"Dear nephew, when you meet your elder brother in a bit, don't say anything rash. Let me handle the talking—it would be more appropriate," Baron Serdes kindly reminded Linton before stepping out of the carriage. Likely due to the good relationship with Linton's father and high hopes for him, Baron Serdes had already begun to treat Linton like family and seemed genuinely concerned about him. Naturally, Linton didn't contradict him to his face and simply smiled as he followed him out of the carriage.
"Baron Serdes," everyone greeted him the moment he stepped down. Linton observed the scene closely. The first to greet them was a burly man who looked to be in his forties. Judging by his appearance, Linton guessed that this must be his elder brother, Jolabo.
Indeed, the age gap between Linton and Jolabo was significant. Linton's current body was only 19, while his elder brother Jolabo was 44. To give some perspective, Jolabo's eldest son was already 27, older than Linton himself. Linton took a quick glance and assumed that the man standing behind Jolabo, looking quite mature with a full beard despite being only 27, must be his nephew.
"Linton?" Jolabo noticed him at this point, giving him a puzzled look before turning to Baron Serdes. "Why did you arrive in Linton's carriage, Lord Serdes?"
"We were attacked by assassins on the way," Baron Serdes replied.
"What?" Everyone was shocked. This was no trivial matter. Baron Serdes had been attacked by assassins within the territory of the Melloway family, and they were responsible. Thankfully, he was unharmed. Had something fatal happened, the Serdes family might have demanded retribution, potentially even starting a war.
"Are you alright, Lord Serdes?" Jolabo asked urgently.
Linton kept an eye on Jolabo's reaction and thought it didn't seem faked. He also scanned the others present but didn't notice anyone behaving suspiciously.
"Thanks to Linton's help, we were able to escape danger," Baron Serdes pointed to Linton.
"Huh?" Everyone looked baffled. Linton? Help? How?
"Uh..." Jolabo was equally stunned but responded quickly, "Please don't worry, my lord. I will make sure you receive a proper explanation. But for now, please allow us to host you. We've prepared a reception in your honor."
A visit from Baron Serdes was a great honor for the Melloway family, so they had to offer the highest level of hospitality. Jolabo, too busy to deal with Linton for now, led Baron Serdes toward the banquet hall.
With nowhere else to go, Linton followed them, walking at the back. Unexpectedly, someone approached him. "Wow, you really lucked out, didn't you?"
Turning around, Linton saw a young man in his twenties, a few years older than him, who clearly belonged to the Melloway family. While Linton was still guessing who he was, Eck came over and called him "Lord Jassein."
Linton immediately understood who the man was. Jassein Melloway, the eldest son of his recently deceased second brother, was 23 years old, older than Linton but still his nephew.
"You don't exactly look like someone who just lost a father," Linton remarked.
"Hmm? Haven't seen you in a few months, but your tongue has certainly gotten sharper," Jassein responded, surprised.
Linton studied him, sensing that Jassein wasn't mocking him but rather engaging in some friendly banter. This suggested they probably had a decent relationship, though Linton couldn't remember any of it.
"What's the deal with your father? Is he really dead?" Linton asked quietly.
"Yeah," Jassein nodded, becoming more serious.
"Assassinated?" Linton inquired.
"Yep," Jassein confirmed. "Didn't expect the old man to go down like that."
Despite his words, Linton could tell that, even though Jassein didn't have the best relationship with his father, he still cared deeply.
"Any leads on the culprit?" Linton asked.
"None at all. He wasn't found until three days after he died, so nothing could be uncovered," Jassein replied.
"Even Big Brother hasn't found anything?" Linton asked.
"Huh?" Jassein looked at Linton, puzzled.
"What's wrong?" Linton asked.
"That's the first time I've heard you call him 'Big Brother,'" Jassein noted.
"I call you 'nephew,' don't I?" Linton said, patting Jassein on the shoulder.
"What? You really want me to punch you, huh?" Jassein teased.
"I dare you, dear nephew," Linton laughed.
"You've got some nerve. Haven't seen you in a while, and you've grown bolder," Jassein said, astonished.
"Enough with the jokes. Do you know why he called me back this time?" Linton asked.
"Good news..." Jassein grinned. "It seems he's arranged a marriage for you."
"Damn," Linton's face soured, as if he'd just eaten something foul. "Great, just what I was dreading. Who is it? A widow or a freak?"
"No idea. Why would I bother to find out? I'm more focused on tracking down who killed my father," Jassein shrugged.
"I've got a lead," Linton said with a smile.
"What?" Jassein was stunned. "For real?"
"Yeah, because I was also attacked recently," Linton explained.
"What? The same people?" Jassein asked anxiously.
"Seems like it," Linton nodded.
"Did you catch them?" Jassein pressed.
"Do you think I could? I barely made it out alive," Linton spread his hands.
"True..." Jassein nodded. "Does the family head know? Has anyone started investigating?"
"I have no idea if he knows," Linton replied.
As they chatted, they reached the banquet hall. Jolabo had already seated Baron Serdes at the head of the table. Linton, lacking the rank to sit up front, sat off to the side with Jassein. Jolabo, in the middle of conversing with Baron Serdes, suddenly noticed Linton and Jassein talking loudly. Frowning, he called out, "Linton, Jassein, what are you two discussing?"
He likely intended to scold them for being so loud in front of guests, but Jassein, just talking about the assassination, stood up and said, "Fourth Uncle says he was recently attacked by the same group that assassinated my father. Has the family head started investigating?"
"What?" Jolabo was taken aback, hearing this for the first time. "Linton, is that true?"
"Yes, a few days ago, but I managed to escape," Linton confirmed.
"Any idea who it was?" Jolabo asked.
"No, I couldn't see clearly," Linton answered.
Jolabo nodded slightly. He didn't expect much from Linton anyway. Glancing at Baron Serdes, he said, "We'll discuss this later. This is a welcoming banquet, not the time for such talk. By the way, since it's dangerous over there, don't go back. I've arranged a marriage for you. Stay here and wait for the wedding."
Hearing this, Linton felt a headache coming on. There was no way he was getting married, so he stood up and asked, "Who's the person? From which family?"
"Who it is doesn't concern you," Jolabo responded with a hint of displeasure. He was merely notifying Linton; there was nothing to discuss. With his reputation as a failure, Linton had no right to be picky.
"Heh, you..." Linton was about to retort when, to his surprise, someone else spoke up first.
"Wait... wait a minute!" It was Baron Serdes, who had been sitting beside Jolabo. He seemed startled before loudly objecting.
Jolabo, startled by the outburst, asked, "Lord Serdes, what's the matter?"
"Wait, Linton isn't married yet?" Baron Serdes asked.
"Yes, as you can see, it's a bit embarrassing. He's 19 and still unmarried... We just couldn't find the right match..." Jolabo responded, somewhat puzzled.
"Hold on," Baron Serdes said, growing more animated. "You just mentioned arranging a marriage for him? I object!"
"Huh?" Everyone was stunned. No one expected Baron Serdes to step in for Linton. They had already been curious about what was going on between him and Linton—had Linton really won him over? But Linton's marriage was an internal Melloway family matter. As much as Baron Serdes was a noble, how could he interfere?
"Lord Serdes... this is an internal family matter..." Jolabo hesitated.
"It absolutely concerns me," Baron Serdes replied immediately. "Linton has a marriage contract with my family. Your father arranged it when Linton was born. My seventh daughter, Rolyn, was to marry him, but sadly, she died at three years old, and the matter was delayed. But the marriage contract was never annulled. Linton is still my son-in-law, and I intend for him to marry my eighth daughter. So tell me, doesn't this matter involve me?"
"What?" Everyone was dumbfounded, staring at Baron Serdes in disbelief.
"What's wrong? The contract is still with me. Do you want to see it? I can have it brought over immediately," Baron Serdes said.
"Really? Is that true?" Jorabo truly didn't know. He hadn't paid attention to Linton's situation and was unaware of any marriage arrangement with the Serdes family. But what puzzled him even more was why Baron Serdes would want Linton as his son-in-law. Had this guy never heard about Linton's reputation?
"Lord Serdes, I must mention something. Linton still hasn't awakened his battle aura..." Jorabo hesitated for a moment before saying.
"I know that." Baron Serdes, equally bewildered, looked at Jorabo. "Isn't that obvious? Do you really expect a mage to awaken a battle aura? Are you out of your mind?"
"Uh..." Jorabo was at a loss for words. He knew, yet he still wanted him? The others present were also stunned. Someone was actually fighting over Linton? How bizarre!
(End of chapter)