All-around teacher at the magic academy

“You are a qualified leader, but not a free person.”

Hughes' words struck Earl Hills' heart like a morning bell and an evening drum.

“A free man?” Earl Hills murmured, repeating the word over and over, a hint of longing in his eyes.

"Yes, you are currently limited by your position. Imagine if you weren't the Earl, wouldn't you face far fewer problems?"

Hughes countered with a question that carried an enlightening quality.

"Indeed. If I weren't the Earl, I wouldn't have to think about pleasing those above me, worry about the troubles below me, or think about how to resolve the strike."

Earl Hills' eyes lit up, as if he had seen a whole new possibility, and his voice was filled with anticipation.

What do you think is the purpose of life?

Hughes suddenly changed the subject, his question pointing directly to the meaning of life.

“I don’t know,” Earl Hills answered honestly, his eyes revealing deep confusion about the question.

"For freedom. Look at me, I can now do whatever I want, I'm completely free."

Hughes remarked that his words were filled with a deep appreciation for freedom.

"But you are not free. Although you have power, you are also controlled by power. You seem to be free, but in reality you are not free at all."

Suddenly, he changed the subject, pointing at Earl Hills, and his words made the Earl fall into deep thought.

"Then what should I do?" Earl Hills asked, his voice tinged with a plea for help.

“Give up your current position,” Cardinal Hughes offered a bold suggestion.

"Give up your status?"

Earl Hills repeated the words, a look of shock on his face; the idea was too shocking for him.

"Well, do you have a son?" Hughes asked, his question seemingly hinting at a solution.

"No, to be honest, I'm not good in that area."

Earl Hills' tone was tinged with embarrassment and helplessness, and he avoided the cardinal's gaze.

"Of course I know, I found out from your wife."

Hughes thought to himself with a sly smile, a glint of cunning in his eyes. He knew very well about Earl Hills' family situation.

"Then why do you still need this identity? You have no heirs, you don't need to worry about your descendants, it's enough for you to live your life just for yourself."

Hughes continued, his words prompting Earl Hills to deep reflection.

"Live only for yourself..."

Earl Hills murmured, the words echoing in his mind, as if he had never considered such a possibility.

"Yes, think about how old you are now, how much longer do you have to live? Why not do some things you want to do?"

Hughes’ words carried an inspirational tone; he was trying to awaken the deepest desires within Earl Hills.

“Give up the title of earl, be a free man, carefree, do whatever you want. Not only that, you can also give up money. These external things are useless because you can't take them with you when you die.”

Hughes’ words were full of philosophy; he was trying to show Lord Hills that true happiness might not lie in status and wealth.

"Indeed, I have absolutely no interest in these things right now."

Earl Hills nodded in agreement, a new light beginning to gleam in his eyes, as if he were seeing a completely new possibility for life.

He began to imagine what he would do, where he would go, and what his life would be like if he were free from his status as an earl.

This idea made him both nervous and excited; he realized that perhaps he could really live for himself for once.

"Is it only when you are in church that you feel most comfortable?"

Hughes’s voice was gentle and seductive, his gaze fixed on Earl Hills’s face.

“Yes,” Earl Hills’s answer came almost spontaneously, his eyes revealing a tranquility found only in a church.

"Because you don't need to think about anything here. You can give up your identity and stay in the church all the time without having to think about anything."

Hughes continued, his words seemingly possessing an irresistible magic.

Earl Hills was clearly tempted; the more he thought about it, the more he realized that Hughes made sense.

These words echoed in his mind. Upon reflection, he realized that he had become preoccupied since becoming a count.

He reminisced about the time when he was powerless and without influence, a time when he was truly happy and carefree, unlike now when he was bound by heavy responsibilities.

Hughes looked at the count before him and smiled to himself; his plan was unfolding step by step.

All that preparation was worthwhile; from the moment he stepped into the church, he was already influenced by his own magic.

Why do I feel safe in the church? It's because I cast a spell, of course.

Why do they think what I said makes sense? Of course, it's because of my magic.

Why were we troubled by the workers' strike before? Of course, it was because I instigated it.

Why don't you have your own children? It's because of your wife, of course.

Having been in the organization for so long, I've mastered the art of disrupting thoughts and calming the mind quite well. Combined with my persuasive skills, it's easy to influence someone.

Hughes was secretly pleased with himself; his experience and insight into human nature made him adept at this.

"So, what should I do?"

Earl Hills seemed somewhat bewildered, as if he had been completely captivated by Cardinal Hughes's words and was eager to find a way out.

"Do you love your wife?" Hughes suddenly changed the subject, his question striking at the heart of Earl Hills's heart.

"It's not really love, I'm basically not interested in women anymore."

Earl Hills's reply was somewhat indifferent; his emotions seemed to have faded with time.

"Then hand over your property to your wife and let her suffer the torment of these troubles."

Hughes offered an unexpected suggestion, his words carrying a seductive quality.

"I have no grudge against her, so why would I want to harm her?"

Earl Hills frowned, puzzled and confused by the suggestion.

"Do you intend to harm yourself?"

Hughes countered with a resolute tone.

"No, let's harm her instead."

Earl Hills finally relented, his voice revealing a hint of helplessness and resolve.

"Uh-huh."