Chapter 381 381-Disdain
After Howard finished the two slices of dark bread, he expressed his gratitude, "Thank you for helping me in my time of need. I will repay you later."
Nia, filled with curiosity and a young girl's idealism, combined with her concern for Howard's well-being, clung to his arm, refusing to let go.
Howard looked at Nia in surprise; ever since he had become an earl, no one had dared to boldly grab his arm and impede his movements in such a manner.
"You can't leave; you're not well enough to go," Nia insisted, struggling to articulate her concerns further but making it abundantly clear that she did not want Howard to leave.
Howard, with a wry smile, replied diplomatically, "But I have matters to attend to today. How am I to get anything done if you won't let me go?"
By 10 in the morning on February 19th, Nia's father returned from fishing, bringing back a large basket full of hairtail fish.
Howard had agreed with Nia to stay for lunch at her home.
After the meal, he insisted he would have to leave immediately, regardless of Nia's attempts to detain him.
Seeing the bounty of fish her husband had brought home, the middle-aged woman joked, "Aren't we always saying how hard it is to catch fish around here? How come you've brought back so many today?"
Her husband chuckled, waiting until they were a bit away from Howard to tell his wife, "Of course, simply fishing wouldn't yield this much. I bought these from Kande down by the lower riverbank."
The woman covered her mouth with her hand, nodding incessantly in approval, praising her husband for not being frugal at a crucial moment and spending the money where it was truly needed.
The fragrance was enticing as Howard and Nia's family gathered for a meal.
Nia's parents showed an extraordinary warmth and hospitality towards Howard, continuously adding more dishes to his bowl, making even the well-travelled Howard feel a bit embarrassed.
After the meal, Howard and Nia left the cabin.
They reached a compromise: Howard would take Nia with him to run errands, and they would return afterward.
This solution was Howard's way of compromising without having to reveal his royal identity and potentially embarrass Nia's family.
He refrained from disclosing his noble status, admitting only to being a commoner from Venice at most.
However, Howard planned to reveal his status in a more subtle manner by allowing Nia to witness him signing for a priceless parchment at Rose Jewelers in a lavish manner.
This way, Howard hoped Nia would convey his true status to her parents, thus minimizing direct discomfort.
His intention was to prompt Nia's family to step back without having to explicitly state it himself, leveraging the staff at Rose Jewelers to hint at his identity.
This was Howard's hesitant approach.
Considering the dangers they might face on the road, and since his noble attire was still wet and not suitable for wear, Howard disregarded any concerns about his appearance.
He donned the common attire of slum dwellers and walked with Nia to the harbor.
Nia pointed to a boat, stating it belonged to her family.
She then confidently untied the rope binding the boat to the stake and boarded, settling herself on the right side of the small vessel.
With the water on the right and the shore on the left, she patted the seat on the boat's left side, inviting Howard to join her, "Come, take a seat."
She did it without thinking, but for someone like Howard, such actions were prone to stir deeper reflections.
A youthful girl, a romantic journey – these elements could easily imprint a vivid and unique memory in the heart of a king, making the experience seem lively and extraordinary.
Howard felt his face grow warm as he stepped towards the boat, placing his foot on its bottom.
The boat dipped sharply, sending a jolt through Howard's heart as it sank with the motion.
But then, it abruptly rose again.
With only half a day's time, Howard was eager to make the most of it.
Thinking he had enough experience, he hurriedly placed his other foot onto the bottom of the boat as well.
However, at that moment, Howard failed to maintain his balance.
The boat rocked violently, and he lost his footing, tumbling towards the water's surface.
Nia quickly stood up and embraced Howard to prevent him from falling.
The boat swayed, and for a moment, Howard and Nia were wrapped in each other's arms.
After a while, they separated.
Taking a seat on opposite sides of the boat, they began to row.
Along the way, Nia pointed out the buildings and the beautiful scenery of Venice, captivating Howard with tales and sights.
The journey from the slum to the upper river channels was a process of observing the bridges grow increasingly higher and wider.
It was also a journey where the buildings along the banks became larger, taller, more beautiful, and richly decorated.
Starting from the slum, there was a sparse flow of people on both sides, with the occasional call of vendors faintly audible.
As they rowed towards the lower river channels, the human traffic on both banks visibly increased, and the calls of the vendors were incessant.
Upon reaching the upper river channels, the banks were crowded with people, and the sounds of hawking mixed with laughter painted a picture of a thriving, joyful Venice.
In the bustling city of Venice, the epitome of opulence is found along its upper riverbanks.
When Nia voiced this sentiment, Howard could detect a mix of resentment and bitterness in her tone.
Far in the distance, Howard and Nia could see the sign for Rose Jewelers, along with the charming lady and the sharp, efficient male sales clerk standing at the entrance.
Nia cast a suspicious glance at Howard, questioning, "Why have you brought me here?"
Howard had thought to make a flirtatiously romantic remark, but that wasn't his nature.
Observing Nia's expression, he considered that perhaps a Venice commoner like her might appreciate a small, additional trinket as a bonus.
Howard took Nia by the hand and led her ashore.
Just as Nia was about to secure the boat, a security guard from Rose Jewelers approached to shoo them away.
A burly man, brandishing a copper baton in his right hand, sternly told Nia, "What do you think you're doing? Dock your boat elsewhere; this spot isn't meant for you."
Nia was about to take the boat to another docking area when, at that moment, a small, luxurious three-masted ship swiftly approached, propelled by the strong strokes of two robust men.
The man with the copper baton cautiously placed it behind him and hurried forward to greet the incoming vessel with bows and scrapes, saying, "Come, come, dock right here. Our mooring is reserved for distinguished guests."
Seeing this, Howard was incensed, his anger erupting like thunder, "You scoundrels! Why can't we dock here, but they can?"
Howard had become accustomed to his status being recognized in Venice.
However, here, no one knew who Howard was.
Seeing a man dressed like him, they only saw a pauper.
A man wielding a copper rod adopted an intimidating tone, rhythmically swinging the rod back and forth as if ready to strike Howard at any moment.
He said, "If you know what's good for you, you'll leave quickly. This is the upper river channel, not a place for you gutter folks!"
Nia, with a look of concern and indignation for Howard, protested to the guard, "How can you bully people like this!"
The guard sneered, "Well, then I guess I am bullying you. What are you going to do about it? Go ask our store manager, then ask our governor. See if anyone would allow you to dock your boat here?"
From inside the boat, an elderly man's voice emerged, "What's all this noise about?"
The boat had already been moored at the bank, tied to a copper post adorned with ornamental carvings, and then the rower went back inside to assist the elderly man.
The old man emerged, casting a glance over the situation.
His eyes remained unfazed, betraying no sign of interest.
Despite his tone suggesting he might intervene, in reality, he had grown numb to such scenes over many years.
He was merely looking on with the curiosity of someone catching a glimpse of the news, nothing more.
Upon seeing Nia, a girl with red hair, the old man remained impassive.
His gaze then shifted to the burly guard, hands behind his back, suspecting the object he held might be a tool for driving away the impoverished.
Next, the elder took deliberate steps from the boat onto the shore, his sailors or perhaps attendants no longer supporting him.
The old man was physically fit; it was only his unease with water that necessitated assistance while moving on aquatic surfaces.
Pretending not to notice the ongoing situation, he leisurely aimed to stride into the jewelry store with grandeur.
However, at that moment, his eyes caught someone, causing him to pause and look again, hoping he was mistaken.
He was Terni, Howard's father-in-law, now facing an indescribable awkwardness upon seeing Howard.
As an earl, he possessed a certain level of political acumen.
Steadying himself, he took a deep breath, lowered his gaze to the ground, and without uttering a word, signaled his attendants to set sail and leave the area.
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