All-around teacher at the magic academy

As night falls, stars adorn the deep sky.

Earl Hills's shadow stretched long in the moonlight as he walked through the quiet streets and arrived at the solemn church, as he always did.

The church bells echoed in the night sky, as if telling an ancient prayer.

Earl Hills pushed open the heavy wooden door and entered the dimly lit church.

His gaze traveled through the dark corridor and finally landed on Cardinal Hughes, who stood before the altar.

The cardinal's figure appeared exceptionally solemn in the candlelight, his eyes revealing an undeniable authority.

"Are you feeling much better?" Hughes turned around, his voice echoing in the empty church, his eyes full of concern.

Earl Hills nodded, his face appearing somewhat pale in the candlelight. "It is indeed much better than before. Thank you for your prayers and blessings, Bishop Hughes."

However, his brows quickly furrowed again, as if an invisible force was pressing down on him.

“However, I’ve been having a lot of worries lately.” His voice was low, revealing his inner unease.

Cardinal Hughes frowned slightly, a look of confusion on his face.

"Oh? What's troubling you so much, Earl Hills?"

Earl Hills's voice echoed beneath the church dome, his sorrow as deep as the night.

"The workers' strike is because they feel that prices are rising too fast, but wages are not rising. Many factory workers have stopped working and are demanding higher wages."

He sighed, his eyes revealing his helplessness about the current situation.

Cardinal Hughes nodded slightly, a look of sympathy on his face.

"This is indeed a very worrying matter. The workers' anger and dissatisfaction are understandable, after all, the pressure of life is heavy for everyone."

Earl Hills sat on the cold stone bench, his shoulders slumped limply, looking unusually weary.

"I feel really tired of living. Although I have a higher status now, I don't know why I just can't feel happy. I'm busy with all sorts of complicated things every day."

Hughes walked up to the Earl and said softly, “I think you are ill, but not in a common way; it is a mental illness. It is not as obvious as physical pain, but it can be just as unbearable.”

Earl Hills smiled wryly, his gaze drifting into the distance, as if recalling bygone years.

“I feel the same way. When I was so poor that I couldn’t even get enough to eat, I didn’t feel this way. Back then, I was only thinking about making money and climbing the social ladder. Now that I’m rich, all sorts of worries have started to arise.”

His sigh echoed in the church, filled with endless emotion.

Upon hearing Earl Hills' words, Hughes couldn't help but smile helplessly. His lips twitched slightly as he thought to himself, "Is this guy in Versailles? He has everything, yet he's still complaining about being unhappy."

However, as a bishop, he knew that his duty was to guide, not to criticize.

"Looking back now, I realize that my happiest time was when I had no money. Although I was poor then, my heart was full of hope and dreams. Now that I have status, wealth, and everything else, I'm not happy anymore."

Earl Hills' tone was tinged with confusion, as if he truly couldn't understand his own feelings.

Cardinal Hughes suppressed the urge to slap the Earl twice. He took a deep breath and said calmly, "I think perhaps your heart doesn't need these things. External wealth and status may bring temporary satisfaction, but they are not the true source of happiness."

"My true self?"

Earl Hills repeated Hughes's words, his eyes becoming deep, as if he were trying to find the answer.

"Yes, you need to ask your heart carefully what you really want."

Bishop Hughes's voice was gentle yet firm; he hoped to help the Earl find his true self.

Lord Hills was silent for a moment, then closed his eyes, trying to listen to his inner voice.

However, when he opened his eyes, his expression was still confused.

"I do not know."

He finally shook his head, his voice filled with disappointment.

“Let’s take it one step at a time and solve your recent troubles first.”

Hughes’s voice revealed a hint of determination; he was prepared to help Earl Hills out of his predicament step by step.

"The workers' strike?"

Earl Hills pressed on, his brow furrowed, clearly finding the question very difficult to answer.

"Yes."

Hughes nodded, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes. "This matter is actually quite simple. Since the problem is difficult to solve, then solve the person who raised the problem."

"The one who raised the question? You mean the one who started it?" Earl Hills's doubts were obvious; he wasn't sure if this approach was appropriate.

"That's right, make an example of them, kill a bunch of ringleaders."

Bishop Hughes's voice was cold and hard, and his advice clearly stemmed from a profound understanding of the control of power.

"Won't this backfire and incite public anger?" Earl Hills asked worriedly, fearing that such a move would exacerbate the conflict.

"No, kill some, support others, and raise wages for those who didn't participate in the strike."

Bishop Hughes explained his plan in detail, his strategy being a firm stance with a touch of appeasement.

"Hmm, good idea, but I'm worried they'll unite."

Although Lord Hills believed the plan was feasible, he was still worried that the workers would become more united as a result.

"It's alright. Human nature can't withstand the test. Those low-level workers all have their own families, so they're bound to have concerns."

Hughes's voice carried a hint of understanding of reality; he knew that under the pressure of life, people often choose the safer path.

"Indeed, this should be a solution."

Earl Hills nodded in agreement, a hint of relief in his eyes, as if he had gained some confidence in resolving the strike issue.

"So, how do I solve my own problem?"

Earl Hills turned his attention to his predicament, his voice carrying a hint of pleading.

"Hmm, have you only started having so many questions since you became a count?"

Hughes got straight to the heart of the matter, and his question made Earl Hills think deeply.

Earl Hills thought for a moment and said, "Yes, ever since I became an earl, I have to think about how to please those above me and manage those below me every day. I am really exhausted."

His words were filled with exhaustion; clearly, the weight of power overwhelmed him.