Chapter 8: The Serf

He was just one of the ordinary fourteen hundred million, possessing a title that sounded awe-inspiring but was, in truth, a social outcast with nothing in this new world.

His country did not exist on this continent, nor even among the stars above it.

Perhaps he could fool the villagers of Guolan Village, who had never left their hamlet, but facing a lord like Hughes, who had seen much of the world, he would likely be exposed at once.

At that point, he would only drag Anliya and the others into punishment from the furious lord.

Thinking of this, Xia Mingyu made his decision.

“I’m sorry, Anliya.”

He spoke calmly, then ignored the golden-haired girl’s pleading face and walked straight back into his room.

If you cannot do something, never promise it in the first place—otherwise, you only mislead the one who trusted you, pushing things toward a fate worse than failure.

In a wooden hut at the village’s edge, built from logs and thatch.

“Is that so? The prince refused?”

Hearing his daughter’s answer, Robert, the village chief, collapsed to the ground as if all his strength had been drained.

“Father, Father!”

Seeing this, Anliya hurriedly helped him onto a chair and quickly brought him a bowl of clear water.

“Are you all right?”

The girl stared anxiously at her adoptive father, whose face remained as pale as paper after drinking the water, her blue eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

“I’m fine—it’s just an old ailment. When I get nervous, I get headaches. I’ll rest a bit and be better.”

Robert exhaled a long, heavy breath and smiled reassuringly.

But his weak voice and bloodshot eyes betrayed that he was merely forcing himself to hold on.

Anliya fell silent. She did not expose his lie, but her guilt deepened.

Her adoptive father had once been in excellent health—otherwise, he could never have become village chief.

But when she was six, she climbed to the very top of the orchard out of playfulness, got stuck, and cried uncontrollably. In trying to save her, he fell from the height and shattered his head; since then, his health had steadily declined, and whenever the weather turned bad, his headaches became unbearable.

“I’m sorry, Father. If it weren’t for me dragging you down, you’d be far happier than you are now!”

Unable to bear the torment inside her, Anliya knelt on the ground. Her eyes and nose turned red, warm tears wet her cheeks, and her voice grew choked.

“Stand up, my daughter. You have never been my burden—you are Heaven’s gift to me.”

“You owe me nothing. On the contrary, I owe you thanks—for the beautiful memories you’ve given me, as vivid as if they happened yesterday, my life has become whole.”

Robert bent down and gently stroked the girl’s silken golden hair, his weathered face filled with tenderness.

“But… but I’ve disappointed you. I couldn’t move the prince.”

Anliya lifted her tear-filled face, her beautiful blue eyes brimming with self-reproach.

“It was such a small thing for him, yet he still…”

“Enough, Anliya!” Her once-kind father suddenly snapped, his tone stern.

The girl was startled, unsure what to do.

“We must not resent others because they refused to help us.”

“After all, they owe us nothing.”

“Even when we offer help, it comes from our own kindness—not to demand repayment.”

“All will be judged by the gods.”

Robert said solemnly.

He did not want his daughter to become narrow-minded, for as a destitute serf, kindness was the greatest wealth he could leave her.

“I will remember your teachings, Father.”

Anliya wiped the tears from her eyes, her delicate, flower-like face gradually hardening with resolve.

“But no matter what, no matter the means, I will never stand by and watch everyone become slaves to be abused at will.”

Anliya declared firmly.

“You’re right—we shouldn’t force the prince to help us. So… I will give him a gift he cannot refuse.”

Anliya bit her lip, a flash of determination in her eyes.

Yet her hands unconsciously crossed before her, fingers twisting the hem of her dress, betraying her inner turmoil and unease.

A father knows his child best. Seeing this, Robert instantly guessed what his daughter—more beautiful than any noble lady—intended to do.

“No, you cannot…”

“Father, this is my own choice!”

Robert tried to stop her, but Anliya shook her head firmly.

He opened his mouth, wanting to roar like a proper father and forbid it—but then he thought of the faces that trusted him, his lips moved, yet no sound came out.

In the end, Robert could only let out a long, hollow sigh, heavy with all his helplessness.

“My daughter, I’m sorry my daughter’s father is only a humble serf,” Robert bowed his head, his face filled with shame.

“But I am proud to be the daughter of a serf,” Anliya said calmly.

Hearing this, Robert trembled. He forced back the tears threatening to spill, then turned and walked back into the room.

As a father, to weep before his child would be laughable.

Moments later, composed and calm, he emerged carrying an old but spotlessly clean wooden box, and handed it to Anliya.

“Open it,” Robert said gravely.

The girl, curious, gently lifted the lid. Inside lay a neatly folded blue dress.

Anliya’s expression turned utterly astonished.

“Do you remember it? When you were thirteen, a traveling merchant came to the village. You set your eyes on this dress immediately, cried and threw tantrums, even went on a hunger strike to make me buy it for you.”

“You said if you lost it, your whole life would have no dreams. You called it your one and only act of selfishness, and said the village had a bountiful harvest this year—I could afford it.” Robert spoke softly.

“But Father, didn’t you refuse me outright then? Even when I fainted from hunger?” The girl looked at her adoptive father with confusion.

“I refused you because I am only a serf. As a child, you will want many more things in life, but I cannot give them to you—so I denied your whim.”

“But I kept it because, though I am only a serf, I still love you.”

Robert smiled warmly, his wrinkles seeming to soften with the tenderness of his expression.

The sight made Anliya’s eyes sting.

“I meant to give it to you as a surprise on your wedding day, but now… clearly you need it more than ever.”

“My daughter, even in life’s ugliest moments, hold onto your humility and kindness—and a little bit of beauty.”

“Go on. Like the ballads of the minstrels say—charm that noble prince into falling for you.”

Robert pretended to be carefree, but tears streamed down his face without end.

(End of Chapter)