Chapter 590: Heart Of The People

Isabelle began, her tone full of admiration.

"For one, the Young Master began constructing schools all across the estate. Not just in the main towns or large villages—but even in the smaller, forgotten ones."

"He said that education is the key to ending poverty, and that knowledge allows a person to stand on equal footing with anyone."

"So now, there are schools being built in places that didn’t even have a library before."

Maria’s face lit up instantly.

"That’s exactly what the Empress believes!" She said, delighted.

"She always said that progress begins with education. Cassius and Her Majesty are truly kindred spirits!"

Isabelle nodded.

"He does share her ideals, I suppose. And it’s not just education—he’s also built hospitals. With Lady Diana’s help, we’ve been constructing proper medical centers across the land, equipped with modern facilities."

"Even the most remote villages now have access to trained doctors. Before, people would die on the road trying to reach help—but now, they can receive treatment within minutes."

Carmela’s eyes shimmered as she listened. "So...he’s saving lives too." She murmured.

"Yes." Isabelle said, smiling tenderly. "And not only that—he’s completely redesigned the irrigation and sanitation systems."

"New canals and clean water pipelines have been built, reaching areas that once had no access to fresh water. No more endless well-digging or carrying heavy buckets from miles away."

"Every family can now draw clean water right from their own homes."

She gestured toward the distance, where the green fields shimmered under sunlight.

"You can see the results everywhere you look."

Maria’s hands were clasped together in pure awe.

"Oh my, oh my...this is incredible." She whispered. "It’s as though the blessings of the Goddess herself flow through him."

Isabelle laughed softly. "He certainly acts like he’s been chosen by one."

"And that’s not all." She continued, her voice filled with pride. "Young Master also started building small homes for the homeless—rows of little houses with gardens, where families without a roof can finally live safely."

"You won’t see beggars sleeping on the streets anymore. Everyone has a place."

Aqua’s mouth fell open. "Wait, you mean he’s housing people too?! Are you telling me my brother just casually fixes every problem that exists?!"

Isabelle smiled, holding back a laugh.

"He does what he can. And beyond that, he’s been creating new jobs—ones no one had ever heard of before."

"He even funds their training himself so people can learn new trades. No tuition, no hidden costs. He says opportunity should never depend on wealth."

"And then there’s also how he’s improving—"

But before Isabelle could continue listing accomplishments, Aqua suddenly held up both hands, laughing in disbelief.

"Stop—stop! My mind is hurting right now!"

She rubbed her temples dramatically.

"I already knew my brother was amazing and awesome, but...this?"

"He’s completely changing this place. Making it into something I don’t even recognize anymore."

"Honestly, Aqua, I agree with you." Maria said with a weary smile. "Everything Isabelle just listed are things people have fought for centuries to achieve—education, healthcare, equality, human dignity—and yet your brother is somehow doing it all at once."

"It’s so ideal it almost feels...unreal."

Even Carmela’s usual cool demeanor cracked slightly. She looked around at the town, at the bustling people and the air of genuine happiness that surrounded them.

"It feels like a dream." She admitted. "A utopia I never thought could exist outside of fiction."

But Isabelle, glowing with pride, simply giggled softly.

"Oh, don’t worry, you’re not the first to react like this. Every time I tell people what the Young Master has done, they look at me the same way—stunned, speechless, disbelieving. It’s only natural. He’s doing things no one else dares to even imagine."

Her eyes gleamed mischievously as she leaned forward slightly.

"But if you think that was shocking, then there’s one more thing I can tell you that will really blow your minds."

Aqua blinked nervously.

"Oh no. I don’t know if I can handle any more!"

She said, half-laughing, half-panicked.

"My head’s already spinning! I used to admire my brother before—but now he’s starting to look like some kind of divine being!"

Joy, however, crossed her arms and said flatly.

"Just say it."

Isabelle smirked knowingly.

"Alright then." She said, her tone suddenly carrying dramatic weight. "You’ve heard of his work on infrastructure, education, and healthcare—but there’s another thing he changed that affects every single person here..."

"...the tax system."

That instantly caught everyone’s attention.

Even Joy’s head turned slightly, her eyes narrowing.

Taxes were the lifeblood of every noble house.

To alter them was to risk everything.

Isabelle smiled slyly.

"That’s right. The fact that I’m mentioning it along with his good deeds should already tell you what happened. The Young Master didn’t increase taxes—he reduced them."

She looked at them expectantly.

"Can you guess by how much?"

Aqua immediately guessed.

"Ten percent?""

Isabelle shook her head, smiling wider.

"Twenty?" Carmela guessed.

Another shake of her head.

"T-Thirty?" Maria hesitantly said as the numbers were going too high.

Still no.

Aqua frowned, thinking. "Okay, okay—forty? I-It can’t be more than that right?"

Isabelle chuckled, still shaking her head.

"One more try." She teased.

Aqua groaned before saying in utter shock,

"You don’t mean...fifty percent, do you?!"

At that, Isabelle clapped her hands together and laughed brightly.

"Exactly right, Aqua! He reduced the tax rate by half!"

"WHAT?!"

The exclamation came from everyone at once.

Aqua gawked, Carmela nearly dropped her reins, and Maria looked like she’d forgotten how to breathe.

Even Joy spun around in disbelief, eyes wide.

Isabelle nodded proudly, absolutely beaming.

"That’s right. Fifty percent less. All the money that used to go straight into the nobles’ coffers now stays with the people. They can use it for their own families, their own businesses, their own lives."

"That’s—! That’s insane!" Aqua blinked furiously. "He’s cutting his own profits just to make others happy?! Who does that?!"

"Not to mention, that you can’t just cut taxes like that. The estate would collapse. How does it even function? How does he pay for everything else!?"

Maria nodded vigorously.

"I’ve studied estate management and what Aqua is saying is right. Even a small change in tax rates can destabilize an entire territory."

"And a fifty percent reduction? It shouldn’t be possible. It shouldn’t be reality."

"Exactly." Carmela nodded. "Nobles raise taxes, not reduce them. I’ve never once heard of one doing the opposite."

Even Joy, despite herself, couldn’t hide the shock on her face.

"That has to be a lie." She said sharply. "Some trick or exaggeration."

But Isabelle only smiled serenely and shook her head.

"Not a lie, Lady Joy. Every word is true. My Young Master really did it—he reduced the taxes by half. And yet, the estate is thriving more than ever."

There was silence for a long moment after that.

The horses clopped along the road. The sound of laughter and music drifted faintly from the town square ahead.

And for once, even Joy had nothing to say.

Aqua hesitated, still rubbing her temples as if trying to physically push the overwhelming information out of her brain.

"This is...absurd." She finally said, voice a mix of awe and confusion. "I mean—I’m technically part owner of this entire estate, so I should understand how this works, right?"

"But I don’t...Not even a little."

She looked at Isabelle with wide, pleading eyes.

"How exactly did he manage to reduce the tax rates so much and still keep the estate not just thriving...but doing better than before?"

"I mean, just look at everyone—the farmers, the workers—they look healthier, happier, more prosperous than any village I’ve ever seen."

"How...is that even possible?"

Isabelle chuckled at their stunned expressions, a teasing glint in her eyes.

"Oh, your faces right now are so adorable." She said with a laugh, covering her mouth politely. "But the answer is actually quite simple, Aqua. It doesn’t need some divine miracle or overly complicated explanation."

She paused, her tone softening into something proud and confident.

"It’s because the overall revenue flow of the entire estate has skyrocketed."

They all blinked at her in confusion.

"Revenue flow?" Carmela repeated.

Isabelle nodded.

"Yes. You see, even though the Young Master reduced the tax rate, the total profit coming into the treasury is higher than ever before. Because every single business has seen a massive increase in income."

"Even if not all, at least most of them are making double, sometimes triple, what they used to make before."

Aqua’s mouth dropped open slightly.

"So you’re saying...even after cutting taxes, the estate is earning more than before?"

"Exactly." Isabelle said proudly. "The people’s profits rose so much that even though they pay half the tax they used to, the total amount still adds up to more. The estate is flourishing, Aqua—not in spite of his reforms, but because of them."

There was a stunned silence before Carmela finally spoke, disbelief thick in her tone.

"But...how? You don’t just casually double an entire economy in a few months. That kind of growth takes decades. Decades."

Isabelle’s lips curved into a playful, knowing smile.

"Oh, you’re absolutely right, Miss Carmela." She agreed. "Normally it would take decades...but what if that progress happened in just a few months?"

Everyone turned to her sharply.

"What?" Aqua gasped.

Isabelle leaned forward slightly in her saddle, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

"That’s what happened here. The Young Master decided to completely rejuvenate every industry across the estate."

"He didn’t just manage from his house—he got personally involved with the lives of the people. For each profession, he introduced new techniques, new apparatuses, and better safety measures that made work faster, safer, and far more efficient."

She raised a finger, beginning to explain passionately.

"Take blacksmiths, for instance. He invented special ventilation systems to keep them from inhaling smoke."

"He designed new furnaces that heat metal evenly with half the fuel, and introduced better tongs, clamps, and anvils that reduce strain."

"The result?"

"The weapons and tools produced here are now of such high quality that they’re selling across borders."

"The swords forged in the Holyfield estate are now more durable and valuable than anything made elsewhere."

Carmela’s eyes widened slightly despite herself.

"And the bakers." Isabelle went on, turning to glance at Aqua with a fond smile. "He taught them new recipes—cakes, breads, and sweets no one here had ever tasted before and made deals with merchants to supply them with high-grade flour and imported sugar."

"He connected local bakeries with larger trade routes, so their goods are being sold beyond the estate. Even that woman earlier, Miss Dahlia—her bakery exports pastries to the capital now!"

Aqua blinked. "You’re kidding..."

"Not at all!" Isabelle said cheerfully. "It’s the same with the florists too."

"He worked with the alchemists and gardeners to create a way to grow rarer, more colorful flowers—stronger against weather changes."

"Now, Holyfield flowers are famous in the surrounding kingdoms. Nobles and royals import them for festivals and ceremonies."

"They’ve become a symbol of prosperity!"

She looked at the group with radiant pride.

"And that’s just some examples. He did this for every profession—tailors, glassblowers, carpenters, farmers."

"He even wrote entire books for each industry—guides explaining how to increase productivity, improve quality, and create fair trade systems."

"Anyone can read them, follow the methods, and thrive...It’s revolutionary."

By now, everyone was gaping at her in utter disbelief.

Isabelle then had a nostalgic look on her face as she said,

"So when you think about all of that—the hard work, the dedication, the innovations—it’s no wonder the estate is thriving even after lowering taxes. He gave people the chance to grow, to dream again."

"And in return, they gave everything back to him in loyalty and love."

Aqua let out a long, slow breath, trying to process it all.

"That’s...just crazy." She said finally. "He’s not just improving lives, he’s changing the entire system from the inside out."

"It’s no wonder the people adore him." Maria smiled faintly, resting a hand over her heart. "He’s given them a future. A reason to believe again."

Isabelle nodded softly.

"Exactly. And it’s because of that, every man, woman, and even child here loves him. To them, he’s not just their lord—he’s their Hero."

She glanced to the side suddenly.

"Oh, and speaking of Heroes..."

The group followed her gaze—and their eyes widened.

At the intersection ahead stood a beautiful fountain, glistening in the afternoon light.

And in its center was a life-sized statue of Cassius himself—standing proudly, his cape flowing behind him, a confident, warm smile on his face.

Birds perched on his shoulders and the rim of the fountain, and children were tossing coins into the water while laughing.

Aqua blinked rapidly. "Is that—"

"Yes." Isabelle said proudly. "That’s him. A statue of the Young Master. And before you ask—no, he didn’t commission it. The people built it themselves, with their own hands and money."

"They said they wanted to honor him in some way, to thank him for everything he’s done. And this isn’t the only one.

Carmela looked around incredulously. "You mean there are statues of him everywhere now?"

Isabelle nodded, chuckling lightly.

"All over the estate. Some are simple, others grand. Some show him with a sword, some with an open book. They just wanted a way to express their love and gratitude."

Aqua could only gape in speechless awe, while Maria covered her mouth, overwhelmed.

Even Joy, though she tried to maintain her composure, had her lips pressed in a thin line, her eyes flickering uncertainly.

The silence stretched for a long moment, until finally Aqua broke into a wry chuckle.

"Honestly, Joy." She said, turning to her with a grin. "I feel sorry for you right now."

Joy blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

"I mean it." Aqua continued, her tone oddly sincere. "Before, I was teasing you, saying how amazing Cassius is—but now I actually pity you."

"After all, you’re in such a hopeless position. You’re trying so hard to find darkness in him, to expose something rotten—but everywhere you look, all you find is light. Hope. Progress. People who adore him."

She sighed dramatically, then smirked.

"Even if you somehow found something against him, I don’t think anyone would care. If you tried to execute him, this entire estate would riot."

"They’d tear the capital down before letting you touch him."

"So really—good luck, Saint of Judgment. You’ll need it."

Joy, however, said nothing. Her grip on the reins tightened. Her expression was all over the place—somewhere between frustration and deep, painful doubt.

And for the first time in a long while, the Saint of Judgment didn’t know what to believe.

Even she, who had always seen Cassius as a devil in disguise, was struggling to find justification for her hatred.

Every story, every act, every witness painted him as a man of goodness and compassion.

’Why?’ She thought bitterly. ’Why would the Goddess command me to hunt someone like him?’

For the briefest moment, a spark of doubt flickered in her heart.

’Could the Goddess...be wrong?’

But she quickly shook her head, gritting her teeth.

"No...the Goddess never lies." She muttered to herself under her breath. "The devil is deceitful. That’s what makes him dangerous. This is just his illusion, a deception meant to blind us."

"I’ll find the truth. Whatever he’s hiding, I’ll uncover it."

She then snapped the reins sharply, her horse speeding ahead.

The others exchanged glances, each wearing an expression of quiet helplessness before following after her.

"Poor Joy." Aqua murmured. "She’s fighting a war she’s already lost and she doesn’t even realize it yet."

And as they rode through the bright, bustling streets of the Holyfield estate, every laugh, every smile, and every statue they passed seemed to whisper the same unshakable truth—

That Cassius Vindictus Holyfield had become something far greater than just a noble.

He had become the heart of his people.