I was a lord farming, how did I become an emperor?

Chapter 85 First, win this battle.

Avril returned to her cabin with the cushion Rod had given her, and lay on the bed lost in thought.

This gift reminded Avril of a warmth that seemed so distant—the last time someone had shown such concern for her menstrual discomfort was when her mother did.

Even on the days when her father was lucid, he never showed any concern for her discomfort during menstruation.

She didn't know that Rod hadn't thought much of it; he was just providing her and Millie with some convenience because women in his previous life used such things.

But for a sensitive girl like Avril, this small cushion carried an extraordinary meaning, unlike any other food or object.

The thought of Rod's concern for her private affairs made her cheeks flush, her heart race, and a strange sweetness and warmth welled up inside her.

Without realizing it, I felt that my relationship with Rhodes had grown a little closer.

Avril was eager to reciprocate this sweetness.

It's not a return, but a response.

Just like when you're in a flirtatious relationship and the other person says goodnight to you, you're eager to reply with a goodnight too.

Avril pondered for a whole morning and then decided to embroider a sachet by hand.

The herbal knowledge she had learned from Luna came in handy at this moment; she knew many fragrant herbs that could repel insects, which were perfect for making sachets.

This sachet can effectively prevent mosquitoes from approaching and biting you when you are walking in the wild. More importantly, it can be carried with you.

After a busy day and night, Avril got up early the next morning, eager to personally deliver the sachet to Rod.

As soon as she stepped outside, she saw all the soldiers bustling about, including the newly trained reserve militia.

"what happened?"

Avril asked, puzzled.

Rhodes was also fully armed, wearing his dragon scale leather armor, with a brand new chainmail over it.

Rhodes smiled and replied, "It's nothing. They've been staying in town for too long. I'm taking them out for field training, otherwise their weapons will rust."

rust?

Avril was filled with doubt.

These soldiers meticulously polish their swords and shields every day, just like they would their beloved wives. How could they possibly rust?
But she didn't voice her doubts.

When a man is doing something, it's best for a woman not to interfere unless he actively seeks her opinion.

This is what her mother taught her.

Actually, Rhodes didn't intentionally hide it; he just didn't want Avril to worry.

Even if she knew about this, it wouldn't make a difference.

If he really needs Avril's help, he will ask without hesitation.

"Then you should be careful during your training."

Avril spoke softly, taking a carefully crafted sachet from her pocket and handing it to Rhodes.

"This is what I embroidered last night. The herbs inside are insect repellent herbs that Sister Luna gave me,"

Ivy's cheeks flushed slightly. "I think if you take it with you in the wild, it should reduce a lot of your troubles."

Rod took the sachet and examined the pattern on it closely—a beautiful griffin lying on the ground, with blooming tulips beside it; the composition was exquisite and the stitches were fine.

Avril secretly watched him, her eyes full of anticipation.

However, Rod simply praised it as "very beautiful, I like it very much" before preparing to put the sachet away.

Avril quickly stopped her: "You should wear it around your waist, it'll look better that way. Let me help you put it on?"

"it is good."

Rhodes slightly lifted his shirt, allowing Avril to kneel down in front of him and carefully tie the sachet around his waist.

"Alright, it's getting late, I should go."

Rod bid farewell to Avril, walked to the manor gate, mounted Gunle's horse, and led the procession on a grand journey.

"My lord, it seems you're about to win over Miss Avril."

"I'm saying this half-jokingly," Gunle said.

Rhodes smiled slightly and did not deny it.

Having lived two lives, Rhodes learned more about how to be a lord.

As for how to treat women, he had little knowledge of it, so he just let things take their course.

He was generous with his kindness towards Avril.

He did not reject Avril's kindness.

As for other things, I haven't thought about them yet, anyway, I'm still young.

Rod flicked the reins.
"Let's win this battle first." ...

……

The hilly area to the southwest of Black Pine Ridge.

An army of several dozen men is advancing.

The front half of the group wore uniform chainmail, clearly indicating they were a regular army, but there were only twenty of them.

Following behind were forty or fifty people dressed in ordinary cloth clothes, with a few wearing cotton armor.

"Damn it! Isn't there an exact location for that town?"

On horseback beside the group, Knight Chris cursed, his voice full of frustration and exhaustion.

Earl Falcon only ordered them to come and plunder, but did not provide any specific location information.

The map that Simon the merchant had was full of messy markings, making it impossible to tell where Frostleaf Town was located.

Unfortunately, he died in the dungeon less than a night after being captured and questioned; otherwise, taking him along would have allowed us to quickly find the exact location.

Chris guessed that Simon must have been killed by someone.

However, Earl Falcon failed to uncover any clues, and the matter was eventually dropped.

"If I had known that town was so hard to find, I should have gone to the border town and asked the merchants in the wilderness for more information."

Chris harbored some resentment, but dared not openly complain about Earl Falcon.

Even though he's the oldest in the team.

"Those desert merchants only know the western route; they've never been to the eastern one."

Chris's second-in-command, Oren, reported.

"Actually, I don't think this is a big deal. We don't need to come here for revenge at all."

Looking at Chris's expression, Oren muttered to himself.

"That baron didn't participate in the looting; he only bought some slaves and took in some refugees."

The refugees went to Black Pine Ridge because of the merchant Simon's instigation.

Oren's voice grew softer and softer.
“That cunning businessman Simon was the real culprit. He’s dead, and this should all be over.”

The soldiers of Eagle Ridge had just finished a long and arduous battle, and everyone was exhausted, both physically and mentally.

Nobody wants to jump into a new battle so quickly.

But the Earl didn't care at all.

They would risk their lives for a noble lord's word.

This fostered war-weariness among many soldiers, including Oren.

It's harvest time; this isn't a good time for fighting.

"What do you know?"

Chris gave his deputy, Oren, a cold glance.
"How do you know that merchant has no connection with Baron Rhodes? Maybe he was the one who ordered him to do it?"
Otherwise, why send someone to kill Simon?

Chris scoffed, "And you're oversimplifying things."

For the Earl, right and wrong are unimportant; what matters is whether he has a legitimate reason to plunder this place.

"The Earldom suffered heavy losses in battle this year, and we must make up for it from other sources."

"And Blackpine Ridge, this small barony, is the most suitable target."

“But isn’t he the second son of the Tulip family? Won’t we offend the Tulip family by doing this?” Oren asked worriedly.

"Those who are sent here are certainly not favored heirs,"

Chris waved his hand dismissively.

"Besides, the Earl has a legitimate reason. The Tulip family is far away from here, and they would not send a large army to take revenge just because of a second son who was exiled to the North."

"Besides, we're not going to kill anyone, we just want to steal some things to take back."

"Don't think too much about it. Let's find a place to camp first, and then get some decent food."

Chris reached out to interrupt Oren, who was about to say something, and, completely lacking any knightly decorum, touched his stomach.
"I've been eating dry rations every day for the past few days, and it's made me look emaciated."

As a knight of Earl Falcon, Chris had not suffered like this in a long time.

"Yes, my lord."

Oren nodded and immediately ordered the scouts to find a suitable campsite.

(End of this chapter)