Uncle

Uncle

"Uncle!"

Karl pushed open the door and stepped out, greeting Gejier, whose pudgy figure and squinting little eyes were unmistakable.

His gaze then fell on the girl beside him, and his voice softened slightly.

"Yiwenni, you're here too."

"Cousin."

His cousin Yiwenni was as shy as ever.

Today, she wore an elaborate dress piled with lace, bows, ribbon flowers, and other decorations. It was pretty, but overly gaudy for a girl barely in her teens.

The Landlord's Daughter, Jenny, was also there, entertaining the father and daughter. When she saw him come out, she hurriedly made an excuse and returned to her room.

"Karl."

Gejier stepped forward and excitedly clasped Karl's hands, squeezing a few tears from his tiny eyes.

"I heard about your father. I never expected... Let bygones be bygones!"

"You went to inherit your Nobility Title today?"

"Mm." Karl's expression remained blank.

"Uncle's information is certainly timely."

His father had been dead for some time. Gejier had not come earlier or later, yet he had chosen precisely this moment to show up.

How...

timely!

"Hehe..." Gejier gave a dry laugh and rubbed his hands together.

"Karl, I don't know if you're aware, but your father mentioned your marriage to me before."

"He wanted you to marry Yiwenni, and I agreed at the time."

As he spoke, he nudged Yiwenni, whose face was flushed and whose eyes were shy, signaling for her to say something.

"Cousin Karl."

Yiwenni lowered her head, twisting the gauze of her skirt around her fingers. She forced her voice louder, enough to be heard.

"That's just her personality." Gejier smiled.

"Karl, you know that. But it doesn't matter. Once you're married and become familiar with each other, it'll be fine."

"Uncle!"

Karl frowned. He finally understood why Yiwenni had dressed so extravagantly today. They had come to discuss marriage.

"I went to apply to inherit the Nobility Title today, but the Priest did not approve it."

"Hm?"

"Ah!"

Two startled cries rang out.

One was worried, while the other was astonished.

"It wasn't approved?" Gejier instinctively pulled his daughter back, his little eyes flickering.

"Why?"

Although a Baron's title was not legally inherited in the strict sense among the ranks of duke, marquis, count, viscount, and baron, it had always passed from father to son for centuries.

Unless there was some special reason.

If Karl was no longer a Baron, he could not possibly marry off the daughter he had raised for so many years.

"I was just about to find you, Uncle."

Karl took a deep breath, urgency appearing on his face.

"The Priest wants thirty Gold Coins to prove the Bergman Family's devotion to the gods. I don't have that much money. Could Uncle lend me some?"

"Ah!"

At the mention of borrowing money, Gejier's expression changed drastically. He pulled his daughter back another step and casually asked,

"How much do you want to borrow?"

"I only have one Gold Coin on me." Karl gave a bitter smile.

"I'll have to rely entirely on Uncle for the rest. But please rest assured, once I inherit the Baron's title and start earning money, I'll definitely repay you."

"Twenty-nine Gold Coins!" Gejier jumped in rage, pointing at Karl as he shouted.

"I'd have to be insane to lend you that much!"

"You won't lend it?" Karl's face darkened.

"Without money, I can't inherit the Nobility Title. Without a title, I fear I won't be able to arrange a wedding with my cousin either."

"Hmph!" Gejier snorted coldly.

"No money, no title, and you still want to marry my daughter?"

"Uh..."

His eyes shifted, and he suddenly added,

"But if you want money, it's not impossible."

Hm?

Karl raised a brow.

He knew his Uncle's personality well. His stinginess rivaled Grandet's. He had expected Gejier to run away in fright, not loosen his stance. It was truly unexpected.

"Karl."

Gejier leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"You have no money and no way to obtain the Baron's title. Rather than letting it go to waste, why not sell the title to me?"

"Uncle!"

Karl was speechless.

"Can a Nobility Title even be bought and sold?"

"Why not?" Gejier raised his voice.

"I'll give you fifty... forty Gold Coins. Use thirty of them to buy the title, and the rest will be yours."

"The rest?" Karl's face was filled with mockery.

"Dear Uncle, you're actually willing to leave me ten Gold Coins. How thoughtful of you."

"Of course." Gejier smiled.

"You inherit the title first, then marry Yiwenni. After the marriage, transfer the title to my daughter."

"Then, finally, transfer it to me."

Karl froze.

Come to think of it, that really was somewhat feasible.

The Kingdom of Gondo had no shortage of Queens, and many women had been granted Nobility Titles. Daughters, wives, and even parents could inherit titles as well.

"Heh..."

Karl shook his head with a bitter smile, a sense of helplessness rising in his heart.

Dealing with this Uncle of his took even more energy than facing an Undead Creature.

"Leave. I won't sell the title."

"Don't!" Gejier hurriedly said.

"If you think the price isn't right, we can negotiate. If forty Gold Coins aren't enough, then fifty."

"Get out!"

Karl suddenly roared.

His voice boomed like thunder beside Gejier's ears, making him stagger back. When he saw Karl's savage expression, his heart lurched.

The scars left by the fire twisted like centipedes across his face in his fury, making one's heart pound.

His powerful build also gave off an invisible sense of oppression.

"Fine, I'm leaving! Why are you yelling?"

Taking another step back, Gejier did not dare meet Karl's eyes. He tugged the reluctant Yiwenni outside, muttering quietly along the way.

"Same temper as your father. If you can't inherit the title, I'd like to see how you'll live from now on."

Karl's face remained dark until the front door closed and Gejier's retreating figure was no longer visible. Only then did he let out a long breath.

"Creak..."

The side room door opened a crack, revealing Jenny's worried expression.

"Karl, are you... all right?"

"I'm fine."

Karl shook his head and steadied his emotions.

"I may need to go out again today. If anyone comes looking for me, just turn them away."

"Mm."

Jenny nodded. She opened her mouth as if she wanted to ask something, but ultimately said nothing.

He hadn't inherited the Nobility Title?

What would Karl do from now on?

Once out on the street, Karl was about to hail a carriage when he saw a familiar figure hurrying toward him.

"Yiwenni?"

"Cousin Karl."

Sweat beaded on Yiwenni's forehead, and she was panting. Her skirt was stained with mud, clearly showing how hurriedly she had come.

She glanced behind her, then stuffed a jade pendant into Karl's hand and lowered her head as she spoke softly.

"I don't have anything else. Father gave this to me as a birthday gift. I heard it's worth quite a bit."

"Yiwenni." Karl froze.

"There's no need..."

"I'm leaving. I can't let Father find out." Before he could finish, Yiwenni hurriedly waved her hands.

"Cousin Karl, see you next time."

She must have slipped back secretly. After handing him the item, she turned and left.

Watching Yiwenni walk away, Karl gently shook his head. Her kindness was rare, but the item was not worth much.

Even toward his own daughter, Gejier was equally stingy.

The jade pendant in his hand was not only made from poor-quality jade, but its carving was also crude, like a practice toy.

After wiping away the dust on it, Karl carefully tucked the jade pendant into his coat and hailed a carriage.

"Rouen Street!"

"Four pence."