Viscount Cladeu received two letters at the same time. The first one is from Earl Bartilon. Viscount Cladeu frowned upon reading the content of his letter. Earl Bartilon asked permission to let him marry his eldest daughter. In exchange, Earl Bartilon is willing to help him in terms of financial support for his plan on expanding his business outside their kingdom.
He does not need to think too much about it and tear the letter from Earl Bartilon in half. He is too shameless to send a letter to him just to ask for his eldest daughter. How can a man in his forties ask for a marriage with a young lady who has not reached her adulthood age? What a shameless and disgusting man.
Throwing the torn letter on the trash bin, Viscount Cladeu reads the second letter. The second letter was from Marquis Cres Val. Viscount Cladeu secretly got nervous when the head butler send the letter to his mansion early this morning. He got a little anxious thinking that maybe he did something to offend the Marquis. But the words written in his letter are contrary to his expectation. Gian Cres Val, his youngest son, is asking for his permission to be engaged with his eldest daughter, Lady Shannen Cladeu.
Viscount Cladeu calls for his daughter to go to his office immediately. When Shannen enters his office, he shows her the letter from the Marquis. Shannen already knew the reason why Marquis Cres Val send a letter to her father. But when she reads the words written on the clean white paper, Shannen's heart still skips a beat.
"What do you think about it, Shannen?" Viscount Cladeu asked his daughter. When he did not receive any response from his daughter, he suddenly got nervous.
In fact, Viscount Cladeu wanted to accept the engagement proposal of Marquis Cres Val right away. Their reputation and influence are widely known not only in this kingdom but also in their neighboring countries. If this engagement will become a success, then Marquis Cres Val can help him to be affiliated with more businessmen and can assist him if he decided to expand their business.
But of course, even if he is a businessman, Viscount Cladeu is also a loving father to his children at the same time. Viscount Cladeu swears to his deceased first wife that he will never use his children as a bargaining chip in order to achieve his plans. And he does not have any plan to break this promise.
"You do not have to be scared if you do not like it, Shannen." Viscount Cladeu reassured his daughter. "Although the Cres Val family is a well-known and prominent family in our kingdom, you do not have to be afraid if you want to refuse them. I personally know Marquis Frederick and he is a reasonable person. He will not hold a grudge towards us if we refuse them."
"Dad..."
"Shannen, just say a word and I will do my best for you. You know that your happiness is always my priority."
Shannen looks at her father with watery eyes. She is having a mixed feeling after reading the letter on her hand and after he heard her father's words. She can easily detect her father's eagerness to accept her engagement proposal. Viscount Cladeu is not the first who wants to have a friendship with the Cres Val family. All the noble families are also thinking the same thing.
But right now, Viscount Cladeu is telling her that she can refuse the engagement proposal from the Cres Val family if this will only result in her unhappiness.
Shannen shakes her head and stands from her seat. She has an urge to hug her father, and she really did. She jumps in her father's arms just like how she does it in the past. Viscount Cladeu was surprised, but he still affectionately hugs his daughter.
"Shannen, you are already a grown-up lady." Viscount Cladeu helplessly said pat his daughter's back. "You should be more
careful with your actions."
"But I am still your little princess, right?"
"Hmm... Of course." Viscount Cladeu confirmed. "But do you really want to accept it?"
"Dad, I... I want to be engaged with Gian."
Viscount Cladeu pushes Shannen a little to see what kind of expression she is making right now. Shannen does not look like she is forcing herself to do it. Though her eyes are teary, Shannen has a relaxed expression.
"Shannen, if you are just doing it for—"
Shannen shakes her head again.
"No, dad. I am not forcing myself to do it. I really want to be engaged with Gian."
Seeing the determination in Shannen's eyes, Viscount Cladeu chooses not to say anything more.
"Do you like him?" Viscount Cladeu suddenly asked.
"Dad!" exclaimed Shannen. Her cheeks suddenly burned and tinted with a pink blush.
"I am just asking. Why are you reacting like that?" Viscount Cladeu teased his daughter to lighten up the mood. "I know that you have a little friendship with the Marquis' youngest son before, but to think that he will propose an engagement to you is really unexpected to me."
Viscount Cladeu becomes silent for a while. And then he let out a sigh of relief.
"This is much better. It is good that the young master of the Cres Val family took a liking on you. But, are you really sure that you wanted to choose him? I heard a lot of rumors about him being bedridden all the time."
The people in high society are all aware that Marquis Cres Val has two sons. Viel Cres Val is the Marquis's eldest son who is famous for his achievements at a very young age. The other one is Gian Cres Val, but only a few people see him in person. That is because rumors are spreading that he has an overly weak body and was sick all the time.
Viscount Cladeu is now in dilemma. It would be beneficial for his family to be acquainted with the Cres Val because it will be a good asset for him when it comes to business opportunities. But on the other side, he is worried to let his daughter become a potential bride for a sick person. He does not want her daughter to make her feel wronged.
"Dad, don't worry! Gian is a really good person. And you should not listen to the rumors about it. Most of it is exaggerated." Shannen assured her father.
Shannen cannot understand the rumors spreading about Gian in the noble society. Maybe Gian is really sick, but not to the point where he bedridden all the time. Remembering his appearance and posture yesterday, he does not look like a sick person in Shannen's eyes. Instead, Gian looks like a dignified gentleman with a high bearing.
"I see. Then I will trust your judgment about him, Shannen." Viscount Cladeu said. "I will now write a reply letter to Marquis Cres Val informing him that we are accepting their proposal."
"But dad... What if Miss— What if mother doesn't approve of it?" Shannen asked her father in a small voice.
Viscount Cladeu halted on what he is doing and then he frowned. But it is only for a moment before he continues writing.
"Do not worry about her. In this mansion, I am still the one who will make the final decision."
That is what the Viscount said, but Shannen is still worrying about the situation. In the end, Shannen just let out a sigh. She silently prays in her heart hoping that everything will become fine.
—//—//—
Three days after that, the Cladeu mansion is so busy early in the morning. The servants are making their best to make the whole mansion absolutely clean and spotless. The chefs are busying themselves in the kitchen making the best food they can cook. The gardeners are checking the plants in the garden and remove the weeds that they can see growing on the grass and sprinkled water on the flowers to ensure its freshness.
Today, the Marquis together with his youngest son will visit the Cladeu mansion to personally talked about the potential engagement between their children. When the people in the Cladeu mansion heard about it, they first became worried about their young lady. Naturally, the servants also knew the rumors about Young Master Gian Cres Val. Lady Shannen is a lively and cheerful lady and to be engaged with a sick person is awfully disappointing. But at the same time, they became excited because they will be given a chance to meet the infamous youngest son of Marquis Cres Val.
Any minute by now, the Marquis and his son will arrive in their mansion. Viscount Cladeu is choosing a suit to wear for today when the door of his room suddenly opens. When he turned his head, the first thing Viscount Cladeu noticed is the scowl on his second wife's face. Instead of bothering about it, Viscount Cladeu intentionally ignores it and continues on looking for a good suit to wear.
"Do you really want your daughter to marry an invalid person, Nolan?" Beckie, Viscount Cladeu's second wife, said with an obvious dissatisfaction in her voice. "If you only let the Earl..."
"Watch your language, Beckie. You did not know who you are trying to make an enemy by insulting them." The Viscount warned his wife. "We already discussed it and my decision is final. I will never approve of my daughter getting married to an old man like Earl Bartilon. You better behave yourself today and do not make anything that can put a shame on this family anymore."
Viscount Cladeu did not let his wife speak another word again before he passes through her and get out of his room. He really can't understand it. Why does she really insist on marrying his daughter on that Earl? Beckie even put a lot of effort to make Earl Bartilon as a good person in their eyes by flattering and giving him too many credits in front of them.
Removing these thoughts for now, Viscount Cladeu asks the head butler if there is nothing wrong with the preparations for today. He doesn't want any mistakes to happen when the Marquis Cres Val visits their mansion. Viscount Cladeu wanted to put a good impression on them as much as he can.
A few minutes later, a servant quickly informed them the carriage of Marquis Cres Val has arrived. The servants quickly make their way on their own posts while the others are eager to see their visitors. Viscount Cladeu orders a maid to informed his daughter upstairs to get ready before he steps out of their mansion to personally greet their esteemed guests.
A black carriage with a sword and jeweled wings crest on it has stopped in front of the mansion. When its door opens, the first one who gets down is Marquis Cres Val. As usual, he still possesses the aura of a strong businessman with his stern-looking and serious expression. Before he can greet the Marquis, a young man also gets down in the carriage after the Marquis.
The young man is wearing a fine, black tailored suit. His hair was swept up a bit the gives a look a of boyish yet mature aura. He also has a pale looking but healthy skin. His were honey-colored but not the kind of shade that is easy to describe. It was almost like they were both yellow and shining gold at the same time. The young blinked and his upper cheeks were momentarily covered by the shield of his naturally long and soft looking eyelashes. By the time the young man's eyes opened again, Viscount Cladeu recovered from his stares at him.
So this is the youngest son of Marquis Cres Val.