Chapter 7 - 5: Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river... Sorry, wrong set.

Moreover, it was necessary to make two more preparations, finding a way to distance themselves from the Charles family.

In the game’s future storyline, the event of the Charles family being judged involved a vast range, with many small families that depended on the Charles family being affected and declining.

Some were even eradicated along the way!

Although Kael’s father seldom mentioned his family, Kael knew from his original memories that Anthony and Count Rezhe were brothers.

At this thought, he felt a big "danger" symbol appear above his head.

Did you think Kael was fearing the Federation?

No, he feared the players who would descend in 299 days!

It was because he was once a member of the Fourth Calamity that he knew how terrifying the Fourth Calamity was to NPCs.

Terrifying upright apes had fought beasts for a hundred thousand years, had slaughtered each other for ten thousand years, and their brutal nature had long been ingrained in their souls. When they became the Undead in the game, who knew how many crazies were among them.

Perhaps because Kael had been sitting in the living room for too long, Old White stood behind him, quietly watching his young master in low spirits, and simply refilled his empty teacup with tea.

"Young Master Kael, it’s time for your nap. Rest early. Mr. Anthony wouldn’t want to see you like this." Old White’s voice was very gentle.

Kael turned around to look at Old White, seeing him standing behind him wanting to say something but saying nothing, suppressed his anxiety, and asked:

"Grandpa White, do you have something to say to me?"

Old White said: "Indeed, there is something I want to discuss with you, young master."

He walked into the tea room, brewed a fresh pot of hot tea, and was about to pour it for Kael. But Kael took the teapot from him, let him sit down, poured him a cup of tea, and said:

"Grandpa White, sit down and have some tea first. Slowly tell me what you want to say."

Then he sat down.

Old White didn’t mind. He just said: "Young Master Kael, you’ve become more mature since you went to the academy."

Kael forced a smile and said: "Grandpa White, you’ve watched me grow up. It’s only right to pour you a cup of tea."

Old White took a sip of tea and softly sighed, as if reminiscing about something: "If Mr. Anthony were still alive and saw how much better you’ve become, he would certainly be very pleased."

Kael sighed: "Unfortunately, there’s no chance for that anymore. Sigh..."

Old White was silent for a moment, then hesitated and said: "The old master had thought that since you were almost an adult and had few friends, he had arranged a marriage for you.

Originally, he planned to confirm the marriage contract and gather some of the elders for a banquet in another estate when the camellias bloomed next spring, hoping having a fiancée would change your introverted nature."

Kael was surprised: "There was such a thing?"

Old White nodded, took out a small wooden box made of the rare Downworld tree species Red Copper Wood, unique to The Gates of Below, with a finely carved hollow lion pattern and a small Sapphire inlaid in the eyes of the lion.

Kael hesitated, then took the box.

A roaring lion pattern, indeed, it was the Charles family.

The Charles family was originally a branch of the ruling Lionheart family of England. In essence, they were the same lineage as the current main family of the Lion Heart House.

Both the main family and the branch family used the roaring lion crest.

The only difference was that the main family’s lion eyes used Rubies, symbolizing bloodlust, while the Charles branch used polished Sapphire.

He opened the box, took out the Beast Skin Scroll inside, and unrolled it to take a look.

"Lady Elanna Newman, the only daughter of Baron Newman?"

Kael’s expression grew strange. His old father really had been too good to him.

For someone like him, with a mother who wasn’t a noble marriage and was even an enemy Incubus, the child born would be considered lower than a bastard by rights.

Yet, the arranged marriage was with a legitimate noble’s only daughter.

Such favor could be called extraordinary.

In the Bell Federation, titles of Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and Baron, even the lowest Baron was an unreachable existence for the ordinary Knight Class.

"But, considering the current situation where father has passed away, it would be normal for Baron Newman to want to go back on the marriage. It’s likely going to be a story of ’Three decades east of the river, three decades west.’"

He tried to recall Baron Newman. In his original memories, the Baron seemed to be a rising star among the new Nobles but just a rising star at that...

Compared to his current status in noble circles, his daughter at the Royal Knight Academy had a good reputation among young wealthy men, being exceptionally talented and rumored to be a rare beauty.

Beautiful as she was, in Kael’s current situation, trying to force this would probably bring trouble.

Beauty causing trouble was a real possibility in an era without cosmetic surgery.

But if Kael were to let his fiancée become someone else’s bride, thinking about it… it was quite unpleasant.

It wasn’t about love, just possessiveness, a basic human nature.

Old White said softly: "Before the old master passed, he prepared an engagement ceremony for it. Young Master Kael, now that there’s unrest within the family, everything was fine while the old master was around.

But now, it’s hard to guarantee that no one will have sinister thoughts. I still suggest you visit Baron Newman’s place tomorrow, secure the engagement, and distance yourself from the family turmoil."

Kael pondered deeply, considering using Baron Newman’s power to temporarily distance himself from the Charles family?

According to how Nobles acted in the game, someone like him, an ignored "tainted blood," aligning himself with Baron Newman and working for him, was essentially giving up on the core power of the Charles family.

If it came to judgment, it was unlikely to involve him.

But he remained doubtful and asked: "Grandpa White, given our current situation, there’s a higher chance of Baron Newman backing out if we approach him.

If we’re rejected, our survival situation might become even worse."

Old White paused, looking at his young master, seemingly taken aback, and after a while said:

"Young master, you carry the blood of the Charles family. The family’s honor is inviolable.

Moreover, Baron Newman, as a rising noble, cannot act so foolishly if he wants to stand his ground."

Kael nodded. Since the old housekeeper said so, he agreed for now, taking the marriage contract and the Holy Sanctuary Crystal back to his room.

Sitting on the bench, Kael pondered for a while and understood the reason for the misunderstanding.

The players hadn’t arrived yet, and this era was in the early days of the Age of Exploration. Rising Nobles hadn’t yet sprouted like mushrooms, gradually replacing traditional Merit Nobility and becoming the mainstream among the Nobles.

In other words, this period was the peak of traditional Merit Nobility’s prestige. They occupied the most land, had the strongest armies, the greatest cultural influence, and the most wealth.

The era where players ran around on quests and rising Nobles claimed land hadn’t truly arrived. When facing traditional Nobles, all rising Nobles remained silent.

Whether Baron Newman liked it or not, the marriage contract made by his late father meant it was set in stone for him.

Would he back out if you went to confirm the engagement early?

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

At this thought, Kael’s face showed a relieved smile.

If things could work out this way, that would be great.

He wasn’t the type to declare "Three decades east of the river, three decades west" in defiance.

Using the engagement to extricate himself from the Charles family wasn’t a bad idea. As for whether the marriage would happen?

That was up to him, not Baron Newman. Although it was apologetic, if the time came for a getaway, he would follow his heart and offer ample compensation.

But, he couldn’t put all his hopes on Baron Newman. If this path failed, he would have to initiate his other plan—advancing to a formal Mage.

A Magician was also a Mage profession. Once he reached LV2, he surpassed the apprentice level and could register with the Mage Association.

Spellcasters were always respected in most games, and The Gates of Below was no exception.

Qualified Mages were few, especially in these times when the Mage growth system was still developing. Fully advancing Mages were even fewer.

Fortunately, he had something that players couldn’t acquire at this stage… the Holy Sanctuary Crystal!

Kael’s face lit up with excitement.

If the system panel still functioned correctly, he could use the Holy Sanctuary Crystal to solve the Incubus bloodline issue and advance from a LV1 Mage Apprentice to a formal Mage, gaining the protection of those special-status spellcasters.

If he demonstrated enough value, he might even turn passive into active, for example… completely making his father’s title his own.

At this thought, his Incubus tail behind him wiggled slightly, the heart-shaped flesh petals slowly opened and swallowed the Holy Sanctuary Core whole.

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