At first, neither Makarov nor the Hartell Family took it to heart.
They all assumed Ariel had been pampered since childhood and could never endure the hardships of life outside, so she would obediently return on her own to go through with the marriage.
Unexpectedly, Ariel disappeared for three whole years. Only then did the two families realize something was wrong and begin searching for her whereabouts.
But when they found Ariel, she was already married and had even given birth to a child.
The family head was so furious that he nearly killed Kalu and Rhode on the spot.
If Ariel had not clung tightly to the family head, her bitter weeping softening his heart, he would not have spared the two. However, Ariel had to return to the family and was never to see Kalu or Rhode again for the rest of her life.
Fortunately, the Makarov Family had found Ariel first. Had it been the Hartell Family instead, Kalu and Rhode would likely have already lost their lives.
When the family brought Ariel back to the Central Star Domain, they explained the truth to the Hartell Family, but concealed what had happened to Kalu and Rhode, claiming they had killed both of them on the spot.
Even so, the incident had a considerable impact on the Hartell Family, leaving them utterly disgraced.
If Makarov had not also been one of the Superfamilies, the Hartell Family would have wanted to wipe out the Makarov Family outright.
The two families had thus become enemies. Although the Hartell Family's upper ranks said nothing, those beneath them still began suppressing the Makarov Family's businesses.
Some first- and second-rate families hoping to curry favor with the Hartell Family followed suit and moved against Makarov, causing the Marklov Family to gradually weaken.
Fortunately,