So this is the youngest son of Marquis Cres Val.
Unexpectedly, the young lord in front of Viscount Cladeu is very different from the rumors circulating in society. This young man has a presence different from Marquis Frederick. The moment he stepped out from the carriage, he naturally attracted not only his whole attention but also the people around them. He has a charisma that most young men of the same age as him did not possess.
"Greetings, Viscount Nolan." Marquis Cres Val said.
Viscount Cladeu returns back to his senses and quickly bows his head to show his respect towards the marquis. After a few more formalities, Marquis Cres Val shows his son in front of Viscount Cladeu. His honey-colored eyes look straight at the viscount before he bows his down a little to greet him.
"It is an honor to meet you, Viscount Cladeu." Gian said in a silvery voice.
"The pleasure is mine, Young lord Gian." Viscount Cladeu replied.
Viscount Cladeu guides their guests inside their mansion. While Viscount Cladeu and Marquis Cres Val talked with each other, Gian quietly follows behind them. As they pass by the corridor, the servants who see them cannot peel their eyes on the good-looking young man behind the marquis and the viscount. When they entered the parlor room and close its door, the servants cannot stop themselves from gossiping and share their giddiness and excitement with each other.
"Did you see that?! He is so handsome! His charms and temperament are very different from the young lords I've seen so far!"
"That young master is the rumored sick son of Marquis Cres Val, right?" A maid quickly asked. "He does not look sick at all!"
"That's true! I cannot imagine a dashing young master like Young Lord Cres Val is bedridden all year round! Can you see how healthy he looks? If not, he should not look like a prince who comes out from a fairytale! The rumors must be exaggerating!"
"I got a chance to meet General Cres Val before and after meeting his younger brother today, I do not know who is more handsome between them!"
"Young Lady Shannen is really fortunate! To have a handsome fiance like that, I bet the other young ladies will cry in jealousy!"
Gian paid no heed to the chattering of these maids. Right now, he was sitting beside his father as they still talk and recall some pleasant memories they shared when they were still young. It seems like these two already knew each other a long time ago. A maid is quietly pouring a tea on Gian's teacup. After filling up his cup, the maid heard a soft whisper from Gian thanking her before he lifts his cup to have a sip on his tea. The maid got mesmerized as she stares at Gian who elegantly drinks his tea. It was fortunate that the maid wakes up from her dazed and leaves the parlor room with a flushed look on her face.
"Dude, that maid suddenly develop a crush on you." observed Russel.
Gian ignores the pen's remark and continues drinking his tea. Of course, Russel is currently with Gian. Ever since Gian discovered that the pen he mysteriously found in his library can talk and hold a conversation with him, Gian always brings the pen wherever he goes. He will never admit it, but Gian found someone, or rather a non-living thing, who can understand his current situation without criticizing or laughing at him.
Though he sometimes wanted to put a lot of dents on the pen's barrel because of its talkativeness.
"Let us talk now the reason why we came here." Marquis Cres Val said. "As I've mentioned in the letter I send, my son would like to ask for your daughter's hand to be his fiance."
"Yes, that's right." Viscount Cladeu remarked before ordering a maid to bring tell his daughter to show herself in the parlor room.
"Marquis Frederick, let me be honest with you. I am quite surprised when I received your letter. I did not expect your son to ask for my daughter's hand."
Viscount Cladeu's gaze falls on the young man sitting sophisticatedly beside Marquis Cres Val. While the marquis and him were talking, he secretly took short glances at Gian and observed him. As a businessman, Viscount Cladeu had already met a lot of different people. Studying and observing someone became natural for him.
Now that their distance was only a meter apart, Viscount Cladeu can now clearly see his fine features. He already had met tons of handsome young men not only in their kingdom but also from their neighboring kingdom. But the young man sitting in front of him is different in a lot of ways.
Viscount Cladeu was aware of the rumors spreading in their kingdom. One of them was the gossip about Marquis Cres Val's youngest son. Rumors said that Gian Cres Val rarely shows his face in public and did not attend the academy because of his poor health. It was also said that he spends most of his life being bedridden all the time. But now that he had seen the person involved in the rumors for real, Viscount Cladeu really felt the facts and imagination was as far apart as the east to the west.
He heard that Gian has the same age as his daughter. Viscount Cladeu initially expected that Gian had fooled them with his appearance earlier. Anyone can use their good looks to trick anyone, but no one can cheat their own temperament, mannerism, and personality.
Though he has an exquisite look, he is still young so the viscount can see a faint of childishness on his face. However, there is a strange atmosphere that suppressed and concealed all this childishness. He walked in a dignified manner earlier as if their corridor was paved for only him. His movements were never stiff or awkward.
The door suddenly opens and the three gentlemen inside turned their heads to see who is coming inside. They did not see Lady Shannen entering the parlor room. Instead, it was Viscountess Beckie who enters the room and give a curtsey in front of the Marquis to show her respect. She naturally walks and sits beside her husband. The sudden appearance of his wife makes Viscount Cladeu frown. What is she doing here?
"I sincerely give my apologies for showing up late, marquis and young lord. I only checked my younger daughter in her room since she suddenly got a fever last night. I hope you did not mind."
Currently, Viscount Cladeu has two children. Lady Shannen was his first child from his deceased wife and he also has a daughter from his current wife, Viscountess Beckie.
"It was okay. There is no need for you to apologize, Viscountess." Marquis Cres Val said.
Beckie smiles in relief after hearing the marquis. When she looks at the young man sitting beside the marquis, Beckie's smile suddenly falters. When Gian noticed her looking at him, he only nods his a little to show courtesy for this madam.
A pair of cool honey-colored pupils are staring straight at her. Aside from his greetings, Gian did not utter any more words. She did not know why, but Beckie can feel a sudden pressure from him as if her presence is just a nuisance for his eyes. But Beckie quickly dismissed this thought. He is just a young man, so why does she need to be afraid of him?
"Look! Look! Dude, even the viscountess got a crush on you! Hehehe... You are quite a charmer, aren't you?" Russel frivolously said.
As usual, Gian ignored him. He is waiting for Lady Shannen to come and see them. As the door opens again, the maid that Viscount Cladeu ordered earlier was back. But Lady Shannen is nowhere to be found. When the viscount gives the maid a questioning look, she lowers her head and explains.
"Viscount, the lady said she does not want to go down and meet the guests." The maid timidly said.
"What?"
"The lady also said that...that..."
"Speak clearly!"
"The lady said she does not want to be engaged with Young Lord Gian anymore."
Silence envelops the whole room. Viscount Cladeu cannot believe the maid in front of them. He knew that his daughter was eager to be engaged with this young man. So why did she suddenly refused? Viscountess Beckie picks up her teacup and slowly sips her tea to hide her smile on her lips.m
"That child..." Viscountess Cladeu sighed as she put down the teacup she was holding. "Shannen once told me that she does not want to be married and become a loving wife. All she wanted to do is to explore new things and visit different places in our kingdom. As a mother, I only want the best for my daughter."
There is nothing wrong with the viscountess's words. She really looks like a loving mother whose interest was her child's happiness. Gian suddenly stands up and looks at Viscount Cladeu.
"Viscount, can I have permission to talk with Lady Shannen?" Gian politely asked.
"But Shannen just told—"
"Madam, I just want to hear the reason why Lady Shannen wanted to reject me personally." Gian continued as he tries to stop the viscountess's interjection. "If she cannot go here to meet me, I can just visit her to her room."
"But young lord—"
"Viscountess, I think my son has the right to know the lady's reason why she does not want to be engaged with him." Marquis Cres Val said.
He was quite surprised by Gian's sudden action, but he did say anything about it. It seems like Gian was resolute to have a conversation with the young lady so he decided to help him.
"Viscount Nolan, is that right?"
"...Yes, that's right." The viscount orders his butler to bring Gian to his daughter's room. Gian looks at his father and the marquis gives him a nod. Soon, Gian together with the Cladeu's butler leaves the room.