System vs Rebirth

Leysha looked stunned. Even Anna couldn't believe that Noel actually slapped his mother. Noel was usually a loving guy, so it was a bit out of character for him to slap Leysha.

Yet, the next thing he did was actually punch himself in the cheek.

"Noel!" Anna gasped, not understanding what was happening.

Leysha became even more confused. On the one hand, she was worried because Noel had hurt himself like this. On the other hand, she was hesitant to take action, not wanting Noel to hurt himself again.

That gaze alone was enough for Noel to get his answer.

"That slap is a reminder of all the things I've experienced in the last couple of years after your execution."

Leysha's body trembled. Although Noel said it in a gentle way, the experience was truly horrendous. One wrong move would definitely kill Noel. Even though they had left behind Dimitri, it didn't change the fact that he let the young boy, who didn't have any training, go to the battlefield.

His world was turned upside down after the execution. If he let him get away without any repercussions, it meant they were able to do anything to him or even his child later, no matter how horrible it was.

Noel might be a loving person, especially toward his family and people. But he was also a fair person. There would be a reward and a punishment. This time, it was a punishment, but this punishment wasn't just directed at Leysha. He also received the punishment, and even a much harsher one.

"And this punch symbolizes my laziness and all the problems I've caused you and Father. I'm aware of how horrible I was in the past. If I were a better person, there might be another solution to our problem."

Leysha's heart felt like it was squeezed. Noel might have been lazy in the past, but that was because he knew that in the future, he had to take on his father's mantle and govern the territory. In other words, when he reached that point, he couldn't be lazy or do whatever he wanted anymore.

So, he just wanted to satisfy his desire until he lost that ability to have a desire of his own. After all, every single thing that the Lord did would affect the people in his territory.

Still, it would be different if Noel was a capable person. If he was strong enough, he could express himself freely without fearing backlash.

He learned it the moment he became an Earl.

That was why he said things might be different if he had been more capable in the past.

hugged his mother tightly. "It must have been a very hard

they didn't interact that much. She was a bit troubled and hoped that Noel could be better. Even though she didn't say it personally, Noel was recognized by Ardagan after all. So, it couldn't be

had finally grown into a responsible adult who could make

…

A decade ago.

who was lying down on the ground with his head lying on a maid's lap. He seemed to be reading a novel, which was

people have to get homework? It's the teacher's problem if they can't teach the student for the duration of the lesson. They force us to do

repeat the lessons so that you

always angry, Mom? I mean, I

Leysha rubbed her forehead before thinking about something. "You didn't do anything? You're not planning to do anything here

read a

and I give you

have eight. But this will make our family's reputation go bad if they know that I, the sole heir, don't do charity like you guys. So, I'll probably hold three and give five to the people. The third is

but she ended up being dumbstruck as though she didn't believe what she heard from a

he might be smarter than even his father. He was

who are the

Masconi, Count Porteiln… I don't know the other two since you guys never mentioned

asking for confirmation, "So, you already know all that because we've

take too much energy. It's much better than sitting in front

her child. She couldn't help but move closer to the

one replacing her.

you're not going to run away

Noel sighed. "As long as I'm not in a good part, I can't help it if I end up getting distracted

smile, finally understanding what she should have done in the first

Noel. Whenever Noel was trying to

was why sometimes she ran out of topics. Of course, she also kept asking Luke about all kinds of things so that Noel knew

of things, from their family's inner problems to the political situation. It turned out that Luke had also been teaching Noel philosophy