Aierlan's Thoughts

"Is this a family dinner for the viscount? What did you ask me here for..."

Lin Lei grumbled inwardly as he took in the out-of-place surroundings. At Aierlan's prompting, he sat beside her, feeling completely at a loss.

Allen, who was eating nearby, spoke in a carefree manner.

"Boss, don't be nervous. Just act like you're at home. You're no outsider, so there's no need to be so formal."

"R-right..."

Hearing Allen's words, Lin Lei reconsidered. That's right. I haven't done anything shameful, so what is there to be afraid of? They're not man-eating beasts. Once Miss Aierlan clears my name, I can leave.

Lin Lei was still imagining that he could leave Viscount Aixing's residence. He had yet to realize how serious the situation was.

"You're Centurion Lin, aren't you? Our servants say you took liberties with our daughter. What do you think should be done about it?"

Just as Lin Lei thought he could get through this ordeal safely, the old man seated at the head of the table, Viscount Aixing, spoke. His voice was quiet, and it was impossible to tell what he was feeling.

"No, I didn't! I was at the festival by myself... You can ask Miss Aierlan if you don't believe me."

When Lin Lei heard such a serious accusation leveled against him, he immediately panicked and hurried to explain himself.

Following Viscount Aixing's gaze, he looked toward Aierlan. She merely lowered her head and said nothing, offering not a word in his defense.

The atmosphere at the table grew awkward at once. Lin Lei stared at Aierlan in disbelief, his dark eyes wide as if he couldn't believe she would just sit there and do nothing.

His gaze shifted from person to person around the table, lingering longest on Aierlan. He wanted to open his mouth and defend himself again, but his words seemed so feeble.

Lin Lei was at a loss. Aixing looked at him and continued.

"I imagine you understand the situation now. If this gets out, our entire family will be disgraced."

"..."

Lin Lei fell silent, and the air seemed to freeze.

The others at the table also set down their chopsticks and listened intently to the old man, Aixing.

Aierlan had only told her grandfather, Aixing, that she liked Lin Lei. The others, including her parents, still had no idea what was going on, and they glared angrily at Lin Lei.

Viscount Aixing had doted on his granddaughter since she was little. He was the one who had spoiled her into such a willful girl, and even Aierlan's parents couldn't handle her. Whenever she got into trouble, Aixing shielded her completely.

Allen, sitting nearby, was a devoted fan of Lin Lei. He said to his grandfather, Aixing, "Grandpa, Lord Lin Lei would never do something like that. Everyone in the City Defense Department looks up to him..."

"Silence."

Seeing Viscount Aixing's expression grow darker by the moment, Allen's father hurriedly cut him off.

"This is about your sister's reputation. You can't just say whatever you like. Eat your meal and keep your mouth shut."

"Then what does Viscount Aixing think should be done?"

Lin Lei's tone had turned harsh.

"That's simple. You haven't married yet, have you? If you marry my granddaughter, she'll be your wife, and people won't gossip about her anymore."

Aixing didn't take offense at Lin Lei's tone. Instead, he smiled like an old fox. He knew that scheming against a young man like this was beneath his dignity as a viscount, but for Aierlan's happiness, he couldn't afford to worry about that.

"Grandpa..."

Aierlan finally spoke. Her grandfather had told her to keep quiet earlier, but now that they had reached the heart of the matter, he wasn't going to restrict her.

"What do you say?"

Viscount Aixing ignored Aierlan and asked the bewildered Lin Lei again. Drawing on his years of experience, he suddenly realized that this was a trap—a very sophisticated one—and he was already caught in it with no way out.

Lin Lei looked at Aierlan and took in her appearance once more. She might not have been a peerless beauty, but she was certainly among the most beautiful women in Flower Territory. He didn't have high expectations for a wife; as long as she liked him and was pretty, that was enough.

Lin Lei didn't hesitate any longer. He agreed. If he married Aierlan, he could avoid a lot of detours and grow stronger faster, ready to face the disaster that was about to come.

"Fine, I agree. But does Miss Aierlan agree?"

"I do, I do! Of course I do..."

As soon as Lin Lei finished speaking, Aierlan, who had been quiet until then, seemed to revert to her usual self and eagerly declared that she was willing.

"Good, good. Since you both agree, next month has an auspicious day. You'll get married on the fifth."

Viscount Aixing slapped his hand down and settled Lin Lei and Aierlan's marriage on the spot. Lin Lei didn't object, and the awkward family dinner turned cheerful again.

When everyone heard that Aierlan was going to marry Lin Lei, the most excited person was Aierlan herself, followed by Allen, who sat beside her. As one of Lin Lei's squad leaders, Allen had only served under him for four or five days, but Lin Lei's inspiring speeches had already won his deep admiration.

Although Aierlan's parents looked down on Lin Lei as a mere centurion, the difference in their status wasn't all that great. And since the most influential person in the family, the old man, had made the decision, they could only accept it.

Throughout the meal, Aierlan kept putting food on Lin Lei's plate. The others, who had never been treated that way, couldn't help feeling jealous. In another noble household, such bold behavior would have earned her a severe scolding, but Aierlan's family was so used to her audacity that they barely batted an eye.

Though Lin Lei felt he'd been tricked and wasn't too happy about it, he could accept getting a beautiful bride out of it. Besides, he hadn't eaten much at Alice's celebration, and at Viscount Aixing's residence he'd only been drinking tea. He was genuinely hungry, so he didn't hold back and ate plenty.

"Do you know Lady Moran?"

Lin Lei hadn't forgotten the mesmerizing dark creature. Since he couldn't find Miss Alice, he tried asking Viscount Aixing, figuring someone of his standing would surely know something.

"I know her. Her family makes nice clothes."

Aierlan assumed Lin Lei was simply asking about Lady Moran and answered innocently.

The others at the table looked at him curiously, wondering why he was asking about her.

But when old man Aixing heard Lin Lei's question, his expression turned grave. The faint wrinkles on his face drew tightly together.

Seeing his expression, Lin Lei immediately understood that his casual question had hit the mark.

"How much do you know about her? Never mind. Come with me..."

Viscount Aixing turned and led Lin Lei away to his secret chamber, a place no one else knew about—not even his son or granddaughter. It was completely secure.

The people at the table watched the old man take Lin Lei away, exchanging bewildered looks. From the tone and expressions of the two men, they realized that whatever Lin Lei had asked about must be extremely important. Aixing, who stayed calm even when disaster loomed, wouldn't be so cautious otherwise—not even around his own family.

"Is something wrong with Lady Moran?"

The same question crossed everyone's mind.

A quarter of an hour later, Viscount Aixing and Lin Lei returned from the secret chamber. Compared to their serious demeanor when they had gone in, they seemed much more relaxed now.

By the time they returned to the table, the food had already been cleared away and replaced with an assortment of pastries and snacks. Everyone had stayed in the hall, curious about what Viscount Aixing and Lin Lei had discussed.

"Father, what's wrong with Lady Moran?"

Aierlan's father, Aitepu, sat to one side and asked Viscount Aixing. As a career soldier, he had sensed that something was amiss.

Aitepu was the commander of Flower Territory's Black Armor Legion, overseeing three thousand soldiers. He often trained with his troops and rarely went out for leisure activities such as shopping for clothes. That was how he had managed to avoid becoming one of the few Silver-rank fighters in Flower Territory.

"Don't ask about things you shouldn't. This isn't something you need to know."

Viscount Aixing answered curtly.

"Yes."

Aitepu knew his father was a man of principle who kept a very tight lid on secrets. If he said that, the Lord's Mansion must have issued orders to keep the matter confidential.

"But what kind of order would be off-limits even to someone of my standing?"

Aitepu wondered to himself, glancing up at Lin Lei.

While Lin Lei and Viscount Aixing had been talking, Aitepu had asked Aierlan everything about Lin Lei: where he came from, his position, and how she had met him. When he heard about the plan she and her father had laid, he was filled with emotion. As expected, grandfather and granddaughter were just alike.

"Second brother, didn't you say you found a Red Cloud Blood Horse while clearing monsters out of the wilderness? Your niece's future husband doesn't have a mount befitting his status. Don't you think you ought to give him something?"

Viscount Aixing addressed Aitepu's younger brother.

"Of course. I've kept that fine horse in my courtyard all along. Since Centurion Lin is going to be part of our family, I should give him something."

Aimaxu didn't refuse. He immediately called over the guard beside him.

"Xuanyi, go to the stable in my courtyard and bring out that Fire Cloud Horse I've been raising. Give it to our Centurion Lin."

"Yes."

A man standing straight behind Aimaxu answered.

"Father, will this do?"

Viscount Aixing nodded, then spoke again.

"This is only a small gift. When they get married, you can't show up empty-handed. You're a commander, after all."

"Yes, yes, of course I won't."

Aimaxu replied with a warm smile.