Chapter 46: Warm Hospitality

After hearing that barbarian soldiers had come to return the donkey cart, Anke became extremely excited.

He rushed out of the city to greet them without even properly putting on his clothes.

“Your Highness, it’s cold. You should finish getting dressed first.”

Vera followed behind him, holding a thick cloak.

She didn’t understand why Anke was so excited, but she knew that if humans didn’t keep warm in winter, they could easily fall ill.

But for some reason, Anke couldn’t listen to her and ran out of the city in a completely unkempt state.

After the city gates opened, Anke, under Vera’s protection, walked toward the barbarian soldiers with a wide smile.

“Well, well, hahaha. Good, good.”

(Male lead belike)

The young barbarian soldiers looked at him in confusion.

“May I ask who you are?”

“I am the Lord of Border City, Anke.”

“You are the Lord?”

“Of course.”

Anke placed one hand behind his back as Vera draped the cloak over him to shield him from the cold wind.

With the cloak, he finally looked somewhat like a proper lord.

“Lord, we are soldiers of the Iron Jaw Tribe under Centurion Kamal. By her order, we have come to return your donkey cart. Since you came personally, we will leave the cart and donkey here and take our leave.”

Haru finished speaking and prepared to leave with his companions.

“Wait a moment.”

Anke stopped them.

“Is there a problem?”

The boys turned back.

“Are you in a hurry to leave?”

“N-no.”

“Then come with me.”

“N-no need, we can just go back.”

“Come on. I won’t make things difficult for you. Since you’ve come to Border City, you are my guests. I must properly receive you.”

Haru wanted to refuse again, but a casual glance from Vera frightened him into silence.

“Haru, that woman… she looks like the one who defeated Lord Big Barton and the Chief,” one of the boys whispered.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Lord.”

Haru had no choice but to accept and drove the donkey cart into the city.

These young barbarians, who had grown up in the Skeleton Forest, were entering a human city for the first time.

Unlike the prosperous cities described by the adults, Border City was filled only with heavily guarded soldiers.

But that wasn’t strange—after all, they were still at war.

Anke led them straight through the military camp to the mess hall. Along the way, soldiers cast strange looks at the foreign youths.

“Barbarians…”

“Those strange ears and tails—definitely barbarians.”

Former militia of the Coloque Army, who had suffered barbarian attacks, did not hide their hostility.

Their eyes were filled with killing intent as they stared at Haru and the others, whispering constantly.

“Why did the Fourth Prince bring these evil creatures inside?”

“My father was killed by them.”

“I want to kill them and cut off their ears and tails!”

Under these stares and whispers, Haru and the others lowered their heads uneasily.

“If you want revenge, take it to the battlefield! Don’t vent your hatred on my guests!”

Anke rebuked the soldiers sharply.

As the Lord, the Fourth Prince of the Kingdom, and the one who had saved these remnants of the Coloque Army, his words carried great weight.

The soldiers suppressed their hostility and returned to their duties.

“With me here, don’t mind them.”

Seeing their discomfort, Anke reassured them.

“Thank you, Lord.”

Haru thanked him softly.

Inside the mess hall, Anke pulled over a chair and sat down at the table.

“Bring these children some food—the best available,” he ordered.

“Yes, my Lord.”

The worker hesitated briefly but soon brought sliced bread, boiled bean soup, and smoked pork, placing them on the table.

“Sit and eat.”

Anke gestured to them.

“Th-thank you…”

Haru looked at the steaming, fragrant food. His empty stomach churned, yet he didn’t immediately sit down.

Instead, he stood behind the table, swallowing hard.

The other boys behaved the same way, even as drool nearly slipped from their mouths.

“Don’t worry. There’s no poison. If I wanted to harm you, I wouldn’t need poison.”

Anke picked up a slice of bread, dipped it into the bean soup until it was soaked, and ate it.

Then he picked up a strip of smoked meat and held it out toward Vera.

“?”

“Ah—”

Vera looked confused, but after he gestured again, she understood. She leaned down slightly and bit the meat directly from his hand.

“!”

Anke felt a soft, warm sensation. His fingers jerked back as if shocked. He had only meant for her to take it—why did she bite it directly?!

After seeing both Anke and Vera eat, Haru and the others realized they had overthought things.

If Anke wanted to deal with them, poisoning would be unnecessary.

“Thank you for the meal, Lord.”

Haru picked up some food and began eating slowly. The others followed.

But as he ate, tears suddenly streamed down his face.

“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” Anke asked.

“I… I thought of my little sister. If we had this food back then… if she could have eaten even one bite… maybe she wouldn’t have starved to death…”

Haru wiped his tears, then began pouring out his grief and pain.

His sobbing stirred the others. They too had lost loved ones to that winter of hunger.

From their words, Anke learned about the Iron Jaw Tribe’s hardship in recent winters—famine.

He did not keep them long. After letting them eat their fill, he packed some food for them to take back and escorted them outside the city.

“We are deeply sorry, Lord. You are so kind, yet we must be your enemies. We truly apologize.”

At parting, Haru and the others saluted him in the most solemn manner of their tribe.

“No need to blame yourselves. You are fighting to survive. But remember to tell your Chief—my conditions remain unchanged. If the Iron Jaw Tribe submits to me, I will grant a formal title and ensure your people receive equal status and treatment as the citizens of Hanover Province. You will not have to worry about food in winter.”

“Understood, Lord. I will deliver your message.”

Haru and his companions set off on their return journey, carrying bags full of food.

“Your Highness, they were only barbarian youths. Was it really worth treating them so seriously?” Vera asked.

“Of course,” Anke replied. “Every person is worth it.”