The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 260: A Surprising Matchmaking

Chapter 260: A Surprising Matchmaking

"My Lords!" Drystan quickly bowed respectfully towards the three men before him. Though it had been some time since their last encounter, their faces were still familiar to him.

One of the men gestured for Drystan to raise his head. "I thought you might not recognise us," the eldest son remarked with a smile.

Drystan replied, "Why wouldn’t I? We have met at Sir Navin’s wedding and on several occasions at the palace when I escorted His Highness."

"Yes, you have quite a good memory," the second son added.

"I don’t believe you have met this person before," stated the third son, pointing towards the elderly man standing beside them.

Curiosity piqued, Drystan turned his gaze towards the old man, trying to recollect any previous encounters. However, he shook his head, unable to place where he had met the elderly gentleman before.

"I’m not surprised. This is the Marquess of Sylvere, our father," the second son introduced, explaining the Marquess’s rare appearances in the capital. "It has been years since he set foot here."

Surprised by the revelation, Drystan bowed respectfully before the Marquess.

"My Lord, please forgive me for not paying my respects to you."

The Marquess waved away the knight’s apology with a reassuring gesture.

"At ease, Sir Drystan Mills. It is not your fault. We have never met before, and moreover, I was in disguise," the Marquess explained.

Drystan lifted his head, taking in the presence of the Marquess of Sylvere, the esteemed head of one of the renowned ’Pillar families of Cassian.’ The Marquess’s figure commanded respect and admiration, fascinating him.

The Marquess, who had once served as a loyal warrior to the last emperor of Ro’an, was held in high regard by the Cassians. He had earned a reputation as an excellent and honourable northern warrior, counted among those who had valiantly rescued the last empress from Engarth, the former capital of the Ro’an Empire during the great war, guiding her to safety in the northern territory, which eventually became the Kingdom of Cassian.

"It is a great honour to meet you in person, my Lord," Drystan greeted respectfully, his words filled with sincerity and reverence.

The Marquess’s eyes flickered with excitement as he observed the knight before him.

"Mine too. It seems that His Royal Highness the Grand Duke has recruited a fine and skilled man for his knighthood," he remarked.

Drystan, ever humble, responded, "Oh... there are many other experienced and talented knights serving under His Highness. I am still learning and striving to enhance my skills."

The Marquess smiled warmly.

"You possess humility as well. Despite my poor eyesight due to my old age, it seems I can still recognise someone of good character," he said. "So, young knight... would you consider my offer?"

Drystan was taken aback by the mention of an offer.

"An offer?" he asked, seeking clarification.

"Yes," the Marquess replied. "I am seeking a suitor for my granddaughter. She is around your age, a beautiful and virtuous maiden. I believe she would make an excellent partner for you."

The second son of the Marquess chimed in, "We have been searching for a suitable match for our niece. She is of marriageable age, and our father wishes her to marry as soon as possible."

"I am growing old, and my time in this world is limited. Before I close my eyes, I wish to see her adorned in a beautiful wedding dress, entrusted to a good man who will cherish her for a lifetime," the Marquess explained with a touch of wistfulness in his voice.

Drystan’s mind raced as he contemplated the tempting offer presented by the Marquess. The mention of a pretty granddaughter stirred his interest, but he couldn’t shake the unease he felt.

He had a history of being captivated by beauties but growing disinterested once a person’s true colours were revealed. Despite his attempts at relationships, he had yet to find a woman who truly suited his taste.

Taking a deep breath, Drystan carefully responded, "Seeing how My Lords are keenly searching for someone for her, I can tell she must be very special to all of you."

The Marquess’s eyes lit up, and he replied eagerly, "She most certainly is! She is my only granddaughter, and I have high hopes of finding the best suitor for her."

Drystan chose his words cautiously, not wishing to offend the Marquess or his sons.

"Thank you for that, but I must be honest. I am merely a knight, not born into noble lineage. My parents are merchants, and we do not possess great wealth. I fear I may not be suitable for her."

The Marquess dismissed his concerns with a wave of his hand.

"Nonsense! I have observed you closely, and my judgment has never failed me. You are more than qualified to be her spouse. Status is not of utmost importance to me. What truly matters is a man’s heart, and you, Sir Drystan Mills, possess all the qualities I seek."

"Father has never approved of any other candidates before. You are the first one he has deemed suitable to be a part of our family. Moreover, as a prestigious knight serving His Royal Highness, the Grand Duke, you already hold an honourable status," the Marquess’s eldest son emphasised.

Drystan struggled to find the right words to express his reservations.

"I... I appreciate the faith you all have in me," he began, his voice tinged with hesitation. "But I don’t believe that I..."

Noticing the change in Drystan’s demeanour, the third son of the Marquess interrupted, "You seem hesitant. Are you considering rejecting our request?"

All eyes turned towards the knight, their gaze intense and expectant. Drystan felt torn, caught between his desires and the weight of the situation.

Accepting the role of a suitor would potentially lead to marriage, and he was not yet ready to abandon his carefree interactions with women for a serious commitment.

While he had briefly been intrigued by Meredith and entertained the idea of courting her, it had been more for amusement than genuine intention.

Nonetheless, Drystan was acutely aware that the Marquess of Sylvere was a nobleman not to be offended. His reputation commanded respect, even from the King of Cassian and the Grand Duke.

The pressure to accept the offer weighed heavily upon him, leaving him searching for a response that would satisfy everyone involved.

"Actually... I... I’m quite surprised and couldn’t come up with a quick decision. This is too sudden!" said Drystan.

"Good opportunities are indeed rare, young knight. Consider this as the will of the God," the Marquess insisted. "I will personally speak to His Highness about this matter, and I am confident he will agree."

A sudden thought raced through Drystan’s mind—a potential means of escape. His eyes widened, and he swiftly interjected, "I don’t believe now is an appropriate time!"

The men looked at him with puzzled expressions.

"Why do you say that?" inquired the second son of the Marquess.

"His Highness is currently preparing to depart for the Agathe Islands. There has been a security breach, and the Admiral has reported that enemies have invaded the islands," Drystan explained.

"We are aware of the situation. We have just come from the palace, where we met with His Majesty the King," the eldest son replied.

"Ah, I see," Drystan responded, his mind whirling with possibilities.

"We received an invitation from His Majesty for the lady’s proclamation banquet. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, we couldn’t attend. All of us, including the marquess, were occupied with training our knights at the camp when the letter arrived," explained the second son. "That’s why we came today to see His Majesty and apologise," he added.

"The story of His Highness’s concubine is indeed peculiar and surprising. When I first heard that he married an Adhemar, I thought he had lost his mind," the third son remarked.

"Hush! His Highness possesses good judgment when it comes to people. I know him well. There must be a valid reason why he has chosen her despite her bloodline," the Marquess reprimanded his son, silencing his jest.

"Yes, Lady Raychard is not what you might assume! Though she comes from a lineage associated with treachery, she is genuinely kind and compassionate, unlike any other royal princess or noblewoman you may encounter. Once you meet her in person, you will understand," Drystan said, defending Anna.

"This is intriguing! I would like to see this lady for myself. Since I am already here, perhaps I could pay a visit to the mansion to meet her," the Marquess suggested.

"My lord, she is not at the mansion. By His Majesty’s order, Lady Raychard currently resides in the palace and will remain there until His Highness returns from the Agathe Islands," said Drystan.

"Where Is His Highness right now? We didn’t see him at the palace today," asked the second son.

"He’s probably at the port, overseeing the final preparations. However, he will return to meet the lady, most likely in the evening," the knight informed them.

"In that case, we will return to the palace later to meet him and seek his approval for you to be my granddaughter’s suitor," the Marquess declared.

"What?" Drystan exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise.

He had thought the matter was settled, but unexpectedly, the Marquess remained determined in his request.

"Wait! I need some time to think about this! And... and... I also need to seek my parents’ approval!" the knight pleaded, desperately grasping for more excuses.

"Where do your parents reside?" inquired one of the lords.

"Um... in Oldmie," Drystan replied hesitantly.

"Don’t worry. Once we obtain His Highness’s approval, we will also seek your parents’ consent. You can guide us to them. I’m certain His Highness wouldn’t mind if one of his knights took a few days’ leave to attend to such an important matter in his life," assured the eldest son.

"Yes. I’m pretty sure your parents would agree to this matchmaking since our status is highly prestigious and well-known. No one would say no to having their son be part of our family," said the third son proudly.

Drystan was nearly speechless, trying to process the rapid turn of events.

"Hey, isn’t that Sylvia?" the second son interrupted, pointing towards a figure of a noble lady walking alone amidst the festival crowd.

"Sylvia, who?" Drystan inquired.

"Our niece! The one we have been considering pairing with you," the third son replied, a smile playing on his lips.

"That’s her indeed!" exclaimed the eldest son, confirming.

"How fortunate! It seems this is truly God’s will! You have the opportunity to meet her immediately!" the Marquess exclaimed excitedly.

"Sylvia!" the second son called out, raising his hand and waving to gain the noble lady’s attention. He repeated her name, beckoning her to come closer.

Sylvia was taken aback to see her uncles and grandfather in the plaza. Her uncle gestured for her to join them, his face beaming with a bright smile.

Drystan turned around, his eyes falling upon the noble lady. At the sight of her, his mouth dropped open in astonishment.

"Oh, my goodness!"

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