Upon hearing this, the second daughter was taken aback.
Nancy Farhan then fell silent.
However, a hint of inquiry appeared in his originally indifferent eyes.
Even the noblewoman and Miss Sparrow standing nearby showed expressions of surprise.
"Good, very good."
Lord Ramon walked to Gilan's side, placed his large hand on the latter's shoulder, and cast an approving glance at him. His voice was steady, but contained a hint of delight:
" Gilan, my son, I am so proud of you! Twenty years old, Emblem- level fighter—you can't find many young people as outstanding as you in the entire upper echelons of Muse City!"
"Soon, you will become a rising star and bring glory to my Fahan Family!"
The middle-aged nobleman seemed very pleased and laughed heartily.
He puffed on his cigar, patted Gilan hard on the shoulder, and asked:
"How's your staff technique?"
"I haven't learned it." Gilan shook her head.
He was telling the truth.
The White Cross Body-Forging Technique only provides physical strength and medieval combat skills, and does not include the cane techniques that emerged later.
"Hmm... Cane techniques are, after all, the foremost skill in aristocratic tradition. As a descendant of the Fahan Family, you will have to master them sooner or later."
"It's alright if you haven't learned it before," Lord Ramon exhaled a puff of smoke. "Once you move into the manor, I will personally teach you staff fighting."
" Ramon?!" Xenia raised an eyebrow, utterly astonished.
She knew, of course, that her husband was a seasoned Emblem staff user, but even her two sons, Prince and Joann, had never received such affection from Ramon, who personally taught them staff techniques.
In the past, this was usually handled by hired teachers.
How could this illegitimate child, whom the husband had never seen in twenty years, be so beloved by him?
" Xenia," Lord Ramon shook his head. "I owe them, mother and son, so much. Let me, as their father, make amends a little."
Gilan frowned slightly.
He cast an inquiring glance at old Charles, who looked apologetic, clearly having conveyed Gilan's refusal to stay at the manor.
Lord Ramon, however, seemed to disagree.
At this moment, the eldest son Prince, arrived, supported by his younger brother Joann.
His mouth was stained with blood, his clothes were disheveled, and he looked utterly wretched.
His gaze towards Gilan flickered, concealing resentment and disgust.
Prince initiated the sparring match with the intention of embarrassing his opponent, but he didn't expect to be the one who ended up being the one who was embarrassed.
Seeing his father's affectionate manner towards Gilan, and the rare smile on his face, made him feel very uncomfortable.
" Prince!" Xenia's expression changed. She took out a handkerchief, rushed forward, and carefully wiped the blood from her son's mouth. "Are you hurt anywhere?"
"I'm fine, Mother."
Prince felt embarrassed and quickly pushed the lady's hand away.
"I just accidentally bumped my lip."
In fact, he still feels a sharp pain in both arms, as if the bones are about to break.
I was certain that the country bumpkin was doing it on purpose.
That kick was fucking brutal!
If the kick had been slightly off-target and hit a vital spot, you would have been half-dead, if not killed!
What he had no idea was that Gilan had held back and controlled his strength. Otherwise, with " Bone Crusher," he would have been kicked into a pile of mangled flesh on the spot.
Even with two masters overseeing the scene, it would have been impossible to stop it in time.
" Prince, are you really alright?"
The youngest sister, Milinda, with an innocent look on her face, pointed to his red, swollen, and slightly trembling hands, and asked in a puzzled tone:
Why are your hands shaking behind your back?
"I'm fine!" Prince's expression changed slightly. " Milinda, don't talk nonsense!"
Upon hearing this, Xenia gently lifted her son's arm, her face showing concern.
" Charles! Go and fetch the manor doctor and nurses!"
She hurriedly gave instructions to the old housekeeper, then turned to look at her husband angrily and said:
"I told you not to let the children spar, but you wouldn't listen. Gilan just arrived at the manor and doesn't know anything about the situation; she's been too rough with her hands..."
"Enough." Lord Ramon raised his hand to signal, and said calmly, "The men of the Fahan Family are not pampered good-for-nothings. What's a little injury? Even if Gilan kicks him and breaks both his arms, he's not allowed to cry out in pain."
"This is a competition you proposed yourself, Prince."
"I know, Father."
Prince gritted his teeth and nodded.
Xenia snorted coldly, glancing indifferently at Danilo and Xizi as they approached, and showing no kindness to Gilan and Miss Sparrow either.
*
*
*
Night fell.
Inside the restaurant of the manor villa.
A magnificent crystal chandelier hangs down, its hundreds of LED lights emitting a warm yellow glow that illuminates the gleaming ivory-white ceramic tiles.
Beneath the chandelier was a white marble dining table that was over ten meters long.
The entire Fahan Family was gathered around the table. The old Earl and his uncle and aunt were not present; only the Ramon family, Gilan, and Miss Sparrow were there.
Lord Ramon changed into a formal high-necked black tuxedo and took the seat of honor.
Old Charles stood to one side, while Danilo and Xizi, his two personal bodyguards, flanked him from behind.
At the two sides of the dining table, men and women were clearly separated.
Gilan sat at the head of the table to Lord Ramon's left, flanked by Prince and Joann. Opposite them were Xenia, Nancy, Milinda, and Miss Sparrow.
"Celebrating the addition of another member to the Fahan Family."
Lord Ramon smiled and spoke, his gaze falling on Gilan.
Old Charles stepped forward at the opportune moment, extended his gloved hand, and poured a glass of fine red wine for the gentleman and everyone present through a handkerchief.
"Welcome back to the family, my son, Gilan Farhan."
Lord Ramon raised his glass first, clearly in high spirits.
"From now on, we are all one family, and you should get along well."
"Yes, Father."
Milinda chuckled and raised her glass in response.
" Gilan, welcome."
"Welcome."
The others also raised their glasses.
Nancy and Joann spoke up.
Xenia remained silent with a stern face, while Prince didn't even look up, merely raising his glass in a perfunctory gesture.
His injuries, after being given basic treatment by the manor doctor—a band-aid on the corner of his mouth and some bruise-reducing ointment applied to his arms—made him look unwell.
"I have no intention of changing my surname."
Gilan did not raise her glass, but turned to look at the middle-aged man at the head of the table.
"They don't plan to move into the manor either."
Everyone present was taken aback by his words.
Lord Ramon's smile faded as he glanced at Gilan.
"We can talk about this after the meal. Okay, let's begin."
Everyone noticed Lord Ramon's displeasure and dared not say anything. They each picked up their knives and forks with elegance and silently ate the sumptuous and expensive meal on the table.
Prince glanced subtly at his older brother beside him, a sneer in his heart.
A chance to rise to the top was presented to him, and he actually turned it down. What else could he be but a fool?
But he was happy with it.
Looking up at the table across from him, he saw Miss Sparrow sitting at the last seat, still wearing a small hat and a veil. Prince, feeling annoyed by her presence, seized the opportunity to laugh:
"Miss, didn't your family teach you that wearing a hat when dining at someone else's house is extremely impolite?"
"Brother Prince "
Nancy stopped eating, frowned, and shook her head.
Milinda glanced at Miss Sparrow, who had lowered her head beside her, then looked at Prince and reminded him:
"Miss Aurora's situation is rather special..."
Prince seemed not to notice his sister's reminder, shrugged, and took a sip of his wine.
"Well, perhaps this is just a custom in remote small towns? I understand."