Chapter 46

When Duke Luka and Duchess Ambrosh entered the study, they gathered around the table. Perhaps to calm himself, Duke Ambrosh Victor lit a cigar, slowly drew a puff, and exhaled a white cloud of smoke with a sigh.

"Thank goodness Viscount Hubert is a good man."

At the head of the family's words, Luka and Duchess Helmina nodded in unison. If the family status had been unbalanced or if the head of the family had been impulsive, they might have accepted Lady Celestia of the Bartel family's proposal. The titles and assets held by the duchess were that attractive.

However, Viscount Hubert not only rejected the proposal on the spot but also reported everything to the Ambrosh family without hiding anything. This was a clear indication that he valued his connection with the Ambrosh family more than with the Bartel family. Since they had been treated with such courtesy, the Ambrosh family had a responsibility to protect the Hubert family firmly.

"The current head of the Bartel family is completely a puppet of Lady Celestia... Luka, is the next head, Clement, involved? Does he admire Viela?"

"I'm not sure. But during the expedition, I received a warning to be careful as I might gain more enemies besides you. It's unclear whether it referred to Lady Celestia or someone else."

At that time, Clement seemed to be encouraging Luka to move forward. Moreover, the words 'I will continue to pursue Viela until she completely falls in love with Luka' could also be interpreted as 'I will give up if Viela's heart is settled.'

(Instead of a declaration of war, it sounded more like a warning to be cautious. Was it different? Was it to lull me into a false sense of security?)

Reflecting on it, Luka couldn't fully grasp Clement's intentions. However, he couldn't tolerate Lady Celestia's actions. She had not only tried to openly snatch a treasure but also looked down on the Hubert family and the Ambrosh family, thinking they would do as she wished. As a son of the Ambrosh family and a future member of the Hubert family, this was something Luka couldn't overlook. Additionally, there was another person to be wary of, someone similar to Lady Celestia.

"Father, the information from my former divine beast knight comrades is that the king still doesn't want to accept my retirement. He asked one of my comrades to try to persuade me to reconsider."

Fortunately, the senior knight was on Luka's side and prioritized his junior over the king's wishes, revealing the information. He was a comrade who had saved each other's lives and had been Luka's mentor when he joined the order. The king's persistence was tiring.

After hearing his son's words, Victor extinguished the cigar in the ashtray, crossed his legs, and said, "According to our information, the king also attended the recent upper-level meeting of the Magic Bureau and proposed rewarding meritorious individuals."

"Father, what kind of reward?"

"We couldn't find out the specifics, but it's highly likely to be used to dissuade Luka from retiring. Or, he might try to recruit Viela, who has proven her abilities. We must ensure the royal family and Lady Celestia don't team up."

While dealing with one of them might be manageable, it would be troublesome for the Ambrosh family to face both the royal family and the marquis family simultaneously. Then, Helmina began to chuckle with delight.

"In that case, leave it to me. I've been holding back, deferring to the royal family, but now I'll take the lead in the social scene. If I can give the king the impression that Lady Celestia's influence is waning, he will likely avoid teaming up with her."

"Helmina, are you sure you can handle it?"

"Yes, my lord. Of course. I was planning to get serious anyway. I'll work with the two brides-to-be and start with the younger generation. I'll make sure the Ambrosh family is never underestimated again."

Helmina smiled confidently, as if relishing the challenge. Victor looked at his wife with a gaze full of both expectation and affection. Watching his parents, Luka found himself wanting to marry Viela and start their married life as soon as possible. He had even considered getting married as soon as they confirmed their mutual feelings.

However, getting married at this time carried risks. If the king had his eye on Viela, they might be used together once they were married. By maintaining their engagement, they could keep each other as trump cards in negotiations. Still, he didn't intend to wait for years until the problems resolved naturally.

As the leader of the divine beast knights, Luka had already delegated most of his responsibilities to his successor, the current deputy leader. The knights had adapted to this new arrangement. He and the deputy leader now visited other departments instead of holding meetings in the knights' area, making his retirement more apparent to non-knights.

If the king wouldn't agree, Luka planned to change the mindset of those the king relied on. It was a roundabout approach, but many palace officials were already starting to think, "Luka will retire in the near future." Sympathetic opinions were also emerging due to the delay in his retirement, despite having served beyond the ten-year limit.

(With the current situation, the king will find it difficult to impose restrictions on me. If he tries to use Viela, I'll hint that I have a plan if she suffers. The most troublesome scenario would be if the content made her happy and she stopped smiling at me.)

To Luka, Viela's smile was that important. It allowed him to relax and be himself. However, retiring from the divine beast knights had another purpose besides marrying Viela, which made it a difficult issue. He wanted to avoid involving the innocent Viela and burdening her with his other reasons.

"I can only hope that the king's reward will be just cash or some gems."

Luka sighed, expressing his wish. It would be the best outcome for Viela, without any complications. Victor looked apologetic and lowered his brows.

"I wanted to let you retire and marry freely, but I'm sorry for always involving you in our family's affairs."

"I am part of the Ambrosh family, so it's only natural. If you feel guilty and want to do something, do it for Viela and the Hubert family. I didn't intend to involve them, but the situation has changed."

"Agreed. We'll treat them well during their stay and assist with the Hubert family's new business if requested."

"Thank you. After all, it's my future home, and it would be difficult if they disliked me."

Luka's smile widened, and Victor chuckled, shaking his shoulders.

"Ha, what a terrifying threat. I'll remember that. I'll continue to monitor the king's movements, Helmina will take control of the social scene, and Luka will win over the king's supporters. The two older children will continue to draw attention and serve as a distraction. Is that clear?"

Luka and Helmina nodded firmly in response to Victor's question.