"Ten... ten thousand gold coins!" Daelin asked, tongue-tied. "Are you crazy? You wouldn't get that much even if you sold me."
Sure enough, the old man was a cheapskate. The moment he heard ten thousand gold coins, he nearly jumped up and offered to sell himself to Deren.
Deren smiled wryly. "Do you think I earned this money myself? To handle Gilneas's situation, we first need to ask the Night Elves for help. Then we'll need to bring in a few big names. Only then can we settle things properly and satisfy every side, so Princess Tess's marriage can be discussed."
Daelin said angrily, "I don't care. At most, I'll give you one thousand gold coins. Handle the rest yourself."
"One thousand!" Jaina was stunned by her father's shamelessness. "You want them to agree to marry a Princess and throw in a port, all for one thousand gold coins? Father, aren't you dreaming a little too hard?"
Daelin's face reddened unusually. After thinking it over, he realized he had gone too far. He hesitated for a while before saying quietly, "Then I'll add a little more. Three thousand gold coins, how about that? There won't be any more than that!"
Queen Kathrin hurriedly stood and walked to her husband, tugging at his sleeve. "Dear, Derek is a Prince of Kul Tiras and heir to the throne. No matter how you put it, it has to look respectable."
Daelin stiffened. It really was a little shabby. But at the thought of paying out ten thousand gold coins, his heart ached terribly. Last time, to thank Deren for healing Derek's scars, he had readily paid three thousand gold coins and a pile of treasures. Now, he had to pay another ten thousand just to find him a wife, and he began to