Book 1 Chapter 981

981.

Avad wore a slightly bewildered expression.

"Emira and I… marriage?"

"Yes."

"Father, isn't this too sudden?"

"Of course it's sudden. It's a topic that came up during this prestigious family meeting."

Chaid answered calmly at his son's words.

"Even so, to arrange a marriage with someone from the Gerdinger family…"

"Normally, it would be unthinkable. But…"

Chaid glanced at a map placed in a corner of the family head's office.

It was a map of the western continent.

And in various places on the map, there were lands colored completely black.

Lands that even the mighty Lodren Empire could not conquer.

The reason the Empire had to maintain its powerful military, and the reason two prestigious heroic families, which could be called the pillars of Lodren, existed.

It was the territory of Tartaros.

"You must also know that the recent movements of the demon race are unusual."

The world now stood at a crossroads.

Countless heroes were feeling that fact.

"The continuous subjugation of Erebus's fragments is certainly a positive sign. But…"

"You mean it might be the world, not Erebus and Tartaros, that disappears?"

Chaid nodded.

It wasn't just Erebus's fragments being subjugated.

Even the Monster Queen and the Giant King, who had threatened the world for 5000 years, had been subjugated.

From Tartaros's perspective, it was clearly a devastating loss.

Nevertheless, Tartaros's offensives occurring all over the world showed no signs of abating.

Rather, they were trying to flare up even more fiercely, like a fire fed with firewood.

"Some say that Tartaros, facing destruction, is making its final desperate struggle… but we could be swept up in that final struggle and burn along with it."

As the head of the strongest magic family.

And as a magician.

Chaid knew deep down that Tartaros should never be underestimated.

"And even if Erebus and Tartaros disappear, it's not the end."

The era after that also needed to be considered.

Tartaros was both a threat to the world and a deterrent.

Because there was a common enemy, various forces in the world joined hands and prevented countless conflicts.

Of course, there had never been a time in world history without conflict, but even amidst fighting, if issues related to Tartaros arose, they stopped fighting.

For Chaid, it was difficult to easily guess how the world's situation would unfold after Erebus's demise.

"Lodren needs to be more united. That is the common thought of the Imperial Family, our family… and Gerdinger."

"So…"

"Yes. The marriage proposal between you, the successor of Rwalin, and Emira, a direct descendant of Gerdinger, has been discussed."

Hearing Chaid's words that everything was for the future of the Empire and the family, Avad sighed deeply.

"Considering the history of the two families, there will be a huge ripple effect the moment it's announced, won't there?"

"That's true. But with the most conservative elders' council within Gerdinger having lost power, the biggest obstacle has now been resolved."

Rwalin also had elders.

However, unlike strict and conservative knights, mages pursue 'efficiency.'

Considering the pros and cons, they wouldn't strongly object, knowing that getting closer to Gerdinger was a better situation in the current circumstances.

"Then why Emira and me?"

"Leo and Chelsea were also discussed… but even if Leo is a direct descendant, he is now the King of Arhi, so it's not an exaggeration to say he's half-independent from Gerdinger. Rhys already has a successor and is naturally excluded. All that's left is you and Emira."

"What about Celia?"

"Celia? Absolutely not."

"Did you have a bad opinion of Celia?"

"That's not it. Celia is not just a direct descendant of Gerdinger. Her potential as a knight is outstanding, comparable to Rhys. Gerdinger wouldn't want to send such a child to Rwalin. Even more so if their combat strength has significantly decreased with the disappearance of the elders' council."

Gerdinger had eliminated internal risks by expelling the elders' council, but conversely, it also meant they had lost the best knights of the previous generation.

As a prestigious heroic family, they clearly wouldn't want to leak a powerful asset like Celia to the outside.

"Besides, aren't you on bad terms with Celia?"

"…"

Publicly, they were indeed rivals.

'It might actually be a good thing.'

Avad decided to think positively.

Wasn't the biggest hurdle in marrying Celia the issues between their families?

But now, both Rwalin and Gerdinger felt the need to clear up past sentiments in preparation for a new world.

'With this opportunity, my relationship with Celia…'

"Crucially, it would be different if it were Reina and Jees. Seld. Me, in-laws with that guy? Hahahaha… No. Absolutely not. I'd rather break off the marriage talks than that."

'Ah…'

Watching his father grind his teeth, Avad recalled one fact.

Avad's father, Chaid Rwalin, was meticulous and calm in everything.

He was praised as one of the most outstanding family heads in Rwalin's long history, but he also had the reputation of being the family head with the worst relationship with Gerdinger's family head in Rwalin's history.

"Celia is absolutely out of the question. Even if you're okay with it, I'm not."

Seeing Chaid's bloodshot eyes, Avad swallowed dryly.

'First, I should probably discuss this with Chelsea.'

***

Chelsea, who had arrived at the main residence, was having a hectic time being congratulated by the family members.

"Lady Chelsea! Congratulations!"

"Mm. Thank you."

Even the maids of the Rwalin family were smiling brightly and greeting her, making Chelsea feel overwhelmed.

As Chelsea was resting in the garden to catch her breath, she spotted a girl entering the Rwalin mansion's entrance and pouted.

Chelsea, with her arms crossed, stood abruptly in front of the girl, blocking her path.

"How dare Gerdinger come to the Rwalin mansion with only one attendant? Still got a lot of nerve, I see?"

"Oh, Chelsea. Nice to see you. It's been a while, hasn't it?"

Emira smiled brightly.

"By the way, I hear you became a hero? Congratulations!"

"Hmph."

Despite Emira's words, Chelsea merely snorted.

"Anyway, why are you here?"

As Gerdinger was a guest, it wouldn't be strange to meet them anywhere.

But Emira visiting the Rwalin mansion was certainly unexpected.

Emira replied to Chelsea's question.

"I came to see Avad."

"Why my brother?"

"Well…"

"Emira?"

"Oh! Avad."

Emira, with a bright, sun-like smile, ran forward to Avad.

Seeing that, Chelsea frowned.

"What's wrong with her?"

Seeing Chelsea's perplexed expression, the grey-haired attendant who had followed Emira spoke.

"Haven't you heard, Lady Chelsea?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"There's a marriage proposal being discussed between Lord Avad and Lady Emira."

Leo, disguised as an attendant, said with a faint smile.

For a moment, Chelsea paused at those words.

Chelsea stood there for a long time, trying to understand Leo's words, and then let out a snort of laughter.

"Trying to fool me again? Not a chance, Emira. A marriage proposal between Rwalin's successor and Gerdinger's direct descendant? That's ridiculous. Right, brother?"

"Chelsea. That is… Father is involved…"

Avad, with a rare look of embarrassment, explained the situation to Chelsea.

Chelsea's face froze solid.

Seeing Chelsea like that, Emira covered her mouth with her palm and chuckled.

"Want to try calling me 'sister-in-law,' Chelsea? Oh, by the way, how many nieces and nephews would you like?"

At Emira's words, Chelsea's body began to tremble as if having a fit.

"No! Absolutely not you!"

Chelsea, with a beet-red face, yelled and stood between Avad and Emira.

But Emira merely covered her mouth with her palm and giggled.

"It's a decision made by the family elders, do you think you can object?"

"Even Celia Gerdinger is better than a villainess like you!"

"Sister Celia and Avad? Not a chance."

"Aaaaargh!"

Chelsea let out a half-screeching shriek.

'She's quite something, isn't she.'

Seeing her intense reaction, Leo let out a hollow laugh as he watched Emira playing with Chelsea.

Soon, Chelsea ran out of the garden and dashed off somewhere.

***

"Lady Celia. How is it?"

"Oh? A date from now on? Good timing, Niel unnie."

"N-no, it's not!"

Celia giggled, watching Niel primp herself in front of the mirror.

Niel shook her head, flustered.

Watching Niel, Celia propped her chin and muttered to herself.

'If my relationship with that Avad guy becomes known, will I become like that too?'

Although they were engaged to be married, they weren't exactly dating.

Was it because of her personality?

Even though they had a deep relationship, she didn't particularly feel the need to impress Avad.

"Niel unnie."

"Yes, Lady."

"If I start dating, will I also care about my appearance like Niel unnie?"

"Hmm… I don't think Lady Celia will change much."

"Why?"

"Lady Celia always has a proper mind and demeanor as a direct descendant of Gerdinger. You always shine, so I don't think you'd worry too much about your looks."

"Right?"

"By the way, why are you asking that?"

Niel, who had been looking puzzled, flashed a slightly mischievous smile.

"Aha. Is it because of the husband candidates the family head has chosen?"

"Husband candidates, my foot."

"Why? There seem to be many handsome men."

Niel's eyes sparkled as she sat in front of Celia.

Then she looked at the photos of the husband candidates chosen by Seld Gerdinger and said.

"Hmm. This person is too young."

"He's said to be 13."

Niel giggled, watching Celia's dumbfounded expression.

"Don't you think he'll be a handsome man when he grows up?"

Just as Celia was making a bored expression at Niel's words.

Bang-!

A violent gust of wind blew, and the mansion window burst open.

Celia and Niel narrowed their brows as they saw someone fly in through the window like a bird.

"Chelsea. No matter that this is your family's mansion, you should show some manners…"

"Hey! Celia! Immediately duel with my brother! And lose the duel!"

Chelsea glared, rushing at Celia and grabbing her by the collar, shaking her wildly.

Seeing that, Niel wore a cold expression.

"What's with the sudden rudeness? No matter who you are…"

"Lose so you can quickly finalize your marriage with my brother!"

"…"

Niel instantly wore a dumbfounded expression.

Celia, aghast, clapped her hand over Chelsea's mouth.

Celia hadn't even told Niel about her relationship with Avad.

"Lady. Didn't Chelsea just say something strange…?"

"She's spouting nonsense… Agh!"

Chelsea bit Celia's palm, shook it off, and then shouted.

"Right now, there's a marriage proposal being discussed between my brother and Emira! You need to finalize things between you two before it progresses and gets announced!"

"What?"

At Chelsea's words, Celia's mouth fell wide open.