THIRD PERSON POV
'' It's quite surprising seeing you actually coming after my invitation, Marquess Saymon,'' Grand Duke Valentine spoke breaking the silence between them.
'' It's about the future of the Imperial Family, I had to come,'' Marquess spoke calmly. Valentine looked at the expressionless face of Saymon. A sigh left his mouth, he wanted to say something but nothing actually came out of his lips. '' You bought your son with you but I am not seeing him around,'' Valentine tried to start a easy conversation. '' He said he will be coming in after seeing someone,'' Saymon replied coldly. Valentine frowned after hearing his answer, wondering if any of his children are acquinted with the Marquess heir whose face is yet unknown by the world.
'' Did you call me here to chit-chat?'' Saymon asked him. Valentine knew the ''old friend'' of his no longer the same, so it'll be just better for them.
'' The Emperor, he is pushing me forward to see which prince's side I'll be taking. And he has already made his move by ordering my daughter to become Second Prince's partner,'' Valentine finally started the main topic of the talk. Saymon's eyes widen hearing that. '' You can't be serious. The Emperor wants to make that child stand beside someone like Second Prince, doesn't he know about the fact Second Prince is too obsessed with that child?''
'' It's most likely Second Prince asked the Emperor himself. Yesterday he also came here to ask him to hand over the control of the 5th Knight Of Order and asked me for my daughter's hand for marriage. He also threaten me, If I don't go with his flow then,'' Valentine's face turned pale as he continued, '' He will use force to take my daughter with him.''
'' Are you scared of the Prince now?" Saymon said sarcastically. Valentine bite his lower lip, '' I am, I am scared of the blood that is flowing in him.'' Saymon looked at Valentine who looked nothing like the mighty Swordmaster of the continent. A desperate father, a helpless man who is scared of Imperial Power. '' You should've thought about this before making the Blood Oath 17 years ago, didn't I warn you then?'' Valentine chuckled bitterly and looked at Saymon with a sad smile on his lips, '' If I didn't do that back then, My family would've been killed. I have already lost so much, I can't lose more,''
Saymon let out a sigh of frustration. He untied his tie and drank water. He knew that his anger is unjustifiable but does that mean he doesn't have any rights to be angry?
'' It's all your fault Valentine. You should've known better than anyone that the Emperor is a crazy b#stard who only knows how to monopolize everything. The Blood Oath you made makes you a slave of the Imperial Family and look how helpless you are that you can't even protect your daughter.'' Saymon scoffed. Valentine didn't say something.
'' So, what do you want from me? Rebel against the Emperor and kill the second Prince?'' Saymon asked. Valentine looked up. His eyes were teary and breathing was shakey. Saymon was taken back by that look of his old friend. No matter how much he resents Valentine, at the end of the day, both of them trusts each other the most.
'' I won't ask you anything dangerous or anything much. Accept my daughter as a knight under the name the knightage of house Erars.'' Valentine requested. '' K-knight? Have you gone crazy? There have been no female knights from the Grand Duchy of Casvoner. Imperial Family will surely question if that child is to become a knight under the House of Erars.'' Saymon objected. Valentine shook his head. '' Imperial Family won't object as long as it's House of Erars who takes my daughter in as a knight. As House of Erars has been independent about selecting knight.''
Saymon seemed to get what Valentine was saying. The Imperial Law clearly states that ' Knights are meant to serve from behind not to stand next to Imperial Household.' If Vivian is knighted as the Knight of Erars, not only she will be independent of the grasp of Imperial Laws also from Second Prince who can't bear breaking laws when he wants to be the next Empeor.
'' You have to pay if you want me to take in your daughter. How much are you willing to sacrifise?'' Saymon asked him. Valentine put some paper on the table and said, '' These are the right of 3 Mineral Mines in the North and the Jade Plaque that gives access to the Grand Temple's Secret House.'' Saymon choked on his own breath. 3 Mineral Mines of North are known to be the richest mines in the Empire and Jade Plaque is a privillage given to only the house of Casvoner. He couldn't help but laugh out of disbelief.
'' After all, to you, Your Children mean the world till now,'' Saymon commented. He stopped smiling and gave Valentine the reply he wanted to hear the most,'' I will take your daughter as the Knight under the name of House of Erars. ''
END OF THIRD-PERSON POV
I was sitting in the garden with Sebastian talking like any other normal noble.
'' TIA, There you are,'' I heard Vivian shouting. I turned my head to find her running toward us wearing the Knights outfit of House of Erars. Huh! Why is she wearing that outfit? Vivian stopped in front of us and smiled brightly. '' How do I look?'' She asked excitedly.
'' You look great but sister, isn't this outfit of the Knights from House of Erars?'' I asked her. Vivian nodded, she was about to speak but stopped after noticing Sebastian's presence. Sebastian stood up and greeted Vivian,'' I am Sebastian Erars. It's an honor to meet the Red Rose of House De Casvoner,'' I could see Vivian's flushed cheeks after her eyes met Sebastian's. Isn't the same as my past life just they met a few years earlier?
In my past life, Vivian fell for Sebastian at first sight after seeing him on Atticus's 20th birthday, but Sebastian never gave her a positive response as he was busy backing up Atticus in every possible means. I wonder if their story will be different this time.
'' U-um, It's Pleasure to meet you, Young Marquess.'' Vivian seemed nervous in her way of speaking. I smirked thinking of a way to push them together but suddenly my talk with my father from a while ago started floating in my head.
'' Lady Vivian looks great in my family's knights outfit,'' Sebastian smiled. Vivian looked down shyly and thanked him for the compliment.
'' But, sister why are you wearing this?'' I asked her. Vivian looked at me and the color of her eyes shined brightly when she replied,
'' Just as you suggested, I will become an official Knight but under the house of Erars,''