CHAPTER 107: ANOTHER MARRIED ARRANGEMENT

The round table was surrounded by one middle-aged woman and three young men of different races. The air was heavy with seriousness.

"Mom, I’m sorry we stayed out too long," Gara said, guilt flickering in his eyes.

Especially now, when he’d just returned in high spirits after defeating the green tea woman, only to be greeted by the wailing cries of three babies taking turns screaming at the top of their lungs.

How could he have ever thought one person could handle three tiny infants who knew nothing of the world?

Without waiting for his mother’s reply, Gara pressed on. "I’ll contact Hilda to buy another servant. Mom, you’ll need to bind them with a soul oath."

That same night, he contacted Hilda with crystal ring.

"I want you to find a suitable slave to look after the baby. You know I have triplets, right? The slave will help me with my children."

"I’ll go to the Slave Trade Organization right away, Master."

"Good. What about your discussion with the landowner?"

"At first, he still didn’t want to sell. But when he found out I already had other options on another street, he contacted me again immediately." Hilda’s voice sounded happy. "Your plan is brilliant, Master."

Gara just smiled slightly. "As for the new production house, do that after the slave matter is settled."

"Understood, Master."

After saying that, Hilda’s voice was no longer heard.

Then Gara shifted his gaze to the modest village chief’s house they were occupying. Three bedrooms, a front room, a kitchen, a small storage space, and a single bath.

Hardly enough room for more people.

Right now, Wina and Gara each had their own rooms, with the triplets alternating between them. Fian and Madha shared a room, though Madha usually slept more often at the guard camp.

For the time being, Rea and her children were using Fian’s room, though plans were already being made to build a treehouse out back. Fortunately, the yard had a few sturdy guava trees just waiting to be used.

As for the protective barrier, they hadn’t placed it around the entire house or yard. The village chief, guards, or messengers might come with important news, and it would be bad if they turned away because of the barrier.

For now, it was only set around Gara’s and Wina’s rooms, mainly to safeguard the triplets.

Remembering the protective barrier, Gara reached out to Tristan to ask about the druids.

"They arrived in Falopo Town this afternoon," Tristan reported.

Gara’s heart gave a nervous thump. "Do you think they know where we’re headed?"

"No. They’re on their way to Suruta Village. They’re following the trail we left behind."

"Thank goodness," Gara exhaled, rubbing his chest in relief.

...

A luxurious carriage rumbled down the wide stone-paved road. Its body was built from reinforced wood, painted a deep crimson and adorned with bright silver patterns that gleamed against the dim night.

The beasts pulling it were no ordinary horses, but hybrids. Born from a cross between the fastest wild beast and the strongest warhorse.

Hybrid horses were usually reserved for war, but a few noble families in the capital flaunted them as a display of power.

Inside the carriage, a silver-haired man studied the document in his hands.

Opposite him sat another man of the same age, long light-brown hair falling past his shoulders, spectacles perched on his nose as he too read over a stack of papers.

"Professor Langga," the man with glasses asked, "in two months there will be another Bloodline Awakening Ceremony. Would you like to participate again?"

Langga’s eyes flickered as the memory surfaced. The last time he presided over the Awakening Ceremony, an ordinary boy had appeared, one with immense talent and frightening potential.

Moreover, he had stolen Langga’s first night or, more accurately, it was Langga who had forcibly stolen that innocent boy’s first night.

"Pere, clear my schedule. I’ll be participating. In the same town as last year."

"Yes, Professor," Pere replied smoothly.

Before long, the carriage came to a halt in front of a grand mansion. Its gates were painted a deep crimson, flanked on both sides by large plaques bearing the Alterian family crest, the same shade of red, the signature color of the Altas Duchy.

Langga was indeed different; with silver hair and bright blue eyes, he stands out. But that won’t diminish the fact that the blood of Duchess Alterian, Lady Syeila, runs in his veins.

As the only child of the previous Duke Alterian, Syeila had been groomed from birth to inherit the duchy. The Altas Duchy, though powerful, had never been blessed with many heirs. Syeila had been the sole child and so had Langga.

Like his mother, Langga had been prepared to succeed. But he had rebelled, choosing instead to become a professor at the academy.

Syeila could only hope her son would one day return to the path laid out for him.

Inside the mansion, Langga’s arrival was met by none other than his mother herself in the dining hall. Pere went straight to the study, declining to join the evening meal with his superior.

"Langga, I have good news," the dark-red-haired woman said, her tone far calmer than the fiery temper she had displayed just days ago.

Langga took a bite of his food but said nothing. He could already guess what was coming.

"I’ve found the perfect match for you," she said, her eyes shining with excitement.

He had expected it. Langga remained silent.

Unfazed, Syeila continued, "She’s a half-human beastkin, the second daughter of the Tiger Clan leader. Her mother is the daughter of a Marquess..."

Syeila could see Langga’s attention finally flickered when she said ’half-human.’ Could it be that his disinterest in marriage wasn’t about marriage itself but about being paired with another human? Perhaps he had been waiting for a half-human all along.

"Are you satisfied with the arrangement I’ve made?" Syeila asked, smiling broadly.

Langga shook his head. "I’m not ready to marry yet, Mother."

She thought she finally knew what her son wanted. But...

...