Marriage

By early the next morning, Earl Wharton's residence was already filled with people.

The five Barker brothers stood to one side of the drawing room.

Sessler sat closest to the window, his white hair hanging down as his jade-green eyes surveyed the unfamiliar residence.

Lina and Rebecca brought hot tea, while Jenny sat quietly beside Linley.

Doehring stood behind Linley.

Wharton looked at him, his expression somewhat hesitant.

"Big brother, who is this?"

"Grandpa Doehring," Linley said. "My teacher, and the elder closest to me."

Wharton hurriedly rose.

"Grandpa Doehring."

Doehring studied the young man before him.

He was two meters twenty tall, with broad shoulders and palms covered in thick calluses from years of wielding a saber.

Most importantly, his face bore the marks of the Baruch Clan.

He resembled Linley, but his features were more rugged.

"Good." Doehring nodded. "Hogg would certainly be very happy if he could see you now."

Wharton's body trembled.

He lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously brushing the hilt of the war saber on his back.

"I've always remembered Father."

Linley reached out and patted his shoulder.

He said nothing more.

Breakfast did not last very long.

The sound of hoofbeats came from outside.

A knight dressed in the uniform of a palace guard entered the residence, holding a golden scroll in both hands.

"Earl Wharton, His Majesty summons you."

Wharton took the scroll.

"Only me?"

"His Majesty specifically mentioned Lord Linley."

Linley looked at Wharton.

Wharton closed the scroll.

"Big brother, let's go."

Linley nodded.

He did not have the five Barker brothers accompany them, nor did he have Sessler and Jenny enter the palace.

The Baruch Clan was asking for Wharton's hand in marriage.

He and Wharton, the two brothers, would be enough.

The imperial palace lay deep within the eastern district of Chiyan City.

Towering palace walls hid everything inside, and thousands of imperial guards patrolled between the palace gates and the inner city. Wharton wore an earl's formal attire, with his clan emblem at his waist.

Linley, however, wore only a black robe.

The two walked side by side through the palace gates.

Along the way, many imperial guards stole glances at Linley.

Rumors about Linley had long since spread throughout the imperial capital.

The Baruch Clan's eldest son, missing for years, had reappeared.

He had once been the youngest magical genius on the Yulan Continent.

Now, some even said that he had entered the Saint Realm.

Today, they would learn whether the rumors were true.

Two palace attendants led Linley and Wharton into the imperial study.

There were no court officials inside.

Only Emperor Joanne sat behind the desk, with a tall screen standing behind her.

Two presences were concealed behind the screen.

One belonged to a ninth-level warrior.

The other belonged to a ninth-level mage.

Linley detected them at once.

Joanne set down the scroll in her hands and rose with a smile.

"Master Linley, we finally meet."

"Your Majesty." Linley bowed slightly.

Joanne did not have him kneel.

A Dragonblood Warrior who had just broken through to the Saint Realm already had sufficient standing to speak on his feet.

"I heard that you fought six angels of the Radiant Church in the Northwest Province," Joanne said. "And that you advanced beyond the ninth level after that battle?"

"Yes."

"After dragonforming, you are already at the initial stage of the Saint Realm?"

"Yes."

Joanne's smile deepened slightly.

"A Saint Realm Dragonblood Warrior in his twenties. The Baruch Clan truly deserves its reputation as an Ultimate Warrior Clan."

Linley did not respond.

Joanne's gaze shifted between Linley and Wharton.

"I know why you brothers have come to see me today."

Wharton stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, Princess Nina and I truly love each other. I implore Your Majesty to grant me the Seventh Princess's hand in marriage."

The imperial study fell silent.

Joanne tapped her fingers lightly against the desk.

A moment later, she looked at Linley.

"Linley, is that your wish as well?"

Linley remained where he stood.

"As the head of the Baruch Clan, I implore Your Majesty to allow Princess Nina to marry Wharton."

"The head of the Baruch Clan," Joanne repeated.

Ever since Hogg's death, Linley had indeed been the head of the Baruch Clan.

But over the past several years, Wharton alone had remained in the empire, while Linley's whereabouts had remained unknown, so his position as clan head had carried little weight.

Today was different.

A Dragonblood Warrior who had entered the Saint Realm was enough to make any empire take him seriously.

Joanne was about to speak again when footsteps suddenly sounded behind the screen.

A middle-aged man in silver armor emerged.

"Your Majesty."

He bowed to Joanne, but his gaze rested on Linley.

"So this is Master Linley?"

"Lancy." Joanne frowned. "Do not be rude."

"I merely wish to confirm something," Lancy said. "According to the rumors, Master Linley is not only a mage, but also an extremely powerful warrior. Might you allow me to test a single move?"

Wharton's expression darkened.

He knew that Lancy was a ninth-level guard at the emperor's side.

On the surface, this test was a sparring match, but in truth, the imperial family was assessing whether Linley really possessed the strength the rumors claimed.

Linley raised a hand to stop Wharton.

"Very well."

Lancy drew his longsword.

Starlight battle-qi instantly filled the room.

The ninth-level warrior had not unleashed his full power, yet the scrolls on the shelves were already trembling slightly.

"Please."

The longsword left its sheath.

Lancy strode forward, thrusting his longsword straight at Linley's chest.

He was fast.

Only when the blade was less than three meters from Linley did Linley raise his hand.

He did not draw his sword.

Nor did he dragonform.

Linley merely took a step forward.

"Supreme Force."

The air in the imperial study abruptly froze.

Lancy's longsword stopped in midair.

His arm was still straining, but the blade seemed to have pierced an invisible mountain and could not advance another inch.

Linley extended two fingers and gently caught the flat of the blade beside its edge.

"A ninth-level warrior's strength is quite good."

He flicked his fingers.

Clang!

The longsword flew from Lancy's grasp and embedded itself in a wooden pillar in the corner.

Lancy retreated three steps, his expression changing.

Linley did not pursue him.

"Thank you for the match."

Joanne looked at the longsword embedded in the wall, and the last trace of doubt vanished from her eyes.

Although the ninth-level guard Lancy had not attacked at full strength, Linley had neither transformed nor used a weapon from beginning to end.

With an incomprehensible oppressive force alone, he had left Lancy unable even to hold on to his sword.

This was not something an ordinary ninth-level warrior could accomplish.

"Master Linley certainly lives up to his reputation," Joanne said.

"I did not come to the imperial capital to prove myself," Linley said. "I came only for my younger brother."

The smile faded from Joanne's face.

"Nina is my daughter."

"I know."

"Her marriage concerns the dignity of the imperial family."

"I know that as well."

"What else do you know?"

Joanne stared at Linley.

"The War God Sect," Linley said. "Blumer is a personal disciple of the War God, and he also has Olivier behind him. Everyone throughout the empire hopes Your Majesty will choose him."

Joanne said nothing.

Linley looked at Wharton.

"But marriage is not a matter of choosing whoever has the higher status. Wharton and Nina have known each other for years, and they love each other. However strong Blumer may be, he cannot decide whom Nina wishes to marry for her."

Joanne's fingers stilled on the desk.

"Members of the imperial family often have no say in their own marriages."

"That is why I came to see Your Majesty today," Linley said. "I am not threatening the imperial family with force, nor am I asking Your Majesty to disregard the empire's interests. I merely hope Your Majesty will see clearly that the Baruch Clan is no longer the declining clan it once was, with only a young earl to its name."

Joanne looked at Wharton.

Wharton stood straight.

He neither urged her for an answer nor left the decision about his marriage proposal to Linley.

In this marriage, Linley could present his request to the emperor on his behalf.

But the person who would ultimately live with Nina was him.

Joanne understood this.

"How many Saint Realm experts does the Baruch Clan have now?"

"After dragonforming, I am at the initial stage of the Saint Realm," Linley said. "My companion Barker is also an Undying Warrior, and he has already reached the initial stage of the Saint Realm."

Joanne's pupils contracted slightly.

Two Saint Realm experts.

One was a Dragonblood Warrior, and the other was an Undying Warrior.

Such strength could never be taken lightly, even in the O'Brien Empire.

"Is Barker also in the imperial capital?" Joanne asked.

"He is at Wharton's residence."

Linley did not go on to reveal Bebe's and Haeru's strength.

That was not something he needed to present for today's marriage proposal.

Joanne remained silent for a long time.

He knew full well the weight the War God Sect carried.

Blumer was a personal disciple of the War God and already had the support of four senior fellow personal disciples.

He also had an older brother, Olivier.

He was a swordsmanship genius the empire rarely saw even once in a century.

If Nina married Blumer, the imperial family could gain the goodwill of the War God Sect and draw the Achisoren Family closer.

But Blumer sought Nina's hand more to best Wharton than anything else.

Wharton and Nina, however, truly loved each other.

More importantly, Linley had appeared.

A Saint Realm Dragonblood Warrior in his twenties had immeasurable future potential. Although Barker was only Linley's companion, he too represented a genuine Saint Realm expert.

Joanne had no need to offend the newly revived Baruch Clan for Blumer's sake.

But she could not reject the War God Sect's goodwill either.

"The imperial family needs time to consider."

I cannot agree to your request now."

Wharton's expression darkened slightly.

Linley continued looking at Joanne.

Joanne stepped out from behind the desk.

"I know how Wharton and Nina feel about each other. Now I have also seen the weight the Baruch Clan carries. Precisely for that reason, this matter cannot be decided hastily today."

Linley was silent for a moment.

"How long does Your Majesty intend to consider it?"

"One month."

Joanne looked at the two brothers.

"In one month, I will announce my decision at the Martial Arts Hall before the empire's nobles and representatives of the War God Sect. Until then, I will not betroth Nina to anyone."

Wharton's hands slowly clenched.

"In that case, what else does Your Majesty need to consider?"

"Because I am not merely her father. I am also the emperor of the O'Brien Empire."

Joanne's voice grew grave.

"You can think only of Nina. But I must consider the imperial family, the War God Sect, the Achisoren Family, and the Baruch Clan that has reappeared."

Wharton wanted to say more.

Linley raised a hand to stop him.

"Very well," Linley said. "We will wait one month."

Joanne looked at him.

"You aren't going to ask whom I will choose?"

"Your Majesty would not say now anyway."

Linley rose.

"I have made the Baruch Clan's position clear today. In one month, I will return to hear Your Majesty's decision."

"What if I choose Blumer?" Joanne asked.

Linley stopped.

"Then I will first ask Nina what she chooses."

"And then?"

"If she is willing to accept, Wharton and I will not force her," Linley said. "If she is unwilling, the Baruch Clan will not accept anyone else forcing her either."

The imperial study fell silent.

Linley did not draw his sword.

Nor did he release his Saint Realm aura.

But his meaning was already clear enough.

Joanne had made no promise.

The Baruch Clan would likewise make no concessions in advance.

"In one month," Joanne repeated.

Linley bowed slightly.

"We take our leave."

The two brothers left the imperial study.

As they walked out of the inner palace, Wharton remained silent.

Only when the palace gates appeared ahead did he ask quietly, "Brother, is Father already leaning toward Blumer?"

"Yes."

Linley did not conceal it.

Wharton's jaw tightened.

"Because of the War God Sect?"

"The War God Sect, and Olivier," Linley said. "Before I appeared, the Baruch Clan had only you, an earl. The emperor would not turn down the War God's personal disciple for a declining clan."

"What about now?"

"Now she has begun to hesitate."

Wharton looked ahead.

"I thought that as long as I became an honorary disciple of the War God Sect, I could get Father to agree."

"You have already done enough," Linley said. "But the emperor has never weighed only what you have done."

The two descended the steps before the palace gates.

A figure blocked their path.

The young man wore purple-and-gold robes and had handsome features, with an air of arrogance about his brow. Several War God Sect disciples followed behind him.

Wharton's expression darkened.

"Blumer."

Blumer's gaze passed over Wharton and settled on Linley.

"You're Linley?"

"I am."

"I heard you returned from the Northwest Province and killed six angels of the Radiant Church," Blumer said. "No wonder Wharton dared to enter the palace again to ask for her hand."

Linley did not answer.

Wharton stepped forward.

"This has nothing to do with whether my brother has returned. Nina has never agreed to marry you."

Blumer sneered.

"His Majesty has not agreed to marry her to you either."

Wharton gripped Carnage behind his back.

"So?"

Blumer stared at him.

"One month from now, at the imperial capital's arena. You and I will fight a fair battle."

"Marriage is not a matter of which of us wins or loses," Wharton said.

"You don't dare?"

Wharton's gaze turned cold.

He had lost to Blumer during the War God Sect's selection.

Many in the imperial capital believed that defeat had already proved him inferior to Blumer.

Wharton could refuse to stake Nina on a contest over their marriage.

But he could not avoid this battle forever.

"Fine."

Blumer smiled.

"When the time comes, I will invite His Majesty and my senior brothers from the War God Sect to preside. I will let the entire imperial capital see clearly that you are not worthy of Nina at all."

A trace of coldness flashed through Linley's eyes.

"Blumer."

Blumer looked at him.

"Nina is not a prize," Linley said. "Your fight with Wharton can only determine which of you is stronger, not whom she is willing to marry."

"Only the strong are qualified to protect her."

"That, too, is for Nina to judge."

Blumer's expression darkened slightly.

"See you in a month."

He turned and left.

Wharton watched his retreating figure.

"Brother, I will win."

"I know you will do your best," Linley said.

"Not do my best." Wharton tightened his grip on Carnage. "I will win."

Linley looked at his younger brother's resolute gaze and nodded.

"Then go win it yourself."

The two brothers walked down the long flight of steps side by side.

Deep within the palace, Joanne soon received word of what had happened outside the gates.

"Wharton accepted Blumer's challenge?"

"Yes," the attendant said with a bow. "One month from now, at the imperial capital's arena."

Joanne walked to the window.

One was the War God's personal disciple.

The other was the heir to the Dragonblood Warrior Clan.

Behind the two stood Olivier and Linley, respectively.

Whichever one she chose, she would offend the other side.

"Convey my verbal decree," Joanne said. "I will personally attend the duel in one month."

"As for Nina's marriage..."

Joanne paused for a moment.

"I will announce it at the Martial Arts Hall after their duel ends."

He did not say whom he would choose.

For now, he had not yet made his decision.