherwise, the person who received that promise would form false expectations, and things might end up even worse than simple failure.
...
At the edge of the village stood a wooden house built from logs and thatch.
“Is that so? His Highness refused...”
After hearing his daughter’s answer, Robert, the village chief, seemed to lose all the strength in his body.
He suddenly collapsed onto the floor.
“Father! Father!”
Seeing this, Anliya hurriedly helped him onto a chair and quickly brought him a bowl of clean water.
“Are you all right?”
The girl looked worriedly at her adoptive father.
Even after drinking the water, his face remained as pale as paper.
Tears faintly shimmered in her beautiful blue eyes.
“I’m fine. It’s an old problem. Whenever I get too nervous, my head starts hurting. I’ll be fine after resting for a while.”
Robert let out a long breath and smiled reassuringly.
However, his weak voice and bloodshot eyes made it clear that he was merely forcing himself to endure.
Anliya fell silent.
She did not expose her adoptive father’s lie.
Instead, the guilt in her heart only grew stronger.
Her adoptive father had once been very healthy.
Otherwise, he never would have been able to become the village chief.
However, when Anliya was six years old, she had climbed to the highest part of the fruit orchard while playing.
When she realized she could not get down, she became frightened and started crying loudly.
Her adoptive father had rushed up to save her, but accidentally fell from a high place and struck his head.
Ever since then, his health had continued to decline.
Whenever the weather turned bad, he would suffer headaches so severe that it felt as though his skull were splitting apart.
“I’m sorry, Father. If I hadn’t been such a burden to you, you would definitely be much happier than you are now!”
Unable to endure the torment in her heart any longer, Anliya dropped to her knees.
Her eyes and the tip of her nose gradually turned red.
Warm tears rolled down her cheeks, and even her voice became choked with emotion.
Robert bent down and gently stroked the girl’s silky blonde hair.
His weathered face was filled with affection.
“Get up, my daughter.”
“You have never been a burden to me. You are a gift that heaven gave me.”
“You have never owed me anything.”
“If anything, I should be thanking you. Because you gave me those wonderful memories that still feel as though they happened only yesterday, my life became complete.”
Anliya raised her tear-filled face.
Her beautiful blue eyes were full of guilt.
“But... but I failed your expectations. I couldn’t convince His Highness.”
[This book was first published on 101 Reading Network. A complete collection is available at 101kks.com, providing chapters without errors or disorder.]
“It was clearly only a tiny matter for His Highness, but even so, he still...”
“Enough, Anliya!”
Her adoptive father, who had been gentle only moments ago, suddenly became serious and shouted sternly.
The sudden change startled the girl.
Robert looked at her solemnly.
“We cannot resent someone simply because they chose not to extend a helping hand.”
“After all, other people do not owe us anything.”
“Even if we once helped them, that was because of our own kindness, not because we expected something in return.”
“The gods will judge everything in the end.”
Robert spoke in a deep voice.
He did not want his daughter to become narrow-minded or resentful.
He was only a serf who owned nothing.
Kindness was the greatest wealth he could leave behind for his daughter.
Anliya wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Her delicate face, like a flower bud just beginning to bloom, gradually became firm and determined.
“I will remember your teachings, Father.”
Then her expression hardened.
“But no matter what happens, and no matter what method I have to use, I will never stand by and watch everyone become slaves who can be humiliated and abused whenever others please.”
Anliya spoke with absolute determination.
