As Angeline and Maximus were engrossed in their conversation, the unexpected happened.
The door swung open, and the next candidate was escorted into the room.
It seemed that the escort had made an error in timing, as the previous candidate had not yet left.
Startled by the abrupt entrance, Angeline shyly broke from Maximus' embrace.
The one who came in was Rose, Angeline's dear friend.
Rose's eyes widened as she took in the sight of Maximus and Angeline in an embrace.
She almost stopped in her tracks, unsure of what to do.
Sensing the sudden shift in the atmosphere, Maximus turned his attention towards Rose, intrigued by her presence.
She was also a beauty, despite her malnourished look.
With a curious gaze, Maximus scanned Rose with the system, revealing a fit value of 89 (96).
[Rose]
[Strength: Tier 0]
[Potential: Rare]
[Fit: 89(96)]
The parentheses indicated her original fit value, while the 89 reflected the impact of malnutrition she had suffered.
He was taken aback, realizing that Rose possessed the highest fit value among his wives, surpassing the previous record of 94.
Furthermore, she had an exceptional talent that was the most impressive he had encountered thus far, except for his sons.
After softly breaking the embrace with Angeline, Maximus motioned for Rose to take a seat.
Angeline's attention was shifted to Rose, and she calmed herself.
Unsure of what to do next, Angeline seated, while Maximus turned his focus to Rose.
Maximus listened attentively as Rose spoke, noticing her poise and grace.
As she shared her story, he couldn't help but admire her perseverance and her courage to be able to come here.
"I welcome you to our city, Rose," Maximus said with a warm smile.
"It's good to know that you and your parents are safe. How are you finding the city so far?"
Rose smiled back at Maximus, feeling more at ease with his friendly demeanor.
"Thank you, my lord. The city is quite different from what I'm used to, but I'm slowly adjusting. I'm grateful for the kindness and hospitality shown to me and my family since our arrival."
Maximus nodded in agreement, pleased to hear that his people were treating Rose and her family with kindness.
"I must admit, my lord, when I came here I was surprised by the peace and prosperity of the city," Rose said, her voice filled with genuine awe.
Maximus smiled, "I'm glad to hear that you appreciate our city."
...
Maximus watched as Rose and Angeline left the room, their presence leaving an impression on his thoughts.
He felt satisfied to have found suitable candidates who met the system requirements.
As he walked to his chamber, a sense of anticipation filled him, looking forward to the opportunity of welcoming another valued member into his household.
"I will inform them again once I'm with the necessary arrangements" Maximus mused to himself, contemplating the upcoming union.
He wanted to ensure that everything was planned and prepared accordingly.
Taking a moment to reflect, Maximus glanced at the remaining names on the list of potential candidates.
Some were located in distant territories, while others were entangled in complex situations that prevented him from meeting them at the moment.
His attention then shifted to Princess Emma.
Rumors of her remarkable magical aptitude had reached his ears, he would like to meet her.
However, he knew that she was likely far away, probably already in the central continent.
"Pity that Princess Emma has already left the kingdom," Maximus thought.
"Her talent as a magician, achieving such strength at a young age, is indeed impressive." A hint of disappointment in his voice.
Maximus sighed softly, realizing the limitations imposed by distance and circumstances.
He returned his focus to the task at hand, resolving to make the best choices from the available candidates.
...
Within the castle walls, Irene found herself deeply engaged in a conversation with her mother and her father's concubines.
The topic of discussion centered around the recent conflict between the noble alliance and the dukes.
It was a notable subject of interest, especially considering that Irene's father, Count Marcus, and her five brothers were the ones leading the battle this time.
As they chatted, worries etched on their faces.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the castle.
The guards hurriedly reported the arrival of two badly injured brothers.
Panic and fear gripped the group as they rushed to attend to the wounded siblings.
Irene's heart pounded in her chest as she knelt beside her brothers, her eyes filled with fear.
She gently called out to them, her voice quivering, urging them to tell her what had happened.
With great effort, one of her brothers, Edgar, who was barely conscious, managed to utter a few words before succumbing to unconsciousness.
"Father... brothers..." He mumbled.
The gravity of his words pierced through their souls, heightening their anxiety and fear.
Moments later, a messenger arrived, carrying a letter from Lady Diana, a dear friend of Irene's father.
It said in the message that her father, had been ambushed by the army sent by a duke.
The news sent panic through Irene and the group of women, their faces pale with disbelief and sorrow.
Amid grief and disbelief, Irene's mother refused to accept the news of her husband's death based solely on some letters.
She dispatched her most trusted subordinates to investigate further and confirm the fate of her beloved husband and children.
Days passed, filled with anxious anticipation.
But what awaited them shattered their hopes and plunged them into the cruel reality of their loss.
Count Marcus and her brothers, through their investigations, confirmed their demise.
Her subordinates also discovered the movements of their father's past enemies, gathering force to attack their state.
Desperation filled the air as the women of the family—her mother, the concubines, her sisters, and Irene—found themselves engaged in a heated debate, desperately seeking a solution.
With their male family members still unconscious, the responsibility fell upon their shoulders to protect their home and their legacy.
Amidst the chaos, Irene's eyes fell upon a bottle of wine in the cellar.
It seemed ordinary, but she recalled that it came from her father's friend, Maximus.
She had heard rumors that the war had not yet touched his land, which puzzled Irene.
Unbeknownst to her, the noble alliance and the dukes had consciously avoided that region due to numerous failed attempts by spies to infiltrate it.
Fear of the unknown had kept them at bay.
At that moment, Irene realized that seeking refuge with Lady Diana might not keep them completely safe since she was part of the noble alliance.
Instead, she thought about Maximus, her father's trusted friend.
Even though he wasn't with the noble alliance, he might offer them a safe place during these tough times.
Gathering her thoughts, Irene turned to the women around her and spoke with determination.
She suggested they seek refuge with Maximus, pointing out that his place could be relatively safer.
She explained why she believed this was their best chance at survival and securing a future for their family.
The women looked at each other uncertainly, considering their options. Eventually, they agreed with Irene.
They felt that it sounded reasonable and started making preparations, working together to ensure their safety and survival during their escape.