Hearing these words, even Priest Saint Ventus was caught completely off-guard. It was true that Elena's first partner was slated to be Gale, but the last time they raised an uproar about this, Ryu had shamed them to no end. Although today was the first time Gale had met Ryu, his anger toward him had been brewing from long before.
This so-called choosing of the first partner was a tradition of the Holy Wing Clan. Back in Old Mistress Holy Wing's day, her elders had chosen Priest Saint Kunan as her first partner. However, he chose Vorena, causing her to have to take matters into her own hands.
Weren't you just a measly man? Why do you care how many women you bed? Why are you suddenly being such a prude? Could it be that you're actually a woman?
These were just some of the distorted and depraved thoughts Old Mistress Holy Wing had had back then. She felt enraged and embarrassed that a man had actually turned her down. After learning from her birth about just how horrible and vile men were, how could she not feel embarrassed? One of those lowly creatures actually believed himself to be her better!
As for the end of that story, everyone already knows it. This was the reality of this tradition.
Since every Holy Wing Clan woman before her had had her first partner chosen, Elena was obviously no different. This first partner was incredibly important because the first daughter had a special status and as such had to come from good pedigree. So, the talented Gale was chosen for Elena.
Of course, even as a cripple, Ryu's pedigree was far better than Gale's. It didn't matter that he couldn't cultivate, he still had four Ancestral Grade bloodlines within him. In fact, it was this argument that Ryu used when this was last brought up. It was irrefutable.
Back then, Old Mistress Holy Wing had countered with the fact that this was no longer a matter of pedigree. After all, the agreement had been decided upon. You couldn't just switch out when you found a better candidate, wouldn't that stain the reputation of their Holy Wing Clan?
However, this matter was irrelevant now. All that was important was the fact that Old Mistress Holy Wing suddenly used a different approach entirely, one that played on the sympathies of everyone. Wasn't Gale the truly pitiful one here?
It had to be said that not every member of the Holy Wing Clan had multiple partners like Old Mistress Holy Wing. Many only have a single partner for life, it was just that Old Mistress Holy Wing went out of her way to anger Priest Saint Kunan. This was all to say that Gale technically had the right to see Elena as his woman in name, although it wasn't exactly like that.
In fact, many men here had been chosen as the first partner of a young mistress of the Holy Wing Clan. They understood the ins and outs well.
Gale's face turned several shades of red, white and black. Would someone as arrogant as him agree to be portrayed as a pitiful lovesick puppy? Of course not! Yet that was what was happening.
Even his grandfather had grown angry. 'What is this whore doing!? Involving my grandson is such nonsense?! I'll have her head on a platter!"
However, neither he nor Gale had anywhere to vent their anger. If Gale or his grandfather called out Old Mistress Holy Wing for her antics, it would come off as trying to hide behind their anger. Even if her words were untrue, many would start believing them simply because of their reaction. They had been caught between a rock and a hard place and it was all this wench's fault. She wanted to save her own face so badly that she decided to throw them into the fire with her?!
With nowhere to aim his anger, Gale stood, an eerie calm having taken over his features.
"Old Mistress Holy Wing is correct, this matter has been weighing on my heart. Although I have no romantic feelings or tender love for Elena, it's difficult for a man to forget a woman that should have been his first.
"I agree that the Clans that back me aren't as powerful as Young Master Ryu's. My father is an average talent and my mother is practically a mortal as well, so how could I look down on his plight? My only backer is my grandfather, a man who's given me all the love he has. It was because of this love that he did his best to find me a worthy first woman, and even though Elena chose another man, it is an objective fact that she is more than worthy."
Gale's words were eloquent and heart felt. He seamlessly played on the hearts of those listening, evoking his seemingly normal pedigree and inciting his grandfather's love. It made him come off as sincere, people could see portions of themselves within him.
Plus, which man here didn't understand his words? Sometimes men even became territorial over women in brothels, disallowing their favorites from playing with others. They'd probably go on a murderous rampage if they ever found their favorite prostitutes in bed with another man.
Compared to this, a young man's first woman was on an even higher pedestal.
"However, even with all of these pent-up feelings, I didn't dare to bring them up and only remained quiet. I hadn't expected that Old Mistress Holy Wing would come for such a reason. However, she and my grandfather have been close for a long time, they could be considered childhood friends. So, in a lot of ways, she treats me as her grand nephew." Gale bowed gracefully before the Tatsuya family, having reached a single step ahead of Old Mistress Holy Wing, facing Ryu. "I hope that the Tatsuya family will be magnanimous in forgiving my grand aunt for fighting for her grand nephew."
Gale rose with a slight, amiable smile. His features were warm as his light green hair and eyes twinkled.
Ryu watched their theatrics emotionlessly, allowing Gale to finish his speech to completion.
"So, what are you plans here?" Ryu finally asked, his voice calm, but filled with a biting chill.
"I'd like to find out once and for all who among the two of us is better." Gale said straightforwardly. "Obviously, I don't mean in combat. Whether I win or lose, Elena will remain your fiancée. After all, she's made her choice. However, I would like to wager something so in the case that I do win, I could receive something back as a token of my victory. In this way, my inner devil will finally disappear."