Perception

"Lance... it's been a while." Duke Edward fixed Tang Feiliu with an intense stare for a long moment before finally relaxing. He murmured softly, "Thanks to you, my journey back was remarkably smooth."

By the time snow began piling up, the Duke had already passed through York. After a brief resupply there, he pressed on directly toward Black Swan Castle. Truthfully, Ivans had been worried along the way—this year’s heavy snowfall posed a real threat. If the carriage got stuck mid-journey, it could be dangerous.

Especially the mountain road nearing Black Swan Castle—narrow, poorly maintained, and now blanketed in snow—it was a test of sheer luck for anyone traveling it. But the Duke of Edward remained undeterred, insisting on accelerating their return. Ivans could only sit in the carriage, praying to Lucifer as they went.

Then they were stunned—for when they rounded the mountain path and entered the grounds of Black Swan Castle, they saw seven or eight men forming a line, braving the heavy snow as they oddly dragged several planks along the ground. They scattered straw chaff on the path before hauling the planks forward once more.

"What on earth are you doing?" Evans halted and called out from a distance.

"Mr. Ivanov!" The burly man at the front laughed, tipping his hat in greeting before declaring proudly, "I'm following Young Master Lance's orders, leading the patrol to maintain the roads!"

Ivans had been struggling to decipher the duke's intentions lately, but during this relentless day-and-night journey, he seemed to have gained some insight. Hearing about young Lance now, his curiosity piqued, he pressed further: "The patrol? Is this the entire force?"

"Yes! We won this job through a wrestling match!" the leader answered cheerfully. Everyone laughed, clearly proud of the feat.

"So these new clothes you're wearing..." Ivan knew the Duke was listening—otherwise the carriage wouldn't have remained still—and pressed on.

"That's right, these are our uniforms. But it's not just us—everyone in the village who has work got new clothes!" The leader chuckled heartily, then added earnestly, "Of course, all this is thanks to the Duke's kindness... If not for His Grace's orders, we wouldn't be so well taken care of... Thank the benevolent Duke, may he enjoy good health."

These sturdy country men now looked utterly transformed. In Ivans's memories, they had always been shrouded in somber tones—numb and pained, subsisting on black bread laced with wood shavings, malnourished and silent, clad in ragged garments... Crucially, they never ventured out in winter, unable to endure the cold.

Now, however, they wore oddly styled yet visibly warm garments. Though still made of sturdy, brownish linen, the fabric was thick and appeared highly insulating. Beads of sweat glistened on their foreheads. The most striking change was their satiated appearance—their cheeks flushed, their bodies healthy and strong, though not yet robust, as if brimming with inexhaustible energy.

This transformation had occurred in just over two months. Unlike reading about it in letters, witnessing it firsthand left Ivan himself profoundly shaken. He waved farewell to the villagers and drove back along the road. From the carriage, Edward looked out and noticed his village had quietly changed.

Fields lay blanketed in deep snow, yet smoke rose from the village chimneys. The hamlet, usually lifeless in winter, now bustled with movement. As the carriage passed from afar, the laughter of children could be heard.

This contrasted sharply with the scene when they had left. Upon entering the castle, Edward learned Tang Feiliu was in his room and headed straight there. He couldn't wait to see this child whose mind was always filled with strange ideas, but most of all, he wanted to ask: "Could this boy be so soft-hearted that he spent his entire salary trying to help others?"

Edward felt compelled to investigate thoroughly. After all, he knew all of Little Lance's past—so frail and tender-hearted, he was easily swayed by others' pleas to give away his entire fortune. The thought that his departure might have led to Little Lance being deceived made Edward's heart clench.

Tang Feiliu, however, remained completely unaware of Edward's concerns. So when Edward demanded with a fierce expression, "What did you do in the village?" Tang Feiliu's first instinct was to scramble for an explanation: "...Your Grace, please don't be angry. It was truly my own initiative..."

"No," Edward realized his expression and tone had frightened Tang Feiliu. He looked at the boy, slowly relaxing his own features. Gazing at the young man, he spoke gently, "I was simply astonished. Clearly, you've made everyone comfortable... But this isn't your responsibility. You mustn't let it disrupt your own life, Little Lance."

Tang Feiliu studied Edward intently. Seeing the genuine concern in his eyes, he finally understood Edward wasn't angry. Instantly relaxing, Tang Feiliu gave a shy smile and said, "Actually, I haven't spent much money... Alright, I did put some money in now, but Mr. Allen is amazing. He introduced me to a small business opportunity, so I could hire everyone to help me with some work..."

Tang Feiliu earnestly explained his recent endeavors. He'd started by offering simple assistance, but encouraged by Allen, he'd invested his savings to take on a contract with the York City factory—they'd delivered fabrics and materials, then had the village women rush to sew garments. It wasn't a huge venture—at most, Tang Feiliu might earn a dozen pounds over the winter. But for the villagers, it meant something entirely different: enough food to see them through the cold months, plus commission earnings.

As for the patrols, Tang Feiliu had specifically hired guards to escort the materials and finished garments. This was for everyone's safety—after all, it was said that occasionally during winter, starving beasts would come down from the mountains, sometimes even attacking people.

All in all, it was largely a mutually beneficial arrangement. Yet as Tang Feiliu spoke, one thought crossed his mind. He murmured softly, "...only Mr. Allen said the slaves couldn't earn commissions. I can only have them do other tasks for me. I'll give them rewards—like bread or some bacon."

"You're doing very well, Lance." Edward listened as Tang Feiliu repeated "Mr. Allen" with each sentence, then gripped his shoulders. Looking at him, he changed the subject, "...What's that behind you?"

"Huh?!" Only then did Tang Feiliu realize the thing he'd been trying to hide had been discovered—it was a wooden box nailed together, filled with soil. Tang Feiliu had scattered a few Chinese cabbage seeds inside... carefully tended to them. Though not yet very robust, they had already grown lush and vibrant green.

Edward stared at the greens, then looked back at Tang Feiliu, his voice filled with astonishment. "Why are there greens here?"

"...Because I wanted to eat them," Tang Feiliu said pitifully. "Well... there are no vegetables here in winter, and I just couldn't stand it anymore. The castle happens to have the perfect temperature..."

"You mean you know how to grow things in winter?" Edward's eyes widened. "Good heavens, Lance, you have no idea what this means."

"What does it mean? You guys don't even like greens, and I can't exactly get rich off off-season farming," Tang Feiliu muttered under his breath, sounding utterly unenthusiastic about the whole farming business.

He despised this empire's disdain for greens.

Edward interjected, "...No, no—I mean fruit... expensive fruit... or costly flowers... You know the winter balls? Imagine how delighted every lady would be if we could adorn them with blooms that normally only appear in summer!"

Tang Feiliu's eyes lit up instantly. "Your Grace, are you planning to start a flower business?"

"Of course. Building a city requires no small sum." Duke Edward smiled faintly at the excited Tang Feiliu. The young man cheered, leaping in place. "Wonderful! I'll have the entire duke's castle surrounded by flowers! But for now, we can only grow them indoors... Would you be willing?"

Edward nodded, then caught the jubilant Tang Feiliu in his arms. He ruffled her soft shoulder-length hair and murmured, "Keep up the good work. You'll have plenty to do from now on, my administrator."

"Of course! I'll give it my all!" Tang Feiliu declared earnestly.

Thus, throughout that winter, the entire castle's servants found no respite from hibernation. They were ordered to begin planting throughout the castle—even the main building was filled with makeshift planting tools packed with various soils.

The duke's actions were actually a significant breach of aristocratic decorum. Consequently, the ball was naturally canceled, and visitors were kept to an absolute minimum. When Mr. Allen came to see Tang Feiliu, he was politely turned away by Ivans: "Mr. Lance is currently occupied managing the duke's new ventures and is declining all meetings for the time being."

York's winters were notoriously long and dreary, with cold and snow stretching for half the year—a condition shared across the empire and neighboring realms. Yet this year, when the gates of Black Swan Castle opened, precious flowers—as rare as gold—were carefully tended, transported in carriages wrapped in soft cotton blankets and heated by coal stoves. Pot after pot, they left the castle, transiting through York before radiating across the entire nation.

This year, the wives and daughters of the great nobles radiated with vibrant beauty. Adorning their hair with fresh blooms had become the latest fashion—if you couldn't afford to pin a few brilliant flowers in your hair, it meant you were either out of touch with trends or facing financial crisis.

Adorning one's bedroom and ballroom with floral arrangements had become a symbol of wealth.

Thus, throughout the entire winter, gold flowed steadily into Black Swan Castle. Even accounting for the staggering loss rate during transit, the Duke made a fortune, doubling his wealth once again.

Meanwhile, Tang Feiliu, who delighted in planting flowers daily, spent the entire winter holed up in the castle, never venturing out again.

So when spring returned to the earth, as he stretched lazily on the balcony and changed into light spring attire, he suddenly realized—he had somehow ended up staying home for three or four months!

And in this era without cell phones, that meant he hadn't contacted his new friend Alan in three or four months!

Gazing at the thawing landscape outside, Tang Feiliu suddenly decided to venture out. As he dressed and donned his hat, descending to the ground floor, he found Edward not in his study but in the hall, engaged in conversation with someone nearby. The moment Tang Feiliu appeared, Edward spotted him. He beckoned, and Tang Feiliu scampered over, catching sight of Ivanka's excited expression. Edward said, "Come, let's go see the results of your work."

As Tang Feiliu looked on in confusion, Ivans exclaimed, "You have to see those wheat seedlings! They're absolutely marvelous!"

Tang Feiliu was instantly swept up in the excitement too! This was big news. Forgetting everything else, he eagerly hopped into a carriage. After a bumpy ride that seemed to last forever, they finally arrived at this year's experimental field.

Then Tang Feiliu was baffled—he couldn't tell how these wheat seedlings, barely distinguishable from ordinary grass, were any different at all!

Though Tang Feiliu genuinely loved growing plants—he'd once cultivated strawberries on his balcony—as a modern man, he'd simply bought small bags of fertilizer online. That alone had made every sapling and seedling thrive robustly. To him, these were just ordinary, healthy plants!

But others didn't see it that way. Everyone gasped in awe: "My goodness! This... this is nothing short of a miracle created by the gods!"

"Nonsense! This is science!" Tang Feiliu glanced at the silent duke beside him and resolved to nip this superstitious thinking in the bud—faith was no blessing in this era. faith in this era was barbaric and bloody. The Pope of the Temple could stir up slaughter across nations with a mere wave of his hand. Besides, as someone who had to kill GAY every year for the Temple, Tang Feiliu naturally despised such terrifying religion. He explained earnestly, "It's because we fertilized diligently. The wheat seedlings got nourishment, just like when we eat our fill. That's why everyone can stay healthy through this winter. It has nothing to do with gods."

Only then did everyone recall where they were, glancing at Edward with sudden alarm. Yet Edward, as the son of a demon, wasn't truly tyrannical by nature. Watching Tang Feiliu, he felt pleased that young Lance spoke so earnestly on his behalf. Clasping Tang Feiliu's hand, he said, "Yes, science is priceless."

Ivans cleared his throat softly, stepping forward to break the awkward silence. He bowed slightly and said, "Mr. Lance, everyone is now regretting not participating in fertilization before winter arrived... nor planning to make compost..."

"Oh oh oh! It's fine, it's fine!" Tang Feiliu snapped back to reality. Blinking rapidly, he avoided Edward's gaze and turned to Ivan and the others, earnestly lecturing them on composting methods and spring fertilization.

Everyone listened intently. Edward leaned on his cane, observing from the sidelines. Spring had returned to the land, and fresh buds were sprouting on every branch throughout Black Swan Castle. This year, the mortality rate among the poor and slaves across the entire domain was astonishingly low. Though none of the passersby looked particularly robust, their complexions seemed reasonably healthy. Each pair of eyes fixed on Lance shimmered with admiration and reverence.

Though standing right beside him, the blond boy basked in the sunlight, revered by the crowd like a deity spreading divine wisdom. Tang Feiliu, dark-haired and dark-eyed, watched this radiant child—this saintly figure—with sinful thoughts. He struggled to restrain himself, yearning to reach out and taint that pure radiance...

"Your Grace! Your Grace?" When Tang Feiliu turned, he saw Edward staring at him with a terrifying expression. Tang Feiliu felt a pang of fear. He nudged Edward gently. Seeing Edward snap back to reality, he exhaled in relief and smiled. "Your Grace, we were just discussing how rainy the spring is. Since that's the case, why don't we build an entire irrigation and drainage canal?!"

Seeing Edward nod, Tang Feiliu cheered happily.

But something about Duke Edward felt off, Tang Feiliu thought... Was he overthinking this? Yet Edward's gaze truly resembled that of a carnivore eyeing its prey—a hunger... No, a thirst?!

Tang Feiliu wondered... surely the Duke, who was about to marry the Duchess, wasn't gay?

He kept trying to convince himself otherwise. Yet once he started noticing, every single one of the Duke’s movements seemed slightly off.

So on the way back, Tang Feiliu recklessly decided to test the waters with his top boss.