Chapter 58: Baron of Darkhood

Denny thought about his question a bit, then answered. "I think you should reconcile with them."

"Exactly." Rewen agreed. "But the problem is about my marriage. I doubt Mother would let it go."

"How about you bring Svety to meet her?"

"That won't work. Mother is very stubborn about me having two different identities."

"That's… you shouldn't have told her the truth in the first place."

"Now I'm regretting." He wasn't but he had to say so.

"Well, I hope everything works. If there's nothing else to do, I'm leaving. I have to meet up with others."

"Yeah, fine. Don't tell anyone about this marriage thing though. You know how they are."

"Okay, I guess."

Within a few seconds, Denny disappeared.

Rewen looked around the forest. 'Should I farm EXPs? Not needed. I'm becoming too impatient.' 

***

Rewen went back home and saw his Mother knitting in her room. Seeing her, he didn't feel right. "Mother? Where are Sam and Master?"

Rewen's mother stopped knitting, her eyes squinted. "Are you sure this is your home? I don't have any memory of bearing a child like you."

"Look, I'm sorry…"

"Meaningless words."

"Is there really no other way?" Rewen tried one last time.

"Not that I know of."

"You are being awfully stubborn about this. What's wrong?"

"Most people get married under the age of eighteen."

"It's not like people don't after eighteen. Just give me some to think. Within three years, I'll settle myself."

"It's too long."

"I know but please understand that I have to deal with three worlds. I have to take care of my studies, social activities, find a purpose in life and many more. I just don't think that I can get a happily married life right now."

"Anything more?"

"Yeah, I believe in monogamy in every sense and term. I have two identities."

"So you won't marry in one of two worlds?"

"I won't. If I find someone I like in any of the worlds, I'll just settle down."

"And if you don't find the 'someone you like' here, what are you going to do?"

"She can live here."

"That's your plan?"

"Pretty much."

"If I still intend to do what I want, what would you do?"

Rewen didn't reply immediately. He stared at her for a while before opening his mouth. "Sigh, I'll do what you want but one condition."

Rewen's mother smiled. "What is the condition?"

"You have to give an appropriate reason."

"Okay."

"So?"

"So what?"

"The reason?"

"I'll tell you later."

"I'm trusting you."

"Go, get changed."

Rewen went back to his room wryly smiling. 'I wanted to persuade her but got persuaded instead. I wonder how my fiancé is…' Of course, he was talking about her attitude and temperament. He himself didn't know why but he had very little interest opposite sex's beauty. For Rewen, it's alright if his wife is ugly and doesn't matter if her personality is boring. 'Maybe it's because of my low requirements that I'm still single.'

***

Darkhood Baron's Estate.

The Baron of Darkhood looked to be a middle-aged man with a few white hairs but he was in fact over seventy. With a sharp moustache and his large but dignified stature, he gave a 'noble' feeling. Behind him stood two young maids. He took a small sip of his favorite wine and stared at the person sitting opposite him. 

"Master Kaf, are you sure that your disciple will be a good match for my granddaughter? It's not that I'm doubting the validity of your words but he is, after all, a country boy. He might be humble and honest but I need him to be strong, wise and capable."

Master Kaf had no change in expression. "In eighty years of my life, I dare say that my disciple has an outstanding personality. You can see him for yourself." Master Kaf knew Rewen from head to toe. 

"Hm? For you to give such praise, I'm becoming more and more curious now. Tell me an outstanding quality about him."

"He is a very understanding individual who looks at things objectively."

"To what degree?"

"It was around the time when his father recently passed away. He was often teased by the other kids by how his father had died."

"Indeed. It was very sad for a man like him to die like that." The Baron of Darkhood rarely interrupted between conversations but he couldn't help this time. 

Master Kaf wasn't offended and continued the story. "He had the strength to beat the kids up but he never did so. When I asked him about it, he said that they were not wrong. At that point, I thought that he had developed a deep lifelong guilt but his next statement proved me wrong. He said and I quote: 'Neither am I. If anyone were to be at fault, it would be their parents for teaching their kids to gloat over another's misfortune.' Keep in mind that he was only five or six years old at that time."

"That's impossible. A five-year-old cannot tell that."

Master Kaf sighed. "I thought the same but he said so many things as a kid that shouldn't be said as a kid…"

The Baron's expression tightened. "If that's the case, could he be-"

"Sir! Young Sir from the House of Klofar and Mrs Klofar has arrived!" 

A servant came inside along with two people behind him. 

The Baron and Master Kaf both looked at the incoming people. Especially the Baron who was scrutinizing every single detail on his future grandson-in-law's body. With a loud laugh, he got up from his seat and patted Rewen's shoulders. "Good. Neither too muscular nor too effeminate."

Rewen couldn't find any words to say. He just flashed a polite smile.

"Oh? You must be Mrs Klofar. I have known your husband since he was small. He was quite a man."

Mrs Klofar's eyes lit up with the mention of her husband. "This must be fate then!"

"Haha, it is indeed fate. Why are both of you standing? Come sit down." The Baron of Darkhood guided the two of them to seats and then turned to one of the maids. "Get some more wine…" Not finishing his sentence, he looked towards his newly arrived future grandson-in-law.

"My son is of age." Mrs Klofar replied, not giving the chance for Rewen to reject.

"Excellent! Bring two bottles."

The maid hurried off.

"So Rewen." The Baron's expression turned serious all of a sudden as he sharply looked at the young man opposite to him.

"Yes?" Unlike Mrs Klofar, he didn't tense up.

"Do you want to marry my granddaughter?"

"I do," Rewen answered without any hesitation.

"Why is that? You never met her and you don't know any of her qualities. What in her made you so fond of her?"

"I am not fond of her."

"Then are you here for my riches?" The Baron of Darkhood directly asked.

"I'm not."

The Baron's eyes squinted. "Why do you want to marry my granddaughter?"

"I was told by my mother to marry her." Rewen shrugged.

Silence.

There wasn't a single person in the room who wasn't shocked by his reply except for Master Kaf who was calmly drinking his wine. Mrs Klofar's face turned pale.

The Baron didn't say anything but his face was grave.

Sensing the atmosphere, Rewen sighed. "Truth be told, I already argued with my mother once about this. Only after her repeated insistence, I agreed. The reason I'm saying this is because you are the family of someone who I'm supposed to marry. I'm not a charmer and am very awkward around women so even if I find her to my liking, the same could not be said for her. Therefore, I could not bear the responsibility of her happiness."

It was silent and the Baron just stared at the young man for a while. Nobody knew what he was thinking about. Half a minute later, a small smile appeared on his face. "Then… can you take the responsibility of looking after her?"

Mrs Klofar's heart which had almost stopped started beating.

"Excuse me?" Rewen thought that there was some problem with his ears. 

"I asked if you are willing to look after her?" The Baron had an amusing smile on his face.

"Sure…" Rewen's last resort failed. Right now, he had completely accepted his face.

"What do you think about my city?" There was no City Lord in Darkhood City, only a Baron. So it could be said that the entire city belonged to him.

A bad premonition came over Rewen. "It's good. From what I have seen, the market trading is smooth. The atmosphere of the place is also nice… I just arrived in the city so I don't know much."

"Hmm." The Baron appeared satisfied with his answer. "Let the adults discuss now. You can go chat with my granddaughter. She should be in her room…"

At this time, the maid chimed in. "Young Miss is not in her room. She is practising her sword with Lunov."

The Baron's face turned dark.