Chapter 2017

Thud! Lucien stumbled and fell, flailing helplessly. He landed face-first, much to the amusement of the onlookers. The villagers, having suffered under Lucien's mistreatment, relished in Adrian's intervention. They cheered and laughed at Lucien's fall. Thoroughly embarrassed, Lucien quickly got up and left with his family, vowing revenge against the onlookers. With him and his family gone, the crowd lost its leader. Since the children were not Sebastian's, their arguments lost ground. The male servants reluctantly left with their wives. Claude, not feeling victorious, said to Adrian, "I've been busy growing medicinal herbs and helping the locals with medical needs so much I’ve neglected to manage Medicis Manor." Adrian answered reassuringly, "You don't have to explain yourself to me. This place is in need of help right now, so why don't we ask the surrounding villagers to help out?" Claude walked toward the crowd and was immediately recognized. When the villagers heard that the ma