Chapter 5
"Uncle!"
Karl pushed the door open and walked out of the room, greeting Ge Jier, a fat man with narrowed eyes.
His gaze fell on the girl next to him, and his voice softened:
"Eweni, you're here too."
"Cousin."
Cousin Eweni was as shy as ever.
Today, she wore a gorgeous dress, adorned with lace, bows, ribbons, and flowers. Though beautiful, it was a bit too exaggerated, not quite suited for a teenage girl.
The landlord's daughter, Jenny, was also there, greeting the father and daughter. When she saw Karl come out, she quickly made an excuse to go back to her room.
"Karl."
Ge Jier took a step forward, shaking Karl's hand excitedly, squeezing out a few tears from his little eyes.
"I heard about your father. I can't believe it... Let bygones be bygones!"
"Are you going to inherit the title today?"
"Yeah." Karl replied expressionlessly.
"Uncle, your timing is really impeccable."
It had been a while since his father passed away, yet Ge Jier chose to come at this particular moment.
But it really was...
timely!
"Hehe..." Ge Jier laughed dryly, rubbing his hands together.
"Karl, there's something I don't know if you're aware of. Your father once discussed your marriage with me."
"He wanted you to marry Eweni, and I agreed at the time."
As he said this, he pushed Eweni forward. Her face was blushing, and she shyly lowered her eyes, motioning for her to say something.
"Cousin Karl."
Eweni lowered her head, her fingers nervously tangling in her skirt as she spoke barely above a whisper.
"That's just her personality," Ge Jier explained with a smile.
"Karl, you know that, but it doesn't matter. You'll get to know each other better after you're married."
"Uncle!"
Karl frowned, realizing that Eweni's elaborate outfit was for a marriage proposal. He then said,
"I went to apply for the title of successor today, but the priest didn't approve it."
"Um?"
"Ah!"
Two different reactions followed—one of worry, the other of surprise.
"Not approved?" Ge Jier instinctively pulled his daughter back, his eyes flickering.
"Why?"
While the baron title was not strictly hereditary, it had been passed from father to son in Karl's family for hundreds of years. Something unusual must have occurred for it not to be granted.
If Karl couldn't inherit the title, Ge Jier would be reluctant to marry his daughter off to him.
"I was actually coming to see you about that," Karl said, taking a deep breath, trying to appear anxious.
"The priest wants thirty gold coins to prove the Bergman family's devotion to the gods. I don't have that much. I was hoping my uncle could lend me some?"
"Ah!"
At the mention of lending money, Ge Jier's face changed drastically. He stepped back, asking casually,
"How much do you need?"
"I only have one gold coin on me." Karl smiled bitterly.
"I need the rest from you. But don't worry, Uncle, when I inherit the baron title, I'll repay you when I start earning money."
"Twenty-nine gold coins!" Ge Jier yelled angrily, pointing at Karl.
"I'd be crazy to lend you that!"
"No?" Karl's face darkened.
"Without the money, I can't inherit the title. Without the title, I'm afraid the wedding with Cousin Eweni will be out of the question."
"Hmph!" Ge Jier snorted.
"You have no money, no title, and you still want to marry my daughter?"
"Hmm..."
His eyes flickered as a sudden thought came to him.
"But if you need money, it's not impossible."
Karl raised an eyebrow. He knew his uncle well. The man was as stingy as Grandet. For him to not be scared off and instead offer a solution was quite unexpected.
"Karl."
Ge Jier leaned in closer, lowering his voice.
"You don't have the money, and you can't inherit the title. Instead of wasting this opportunity, why don't you sell the title to me?"
"Uncle!"
Karl was taken aback.
"Can titles even be sold?"
"Why not?" Ge Jier replied confidently.
"I'll give you fifty—no, forty gold coins. Use thirty of them to secure the title, and the rest will be yours."
"The rest?" Karl sneered.
"My dear uncle, you're generously offering me ten gold coins. How thoughtful."
"Of course!" Ge Jier smiled, his eyes twinkling.
"You'll inherit the title first, then marry Eweni. After the marriage, you transfer the title to my daughter."
"And finally, to me."
Karl stood there, stunned.
It was actually a feasible plan.
The Kingdom of Gondor was no stranger to female titleholders, and titles could be passed to daughters, wives, or even parents.
"Oh..."
Karl sighed and shook his head, feeling an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.
Dealing with his uncle was more exhausting than fighting half-dead creatures.
"Get lost. I won't sell the title."
"No!" Ge Jier hurriedly responded.
"If you think the price isn't right, we can negotiate. If forty isn't enough, how about fifty?"
"Leave!" Karl suddenly shouted.
The sound was like thunder, making Ge Jier stumble backward in shock. The sight of Karl's furious expression unnerved him.
The burn scars on Karl's face twisted like angry centipedes, creating an intimidating and ferocious look.
His strong physique only added to the invisible pressure, making it hard for Ge Jier to stand his ground.
"Fine, I'm going!" Ge Jier muttered as he pulled a reluctant Eweni with him.
"You have the same temper as your father. Let's see how you survive without the title!"
"..."
Karl remained silent, watching until the outer door shut behind Ge Jier.
"Squeak..."
The side door opened a crack, revealing Jenny's worried expression.
"Karl, are you… okay?"
"I'm fine."
Karl shook his head, calming down.
"I may have to go out again today. If anyone comes looking for me, just tell them I'm not here."
"Okay."
Jenny nodded, looking like she wanted to ask something, but ultimately held back.
No inheritance of the title?
What would happen to Karl's future? * * * Karl was about to hail a carriage when he saw a familiar figure running towards him.
"Eweni?"
"Cousin Karl."
Eweni's forehead was damp with sweat, and she was panting. Her dress was stained with mud, showing she had come in a hurry.
Glancing around, she quickly stuffed a jade pendant into Karl's hand, whispering,
"I don't have much, but this is a birthday gift from my father. I heard it's worth something."
"Eweni..." Karl was stunned.
"No, there's no need—"
"I must go now before my father finds out." Eweni waved her hand hastily.
"Cousin Karl, see you next time."
She must have sneaked back to give him the gift before hurrying off.
As Karl watched Eweni leave, he shook his head slightly, touched by her kindness but knowing the gift wasn't worth much.
Even toward his own daughter, Ge Jier was stingy.
The jade pendant was made of poor-quality jade, and the carving was rough, more like a toy than a valuable item.
After dusting it off, Karl carefully tucked the pendant into his pocket and hailed a carriage.
"To Rue de Rouen!"
"Fourpence."