Baron Newman had originally been worried that Kael might develop a timid and self-deprecating personality due to some rumors. But now seeing him carry himself so gracefully, with a demeanor quite reminiscent of Anthony's calm and solemn nature, he was secretly delighted.
However, thinking about Count Rezhe who still had his sights set on Kael, the smile on his face faded a bit.
After some idle chat, Kael finally got to the point:
"Uncle Newman, I dare not hide anything from you. The news from my father came rather suddenly. This time, I'm here to seek your opinion on the engagement with Miss Elanna."
"Oh? Let's hear it."
Kael said seriously, "Uncle Newman, the matters on the Lancaster family's side are fraught with risks. You haven't despised this incubus bloodline and have allowed Elanna to get engaged to me, which is my good fortune.
But if I let you drag the Newman family into the Lancaster family's struggle, I would feel uneasy. So today I came to ask you to reconsider."
Newman glanced at the faintly visible red hair behind the curtain, and with a hint of amusement and a smile, said loudly, "In fact, I rushed back today after spending quite some time dealing with matters on the Lancaster family's side."
Kael was slightly taken aback, recalling the change in Baron Newman's expression earlier. During his years in the guild, handling various affairs with guild members, other players, and NPCs, he had developed a knack for reading people's expressions and decided to probe:
"Uncle Newman, is there something difficult that you're finding hard to share?"
Newman said, "Earlier, Count Rezhe sent someone to invite me to Fransburg to discuss matters. They are well-informed and must have been the first to know about your father's death, hence they approached me for collaboration.
Count Rezhe said he had heard of my stupid daughter's reputation in the Royal Capital and wanted to marry his child to Elanna.
Kael, you may not know, but Count Rezhe is immensely powerful. Though he hasn't made a move in many years, the foundation of Lancaster is indeed frighteningly strong. His curse power is quite astonishing."
Kael nodded, recalling the fleeting glimpse of red hair from earlier, and thought to himself:
"It seems Newman… no, Father-in-law, doesn't have any intention of breaking off the engagement. If he really wanted to, an ordinary person wouldn't be able to say it with a smile."
With that thought, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Since Newman—no, Father-in-law—didn't intend to break off the engagement, he would have to find a way to secure a place in the world and ensure the safety of the territory.
He happened to know that the Lancaster Territory would soon have a stable portal to the underworld. The dungeon on the other side of the portal was quite suitable for beginners to level up and hunt monsters.
Yes, everything was within his plans.
It definitely wasn't because he was enamored with Elanna's beauty.
Yes, that's right, that's exactly it.
Besides, as a warrior of pure love, wasn't it only natural to wipe out those obnoxious Minotaur?
However, more preparations were needed for this matter.
After all, the pressure from an Earl's presence was indeed formidable.
With that in mind, Kael looked at Baron Newman, who had a smile on his face and a look of anticipation in his eyes, and said very seriously:
"As you said, Uncle Newman, you should consider my opinion. Count Rezhe's proposal for an alliance is false; his intention to exert pressure is real. Clearly, he already sees us as being in the same trench. I truly can't bear the thought..."
Knowing the jargon of the trade, saying one thing while meaning another, especially after seeing Baron Newman's deliberately revealed dissatisfied expression, he realized he had guessed right.
Just as Kael was about to fan the flames further, he heard urgent footsteps approaching from beside him.
He saw a girl stride past him and come to stand before Baron Newman, her back to Kael. He could only see the red hair cascading down like a wave of heat:
"Father, don't you think saying such things is quite unbecoming?"
Unexpectedly, his daughter's reaction was so intense that he scratched his head, looking like a child being scolded by his mother. He sighed deeply and raised his voice slightly:
"But Count Rezhe truly is a very dangerous man, although, to be honest, I do look down on him."
Kael, too, watched with interest his nominal fiancée from behind, feeling a sense of familiarity.
He couldn't help but feel a bit emotional.
In his previous life, the LGBT community and another group with unnamed buffs had begun to exert significant influence within the Human Federation, trying to convince everyone of their beliefs.
He had thought he had become accustomed to these phenomena, but now, this girl suddenly burst forth, like a knight wielding a long lance.
She didn't say much, and her words weren't particularly sharp. But standing proudly with her lance, she instantly shattered the harmonious atmosphere, pointing the lance at the person speaking to you. You might not know if she had ever noticed you, but you would trust her.
Just as at this moment, with her back to you, you couldn't see her beautiful eyes that had caught your attention, but under the midday sun, her hair spread out like a fine aged wine.
This was the first time he had encountered such a girl, seemingly indifferent to others' opinions, with a confident and fearless air, which rendered the normally outspoken Baron Newman momentarily speechless.
Just as Kael was about to say something to ease the tension, he heard the girl say clearly:
"Father, Aunt Windsor has already explained the engagement clearly to me. Since it was your proposal, how can you lose credibility at the crucial moment?
Father, do you remember when you were newly enfeoffed, I asked you why some people were nobles, some were commoners, and some became slaves? Now that our family has become part of the nobility, does that make us different from others?
Do you remember what you told me back then?"
Baron Newman was momentarily lost in thought, recalling his own exuberance when he was newly enfeoffed. He had been overjoyed, taking Elanna to a restaurant he had previously dared not visit.
Though it wasn't on the same level as Count Rezhe's Celeia Jockey Club, that restaurant was renowned for its luxury in the area.
Families that were once noble but had since fallen into decline often smeared pig fat on their lips before going out to appear as if they had been feasting on fine foods to maintain their dignified facade.
Such non-hereditary nobles and knight-class individuals were people he had seen plenty of during his youthful adventures. Every time those clowns forced into adventuring crouched on the deck, boasting about their family's former glory, they would always mention that restaurant.
"Do you know? There's a restaurant called 'Messiah' at the biggest port in Englandrance, a favorite among the local nobles. It's said even the Duke has dined there. Before I set sail with you mud-footed sailors, I often liked to visit there."
They would always say.
They said it so often that young Newman took it to heart.