The Oath of the Young Viscount

Tang Wenxu sat lost in thought on a park bench in Komi City. Amidst the bustling street, he alone remained still, a solitary figure. In that moment, he felt like an observer of the world, a membrane of loneliness separating him from his surroundings.

Despite his coarse cloth attire, an aristocratic languor and elegance emanated from him. It was as if he were a fallen nobleman, possessing a lineage both noble and sorrowful deep in his bones. This was not a trait one could feign or learn; it was inherent.

A young man, wearing glasses and carrying a drawing board, noticed Tang Wenxu. Seemingly drawn by his aura, he paused.

The bespectacled youth scrutinized the plainly dressed man carefully. He then sat directly on the ground, took off his drawing board, and began to measure Tang Wenxu with his paintbrush.

Once satisfied, he began to sketch.

This bespectacled youth was young Renitz, or rather, Viscount Renitz, as he could now be called. He had inherited everything from his father, yet his incorruptible father had left him no fortune—only the social status of a hero’s son and a somewhat dilapidated mansion.

Tang Wenxu remained seated, staring blankly for about thirty minutes. He seemed to have grown weary of it and decided to leave the park to return to the town’s church, completely unaware that Renitz was sketching him.

“Wait, sir,” Renitz called out, stopping him.

Tang Wenxu paused, turning towards the voice. “Are you calling me? What is it?”

“Please, allow me to draw your portrait,” Renitz said.

“But I have no money,” Tang Wenxu replied with a bitter smile. “Unfortunately, I’ve just lost my job.”

“I don’t need your money.”

“Alright then.” Tang Wenxu settled back onto the bench.

Renitz gave an awkward laugh. The distinguished aura Tang Wenxu had possessed moments before had vanished, replaced by a somewhat nervous and affected demeanor. Fortunately, Renitz had already finished drawing his eyes. Tang Wenxu’s eyes had been incredibly beautiful, making it difficult for the young artist to believe that a man in such ordinary clothes could possess such a noble yet pure gaze.

About thirty minutes later, Renitz finished his drawing.

“What do you think?” Renitz asked, handing the drawing to Tang Wenxu.

Tang Wenxu was quite surprised. He wasn’t a narcissistic man, and while the person in the drawing wasn’t a perfect beauty, the artistry was incredibly delicate and lifelike. The melancholy gaze of the portrait, in particular, was like a stroke of genius, bringing out a noble and sorrowful temperament onto the paper. Anyone who saw this painting would be utterly convinced that the subject was a nobleman dressed in commoner’s clothes.

“Is… is this really me?” Tang Wenxu stammered, genuinely surprised by the likeness.

“Of course, my friend,” Renitz nodded. “This is you.”

“Thank you.” Tang Wenxu extended his hand. “My name is Tang.”

“Renitz.”

The two young men shook hands.

“Mr. Tang, you said you just lost your job? It’s hard to imagine someone like you being unemployed.”

“Someone like me?” Tang Wenxu sighed. “You think too highly of me. I’m just an ordinary person.”

Tang Wenxu even felt that calling himself “ordinary” was an understatement for most ordinary people.

“No,” Renitz shook his head, speaking earnestly. “Your eyes tell me you are by no means an ordinary person. Would you mind telling me what happened, Mr. Tang?”

“Of course, Mr. Renitz.” After all, Renitz had just drawn his portrait; he had no reason to refuse.

After exchanging a few polite words, Tang Wenxu began to recount his recent experience. He described, in a calm and objective manner, the misdeeds of the boss who sold rat meat as beef. However, when speaking of his own role, he didn’t dwell on his feelings, simply stating, ‘I couldn’t stand it, so I resigned.’

Upon hearing Tang Wenxu’s plight, tears streamed down Renitz’s face without warning. Listening to Tang Wenxu’s refusal to compromise his conscience for mere gold coins reminded him of his own recently deceased father—a father who had never exploited commoners in his life, even donating his entire salary to the poor.

“Mr. Renitz?” Tang Wenxu was somewhat dumbfounded to see the young man suddenly burst into tears.

“My apologies, I lost my composure.” Renitz pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his eyes.

His father had refused to associate with those scoundrels who only pursued their own interests. Thus, despite holding the title of Viscount, he had been completely marginalized in Komi City. And now, this Mr. Tang had lost his job because he refused to sell his conscience. Both were upright individuals, yet honest people seemed destined to be bullied by the corrupt.

He let out a long sigh. “If I had money, I would certainly hire you as the head chef at my manor, but I don’t have much. I’m sorry, I can’t help you, nor do I have enough power to do so.”

“You don’t need to apologize, Mr. Renitz. This has nothing to do with you.”

“To be honest, I am a Viscount, yet I cannot uphold justice for people like you. I am guilty.”

Tang Wenxu said nothing, merely watching him silently.

Renitz gazed at every blade of grass and tree in the park, filled with boundless emotion. Komi City owed its current achievements to countless conscientious people like these, yet the accursed nobles and officials shamelessly claimed their contributions as their own, betraying them without an ounce of shame.

Renitz was deeply troubled. He wanted to seek justice for these pitiful yet great people, but given the current climate, his voice as a young Viscount who hadn’t even graduated was far too small.

He refused to give up. With a month until the new school year, he resolved to study even more diligently than usual. He would then return to his homeland, cultivate his own influence, and fulfill his father’s dying wish to bring justice to the common people.

He would also find his father’s killer and personally exact revenge, uprooting the forces behind the murderer. Despite the strong possibility of following in his father’s footsteps, he showed no fear.

“Mr. Tang, would you mind coming with me somewhere? I need you to be my witness.”

“Of course.”

Renitz led Tang Wenxu to the Komi Grand Cathedral, before his father’s tombstone.

Tang Wenxu asked, “This is?”

“One of the greatest men of the Kingdom of Zelin is buried here,” Renitz said.

Tang Wenxu silently lowered his head and prayed for him.

Renitz walked around to the back of the tombstone. The inscription read: ‘He never compromised.’

Each time he saw those words, Renitz’s face turned ashen with fury. He had likely already guessed whose handiwork his father’s assassination was. Those damned parasites had not only killed his father but had also not forgotten to mock him even in death. He clenched his fists, vowing that one day he would find the evidence to bring them to justice.

“Mr. Tang,” Renitz turned to Tang Wenxu and said earnestly, “Believe me, there will be work, and there will be bread. I swear by my name, Viscount Renitz, that justice will be served to you upright people.”

In that moment, he felt as if his father stood behind him, swearing alongside him. The two men, bearing the name Renitz, would ultimately fight until the very end.