Guided by Aurelia and her soldiers, Howard arrived smoothly at a luxurious courtyard without any hindrance.
The architectural style of the Obscured Celestial Realm differed from that of the Azure Sphere.
Although constructed from jade, the buildings resembled those of Crimson Dragon City, mostly single-storied with many carvings on the walls.
However, compared to Crimson Dragon City, there were fewer pavilions and towers, and less artificial hills and lakes.
As Howard observed the courtyard, a man dressed in a richly embroidered robe and a purple cloak emerged from within.
“Father!”
Upon seeing the man, Aurelia rushed towards him, her eyes reddening as she sobbed, “Father, I finally see you again!”
The prior brush with death had genuinely frightened Aurelia.
Seeing her father, all her pent-up emotions poured out as tears streamed down her face.
Being his only daughter, her father cherished her deeply.
He quickly wiped away her tears, gently comforting her.
Howard studied the man carefully, pondering how he should behave to secure a stay in the Lord’s Manor.
Indeed, Howard wished to remain within the Lord’s Manor!
The man, capable of being a city lord, undoubtedly possessed a strong mind.
However, as the saying goes, the most dangerous place is often the safest.
Staying in the Lord’s Manor, as long as Howard didn’t make mistakes, he could avoid many troubles.
On the other hand, if he were to leave, his survival would necessitate engaging in numerous activities.
The more he did, the more likely he was to make mistakes!
While Howard was deep in thought, Aurelia had already recounted the events of their journey to her father, including how Howard had sustained a severe head injury while saving her, resulting in his amnesia.
Hearing this, Aurelia’s father, Stano, looked towards Howard.
Coincidentally, Howard was still in a contemplative state, his eyes appearing unfocused, which genuinely gave off an impression of bewilderment.
This inadvertently led Stano to believe in Howard’s condition, but as a city lord, he was not one to fully trust someone easily.
After a moment, Stano approached Howard and spoke in a grave tone, “Young man, I thank you for saving my daughter. What do you desire? As long as it’s within my power, I shall not be stingy.”
Awakened by Stano’s words, Howard shook his head and replied, “I’m sorry, but right now, I don’t know anything. I have no idea what I want.”
Hearing Howard’s response, a look of pity appeared on Aurelia’s face.
She quickly stepped forward, latching onto Stano’s arm and pleaded in a coquettish tone, “Father, Howard has lost his memory trying to save me. Why don’t we take him in for now?”
“Take him in?”Stano frowned slightly, contemplating a refusal.
But seeing Aurelia’s hopeful expression, he found himself at a loss for words.
The Obscured Celestial Realm was different from the Azure Sphere, which fundamentally still adhered to a patriarchal mindset, with men typically serving as council members and family leaders.
In contrast, the Obscured Celestial Realm had no such constraints.
Therefore, Stano viewed Aurelia not just with affection but as his sole successor, always considering her thoughts and wishes in any matter.
Sensing Stano’s hesitation, Howard softly spoke, “It seems I would be causing you too much trouble. Perhaps you could just give me some money. I’ll find a place to stay and slowly try to recover my lost memories.”
“…”
Hearing Howard’s words, Stano’s mouth twitched slightly, and he scrutinized Howard carefully.
If Howard’s acting hadn’t been so convincing, Stano would have definitely thought Howard was playing a game of retreat as advance.
Truth be told, it was a cunning move.
If Stano agreed to Howard’s request, their reputation would be tarnished once word got out.
How could they let someone who lost their memory while saving their daughter fend for themselves?
Wouldn’t that be inhumane?
If Howard had been greedy, continuously asking for more, they could have dismissed him without much concern, as no one likes avaricious people.
But Howard showed no greed and even proactively suggested leaving to avoid causing them trouble.
If they really let him go, they would not only be criticized but also disappoint their own people.
If they couldn’t take care of someone who saved their daughter, what good outcome could their own soldiers expect from fighting for them?
Stano immediately responded with a smile, “What are you saying, young man? The Bamilrutna family is not ungrateful or disloyal. Until you recover your memory, you should stay with our family.”
“Then I must thank you for your kindness,”Howard quickly responded, following the etiquette Aurelia had taught him.
Seeing this, Stano didn’t harbor any suspicion.
After all, amnesia doesn’t mean one is like a newborn child, completely ignorant.
It’s just a temporary inability to recall memories, but the ingrained instincts remain intact.
Moreover, through Howard’s manner of bowing, Stano believed Howard to be one of their own from the Obscured Celestial Realm.
Upon receiving Stano’s consent, a servant immediately led Howard to his quarters.
It was only when Howard arrived at the rear courtyard that he noticed the stark architectural differences of this world compared to Crimson Dragon City.
The buildings in Crimson Dragon City were unique in that each courtyard was independent yet closely connected to the others.
However, in this world, the courtyards seemed to be just the initial threshold.
The surrounding structures were predominantly inhabited by soldiers.
Entering the backyard, it became apparent that each household occupied an extensive area, and many spiritual beasts and mounts lived amongst them.
From a distance, one could clearly see a luxurious house situated prominently.
“This is practically a farm,” Howard thought to himself, unable to resist the internal commentary.
He could only conclude that the architecture of this world, while bearing some resemblance to Azure Sphere, was distinctively different.
To Aurelia, Stano, and others, Howard’s amazement was interpreted as awe at the sight of such a grand and spacious house – a luxury he presumably had never experienced before.
In this world, where battles were frequent, commoners could acquire nobility through military achievements, so they did not look down on Howard.
On the contrary, once they learned of Howard’s ability to single-handedly defeat a level 70 BOSS, Stano began to see potential in him.
It couldn’t be helped; Howard was simply too young!
Even in the battle-ridden Obscured Celestial Realm, finding someone of Howard’s age with such prowess was as rare as a phoenix feather or a unicorn horn.
Otherwise, even if Stano had agreed to shelter Howard, he would not have allowed him into his own house to live but would have sent him straight to the soldiers’ quarters.
After all, could the mind of someone who had become a city lord be so simple?
They were calculators, weighing and strategizing every aspect of their lives!
Arriving at the heart of the farm, Howard carefully observed the house, finding its architecture somewhat similar to that of the Alliance, with several stories in height.
The servants lived on the first and second floors, while the main family resided in the upper levels.
However, Aurelia’s family was small, comprising only her and her parents, leaving the upper floors relatively vacant.
To win over Howard, Stano arranged for him to stay on the third floor, clearly elevating his status above that of the servants.
The servants weren’t foolish; understanding Howard’s placement, they immediately became more respectful in their demeanor.
Upon entering the house, a noblewoman approached.
She was dressed in silk, with a scarf partially covering her face, obscuring her features.
However, her figure was striking, especially the prominent curves at her chest, which, along with her partially hidden face, provided Howard with a significant visual impact.
Thankfully, Howard’s acting skills were impeccable, and he managed to maintain a composed expression.
This noblewoman was Aurelia’s mother, Fenice. Learning that Howard was her daughter’s savior and upon seeing his appearance, her eyes brightened as she repeatedly expressed her gratitude.
It had to be said that Howard’s appearance had a significant impact on women, regardless of the realm, as long as it was a world primarily inhabited by humans.
As a result of Fenice’s insistence, Howard ended up staying on the fourth floor, just one level below the main family on the fifth floor.
In their world, this placement was akin to treating Howard as an esteemed guest.
Guided by a servant to his room, Howard immediately closed the door and began to scrutinize the space with a grave expression.
He needed to ensure there were no special items in the room capable of recording sounds.
Being alone in a foreign plane, Howard had to be extremely cautious.
After all, if his true identity were exposed, he would find enemies in every corner of this world.
Fortunately, it was unlikely for anyone to install eavesdropping devices or magical items in their own home.
Once assured of the room’s security, Howard opened the window and carefully observed every inch of the estate.
Familiarizing himself with his surroundings was crucial for ensuring his safety in this unfamiliar world.
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