Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 382: The Promise of The New Lord

Chapter 382: The Promise of The New Lord

The air was thick with tension as Lyan and Althea entered the meeting hall of Norhallow. The room was small, but it was crowded, filled with the community leaders of the town—men and women who looked worn out, their eyes filled with uncertainty and suspicion. They had been called to meet the new rulers, and though their expressions varied, the skepticism was clear in every one of their faces. A few lanterns hung from the beams, casting dim light that barely cut through the gloom.

Lyan could feel the weight of their stares, the skepticism that clung to the air like a thick fog. He exchanged a brief glance with Althea, who nodded slightly, her eyes reassuring. It was his cue. Lyan stepped forward, clearing his throat.

"Thank you all for coming," he began, his voice calm but firm. He let his gaze move across the room, meeting as many eyes as he could. "I know you’ve been through a lot. I won’t deny that Norhallow has suffered under its previous rule. My goal here is simple—to help fix what has been broken and to make sure that you, the people, get what you deserve."

There was silence for a moment, and then a man with graying hair stepped forward. He had a sharp face and wore a simple brown tunic. His eyes were filled with doubt as he spoke. "We’ve heard promises before. Promises of help, of change. But look around, nothing has changed. We have barely enough food to last through the next month, and winter is on its way. What will make your rule any different from Hektor’s?"

Lyan nodded, understanding the frustration in the man’s voice. "You are right to be skeptical. Lord Hektor’s greed has drained this city, leaving it on the brink of collapse. But I’m not here to make empty promises. I am here to listen, to understand, and to take action. Food, governance, and justice—these are the things I aim to bring back to Norhallow."

The room remained silent, though there was a slight shift in the atmosphere. The leaders looked at each other, their expressions still cautious, but now tinged with a glimmer of hope. A woman with tired eyes, wearing a worn shawl over her shoulders, raised her hand. "The granaries are empty, my lord. Many of us are starving, and the last harvest was taken by Hektor’s men. How do you intend to feed us?"

Lyan took a deep breath, letting the seriousness of the question settle over him. "We’ve already begun the process of bringing supplies from neighboring towns. The food that was hoarded by Hektor will be distributed to the people. But more importantly, we will be changing how this city is governed. Resources will be managed by people who actually care about the well-being of Norhallow, and not just their own gain."

The woman nodded, though the worry in her eyes didn’t completely vanish. "And what about the guards? They were Hektor’s men. They have terrorized us for years, and they still wear the same uniforms. How do we know we can trust them now?"

Lyan paused for a moment, considering her words. He could hear the murmurs from the others, the same concerns being voiced quietly among them. "The guards who served under Hektor—those who abused their power—will be dealt with. Only those who are willing to protect and serve the people will remain. And I intend to personally see that those who exploited you are brought to justice."

There was a murmur of approval, a small spark of hope beginning to light in the crowd. Althea stepped forward, her voice soft yet filled with determination. "We understand that trust is not something given easily, especially after all you’ve been through. But we are committed to earning it, step by step."

Another man, younger and wearing a ragged shirt, spoke up, his voice laced with bitterness. "We have heard words like these before. Hektor spoke of protecting us too, and yet he stole from us. He took our families, our livelihoods. What proof do we have that you won’t do the same?"

Lyan’s eyes hardened slightly. He could feel the weight of their collective pain, the anger and betrayal that festered beneath the surface. He nodded to Althea, who reached into her satchel and pulled out a rolled piece of parchment, handing it to Lyan. He unrolled it, showing the council a list of names—names of officials that had served under Hektor.

"This is my proof," Lyan said, his voice resolute. "These people, who took advantage of their positions, will no longer have a place here. And I will make sure of that, starting today." He took a deep breath, continuing. "I know words mean little right now, but watch my actions. See if I do what I say I will. If I fail, then you have every right to cast me out."

For a moment, the room was silent, and then the older man, the one who had first spoken, nodded slowly. "We’ll be watching, my lord. But... perhaps, just perhaps, you may be different."

There was a murmur of agreement from the gathered leaders. It wasn’t complete trust, but it was a beginning—a small, fragile seed of hope that could grow into something more. Lyan nodded, a weight lifting from his shoulders as he looked across the room.

"Thank you," he said softly. "Let’s get to work."

____

Lyan moved through the halls of Hektor’s former mansion with Althea at his side. The opulence of the building was in stark contrast to the poverty of the people outside. Lavish tapestries adorned the walls, golden candelabras lined the corridors, and the floors were polished to a shine. It was a harsh reminder of the greed that had ruled over Norhallow for far too long.

Althea sighed as they walked, her eyes taking in the excess. "It’s hard to believe how much he took from them," she said, her voice laced with disdain.

"That’s the thing with people like Hektor," Lyan replied, shaking his head. "They never know when enough is enough. They take, and take, until there’s nothing left."

The two of them entered a large chamber, where the domestic officials of Norhallow had been gathered. They were all sitting behind a large wooden table, their faces a mix of arrogance and unease. Lyan could tell by their demeanor that they were used to Hektor’s rule—used to skimming off the top, making themselves comfortable while the people suffered.

Lyan crossed his arms, his gaze cold as he addressed them. "You all served under Hektor. You know the state of this city, the suffering of the people. And yet, you’ve done nothing but line your own pockets." He could see the officials shift uncomfortably, some of them glaring at him, others looking down at the floor.

"My lord, we were only following orders," one of them said, his voice shaking slightly.

"Following orders," Lyan repeated, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Is that what you tell yourselves? That you were just following orders while the people starved? While the guards terrorized them?"

There was silence, and Lyan could feel the anger simmering inside him. He had seen enough of corruption, of people abusing their power. He stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "Consider this your last day as officials of Norhallow. You have no place here under my rule. Pack your things and leave. If I find out any of you have continued to exploit the people, you will answer to me."

The officials exchanged nervous glances, but none of them dared to protest. They knew they had no defense, and Lyan’s tone left no room for argument. Slowly, they stood, shuffling out of the room, their heads hung low. Althea watched them go, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"You think they’ll cause trouble?" she asked once they were out of earshot.

Lyan shrugged. "Maybe. But they know what’s waiting for them if they try. It’s time to bring in people who actually care about this city."

Althea nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Well, I suppose that means we have our work cut out for us."

____

After dealing with the corrupt officials, Lyan decided to take a look around the mansion. He hadn’t had the time before, too focused on stabilizing Norhallow, but now that things were in motion, it was time to see what secrets Hektor might have left behind.

The mansion was a sprawling labyrinth of corridors and chambers, each one more opulent than the last. Lyan found it almost sickening—the luxury that Hektor had surrounded himself with while the people outside had starved. As he made his way through the mansion, he came across a door that seemed different from the others—reinforced, with heavy iron bolts across it.

"That’s interesting," Lyan muttered to himself, stepping closer. He could hear something—a faint sound, almost like a voice. He exchanged a glance with Althea, who raised an eyebrow.

"What is it?" she asked.

Lyan tilted his head, listening. "It sounds like someone... down there."

Althea sighed, rolling her eyes slightly. "Of course. Milord can’t help himself when it’s the voice of a beautiful woman, can he?"

Lyan shot her a look, though a small smile tugged at his lips. "It’s not about that. If there’s someone down there, we need to help them."

He unbolted the door, the iron scraping loudly against the frame as it swung open. A set of stone steps led down into darkness, the air growing colder as they descended. The sound of the voice grew clearer, and Lyan could make out the faint outline of a figure at the bottom of the stairs.

As they reached the bottom, Lyan felt a chill run down his spine. The underground chamber was dimly lit by a single flickering torch, and the air was damp, the scent of mildew thick. In the far corner, a woman was chained to the wall, her clothes torn and her hair disheveled. She looked up as they approached, her eyes wide behind cracked glasses.

Lyan froze, his heart pounding in his chest. The woman looked weak, her skin pale and bruised. She was barely covered, her clothing hanging from her frame in tatters. He swallowed hard, trying to push back the rush of anger that filled him at the sight of her condition.

"Who are you... ?" Lyan asked, his voice soft, almost a whisper.

The woman’s eyes met his, and for a moment, there was only silence—a heavy, painful silence that spoke of everything she had endured, everything she had suffered under Hektor’s rule.