Hearing Lock say this, everyone's interest was piqued, and they immediately began helping Historia brainstorm.
Jean rubbed his chin and said, "Looking at these two things, their shape and size are basically the same."
Connie said, "They've got sharp corners too. Lock, there isn't a box under the cloth, is there?"
Lock replied, "Of course not. I'm not that bored."
Then Armin pointed at the two cloths and said, "Look, the green cloth is clearly a waterproof material like a raincoat, while the white cloth is a very expensive silk scarf."
Eren said in surprise, "Really? As expected of Armin!"
Connie said, "Then we should definitely pick the more expensive one."
Mikasa said indifferently, "Historia should just order him to hand over both."
Historia crossed her arms, lost in thought for a long time.
Finally, she spoke up, "Lock, I choose the white one."
Lock didn't hand it over immediately. He asked, "Can I know the reason?"
Historia smiled and said, "Because I'm wearing white today."
"I see..." Lock looked at her, and after a moment, handed her the object covered by the white cloth.
As soon as Historia took it, she frowned and said, "It's so heavy."
Jean immediately said, "Historia, hurry up and open it. I want to see what this guy Lock is giving you."
Historia slowly lifted the white cloth.
Inside was an exquisite picture frame, one meter long and fifty centimeters wide.
The solid wood frame was wrapped in a layer of metal and covered with glass.
Inside the frame was a portrait.
It was a beautiful woman with long black hair, wearing the same clothes as Historia was today.
She was young, holy, and her eyes held a heavenly grace.
It was Frieda Reiss.
The people nearby all asked in confusion, "Who is this?"
Only Eren's face was full of surprise.
"Ah, Historia is crying!" Connie suddenly shouted.
Lock said softly, "I found this by chance in the Stohess District. The person who painted this is already dead, so I bought it from her father."
"Historia, do you like it?"
Historia nodded through her tears and smiled, "Thank you, Lock. I love it."
A satisfied Lock was about to put away the item covered by the green cloth, saving it for next time... but suddenly, he changed his mind.
He looked at Historia and said, "I might as well give you the other one today, so you don't keep thinking about it every day."
Armin had some idea of who it was...
Lock pulled back the green cloth.
It was an identical frame, and also a portrait of a woman.
She was wearing the Training Corps uniform, with freckles on her cheeks and a faint smile on her lips.
This time, everyone present recognized her.
"Ymir!"
"The Tomboy!"
"It looks just like her!"
"Ah, Historia is crying again!"
Lock said with some pride, "I painted this one myself."
"For real?"
"Lock, you know how to paint? You never mentioned it."
Lock didn't know how before, but not long ago, he had specifically told Lock to change his reward to a painting skill.
And then he knew how. It was truly convenient.
Lock laughed and said, "Don't you understand the basic accomplishments of an excellent noble?"
He looked at Historia and said solemnly, "Historia, I hope that even after you become Queen, you will remember them and the words they said to you."
"One day in the future, I don't want to see you sacrificing yourself for some 'greater good' again."
Wiping her tears, Historia promised Lock, "I promise!"
...
Two months later, at the former Reiss Family farm.
It had now been transformed into something like an orphanage.
The New Government had conducted a census over these two months and brought orphans and people in severe hardship to this farm to receive proper care.
As for the funding for this largest orphanage within the walls... it came from royal public funds, the seized property of council members, and donations led by the Leon Family and joined by most of the nobles within the walls.
On top of that, the Leon Family was the first to respond to the New Government's policy of increasing taxes on the nobility...
Ash had already been labeled by some nobles as a "Traitor to the Nobility" and "The New Government's Dog."
Of course, as the "Chief Financial Advisor" to the New Government, Ash didn't need to pay attention to these voices.
"Financial Advisor? It just sounds nice, but actually has no power at all."
Ash had privately complained to Lock, "Those military thugs are dreaming of seizing our home in private!"
...
Lock was slacking off by the fence with Eren, Jean, and Armin.
The four of them looked into the distance at Historia, who was chasing after some naughty children trying to escape, and they all felt a bit emotional.
Jean said, "I feel like she's a far cry from the image of a Queen I imagined. She's more like an orphanage director."
Lock said indifferently, "As a puppet, it's not bad that The Corps agreed to let her do this. Of course, it's mostly to bleed us nobles a bit more."
Everyone knew that Lock had always had strong opinions about Historia becoming Queen, so they didn't react much to his somewhat treasonous words.
After all, what he said was the truth.
Armin tried to smooth things over, saying, "But at least it's gained her widespread public support. Do you know what people are saying about Historia in the streets?"
"They all affectionately call her the 'Cattle-Herding Goddess'."
Jean sighed, "She really is a goddess."
Then he turned his head and mockingly said to Eren, "Now no one remembers the guy who plugged the big hole in the wall in the Trost District!"
Eren acted as if he hadn't heard, saying calmly, "One of the reasons Historia was determined to become Queen was for this."
"She wants to help those in need as much as possible."
At that moment, Lock hurriedly bent down and shouldered the flour bags at his feet.
"You're slacking off here again!" Historia walked up to them, looking angry.
After shouldering four bags of flour, Lock said without changing his expression, "I'm not. I just finished moving a round over here."
"Ah, Lock, you bastard!"
"How shameless!"
Jean said helplessly, "Just let us rest for a bit..."
Historia picked up a box of potatoes and said, "Rest after you're done moving. It's about to get dark."
Jean complained, "I feel like she's becoming more and more like my mom."
Armin also sighed, "A goddess, huh?"
Historia and Lock walked side by side at the back.
Historia spoke up, "Lock, I heard you went to see Annie a couple of days ago?"
Lock said, "Yeah, after all, this is the free visitation right I exchanged for my contribution last time."
Historia asked in a low voice, "How is Annie now?"
Lock said gloomily, "She's sleeping soundly. She's hiding inside and doesn't have to care about anything. She might still be waiting for Reiner and Bertholdt to come rescue her."
After hesitating for a moment, Historia turned and asked, "Lock, what do you think Reiner and the others will do to Ymir?"
Lock paused and said, "There have been speculations within The Corps. The most likely scenario is that they will... eat her, to take back Ymir's Power of the Titans."
Although she was mentally prepared, hearing Lock say it himself still made Historia very sad. "Then why... did Ymir still choose to leave with them?"
Lock said calmly, "Because Ymir is a fool."
"Huh?"
Lock looked at Historia and said, "You know it too, right? Although Ymir says she does everything for herself, she's actually always been a complete softie."
"She only became human because she ate Reiner's companion. To repay that debt, after entrusting you to me, she voluntarily went with Reiner and the others."
Historia lowered her head and murmured, "So... that's how it is."
She smiled with tears in her eyes, "Ymir really is a dummy!"
"Yeah, a dummy."
In this world, good people don't seem to get good rewards...
"Do you still want to be a good person?"
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A/N: 40+ Advance Chapter Has Been Uploaded.
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