BXBX NOVEL Chapter 5: The Prodigal Son
Chapter 5: Chapter 5: The Prodigal Son
Among these, 16th Street in the West District was one of the most dilapidated and neglected places, often ignored by the city\'s patrols. Naturally, it became a gathering spot for gangs and vagrants.
However, today, 16th Street was different. The sound of rolling wheels echoed as a beautifully decorated four-wheeled carriage, drawn by two tall horses, slowly made its way down the street.
The low houses along the street appeared especially shabby, their dark doors and windows tightly shut, expressing an unwelcoming attitude toward outsiders. Even the beggars on the roadside hurriedly shrank away, fearing to anger the noble within the carriage.
As the carriage wheels rolled over the muddy and rocky ground, Bend glanced disdainfully at the vagrants lying by the walls, flicking his whip and feeling a bit of pity for the splashes of mud on his well-maintained horses and carriage.
Soon, the carriage stopped in front of a small two-story house. Bend carefully jumped down, took out a footstool, and placed it properly before opening the carriage door.
"Young master William, we\'ve arrived. Please watch your step."
"Thank you, Bend."
William stepped down from the carriage and looked around at the familiar yet rundown street. For first-time visitors, it was hard to believe this was just half a city away from the glamorous eastern district.
William smiled as he eyed the small brick house with its metal door, different from the surrounding buildings, and knocked forcefully out of habit.
After knocking for a while without any response, William frowned.
Strange. Usually, Jack would have come out cursing by now. Why is there no reaction this time?
At this moment, a small window across the street opened a crack, and a timid eye peeked out, speaking softly to William:
"Um, if you\'re looking for Uncle Jack, he\'s out and won\'t be back for another month."
With that, the window quickly shut with a bang, as if afraid of the outside world.
Why are they so afraid of me?
William sensed a few hidden glances from the shadows, but they quickly disappeared when he looked around.
He glanced down at his clothes and suddenly understood.
In his previous life, he was all about maximizing profits, counting every penny (being frugal), unlike those who spent extravagantly on their attire. He hadn\'t realized that his clothing and the accompanying carriage would draw such attention on 16th Street.
Looks like I\'ll need to wear something simpler and avoid bringing the carriage next time.
William made a mental note. Although Jack wasn\'t around, the trip wasn\'t a total loss.
"So, that future Shadow of Death lives across the street now!"
---
Ashley patted her chest, having used up all her courage just to say that one sentence. If Uncle Jack hadn\'t asked her to inform his visitors, she wouldn\'t have dared to speak to such imposing-looking people.
After hearing the carriage leave, Ashley cautiously opened the window again, sighing in relief as she saw it trundling away.
"Ashley, you did great! Helping Uncle Jack wasn\'t so hard after all!"
Was that person a noble?
Probably. Only nobles dressed so beautifully and cleanly. She had never seen such a lovely carriage, adorned with a silver-white eagle in flight.
But he didn\'t seem as scary as Aunt Anna said. Do nobles really take girls like her away to eat them?
Ashley\'s little head was full of big questions as she shut the window again.
When Aunt Anna wasn\'t home, Ashley always locked the doors and windows tightly. Despite the darkness inside, she never felt scared. In fact, she enjoyed staying quietly in the shadows, finding comfort in the surrounding darkness.
Cain family estate.
As William stepped down from the carriage, he saw Joyce, the butler, waiting for him. Joyce was the epitome of elegance in his meticulously maintained black and white tailcoat, gold-rimmed glasses, and a perfectly executed bow.
"Joyce, come with me to the study."
"Yes, young master," Joyce replied, following the principle of a butler who asks few questions and speaks sparingly. He followed William a step behind as they made their way to the second floor of the manor.
Sitting behind his desk, William looked at Joyce standing respectfully to the side and, using the same tone as his predecessor, said:
"Joyce, what is the current status of the family\'s businesses?"
Indeed, William was the last remaining member of the Cain family. The previous William had been so obsessed with magic that he left all the family businesses in Joyce\'s hands, merely asking Joyce to prepare whatever he needed.
However, Joyce was trustworthy. The Cain family had only been ennobled for three generations and was considered a new noble house by the royal faction. Joyce had served as the family\'s head butler since the time of the second Viscount Cain without making a single mistake. He knew the Cain family better than William himself.
Joyce had also personally raised the previous William, who was orphaned at a young age, so William had no doubts about Joyce\'s loyalty.
Although William rarely cared about the family business, Joyce did not dwell on it and replied after a brief consideration:
"Currently, the family\'s annual income is approximately 7500 gold coins. This includes 5000 gold coins as the royal stipend, about 2000 gold coins from three shops in the Fis district, and around 500 gold coins from the produce of two estates outside the city."
"Our annual expenses are roughly 4800 gold coins. This includes 1000 gold coins for the maintenance and repair of the estate and manors, about 300 gold coins for servants\' wages, 1000 gold coins for food and daily supplies, approximately 2000 gold coins for maintaining social relations with the royal family and other nobles, and about 500 gold coins for miscellaneous expenses."
(Note: 1 gold = 10 silver = 200 copper. The annual income of a commoner is about 10 gold coins, and the cost of a basic meal of black bread and vegetable soup is two coppers.)
Because the Cain family held the title of Court Viscount without a fief, their primary source of income was the royal stipend.
William clicked his tongue in amazement. Being a noble certainly had its advantages. He remembered how hard he had to work in his previous life to earn a single gold coin by completing a quest in the game.
However, high income also came with high expenses, most of which were for maintaining the family\'s noble image.
There was no way around it. Reducing these expenses was not an option. As a court noble, living like a commoner would be seen as an insult to the Fis royal family, potentially leading to punishment or even stripping of the title.
Class distinctions were indeed stark. Nobles truly lived in luxury and indulgence!
William took a sip of the hot chocolate Rosie had just brought in, inwardly criticizing the extravagant lifestyle of the nobles.
"How much do we have in savings?"
William estimated that, having been passed down for three generations, the family should have a decent amount of savings.
"Due to your recent purchases of many precious materials for magical research, the family currently has only 500 gold coins left after accounting for this year\'s necessary expenses."
"Ugh," William choked on his hot chocolate.
Good heavens, the Prodigal son is me!