A few minutes ago in the hall....
King Steinberg who was sitting on the VIP seat looked impatient, he turned to Old Man Odin and said, his tone containing a hint of frustration. "Sir Odin, where are your grandson, the divine child? I can't wait to see him"
Odin, feeling the weight of the king's impatience, replied with a respectful tone. "Your Majesty, please be patient. They will be here soon." As he spoke, he discreetly signaled one of the maids to hurry and inform Adaline and Lord Silver to join them immediately.
Curiosity gnawed at the old man Odin and Zorn, they couldn't help but inquire further. "Your Majesty, if I may ask, how did you come to know about the divine child? We have not informed anyone outside the Kustav family. How did this information reach you?"
A knowing smile crept across King Steinberg's face as he leaned closer. "Sir Odin, you truly underestimate the capabilities of the divine child. From the moment he was born, a divine presence engulfed the entire kingdom. We initially suspected the presence of powerful experts who came from empires, but my father sensed something more. He recognized the phenomenon to be similar to the one that occurred when the ancestor of our human empire was born. The divine aura led him straight to the Vesprech family, and thus, he deduced the birth of a divine child."
Odin's eyes widened in astonishment. "Covering the entire kingdom with his divine presence? It seems that my grand-son possesses remarkable abilities. Even after ascending into the overlord realm, I can't make the whole kingdom cover with my divine sense, which will empty my mana in a blink of an eye, it's truly a divine blessing to have a powerful grandson like him."
As they continued their conversation, King Steinberg expressed his request to Odin. "Sir Odin, I have a favor to ask. Please refrain from interfering when I test the divine child's capabilities. You see, my father informed me that divine children are beloved of heaven. Regardless of the challenges they face, the world in which the divine child is born will always protect them. So, please, sir, allow me to test this theory. Rest assured, I will restrict my strength to 30 percent, and if anything goes wrong, I will immediately cancel the spell."
Hesitation clouded Odin's expression as he contemplated the king's request. He did not wish to put his grandson in any kind of danger, even if he is a divine child protected by the world itself. However, when King Steinberg added, "Your family will have our full support in nurturing the divine child, I know to nurture a divine child, if you do not have mountains of precious treasure baking you up you will hinder his growth," Odin's gulped hearing that, It was an opportunity of immense significance for the Vesprech family. Knowing full well the challenges that awaited them in nurturing a divine child, Odin reluctantly agreed, his face etched with worry. Deep in his heart, he silently apologized to his grandson, 'My dear grandson, please forgive me for agreeing to His Majesty's proposal. It is for the sake of our family's well-being. I hope you understand."
Little did they know that their conversation would lead to a chaotic turn of events, shattering the peaceful atmosphere of the hall.
....
As King Steinberg continued to apologize to Lady Adaline, explaining the intricacies of the entire drama, her astonishment grew. She witnessed the king's attack dissipate into nothingness, only to be replaced by a powerful golden arc that blasted him away in an instant.
As the smoke cleared, Lady Adaline turned her gaze towards her own family, her eyes filled with disappointment. She directed her words at Lord Silver, her tone laced with disgust. Her voice dripped with disdain as she declared, "From this moment onward, do not address me as your wife. I am Lady Adaline to you, understood?"
Lord Silver, feeling the weight of his wife's disappointment, nodded meekly, accepting the consequences of his exaggerated performance. Regretfully, he muttered to himself, 'I shouldn't have gone to such lengths during the act. Now, our relationship became awkward once more.' he is indeed true now their husband and wife relationship is hanging on slim silk that can be broken by the slightest of misconception.
All eyes in the hall turned to Lord Silver, pity evident in their gazes. Attempting to alleviate the tension, King Steinberg interjected once more, his voice filled with sincerity. "Lady Adaline, please do not be angry. I came here on behalf of my father to assure you that the royal family fully supports the divine child in every aspect. Please do not hesitate to seek our assistance."
The shocking revelation reverberated throughout the hall, leaving even the members of the Vesprech family surprised, except for Old Man Odin and Zorn. Seizing the opportunity, the king continued, "Miss Adaline, if I may inquire..."
Granting him permission with a nod, Lady Adaline urged him to speak, adding, "Yes, Your Majesty, please go ahead. Afterward, I have something to discuss as well."
The king, gathering his thoughts, proceeded cautiously, "Miss Adaline, as a father, I am willing to arrange a betrothal between my daughter and your son. I hope that our two families can grow closer." King Steinberg proposed he continued his voice drawing the attention of everyone present. He then turned to address the entire hall, saying, "I have a few things to say to all of you."
All eyes were fixed on the king, awaiting his words. Clearing his throat, he proclaimed, "By the authority vested in me, I hereby decree that no one shall reveal the existence of the divine child, other than within the Vesprech family. This is not a request, but an order from my father."
The weight of his decree hung heavily in the air, sending shivers down the spines of those present. Quickly one by one, they stepped forward, acknowledging the decree and pledging their loyalty.
"Your Majesty, I, the head of the Lenchester family, swear never to disclose what we have witnessed here to any third party, lest heaven punishes us," declared the Lenchester family head.
"I, the head of the Silverwood family, pledge that I will never..." Blackthorn, Goldenheart, and Evergreen families followed suit, affirming their commitment to the decree.
As each oath was made, the hall descended into silence once more. Lady Adaline, breaking the stillness, addressed the king once again, "Your Majesty, I appreciate the Royal family's offer of assistance, but I and my son do not require it. Secondly, allow your daughter to come to the Vesprech family first. I shall evaluate her and determine if she is worthy of my son or not ."
After contemplating for a moment, King Steinberg responded, "Very well. My daughter will join the Vesprech family next month. If you require any support, do not hesitate to ask."
The notion of rejecting the help from the royal family seemed ludicrous to many, but Lord Silver, privy to his wife's background, remained somber, fully aware of the weight of her decision.
The grand hall buzzed with excitement and curiosity as the unfolding scene captured everyone's attention. Conversations filled the air, blending with the charged atmosphere of the occasion. The sudden twist had heightened the importance of the situation, injecting a sense of intricacy and doubt into the unfolding narrative as the banquet drew to a close.