The aging of his body and the loss of vitality made him extremely irritated, with a faint trace of fear.

He shouted at Eliza behind him, “Come help me, you stupid wench!”

Eliza lowered her head and obediently stepped forward to support the old lord’s arm.

When she helped the old lord to the window and saw what was happening outside the city walls, the old lord immediately flew into a rage, shouting loudly, “Those filthy peasants, what are they gathering for? Geoffrey, go, tell the guards to shoot arrows at them and drive them away!”

The townspeople were all a bunch of beggars—cunning and dirty.

Look at them, their mud-caked shoes trampling on the smooth lawn he had spent a fortune to maintain—how could the old lord not be furious?

More importantly, his son was about to return. If he saw this scene, he would surely blame his father for being incompetent.

That was something he absolutely could not accept.

In just a moment, Melbourne had already thought through all of this.

When he came back to his senses and saw the butler still standing in the study, his anger flared up again, and he lashed out, “You idiot, why aren’t you delivering my orders yet?”

As he spoke, he reached for something nearby, intending to throw it.

But he quickly realized he was holding a silver candlestick—this thing was worth a gold coin, and he couldn’t bear to throw it.

The old lord blew on the candlestick, wiped it with his sleeve, and, after making sure there wasn’t a speck of dust on it, carefully put it back.

This action made Eliza, standing to the side, purse her lips, wanting to laugh but not daring to, so she could only lower her head and stifle it.

The butler shrank his head in fear and cautiously said, “Master, something terrible has happened—Leonard the priest is dead!”

The old lord gasped, exclaiming in shock, “How did he die? How many dark creatures have come to town?”

He knew the priest’s background very well—not only could he perform divine magic, but he also had a frost warrior as a servant.

No one in town could possibly kill him; it could only be a monster from the Dark Forest!

Could those townsfolk outside the window be here seeking protection?

To kill the servant of the Lord of Light in broad daylight—this monster must be unbelievably powerful. Now there was real trouble.

The old lord grew anxious, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Geoffrey hurriedly shook his head in denial, wiped the sweat from his own forehead, and then began to recount everything he had found out.

As he spoke, a glimmer of light appeared in the eyes of Eliza, who had been standing behind the old lord the whole time.

She seemed to see hope—a powerful figure who might help her escape her current desperate situation.

But the old lord didn’t see it that way. He slammed the table hard, growing even angrier. “What a wretched peasant, what nerve, to cause me such a huge mess!”

On his land, a priest was killed by a peasant. If the church investigated, how could he possibly explain himself!

As for **women’s issues**, to those peasants it was a big deal, but to people of status and position like them, it was hardly worth mentioning—just give them some money and be done with it.

The archbishop of Lumba City even keeps two mistresses, and no one reports him.

The more he thought about it, the angrier Sir Melbourne became. He roared, “Go, tell the guards to drag that peasant out and hang him in public!”

But Geoffrey looked hesitant, stammering as he tried to persuade him, “Master, the townsfolk are all riled up. Handling it this way… isn’t very wise, is it?”

He didn’t finish the rest—after all, the men in town were tough. If they were pushed too far, something serious could really happen.

“Just do as I say! These peasants are only bold because they’re indulged. If we don’t kill a few, they’ll never know how formidable I am!” Melbourne was full of rage and wouldn’t listen to the butler at all.

Geoffrey was extremely unwilling in his heart—this order was absurd. Even if the lord ended up fine, his own family still lived in town. They were all neighbors; if things went too far, how could his family live on?

He cast a pleading look at Eliza behind the lord.

Eliza also felt the old lord’s order was unreliable. She had wanted to speak up, but was afraid. Now, seeing the butler’s look, she steeled herself and said, “Master, you…”

A crisp ‘slap’ rang out.

She had just opened her mouth when the old lord slapped her, leaving five finger marks on her fair face.

“Shut up! Is this any business of a woman like you? Get out!” The old lord pointed contemptuously at the door.

Eliza covered her face, eyes brimming with tears, and ran out.

Afterwards, the old lord said smugly to the butler, “These women of high society always look down their noses at people, but really, they just need discipline!”

See? All that talk of elegance and good breeding is nonsense—they still take his beatings and scoldings.

As for the affairs of the master’s household, how could the butler dare to comment? He could only laugh along awkwardly.

He decided to make one last effort and said, “Master, there’s actually a better way to deal with that boy! One that will make him suffer even more!”

Hearing this, Melbourne became interested and asked, “Let’s hear it, then.”