Marriage - 593

Skymender was about to speak, pent up from two entire weeks of isolation and silence, but Skybelle raised her hand in a stopping motion.

Skymender did not speak. 

"We don't want to keep them waiting." Skybelle said.

She was clearly very serious. Even if their mother and father were the ones waiting, it was unlikely for her to be so serious.

Skymender had a bad premonition, but silently followed Skybelle as she led him out of the room. 

Although worried, he knew that his sister would not let anything happen to him. Since she was not taking him away, his life shouldn't be in danger.

Skymender and Skybelle quickly reached a room, one that Skymender had only seen a few times.

His father usually had meetings in this room.

Skybelle knocked on the door and waited.

In just a moment, the door was opened and the scene inside was presented to Skymender.

In the large and well furnished room, the familiar faces of the Duke and his daughter were present. 

In addition was the Duke's wife. She looked at Skymender with a focused and serious gaze. She seemed even more threatening than the Duke.

Melly had her head down and did not look up even when he came in. She had been thoroughly talked to by the Duke.

Inside as well were his mother and father, as well as a stern looking man covered with armor and a sword.

Skymender nervously walked into the room behind Skybelle.

There were four couches in the room, all arranged in a square formation.

His mother and father sat on the left, the Duke, his daughter, and his wife sat on the right, and the armored man and now Skybelle sat on the back couch.

This left one couch, the closest to the door, specially for him. He nervously sat down and waited.

After a moment, his father spoke. "We have talked with the Duke, and with the permission of the King…"

His father hesitated for a moment.

The Duke took a deep breath and spoke. "You are being betrothed to my daughter."

Skymender looked at him with shock.

Melly's head shot up, clearly surprised hearing this as well. It seemed that she had not been informed in advance.

Before Skymender could say another word, the Duke spoke. "You can refuse, of course."

Skymender sighed in relief.

The Duke continued. "But then we'd have to kill you."

Skymender's sigh of relief was caught in his throat. 

So ruthless?

As he spoke, the Duke looked over at Skybelle and the armored man.

Even if they wanted to give Skymender the death penalty, would Skybelle allow it? Probably not. 

She may go so far as to take Skymender and run away. 

The empire could not afford to lose a potential Sword Master.

The Duke's gaze switched to the armored man.

And if he were to assist her…

The Duke shivered in fear at the thought. 

He turned his gaze to Skymender again. "Usually, a marriage between a noble of Baron status and a noble of Duke status is extremely rare, almost unheard of, and has only ever been documented with the male being of Duke rank and a female being of Baron rank, but things can be considered different due to your sister. She has a high possibility of becoming a Sword Master, especially since Master Shang has taken her as a disciple."

This was Skymender's first time hearing of Master Shang. He could naturally assume that this Master Shang was the one in the room with them.

Master Shang spoke. "This has interrupted our training. You better be worth it." 

He said this while staring at Skymender. Skymender nervously nodded.

Skybelle spoke with pride. "My brother will naturally be a successful person."

She then turned to Skymender. "This is my Master, Master Shang. You've heard stories of Sword Masters taking on entire armies, but not every Sword Master can do that, and not every Sword Master can return alive even if they do succeed. Master Shang is the Sword Master you hear about in legends, one that can truly decimate an entire army and return in time for dinner. He is the Sword of the Empire."

Skymender was shocked.

His gaze instantly changed, looking at Master Shang with admiration. As someone who loved reading fantasy books, he had always liked the powerful characters that were unmatched. 

This Master Shang was clearly one of those characters.

He almost forgot about the fact that his death had been spoken about just moments ago.

The Duke cleared his throat, drawing the attention back to him.

"As said, you will be marrying my daughter upon turning eighteen. There is no negotiation in this matter."

The Duke spoke unwillingly. Clearly, he did not want to marry his daughter off.

Sadly, if he did not, it would cause many problems, some involving people he could not afford to get involved with. Master Shang was not at the top of the Kingdom, but the top of the Empire.

He was truly below one and above all others.

Even the King would have to address him with respect.

It would bring shame to the whole kingdom if this situation was not peaceful and properly resolved.

Melly lowered her head shyly, while Skymender was still thinking about the entire situation.

Was it all bad? Ignoring who he was marrying, he was technically marrying a member of the Duke's family as a Baron. This would bring him a leap in status equal to or above even his own father.

Everybody seemed to be ignoring this fact for now.

Had such a simple action had such a complex result?

He remembered the book he had read long ago. The Plot of a Thousand Years.

Everyone was ignoring him because he was an arrogant child, yet he had achieved great results for himself.

Skymender, though just a child, seemed to glimpse a path forward in life.

Plotting hidden behind arrogance. It seemed interesting, a style he had rarely seen even in fantasy books.

Skymender fell deeper into thought.