The group solemnly nodded. Runaway serfs faced harsh punishments if caught.
Whatever the reason the Crassus estate had taken them in and provided such generosity, none of them wished to return to their former lives.
Sergey, summoning his courage, asked the question that lingered in everyone's minds. "Why? Why are you doing this for us?"
Smiling broadly, Julien answered, "This is the will of our lord, Sir Michael. His philosophy is that everyone should live a life befitting of a human being."
Julien's smile deepened as he continued, "Our estate lacks sufficient manpower. Sir Michael decided to bring in those facing the most desperate circumstances and offer them the chance to rebuild their lives. You have been chosen."
At these words, tears streamed down the faces of the gathered people. The simple phrase "to live as human beings" resonated deeply in their hearts.
Led by soldiers, Sergey and the others finally arrived at the village where they would settle. A smile never left Sergey's face.
"Michael von Crassus. My light," he thought, his heart swelling with gratitude.
As the sun set on the horizon, Sergey and Alexa stood together, silently wishing for Michael's long life and prosperity. This ritual of gratitude would soon become the most significant part of their daily lives.
Meanwhile, Michael felt an inexplicable surge of strength coursing through him once more.
"Is this some kind of blessing? What on earth is happening?" he wondered.
The article Sergey had once read about Michael was true.
Sergey, Alexa, and Natalie stood speechless, marveling at the sight before them. The village where their long journey had finally ended was nothing like the impoverished homes they had known—no shabby thatched roofs or crumbling mud-brick walls. Instead, sturdy brick houses lined the streets, their red bricks glinting in the sunlight. Glass windows reflected the light, something none of them had ever imagined for a home.
Each house had a small front yard with a tidy flowerbed, and the spacious yards seemed ample for growing vegetables to feed a family for an entire year.
Alexa gazed at the flawless roof of one of the homes. "No more worrying about leaks whenever it rains," she thought. If they could live in such a house, even the children, who were often sickly, would surely grow healthier.
The family stepped into one of the brick homes, and their amazement only deepened. The interior was as impressive as the exterior. A well-appointed living room and kitchen greeted them, along with three separate bedrooms.
The living room floor was made of solid wood, while the kitchen was tiled for easy cleaning. Natalie, with trembling hands, touched the household items around her, almost afraid they might vanish if she wasn't careful.
The first thing her fingers brushed was a shiny steel pot. Made of high-quality metal, the pot gleamed brightly, reflecting the sunlight streaming through the window.
Natalie caressed the pot delicately, as if it were fragile glass. Memories of a more prosperous time, when her husband and son were still alive, flickered in her mind.
Her life had been a series of dramatic turns. Once the wife of a scribe and the proud mother of the village's most promising young man, Natalie had been the envy of many. But after her husband's death and her son's gradual decline under the envy of the estate's overseer, everything fell apart.
Grief and malnutrition had left her frail and forgetful, with a hazy mind and a gaunt frame. However, the long voyage, filled with warm meals and restful nights, had worked wonders. Her face now glowed with color, and her once-pale skin radiated vitality.
Her unruly hair, once matted and brittle, was now neatly tied back, and the bitter lines of sorrow that had etched her face seemed to have softened.
Natalie picked up one of the glass goblets set out for the family. Its smooth, clear surface bore intricate patterns that refracted the sunlight into soft rainbow hues.
"They said these are gifts to commemorate our settlement," Alexa explained, but Natalie barely heard her. She turned the goblet in her hands, mesmerized by its beauty.
Setting it down with care, Natalie basked in the warmth of the sunlight streaming through the window, a faint smile gracing her lips. Her eyes, though still clouded, seemed lighter.
"At least now, in this new place, I won't have to worry about losing everything again," she thought.
Her gaze swept across the living room. The sunlight filtering through the curtains, the scent of freshly crafted wooden furniture, the sense of safety—everything felt like a dream.
Her attention was caught by the ceramic dishes resting on the kitchen shelves. Whispering to herself, she said, "I can't even remember the last time I saw proper ceramic plates. All the good ones were taken by the overseers."
Running her fingers across the smooth, cool surface of a plate, Natalie marveled at its delicate floral pattern. Yet, the simple act of touching the plate stirred painful memories of the times her belongings had been forcibly taken from her.
Her expression hardened as these memories resurfaced. Fear clouded her eyes, and her hands began to tremble.
Clutching the plate tightly, Natalie held it close to her chest as if afraid someone might snatch it away. Her movements became frantic as she carefully wrapped the plate in her apron. Her whispers, filled with unease, broke the silence.
"I have to hide this... before someone sees."
Her fingers turned white from gripping the plate so hard, and her face was stricken with fear.
Seeing this, Alexa approached her carefully. After the death of Pierre, Natalie's son, Alexa had begun treating her like a mother figure.
"Mother," Alexa said gently, "it's all right. No one is going to take this plate away."
Despite Alexa's soothing words, Natalie's eyes darted around the room, her mistrust unshaken.
"They always took everything I had," Natalie murmured, her voice trembling. "The overseers... they could come back any moment."
Alexa placed a reassuring hand on Natalie's shoulder and whispered softly, "This place is different. No one will take anything from us here. You're safe now."