A voice of reason

Your other two settlements did not take your proclamation well either. They were not thankful to your king in the slightest, wailing their suffering. Now on your way back you dismissed your guards and asked Niall to take you to the market. Lili was awfully quiet the whole time and she seemed very sad.

You could not make out the reason and finally asked her, "Lili what's the matter? Are you troubled about something?"

Lili turned her head to look at you and you could see tears in her eyes, "My friends have called you a horrible man for making their life miserable with unjust demands. They also feel that I betrayed them by being together with you."

Lili's statement irritated you, "Our king was kind enough to pardon all war criminals and I am only ensuring law and order on these lands. How can they call me a bad man? Frankly I cannot understand their anger."

"I don't understand much about politics. All I can say is that these people, your people now have already suffered in the war. As their lord you should at least care a little about their wellbeing. Even without additional taxes would it be hard for them to pay up. Now many of them will surely starve... And would you not get angry yourself if someone were to take away your woman?" Lili calmly asked.

Listening to her words you could not help but admit that there is a grain of truth, something to ponder about, "Lili you have feelings for me, don't you? Do you think that I am a bad man?"

"Yes, I like you Garrick. My father wanted to marry me off to an old man in his sixties to forge an alliance, a former lord in one of the northern counties. I am happy that this arrangement is no longer valid. I can only hope that you will be a good man and treat me well." she answered and kissed your cheek.