“Father Isaiah, you have to help me! That necklace is the only memento my wife left me before she passed away—without it, I can’t go on living!” the Blacksmith pleaded bitterly, his sincerity so real that even the boy’s expression shifted.
“No need to worry. The Goddess blesses all those who suffer misfortune. If what you say is true, I will do my best to help you recover your necklace.”
Isaiah crouched down in front of the boy, bringing his tall frame level with him.
Seeing the boy’s fear, Isaiah gave him a gentle smile and said, “Don’t be afraid. I won’t do anything to you. You just need to answer truthfully—did you steal it?”
“I—I didn’t…”
“Really? If I use the Goddess’s Power right now, I will know whether you’re telling the truth. You’d best think it over carefully.”
Isaiah was well-known in the village, both as a clergyman and because the Goddess’s Power he possessed had helped many.
The boy clearly understood this as well. He stammered, terrified that Isaiah could really tell truth from lies as he claimed.
After wrestling with himself, the boy finally relented.
“I’m sorry… I lied…”
As soon as he spoke, the villagers’ gazes—Blacksmith’s included—stabbed at him like needles. If it weren’t for the priest’s presence, the Blacksmith might have lashed out already.
Isaiah reached out his hand, startling the boy, who shrank back in fear of being struck.
But Isaiah simply patted his shoulder. “You’re a good child, and Roland is a good noble. I believe she will give you a fair outcome.”
With that, Isaiah stood up, leaving the matter in Roland’s hands.
“My business here is finished. The rest is up to you, Miss Roland. If you need anything, you can find me at the Church.”
Once he left, the villagers immediately grew agitated, intent on condemning the thief now bereft of protection.
Roland frowned in displeasure. These people were acting as if she didn’t even exist.
She said coldly, “Greim.”
The knight understood at once, drawing the sword from his waist. The sound of the blade leaving its sheath instantly drew every eye.
“If you think you can deliver punishment yourself in front of your Lord, then I don’t mind letting you see the consequences of trampling the rules.”
No matter how fierce these rabble were, they couldn’t compare to a well-trained knight, let alone Greim—he could take on ten at once without breaking a sweat.
Forced by Roland’s pressure, the villagers could only swallow their anger and stand aside quietly to watch.
But the Blacksmith was clearly unwilling. He shouted, “That little brat stole my wife’s necklace! Are you just going to let him off?!”
“Since the facts are clear, I definitely won’t let you suffer a loss. But I want more than just justice in the result—I want justice in the process as well.”
Roland approached the boy and asked why he had done it. “Why did you steal from him?”
“I… I didn’t mean to… Mama Lina is gravely ill, and I wanted to buy medicine, but I couldn’t afford it…”
“Medicine? So you chose to steal from someone else?”
“I know it’s wrong… But—but I really wanted to help Lina.”
The Blacksmith spat angrily, “You say it so nicely, but in the end, you just wanted to look good! Hypocrite!”
His voice boomed like a raging rhino.
Roland shot Greim a look. At once, Greim stepped forward to separate the Blacksmith from the boy.
“Kindness is a good virtue, but that doesn’t mean you can do wrong because of it. Before we decide what happens, I have another question—did you already sell those things?”
“No… Merchant Jasper won’t be here for a few more days, so I hid everything under the backyard.”
“Alright then. As long as you return the stolen items, I can show some leniency in this case. If you don’t, I will punish you just as the villagers want.”
At the thought of being stripped naked and tied to the Thorn Cross day and night, the boy turned as pale as a sheet.
Even so, he still refused to give up the stolen goods—because this was his only hope to help Lina.
Seeing how determined he was, Roland offered an alternative. “I’ll have Isaiah treat Lina’s mother, and you return the items. Will that work?”
The boy’s timid eyes instantly lit up with courage, and even his voice grew steady. “If you really mean it, I’ll go get the things right now!”
Roland nodded. “Go ahead.”
Watching the boy’s departing figure, she turned her gaze to the Blacksmith and the other villagers, calmly speaking, “Do you think what I’m doing is unfair?”
No one dared answer—even the Blacksmith kept quiet, the knight’s sword at his throat.
But Roland seemed able to read their hearts. Their dissatisfaction, their subtle movements, all made it clear they were not buying her show of mercy.
After all, theft was nearly the worst crime in the village. Anyone who crossed that line could be beaten to death without objection.
“When you’re all thinking about how to torment a thief, why don’t you consider what you’d do if it happened to you?”
“I won’t preach at you, because I know you won’t listen. But as long as this place is under my rule, you follow my rules. If you do wrong, I won’t hang you outright—but if you seek revenge, I will punish you with the harshest law.”
“I favor no side, nor target anyone. Just live your lives honestly, and nothing will happen.”
With those last words, Roland said no more.
People can’t be taught by words—only by events, once is enough.
Her stance might seem overbearing, but if something like this happened to anyone else someday, they’d be thanking Roland before they knew it.
Not long after, the boy returned with a farm tool and the Blacksmith’s wife’s necklace in his pocket. He handed everything back and looked at Roland, full of hope that she’d keep her promise.
“I keep my word. But before that, I still have to hand down your punishment. What’s your name?”
“Julian, Miss, my name is Julian.”
“Julian, from now on, I want you to work as an assistant at this Blacksmith’s forge. Do whatever reasonable tasks he asks, until you earn his forgiveness.”
Roland looked at the Blacksmith again. Now that he had his necklace back, he seemed less violent, but he was still quite unwilling.
To deal with such stubborn commoners, nothing worked better than their faith—and in this world, the people all worship the Hope Goddess.
“Blacksmith, what is your name?”
“Lukas.”
“There is a passage in the Church of Light’s doctrine: The Goddess could not bear to see endless suffering in the world, so she sent a Divine Envoy, pouring down endless milk and honey. Yet mortals fought for food. If you truly have faith in the Hope Goddess, what do you think She would do? Withdraw Her gifts, or command the Divine Envoy to punish mortals?”
Lukas’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and after hesitating, he replied, “She… would forgive the ignorant and grant them another chance.”
“Since you understand, I need say no more. Even for the sake of your faith, you must have a forgiving heart. Remember how my father once treated you all with kindness.”
“Sebas, Greim, let’s go.”
Watching his lady’s back, Sebas felt as though he saw another Sun rising.
She was not overly lenient or stubborn like her father. Instead, she possessed the dignity, kindness, and wisdom a Lord should have.
Perhaps… she would do even better.