Damn, I recarneted As A Judge in Fantasy World

To be honest, there were plenty of people who did simple labor. You could always replace them, so why pay such a high price to keep them?

As time passed, Trevor only became more confused. No matter what he experienced, he couldn't understand Duke Carriers' thoughts.

Eventually, Trevor decided to go see him directly.

"Let me ask you just one thing, Your Highness."

"What kind of rudeness is this?"

Cordell McNeil blocked his path, but Trevor's eyes remained fixed on Abel. Finally, the Duke waved his hand, and the escort knight stepped back slightly.

"I won't give it back, even if you try. It's a game, after all."

"No, I didn't come here to place a bet!"

"Then what is it?"

"Why do you keep behaving like this?"

"This kind of behavior?"

"From the ridiculous shower rooms to the suits, overtime pay, and industrial accident compensation! If it's not an act, then what is it?"

Isn't that true? Where in the world could such a happy place exist? Life is a mixture of joy and sorrow, anger and pleasure.

Trevor came to one conclusion.

"Are you doing all of this just to gain my loyalty?"

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Abel Carriers remained silent for a while. Trevor felt more confident in his assumption.

But the Duke's next words shattered everything.

"There's no need for a knightly oath or anything like that. Just do your job diligently. You wouldn't be trying to evade His Majesty the Emperor's orders, would you?"

This time, it was Trevor's turn to remain silent.

Trevor stood there in stunned silence, his thoughts swirling. Abel's words had left him speechless. He had expected some form of manipulation, an attempt to gain his loyalty through the absurd benefits and overwhelming generosity.

But what he had heard was far from what he anticipated. The Duke didn't care for Trevor's loyalty, nor did he require an oath. He simply wanted his workers to perform their duties diligently.

The simplicity of it all unsettled Trevor.

Was this truly how Duke Carriers ran his domain? Without the usual expectations of blind allegiance or servitude? He had never seen anything like it before, and he couldn't help but question the Duke's motives.

Was it all really so straightforward? Or was there something far deeper hidden beneath that calm, kind exterior?

"Is that all, Your Highness?" Trevor finally asked, his voice quieter than before. The sharpness in his tone had dulled.

Abel Carriers leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a soft sigh.

His eyes didn't betray any malice or hidden agenda; they were calm, almost weary.

"Trevor," he began, his voice firm but not unkind, "I've learned that ruling with fear and exploiting people only brings short-term gains. What I desire is a prosperous and peaceful land, where my people are happy and content. It's that simple."

Trevor blinked, momentarily taken aback. Prosperity and peace? Happiness and contentment? These were lofty ideals—ideals that, in his experience, no noble truly embodied. Yet, here was the Duke, speaking about them as though they were not just attainable but expected.

"But… why?" Trevor asked, genuinely perplexed. "Why go through all the trouble? You could have a much easier time ruling with fear and authority."

Abel smiled faintly, shaking his head. "Easier, yes. But sustainable? No. I don't rule over my people; I live with them. I take care of them because, in turn, they take care of this land.

A broken, exploited land benefits no one in the long run, least of all its ruler."

Trevor couldn't believe what he was hearing. Everything about this man contradicted the teachings and experiences he'd gathered over his lifetime. His previous lord had run his lands with a tight fist, crushing any hint of disobedience. And now, Trevor had found himself in a place where the Duke paid for workers' injuries, showered them with modern luxuries, and showed up at commoners' weddings.

"Your way of ruling is… unconventional," Trevor muttered.

Abel shrugged. "Unconventional to some, perhaps. But it works. I don't expect you to understand right away, Trevor. Most people don't."

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Trevor glanced down at his feet, his mind still processing. This world of Carriers Duchy was so different from the rigid, exploitative structures he was used to. And yet, it thrived. It seemed impossible, but he couldn't deny what he had witnessed with his own eyes.

"Does that mean you have no use for my loyalty at all?" Trevor asked, feeling strangely vulnerable.

The Duke chuckled softly, standing up and approaching Trevor. "I'm not interested in oaths of loyalty that come from fear or desperation. I want my people to follow me because they believe in what I stand for, because they feel supported. If, one day, you choose to pledge your loyalty to me, let it be because you see the value in what we're building here. Not out of obligation."

Trevor's jaw tightened. He had expected manipulation or coercion, but not this. Never this.

"So you're telling me to just… do my job?" Trevor asked.

"Precisely," Abel replied, smiling. "Do your job, Trevor. Be part of something bigger. Help this land thrive, and enjoy the life you have here. That's all I ask."

Trevor looked at the Duke, and for the first time, he wasn't filled with skepticism or suspicion. Instead, there was a flicker of respect. The man before him wasn't what he had assumed. He wasn't some power-hungry noble obsessed with control. He was someone who genuinely cared about the people around him.

"I'll… think about it," Trevor said, his voice hesitant but sincere.

"Take your time," Abel responded warmly, "I'm not going anywhere."

With that, Trevor bowed slightly and turned to leave, his mind still buzzing with the conversation. As he stepped out of the Duke's chambers, the questions and doubts that had plagued him for so long seemed to quiet, if only slightly.

He wasn't ready to pledge his loyalty just yet. But for the first time since arriving in the Carriers Duchy, he could see why so many others had.

As he walked back toward the workers' quarters, Trevor found himself thinking about the Duke's words. Perhaps there was more to this place than he had initially thought. And perhaps, just maybe, this strange way of life wasn't as absurd as he had once believed.

Time would tell. But for now, Trevor had something new to ponder.