Chapter 597: Chapter 597: The Weight of Generosity
"Mother, thank you for pushing me to lose my fears and giving me such a wonderful husband," said Louisa. She bowed timidly to Mary, her face flushing slightly despite the radiant, queenly aura that now clung to her skin.
"You look absolutely stunning, my girl, so there is no need for such deep bows anymore," said Mary. She smiled warmly, her eyes scanning her daughter’s luxurious blue spirit-spider silk attire with deep approval.
"Lord Ethan spent thirty thousand medium-grade spirit stones on me just to see me happy," said Louisa. She walked over to the large wooden chest, opening it to reveal the neatly folded garments inside. "These are for you and Roy."
"This fabric is incredible," said Roy. He lifted a set of tailoring, his eyes widening as he felt the material. "It feels like normal clothing, but it is as tough as armor."
"Louisa, my dear, how much did all of this cost?" said Mary. She rubbed the fabric between her fingers, her sharp suburban instincts immediately sensing the immense value.
"It was eight thousand medium-grade spirit stones," said Louisa.
"What?!" said Mary. She nearly jumped out of her seat, her jaw dropping in absolute shock. "Eight hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones?! You cannot just throw away your husband’s wealth like that for a simple gift to your mother! That is not how I raised you to manage a household!"
"Mother, please, I told Ethan the exact same thing," said Louisa. She quickly interrupted, waving her hands in a panic. "But he completely forced me to accept it."
"And how exactly did he force you?" said Mary. She crossed her arms, a playful but skeptical smirk forming on her lips. "I highly doubt he threatened you with a steel sword. You should have stopped him, young lady."
"He did use a sword, but it was not made of steel..." said Louisa. She lowered her head, her face turning completely crimson as she mumbled the words, her hands fidgeting with the edge of her blue silk dress.
"Oh, my," said Mary. She blinked for a second before a massive grin broke across her face.
"I completely understand now!" said Roy. He burst out into a loud, boisterous laugh, shaking his head.
"That shameless tyrant!" said Mary. She joined her son, laughing wholeheartedly at her daughter’s pure embarrassment, completely lightening the tense atmosphere in the room.
"Come inside and sit down, sister," said Roy. He pulled out a chair for Louisa and quickly poured a cup of warm tea, placing it gently in front of her.
"Thank you, Roy," said Louisa. She took a sip, her hands trembling slightly from the lingering embarrassment of their previous conversation.
"We were quite worried about you at the beginning since you were locked in there for four whole days," said Mary. She sat across from her daughter, her expression turning into one of soft comfort.
"If Mother was so worried, why did she go to your door and eavesdrop on you?" said Roy. He grinned mischevously, leaning against the wooden table.
"Mother?!" said Louisa. Her eyes went wide, and she nearly choked on her tea.
"That is not true, my girl! Your brother is only teasing you!" said Mary. She glared sharply at Roy, giving him a warning look to shut his mouth.
"She definitely did," said Roy. He nodded his head firmly, completely ignoring his mother’s glare.
"Mother! Did you actually listen to... everything?" said Louisa. She hid her burning face behind her hands, wishing the floor would swallow her whole.
"How could I not listen when your voice is probably known by half the citadel by now?" said Mary. She chuckled loudly, patting her daughter’s arm. "It was completely obvious that you were enjoying some high-quality time with your husband, Lady Ethan."
"Please stop teasing me, Mother," said Louisa. She peeked through her fingers, her face as red as a ripe tomato.
"You must get used to it, as you are a married woman now," said Roy. He laughed heartily, enjoying the festive atmosphere that filled their small living space. "By the way, sister, what is Ethan’s actual family name?"
"His full name is Ethan Brightsword," said Louisa. She lowered her hands, a proud smile naturally replacing her shyness.
"Brightsword?" said Mary. Her laughter stopped instantly, and her expression turned serious. "Is he a direct descendant of that legendary clan?"
"Yes, he is," said Louisa. She nodded softly, her voice filled with deep respect. "He told me all about his family. He is the son of the leader of that destroyed clan."
"Goodness..." said Mary. She leaned back in her chair, a look of profound shock washing over her face before a bright, proud smile returned. "I knew his bearing was extraordinary, but I expected him to be a regular member, not the sole heir to the main lineage. You truly won the lottery, my girl!"
"Brother-in-law!" said Roy. He threw the door open with a burst of euphoria, a massive grin on his face as he welcomed Ethan into the room.
"I hope you all liked the gifts," said Ethan. He stepped inside with a dominant, effortless stride, his piercing amethyst eyes scanning the cozy room before resting on his beautiful bride.
"We were just waiting for you to open them together," said Mary. She nodded respectfully toward him, though she had only peered at the top layers of the wooden chest.
"The traditional bride’s homecoming always follows this strict order," said Mary. She gestured for Ethan to take the most comfortable seat in the room. "The custom dictates that the daughter must arrive alone first to greet her family. This brief window of time ensures she can speak freely about her marriage without any pressure, completely protected under her parents’ roof."
"After that, the husband arrives to join them," said Roy. He closed the door behind Ethan and stood nearby, watching with immense respect. "The attitude of the family during this second meeting reflects exactly how the young woman feels about her treatment."
"Indeed, the majority of divorces in this citadel happen right at this very moment," said Mary. She looked deeply into Ethan’s eyes, her tone shifting into something a bit more solemn. "A father or a mother can legally intervene and break the union on the spot if they detect any trace of harm, abuse, or misery inflicted upon their daughter during those first days locked away."
"But looking at Louisa right now, there is absolutely nothing for us to intervene against," said Mary. She let out a soft laugh, completely breaking the tension as she looked at Louisa’s radiant, healthy glow. "You have treated her like a queen, Lord Ethan."
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From this moment forward, to avoid confusion regarding cultivation ranks, I will include this footer with the current established levels.
Note: These are only the ranks mentioned so far to avoid spoilers.
Body Refinement Realm
Skin Refinement / Bone Refinement / Organ Refinement
Spiritual Gathering Realm
Spiritual Perception / Spiritual Mist / Spiritual Condensation
Spiritual Core Realm
Core Solidification / Core Awakening / Spiritual Collapse (Half-step Spiritual Core)
Spiritual Soul Realm
Spiritual Soul Awakening / Soul Nourishing / Soul-Core Fusion
Golden Core Realm
Prime Fusion / Core Perfection / Core Destruction
Spiritual Sea Realm
Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??
Dao Manifestation Realm
Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??
Spiritual Transcendence
Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??
