Blood Holy Scripture: True Ancestor Charlotte de Castel
Chapter 46: -42- Let’s form a marriage alliance_2

Chapter 46: -42- Let’s form a marriage alliance_2

She recognized it; it was the very same hand crossbow that the freelance mercenary carried when he abducted her that night.

Before leaving that evening, she had specifically asked Nisi to find it and bring it along, but despite looking for a long time, Nisi hadn’t been able to find it.

Now, thinking back to Laino’s hasty departure at the time, she realized what might have happened.

It was likely that Laino had recognized it as belonging to the Duke Mansion, so he hurried back with the hand crossbow to report.

Perhaps... at the time, he might have even believed it was an inside job from his own family, which could explain his swift departure.

"It seems you’ve recognized it; this is indeed the crossbow used by the freelance mercenary who abducted you that night!"

"Even now, they haven’t forgotten to stir up trouble between Castel and Bold!"

"If it weren’t for me calling them one by one these past few days and giving them a good pounding, they could have turned Bold City upside down!"

The old Duke said angrily.

Seemingly tired from speaking, he sat back down in his seat. After a long sigh, he rubbed his temples.

After a moment, the Duke continued,

"Castel and Bold are branches of the same tree, as close as brothers. Though the relationship is that of the main house and branch house, lord and vassal, as a Seigneur, I have never considered Castel outsiders."

"During the second Star Moon War, it was I who stood with your grandfather to repel the attempts of the Falling Star Kingdom’s army to invade Castel Territory, and I joined forces with your father to thwart the Northern Territory Grand Duchy’s plot to overthrow Castel..."

"It is also the Castel family’s unwavering support for the successive Dukes that has kept the nobles of the Duchy in line, daring not to act rashly!"

"And now, tough times are upon us once more, and it’s time for us to stand together again."

Saying this, the old Duke slowly turned around, his expression dignified and serious:

"Without Bold, Castel will eventually be swallowed up by other lords."

"And without Castel, Bold’s strength would greatly diminish, unable to withstand pressure from the Royal Family and other nobles..."

"We are, after all, one family."

Hearing the implicit suggestion in Bold Duke’s words, Charlotte’s heart skipped a beat.

She slowly raised her head and saw a pair of blue-gray eyes filled with unyielding will.

"Lord Charlotte."

Bold Duke’s voice became serious.

After a series of build-ups, he finally expressed his thoughts:

"Let our two houses... enter into marriage."

"Castel must eventually choose a partner for marriage to consolidate its rule, but I think you understand that the parasites of the Duchy will only devour Castel now in its decline..."

"Only the Bold family has been Castel’s strong support all along."

"Only by uniting can we overcome the imminent crisis!"

Charlotte fell silent.

The inevitable had finally arrived. Although she knew the Duke might seek marriage, the realization that his commitment to it was so unwavering and determined still made her sigh inwardly.

She knew that after this banquet, the Castel family was likely to break with the Bold family.

At the same time, she would also completely lose the protection of Duke Mansion and directly face the malice of other nobles...

"Lord Laino?"

Charlotte inquired.

Surprise flickered through the Duke’s eyes, seemingly taken aback by the young lady’s composure.

He nodded:

"That’s correct."

"Laino may be a bastard and have an unremarkable birth, but at a young age, he has already become a Silver Moon Knight."

"He even refrained from using the Source Power Seed, achieving a Self Awakening just like the majority of nobles!"

"I can assure you, his potential on the Transcendent path surpasses even this old man!"

"Although Laino may lack some manners, he is honorable and, deep down, a true Holy Knight..."

"With him by your side, you will have no concerns for your future, and I believe he will bring you happiness; and with Castel’s support, Bold will continue its greatness!"

"It’s a win-win."

The old Duke looked sincerely earnest.

He really was quite earnest, at least from the perspective of the Bold family, as he had laid out his family’s predicament in its entirety—indeed, a sincere approach to negotiation.

But Charlotte was nearly at the point of cursing.

A ghost of a win-win situation! A ghost of happiness!

An ordinary little girl might believe such nonsense, but she certainly did not!

It sounded nice, but ultimately, wasn’t it because the Bold family felt unable to suppress the uprising nobles that they sought to use the wealthy Castel to bolster their own power?!

Indeed, the situation in the Castel Territory was delicate, but the Duke’s difficulties were far from secret.

What’s more, the Duke Mansion was not the only option for Castel, nor was it the best option.

And she, even if she were to die right now, would absolutely not let a man ride over her!

Her fate could only be controlled by herself!

After taking a deep breath, Charlotte raised her head, intending to politely decline with reasons she had prepared.

But the old Duke suddenly waved his hand to stop her:

"You don’t have to tell me your decision in such a hurry. You can go back and think it over first."

"I know you have concerns, especially regarding Laino’s status. A bastard is ultimately a stain... For the Castel family, it’s indeed hard to accept."

"However, rest assured, at today’s banquet, I will let you see the sincerity of the Duke Mansion first..."

...

In the end, Charlotte could not bring herself to decline right there and then.

The old Duke seemed to have a premonition about her choice, effectively blocking her response.

This led Charlotte to speculate somewhat on the "sincerity" mentioned by the other party...

However, the girl did not care.

Whatever the so-called sincerity of the Duke Mansion was, her answer would not change.

Her primary purpose in attending this banquet was to cut off these greedy nobles’ aspirations once and for all.

Yet, her in-depth conversation with the Duke also made the girl aware of just how dire the situation of the Castel family really was.

One could say she was now dancing on a tightrope, with voracious eyes lurking in the abyss on either side.

Back at the main hall of the banquet, the event had not yet started; the nobles gathered in small groups, chatting softly.

The girl picked up a goblet filled with milk from the waiter’s tray and sat alone in a corner to rest.

From the carriage to the Duke Mansion, she inevitably got sunburned, and she felt somewhat unwell.

The conversation with the Duke had further drained her energy, and now all she wanted to do was rest.

A band from Moon God Bay started to play beautiful music, soothing and pleasant to the ear.

But Charlotte felt it noisy to listen to.

Especially when she saw how the excited young nobles, like animals in heat, perked up upon her arrival, and before she could react, they surrounded her, each displaying their plumage like roosters on a stimulant.

Smelling the heavy intermix of perfumes on them, Charlotte felt as if she were suffocating.

She was not in the mood to converse with these peacocks.

Looking at the handsome faces that would become excited at a single glance her way, the girl narrowed her eyes slightly, pondering how to find these energetic fellas something to do, properly trick them, and also find some fun for herself to relax.

But just at that moment, an elegant and gentle voice unexpectedly interrupted the young nobles’ zealous flattery:

"Gentlemen, it is not the behavior of gentlemen to keep surrounding a lady and disturbing her rest."

"Have you not noticed the lady’s weary brow?"

Hearing this voice, a tremor went through Charlotte’s heart, for she found the voice and tone somewhat familiar.

The girl raised her head and looked toward the source of the voice, then froze in an instant.

Behind the young nobles stood a tall, extraordinarily handsome, red-haired man in a black tailcoat.

He wore a monocle, with a faint smile in his crimson eyes and a neatly gloved hand holding a goblet filled with red wine.

It was none other than the Transcendent she had met in the Dream world of the Blood Summon—Sebastian!

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