The Duke’S Redemption

The Duke’s Redemption

was my mission, though I had not foreseen this twist of fate. Upon transmigrating into this novel as the duke’s aide, I discovered the tragic destiny that awaited this world should he continue down the path of villainy. Though the duke would not meet his end until the world lay in ruins, I was determined to redeem him before this fate could come to pass.

As the duke’s aide, I was privy to his daily affairs and worked closely by his side. Gradually, I came to understand what had shaped him into the callous man depicted in the book. His harsh upbringing had taught him that might made right, and compassion was a weakness. Likewise, his subordinates feared rather than respected him.

Eventually, an opportunity arose to change his perspective. A village under the duke’s domain was struck by disaster, and the villagers teetered on the brink of starvation. Usually apathetic to his people’s suffering, the duke surprised me by agreeing to provide disaster relief. I accompanied him to oversee the distribution of supplies.

There, the duke witnessed firsthand the depth of his people’s plight. Their desperate faces and pleading voices seemed to stir something in him for the first time. As we returned home, the duke was unusually pensive.

From then on, the duke’s policies gradually became kinder and fairer. He reduced taxes, improved infrastructure, and provided healthcare for his poorest subjects. In turn, his people began to love rather than fear him. The duke appeared happier and more at ease, no longer plagued by paranoia and distrust.

One day, the duke confessed that seeing his people’s hardship and gaining their goodwill had given him a sense of purpose beyond ambition. My mission now complete, I knew the ending of this tale would be very different. With compassion to temper his might, this duke would not lead the world to ruin but usher in a golden age of prosperity. With renewed hope for this world’s future, my watch over the duke had come to an end. I had redeemed the villain and saved the kingdom.