"Three months ago, Jayden from the Miller family and I hunted a sixth-order pseudo-dragon together and hung its head on my warhorse. I didn't throw it away until the day before yesterday when I entered the city!"

Lin ate the steak on the plate while showing off his achievements to the Duke.

"Jayden Miller? I know that boy. He looks like his mother, both with red hair!"

The Duke echoed Lin's words. He was very satisfied with his eldest son. He was young and talented, knew the righteousness, was mature and stable, and looked forward and backward for the family.

"Fiona, what is your ranking this semester?"

Fiona quickly swallowed the food in her mouth and replied:

"Third place, father."

The Duke chewed the food and nodded gently, clearly pleased with Fiona's performance. He continued to ask:

"Where is Leia?"

Leia proudly puffed out her chest and stretched out her hand to compare two. She was the second place in their class.

After inquiring about a few others, the Duke lowered his head again, moving his knife and fork back and forth, seemingly uninterested in other people's affairs.

Everyone devoted themselves to the meal, and a thick silence enveloped the room.

After a long time, the Duke suddenly stopped his knife and fork, wiped his mouth, and said calmly:

"The sixth daughter of the patriarch of the Wilton family is about to participate in the enlightenment ceremony."

Everyone paused their activities, and Charles' heart raced. He knew that one of the two highlights of tonight was approaching.

Wilton is also one of the six blue-blooded nobles like the West family. The main extraordinary power they wield is that of elemental mages with weaker physical bodies. Therefore, the West family has formed a symbiotic agreement with the Wilton family since long ago.

The warriors produced by the storm sequence of the West family often act alongside the elemental mages of the Wilton family, serving as close partners in battle.

The sixth young lady of the Wilton family is about to participate in the initiation ceremony, meaning she will soon need a partner.

Charles understood that this partner was originally intended for his brother, but with his brother's untimely death, the position now needed to be filled by someone else.

In this family, only three people were suitable to be the partner of the sixth young lady: him, Fiona, and Freya.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Charles sighed helplessly, realizing that his father meant to let them compete!

He wanted to participate, but behind Fiona stood a mother who was a high priest and the power of a large church, while Freya had the entire Vincent family backing her. Did his father not see that he had not even been consulted just now? Why would he fight against such odds!

Freya and Fiona's eyes lit up simultaneously, and Freya stood up first:

"Father, I am now a third-order storm attendant. I believe I can protect the little princess of the Wilton family!"

Fiona was not to be outdone, and for the first time, Charles saw her usually cold demeanor soften:

"Father, Miss Wilton and I are of similar age, making communication easier. My blue blood concentration has reached 33%. I believe I would be a better fit as Miss Wilton's partner!"

Charles recognized that Fiona's 33% blue blood concentration was indeed stronger than Freya's 30%, and her reasoning made sense.

Leia shot a fierce glare at Fiona and retorted sharply:

"Sister Fiona, you’re still too weak. How can a second-order person like you protect Miss Wilton? Let your sister handle it!"

Fiona scoffed, her lips curling with sarcasm:

"Sister Leia, the difference between the third and second sequences may not be as significant as you think. I worry that if Miss Wilton’s partner cannot keep up, she might grow to despise them."

Leia's beautiful eyes flared with anger. She was all too aware of her less impressive talent compared to her sisters and found it intolerable when others highlighted it.

"Ahem!"

Noticing the rising tension between the two, the Duke coughed lightly.

The two quickly recognized their loss of composure and fell silent. Leia hastily added:

"Sorry, Father, I just..."

"Enough, Leia, and Fiona, you both should calm down!"

The Duke's voice was steady and commanding, exuding an authority that brooked no opposition.

His gaze, deep as the ocean, swept the room before finally landing on Charles, who had been keeping his head down.

"The Wilton family's intention this time is not just to find a partner for the little princess. They are also considering these two as potential fiancés to solidify ties between our families."

The ladies who had been engaged in conversation turned their attention to the Duke, and the room fell silent.

Though the Wilton family had maintained a close relationship with the West family, they had never intermarried to avoid upsetting the balance with other blue-blooded families.

Cooperation was one thing; marriage was quite another!

Yet this time felt different. What was it that prompted the Wilton family to approach the Duke with a proposal? And why did the Duke agree? Wouldn't this risk inciting other major families to unite against them?

"Charles, are you willing to be Miss Wilton's partner?"

A strange atmosphere filled the air. After the Duke's question, he resumed his meal, and the only sound in the room was the scraping of his knife and fork against the plate.

Charles gulped. He was unaccustomed to being the center of attention, especially in such a tense moment.

He could feel a spectrum of eyes upon him—some filled with jealousy, like those of Jayden and Freya; some calm, like his elder brother; others surprised, like Jenny's; and Fiona's disdainful glare.

Truthfully, he was hesitant about accepting this marriage. It would only attract more enemies eager to see him dead. However, it also represented an opportunity. He had no faith in Jack’s stories; he didn't trust the mysterious Mammon. He only trusted himself.

Aligning with the Wilton family would undoubtedly be more advantageous than detrimental. After all, if he were to die, the Wilton family would never let their little princess be a second wife to any of those already-engaged brothers, and the Duke would certainly want this cooperation to succeed.

Thus, accepting this marriage was not inherently a bad choice.

The Duke spoke again, his tone still calm and unhurried, his deep blue eyes locking onto Charles:

"Have you made your decision, Charles?"

Charles took a deep breath, meeting the Duke's penetrating gaze.

It must be said, he truly bore a striking resemblance to his father.

"Of course, I am honored to be Miss Wilton's partner!"