Rose's POV,
As Daniel and Aunt Ryhana stepped out, my dad, Beta Jackson, followed them to see her off. I felt a bit uneasy as I sat back down. I wasn't sure what to do next. When I met Daniel's gaze, I couldn't bring myself to look away. Instead, I raised my head and gave him an innocent look.
Honestly, I had no idea about this mix-up. Both of us were strangers set up for a blind date. If I had known the name of the person I was supposed to meet, this whole mess wouldn't have happened.
I thought back to the restaurant scene.
The man in black I was meant to meet was just like the previous dates set up for "Rose." He wasn't my type at all.
Then Daniel showed up, fitting every one of my preferences perfectly. He was exactly the kind of man I liked. Comparing the two, it was clear I wasn't interested in the guy in black.
Although it was a huge mistake...
The result turned out great for me.
I smiled to myself, taking a sip of water, feeling quite pleased.
Daniel didn't seem bothered by my small victory. Instead, he seemed deep in thought. If I wasn't the person he was supposed to meet, then where did his actual blind date go?
We had been at the restaurant for one or two hours. Even if the woman was running late, she wouldn't have been that late.
The most likely explanation was that she never showed up at all.
Daniel's suspicions were growing, and when he asked me about it, I could only shrug. I barely knew what the guy I was supposed to meet looked like, and no one had ever seen Daniel before either.
But at this point, it didn't matter. We had already registered our marriage. Whatever the case, it was too late to change anything now.
We'd have to stick to the plan we discussed earlier: act like a married couple in public and take our time building the relationship privately.
Daniel and I exchanged glances, neither of us saying a word.
---
Third-Person POV,
Luna Elzzie finished locking the door and returned to the living room to sit with Beta Jackson.
When dinner first started, the atmosphere was lively and full of laughter. But after Aunt Ryhana's unexpected visit and the confusion she brought, things had become a bit awkward.
Luna Elzzie glanced at Daniel and Rose, and she broke the silence, pretending nothing had happened. "Come on, don't just sit there. If you don't start eating, the food will get cold. Let's dig in."
Everyone resumed eating.
At first, it was a bit uncomfortable, but soon enough, Beta Jackson spoke up to break the awkward silence.
"Daniel, right?" he began, looking serious. "What do you do for a living? I think I heard my daughter say you're a soldier?"
Daniel put down his chopsticks, slightly leaning forward to answer. "Yes, sir. After I graduated, I joined the military right away. I'm currently a battalion commander."
A man in his twenties who had already risen to the rank of battalion commander—he was indeed an impressive young talent. With potential like his, there was no telling how far he might go in the future.
As Rose's father, Beta Jackson was well aware of the type of man his daughter liked. The man sitting before him fit her ideal perfectly.
Despite his rank, Daniel hadn't acted superior or ordered anyone around. He had cooked an entire meal on his first visit, a clear sign he wasn't the kind of man who thought too highly of himself. No wonder young women these days preferred men like him.
Beta Jackson observed Daniel carefully and nodded with approval.
Although they had only just met, from the moment Daniel entered the house until he finished cooking, he had been respectful and thoughtful. Beta Jackson couldn't find a single flaw in his behavior.
He had made a great impression.
---
Rose's POV,
I could tell that my dad was pleased with Daniel. He wasn't the type to ask for much. As long as the man had a good character and treated me well, that was enough for him.
After dinner, we all sat down to discuss the wedding arrangements.
Even though we had already registered our marriage, there were still some formalities to consider, like the bride price and the dowry.
"Daniel," my dad said seriously, "you've already gotten your marriage certificate, so we're family now. I'd like to discuss the bride price with you. What amount were you thinking?"
In this era, bride prices weren't usually extravagant. But families with a bit more wealth might offer a set of traditional gifts or a higher sum of money.
The typical bride price in rural areas ranged from 66, 88, or up to 188 units of currency. In the county, the amount was higher, often 666 or 888, which were considered lucky numbers. Including traditional gift sets made the bride price even more substantial.
Offering a higher bride price usually indicated a good family background. As a battalion commander, Daniel's salary wasn't low. But considering we had only known each other for a day, even if he felt strongly about me, I wasn't sure how much he'd be willing to offer.
I glanced at Daniel curiously.
Personally, I didn't care much about the bride price since I could earn my own money. But as the saying goes:
A man giving you money doesn't necessarily love you, but a man who isn't willing to give you any definitely doesn't love you.
It might be too soon to talk about love, but it was a matter of respect.
So, yes, I was curious to see what he would say.
Daniel didn't take long to decide. He looked at me briefly before turning to my dad and saying, "How about 1888 units? Would that be acceptable?"
That was nearly all the cash he could gather at the moment.
---
Third-Person POV,
Although Daniel came from a family with a strong military tradition, he hadn't relied on them financially for a long time. When he was younger, his family had supported him quite a bit, but after becoming a battalion commander, he had stopped asking for money.
Managing a large group of soldiers came with unexpected expenses. Whether it was helping out soldiers after their discharge or assisting those injured during missions, Daniel had always been generous.
His salary was decent, but his personal savings weren't that high.
Thus, 1888 was the most he could offer right now.
After he spoke, the room fell silent for a moment.
Both Beta Jackson and Luna Elzzie, even Rose, hadn't expected such a generous offer.
"That's very generous. Yes, that's more than enough," Beta Jackson said, clearly pleased.
He glanced at his new son-in-law, and the more he looked, the more satisfied he felt.
The next step was to discuss the wedding ceremony.
Most people usually held the ceremony before registering the marriage. In this case, it was unusual because they had done it the other way around.
Luna Elzzie chimed in, "Since you've already registered, I think we should hold the wedding soon."
Daniel had planned for a quick wedding because his grandfather was gravely ill. His greatest wish was to see his grandson married before he passed away.
While having children might take time, Daniel hoped that seeing him married would bring his grandfather some peace. Perhaps it was just wishful thinking, but he couldn't help but hold onto that hope.