"Lady Lena and Lady Atress have arrived."
The servant's announcement had sounded in the hall and two women walked into the hall. On the right, was a young lady who resembled Gale quite a bit, especially after the latter's recent changes. She had a gorgeous oval-shaped face, Almond shaped green eyes, and long, silky red hair. Her long-sleeved shirt revealed an average chest, neither big nor small, yet her cleavage revealed its perfectly round shape. Her long legs, a derivative of her tall stature, were wrapped with tight black pants, and on her waist was a sword against all social conventions among nobles about bringing weapons to such events. Upon seeing Gale, her face immediately formed a smile as she quickly ran to hug him.
"Gale, there you are!" freewe bnovel.com
"My dear sister has never listened to etiquette, and it only gets worse the older she gets."
Gale thought to himself. Of course, he didn't mind. Nobody else minded it either, as she had the talent to back such small misconducts up. Besides, when she gets to the sixth stage, the highest stage in Miyena, she will informally have one of the highest social statuses in the country. fre(e)webno(v)el
There were only 12 sixth-stage mages in the whole kingdom, and her master, The Fire Witch, was ranked 3 among them.
On her left, a blonde-haired woman walked into the hall. Her round face was cute looking, but only slightly above average. She had short stature, her short hair reached her shoulders, and her purple eyes looked unique.
"Hello Miss Atress, I'm glad to meet you again."
Gale greeted her first as his usual behavior.
"Gale? I apologize, I'm happy to finally meet you again, Lord Gale."
She couldn't hide her initial surprise, as Gale looked nothing like before, but she quickly pulled herself together and curtsied to Gale. Gale received Lena's hug and separated from her. He didn't think much of the surprise she showed as it was a normal reaction, given the fact she only saw his scrawny version before. However, he thought he saw a flash of disappointment in her eyes.
"Why should she be disappointed? Is it not a better version of myself? I probably imagined it or misinterpreted her countenance."
While the lack of reaction from Lena's side seemed weird, it could be easily attributed to her carefree attitude and the fact that she rarely saw him every few years. Besides, no matter how he changes, he'd remain her little brother from her point of view.
Gale's mother arrived along with Donne, and the family sat together with Atress around the table as the servants served the food.
"Lord Gale, I'm ashamed I've forced myself on you, I will understand if you choose to refuse my marriage proposal."
Gale was caught in surprise. The real meaning behind this sentence seemed to be she wanted to withdraw her proposal, yet he couldn't understand why she would, now that he looks so much better.
"Atress, are you saying my little brother isn't good enough for you anymore? Have you found a better spouse perhaps?"
Undoubtedly, only Lena was tactless enough to ignore the unwritten rules of nobility to only speak in subtle hints. Lena immediately snapped at her for implying she is not interested in Gale anymore.
"Lady Lena, how is that possible? He is so handsome and attractive now. He surely can find a woman of a higher status than mine now and open new doors to the Stormborn family."
Atress' glib tongue hadn't failed her; she obviously had prepared for a possible objection from Gale's side. Gale started to panic since he knew very well this was simply a rejection coated with beautiful words.
Although good looks helped, power was more appreciated, and even females who wanted a weaker husband than them to be the dominant side at home, would at least ask for someone from the same phase as them – the Mage phase.
In Miyena, to be titled as a noble above the Baron title, one had to be in the Mage phase, while dukes even had to be in the fifth stage. After all, there was a large difference in power and the life span between phases. A magician in the Magician phase normally lived up to 150-200 years, depending on their exact stage, while a mage in the Mage phase normally lived up to 400-600 years, depending on their exact stage.
It only made sense a mage wouldn't want to marry a normal person who would live up to 100 years under great care and die while she was still considered young. While it held true for Atress as well, she'd at least get the benefit of forming ties with an Earl family, and she also showed a personal interest in Gale before.
"No, I must make her want me again. I'm the most attractive man I've ever seen aside for that God from my dream. I can do it; she will fall for me."
Gale was determined, he felt he could conquer any woman's heart and Atress was no exception. Their eyes met, and those thoughts kept filling Gale's mind. It was a subtle change, but his eyes glowed green for a short moment as they kept looking at each other.
"Ahm, of course, if Lord Gale is still willing, I'm very interested in getting married to him."
Atress spoke as if entranced, her mind turned foggy for a moment and she felt like the current Gale also had a different type of charm to him. "Yes, he just looks so assertive and dominant now, I never knew I liked such men. I guess you learn something new about yourself every day." Atress thought to herself.
Atress' words caught the family unprepared, they didn't expect such a quick change of heart.
"Gale, are you willing?"
Lena asked him hesitantly, unable to decide whether this change of heart was good or not. However, Gale didn't even hear her, he suddenly felt enlightened. He realized something; a gift from the God of Charm would be about charming others! He approached it all wrong from the very beginning, his powers must be the powers to seduce others with his high charm. He decided to give it a try again.
"I am willing, sister, thank you for worrying about me. Miss Atress, when would you like to set our wedding?"
He smiled sweetly at Atress and kept thinking over and over in his head "She is in love with me, she is in love with me" with more devotion than a monk repeating his mantras.
"As soon as possible...?"
Atress spoke with an uncertain voice.
"Are you hesitating?"
"No, no! I want it as soon as possible!"
She spoke with more confidence this time. She just felt like she must not lose her chance to live with this man.
"Father, mother, you've heard her. I'm also interested in getting married to Miss Atress soon. How about setting the marriage for 2 months from today?"
"Little brother, are you sure? Isn't It moving too fast?"
Lena had some difficulties seeing her little brother getting married so quickly without any warning, can she still spoil him if he is married? Wouldn't it make it harder to keep treating him like a child?
"Yes, Lena, I'm very sure of my decision on the matter."
"All right then"
Lena agreed reluctantly as she was left with no choice.
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