Chapter 86: Marriage Proposal (2)
UMRJdMaster,kRX6X
af2aAI hope you are in good health.6nydkd6
AM7nGr6It has been quite some time since the end of winter arrived. The cold seems to be subsiding, and it feels as if the eastern continent is already preparing for spring.nny
reNsIt’s been a while since I arrived in the north, at the Rochester family, and I think I will be returning to Ebelstein soon.WNO
Lx5aOqAs a magic teacher, I feel I’ve grown a little, but as a mercenary, I’m worried I’ve lost some of my instincts. I should keep myself in shape with more real combat when I get the chance.h9jpw
uODcTThe reason I’ve taken up the pen to write this letter is because
…I’m getting married.OTQw
4K4QoHowever… I don’t have a partner.KlcidNY
2hqBbGoThe mansion of the Marquis of Elvester, known as the headquarters of the eastern continent’s social circles.tEW
mOL2TRA woman, sitting in a corner of the grand and luxurious garden, trembled as she read the letter sent by her lifelong disciple.j81Xa
l5lizEkShe had only read the beginning, but it already struck her as unusual.Jimc
JHqcGKyHer disciple, who rarely contacted her except for important matters, had written to her first, and she was already bewildered.2wq
18nzZThe woman put the letter down for a moment, pressed her temples, and looked up at the sky.OHJD
Vt35fJHow many years had it been since she parted ways with her little disciple in Ebelstein…?9EBst
IsbzOVAShe couldn’t imagine what kind of tumultuous life her only and dear disciple must be living.kOHfq
vPQ***gYj6KW
DBjqe4To receive a title, one must belong to a family.oQy
ZygIn this era, that was natural, but Dereck, an orphan from the slums, hadn’t given it much thought.aXlS
r6lXAAs he looked at the carriage prepared to depart for Ebelstein, Dereck scratched his head and sat beside the fireplace in the main hall.EodP
pJ9wFkFBefore Siern officially debuted in the social circles, they planned to visit Ebelstein to get a feel for the environment.jmfRIUp
qz5bMIn the meantime, Dereck and Aiselin would also have the chance to step on their homeland after a long time.5Sqz6wW
ldrOMIt was a relief to escape that desolate snowy region and finally enjoy Ebelstein’s food. Aiselin, holding a wad of money given to her by Melverot, surely felt satisfied too.55v
JsSHowever, Dereck could only hold his head in his hands.SxQzhSI
mSIy‘I have three options.’jRWV
Ur8Be adopted by an existing family, find a trustworthy person to marry and form a family, or give up the title grant.PLj1dU
Y4nSince the title was essential to reach 4-star level, the last option was out of the question.60ndt
r56Iz3tThat left only two options.5thr3hR
OQ6wV“Dereck… you look deep in thought…”DmrlqKQ
t1pyAiselin, who had somehow appeared on the other side of the fireplace, sat down shyly.lj2biqy
4kZCShe had just finished all the lessons prepared for Siern that day and seemed to be getting ready to return to Ebelstein.XW0
7R9KMAiDespite the excitement of returning to the Duplain mansion and seeing familiar faces, Aiselin looked at Dereck with even more tension.hhhma
sSILDereck was now facing a lifelong decision.2mDCfzW
AO7afk2“…Yeah. I never imagined I’d have to think about a partner so suddenly.”TgYncfL
vSwBrlN“The title grant is quite strict. It considers not only the existence of a family but also magical skills, character, merits, and reliability…”Sul
bVhw4lp“I think I’m not lacking in magical skills, and Lord Melverot will speak well of the other aspects…”XqMD
icDTZZDereck sighed deeply and pushed back his bangs.h7v
c30Undoubtedly, the existence of a partner was an unexpected variable. He thought of marrying just any woman, but remembered it wasn’t a problem that could be solved so lightly.kMk
OXVQB“You don’t necessarily have to find a partner… There’s the option of being adopted by an existing family, right? Who would refuse to adopt someone about to receive a baron’s title…?”LRtp1ny
VCCknP“Then I’d need someone to officially accept being my father. It’s not easy to grant recognition and authority as a parent to someone you don’t even know.”8PuX5pK
z8pzLUDereck wasn’t content with just the title of baron; he aspired to become a higher-level mage.pv0s
JWGdsAs his authority increased, so would that of the person who became his father. He didn’t want to introduce unnecessary variables.BXVUw7H
ASk“You just need to find someone trustworthy. Like Mr. Drest, who already holds the title of baron…”4eV2e
hMUJ6“Master Drest is so fond of wandering that he’s impossible to find. No one on this continent can locate a 6-star exploration mage who has chosen to isolate himself from the world…”cVMl
73s“Then… yes. You mentioned you had another master before. Even though her family is almost ruined, weren’t they originally a noble family?”BuvCQ5
tRsAE4i“Master Katia is from the Viscount Flameheart family.”fExgJK
FqimDTh“…”YUEbl
qzLgJOKThere is always a reason behind the fall of a family.VDGmRj
Cg5GThe Flameheart Viscount family had rebelled against the empire and had been ruined.Rjp
Yo49UStarting anew with a title, there was no benefit in using the name of a rebellious family.3xI
5CTFJG“…Isn’t there anyone else?”ZQfp5RP
UoCh0h“Well, there’s Uncle Jayden and some other elders from the commercial district… but honestly, it’s not easy to ask such a favor of people with their own families.”88GHZe
0BXrB“Th-Then… Then…”VXZntOH
ty5“There must be a reason why Lord Melverot told me to find a partner. Rather than belonging to another family, it would be much more efficient for me to found a family on my own. That way I can make all the decisions myself.”fRX7n
ZCanStill, he needed a partner to found that family.Uw3xe1b
CPGxgIt might be easier than finding parents, but he still needed someone he could trust.w9C2KV
PU9hAiselin played with her knees. She had a lot to say, but found it hard to speak at that moment.KZHj
FR9“Then, would you marry me?”PKaKRZ0
nQquTShe didn’t have the courage to say it, and even if it were possible, it made no sense for the young lady of House Duplain to marry an orphan with no background.RPup0J
FPQyRsEven as a fallen family, a ducal house was still a ducal house. It was too unrealistic for the young lady of a ducal family to make a marriage proposal just to help someone obtain a baron’s title. Even if Aiselin agreed, the servants and relatives would never allow it.IUGtH7
u5EKooAiselin’s marriage proposal was one of the most powerful weapons left to House Duplain.yO9
RgRNGtDereck knew that well, which is why he rubbed his brow, not paying much attention to Aiselin.ZjXQSEt
1jMm2TU“The ideal would be to meet a woman who deeply resonates with me, shares my values, fits my ideals, fall beautifully in love, confess to each other, and build a loving family together, but…”VQw
ImTu“Ah…”PW1L
7jFxk“I have to return to Ebelstein before the end of this week, so where am I going to find time for that? It’s not very realistic…”ZWE6R
KRIYx“Right?!”ONAbx
WjamHyDereck flinched at Aiselin’s elevated tone.3RC
a6yWhen he looked at her, she also seemed surprised at herself and covered her mouth as she apologized.C24b
eqA“…So, the best thing right now is to find a woman who understands my situation and cooperates.”BTPG
yxiE“C-Cooperates?”mdyY
JlaI“Yes. Someone who can pretend to be my partner in public… and receive proper compensation for it.”gnAm7z
Dd663llIt was a discouraging situation, but Dereck was serious.lAeyus
auPxDereck, who usually showed no interest in anything but magic, was now looking for a wife, so in a way, it was the logical conclusion.4dtDRD
2VQEven at the lowest level, a noble was still a noble. There would be many women willing to act as the lady of a baron.8lX4q
6a26The problem was that most of them were not trustworthy. Marriage, in the end, was a matter governed by heaven’s will. Once united, it would not be easy to separate.WYDgi
BaCWIf they married formally, the woman could turn against him and demand rights as a wife. That would be another headache.5SE97
g89ugsoAt the root of it all, the problem came down to a single question: Is there a person he can trust?wJ2
r4PiF“Dereck…”EhSWy
S9Lj5C“Yes?”iqT07W
IzPI“No matter how you look at it… Marriage is a serious, once-in-a-lifetime matter for a woman… Do you really think there’s someone who would cooperate so easily with that?”W2Z
wDzjVj“It’s true. If you ask me if I can take responsibility for an entire lifetime, I can’t guarantee it…”VrCpWt
OxJ6It’s the era.7iydf2U
kwXIt was a time when divorced or widowed women were scorned wherever they went.WUPu5
oqoOIf they accepted Dereck’s proposal without thinking, they might have to wander for the rest of their lives. There weren’t many women willing to go that far for Dereck.JVHF
8DQ“So, what I mean is… why don’t you consider other ways to solve this, instead of insisting on finding a partner?”SqGlv
lnSfBAiselin felt like she was being subtly swept along by Dereck. Dereck, aware of Aiselin’s feelings, started to sweat nervously at her unusual reaction.jutaO5
2xFIn any case, it was impossible to take the only flower of the Duplain family and marry her.x3AxpE2
xcpgWomen from families ranked above a baron would shake their heads at the idea of marrying Dereck. Why would they go against their family’s opposition and lower themselves?BqrqG
mafdy0A woman who is trustworthy, who won’t back out later, who isn’t obsessed with power and noble status, who voluntarily cooperates with Dereck, and who receives fair compensation.svPKvz
2eaA6HEven going over the list of everyone Dereck had met in his life, it wasn’t common to find someone like that.b1OT1d9
RiMy3However… it wasn’t as if one didn’t exist.9L8BK
xmPn70qA person who had no ulterior motives toward Dereck, who could at least pretend to be his partner in public, and who could receive proper compensation.0U9WfM
60WWi9“…There is… someone…”u4PnUj
G4t6“What?!”PVlV
EX4RAiselin looked at Dereck in astonishment. Dereck himself didn’t seem to realize it, but the news that he had taken someone as a partner would cause a great stir in the Rose Salon.3Dib8S
lSLElEven if it were just a formality to obtain a title, there were more than a few who would pay attention to who the partner was.kR4Z
KEt3Qq3***DXAfL9
PbEEcHXThud!b767CI
7HluwCould it be called the return of the king? Dereck’s presence was already being talked about like that of a hero in the Beldern Mercenary Corps.KZXp
ox5map2Dereck had been famous for his reliability since his mercenary days.S64N5n6
aUQqThere wasn’t a single client who didn’t seek out Dereck, and on the days he wasn’t around, they began assigning jobs to other mercenaries, so work never ran short.e8w
WBy8pAhThus, “The Tears of Beldern,” run by Jayden, was always full of clients and diners in the tavern. There wasn’t a single quiet day.oJCKw
rInAlthough the owner had lost an arm while exploring the White Zone’s labyrinth, his sincere and cheerful personality had never changed.8Ta0t
PfTIn fact, he could focus more on tavern work and managing the mercenary corps, so the tavern soon prospered even more.pAmm
Y8lCkThat’s why, when Dereck—the beginning of that virtuous cycle—opened the tavern door after several months, he couldn’t help but be warmly welcomed.lxq
iPO“Oh, Dereck…!”GmT
rw3OJayden, who was counting coins behind the counter, greeted the boy who returned after a long time with a big smile.zUQFuGH
Hat“Hey, Uncle Jayden.”DAP
kUnQ“I heard lately that you were up north, but now you’re back in Ebelstein. I’m glad to see you. Tavern street hasn’t changed, huh? Want something to drink?”ONp
RAYFaJayden stood up with his usual warmth, but suddenly his expression hardened.wxCjcj
C7j70vqThere were quite a few people accompanying him. Elegantly dressed butlers and servants were lined up at the entrance.dMWpj
rte48They didn’t follow Dereck inside, but the two people escorting him were different.Eama4
spi75GThe girl clinging to Dereck’s neck, looking around, was Siern Alaina Rochester, the young lady of the Rochester family.ZLWApcn
92mNAnd the girl sticking close to her was Aiselin Eleanor Duplain, the young lady of the Duplain family.Ptz7H0
F8OQIt was unheard of for noble young ladies—just one look at them made it obvious they came from prestigious families—to set foot on Tavern Street, a place teeming with commoners.gHMxUCO
MYwCLAnd not just one, but two! Jayden’s smile vanished completely.mtB
uQsvhgu“She is Lady Aiselin of the Duplain family. And this is Lady Siern of the northern Rochester family.”bJnFvU
jqDG0y“…I’d heard you were working as a teacher up north, but you bring important guests without hesitation.”G7IrH
EnSJayden, leaning on the counter-bar, respectfully bowed his head in greeting.i61h
iN85ha“I’m Jayden.”rRlFU
r8oM“Oh, it’s been a while. You haven’t changed.”Akt
gVIzs“Yes. I’m glad to see Lady Aiselin looking healthy. I heard about the misfortune… I can only offer my deepest condolences.”Gea
PblOslWhile Aiselin exchanged formal greetings, Siern hid behind Dereck, looking all around. Everything was unfamiliar to her, and she seemed a bit scared.RFgDq
iqzThe usually lively and noisy tavern had fallen silent. The customers could only swallow hard and observe the atmosphere in the presence of the three figures.qXn
Hzje4Staying any longer would only cause more tension. Dereck, realizing this, quickly scanned the place.aqLSw
A0mE3And in a corner of the bar, he saw a drunk girl slumped over the table. Her neatly tied hair ended in a large bow beneath it.zzC6WlV
gWPOVBgShe was his closest companion during his days as a mercenary on that street.AZM8
KkOJzUmDereck immediately walked over and shook her shoulder.Q8fyD
zupS“Ugh… Ugh… When did I fall asleep…?”WFMgIE
BMyL0g“Pheline. Wake up, Pheline.”poP
tl5“Huh? What, what… Dereck? Dereck? When did you come back to Ebelstein?”wV8SNB
KHbStill not grasping the situation, she opened her eyes half-asleep and smiled, cheeks flushed from the alcohol. Just looking at her made Dereck feel drained.4s6JUEF
Xy0vZHe nodded and, sitting next to her, spoke quickly.n5d72G
xSyp“Pheline… listen without misunderstanding.”Y4JW
M4j“Huh? What? You show up like a comet, and now what are you going to say? While you weren’t around on Tavern Street, where were you, what were you doing…?”eFFh
EBwlS“Marry me.”pFAj
oM9803Q“…”aTMn
QAFGLHJHic. A hiccup escaped her, and soon, Pheline’s face stiffened.9YodYvr
ZAIjThe blush from the drink vanished, and all the color drained from her face.nxw
HwIzd6s“Dereck, you went north and came back with lame jokes.”t2BlVN
juS2j“I’m serious. Marry me.”5l48x
MTWp“…Did you eat something bad?”SvP
Bsa6Dereck even felt thankful for Pheline’s genuinely disgusted reaction.F6rK
O1mRVPheline had been his lifelong companion, but she didn’t see him as a man at all. She thought of him more like family or a close friend, so her shock at the sudden proposal was only natural.iDIO2iV
RWooeSvShe wasn’t just uninterested in noble power—she outright despised the nobility.eLJ
T35zwlmHaving known her for so long, Dereck trusted her, could offer fair compensation, and since she was also an orphan with no family ties, there’d be no complications.eRaF5B
nBxWhere would he find someone better than her? Dereck looked at her seriously. He seemed to be choosing his words carefully, unsure where to start or how to explain.qnoibq
OisP“…”VZz
AFnPheline felt the alcohol quickly wearing off and finally began to look around.1seL
2pwCvsAt a glance, two women dressed in luxurious outfits had entered the tavern.ehBit3o
nWGUAnyone could tell they were noble ladies from distinguished families.B8K1ce
MTZ6SEven Jayden, who was watching them, had a rigid expression. It wasn’t easy to see that veteran mercenary—who smiled slyly even after losing an arm—looking so shocked.h53WN
BLjTwo noble ladies, prominent figures of their time, had appeared together and declared they would take a third woman and make her theirs.tTui
pjaoA man should have the ambition to embrace the world, but this level was not something easily achieved. He had the ladies of Duplain and Rochester on either side.zB0DOs
dZaKAnd the third woman he chose was nothing more than a mercenary wandering Tavern Street… What kind of story and background were tangled up here?okr9jJ
lOyymWho in the world could resist such curiosity?3Iug8
187VMeanwhile, the two women didn’t even show signs of anger; they simply glanced around, uncomfortable. It was a situation where they should’ve been furious, which only made the atmosphere even stranger.pJVGS
aafHkauWho knew what had happened in the North, but the once diligent young man who only knew magic… had become such a beast. Jayden finally managed to speak.edE2fip
bUqts8y“Dereck… You… Your ambition as a man has grown tremendously since the last time I saw you…”Gds5f
6eEiGC“…”IsjS
qLtPKpDereck realized they were misunderstanding him.wB4
8L8tIt was time to go somewhere free of prying eyes.2XM
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!