This family dinner came to an abrupt end after the Duke announced the significant news. Not only was there no planned martial arts competition, but the customary dance following the meal was also canceled.
It seemed that whether the members of the West family or the foreign guests attending the ceremony, everyone's focus had shifted entirely away from the dinner, as the West family was set to marry into the Wilton family!
Once this news spread fully, the outside world would undoubtedly react far more dramatically than the calm of tonight.
"Charles, congratulations! In just a few hours, you've become Miss Wilton's fiancé!"
Jenny handed him a cup of hot milk, a teasing smile dancing on her lips.
Charles took a sip, savoring the sweet aroma that lingered, leaving a warm aftertaste.
After the family dinner, he slipped away under the cover of night to Jenny's room. The door was unlocked, allowing him to enter and wait for her arrival.
Unlike him, Jenny was not as free. She had a vast network of connections and could only leave the venue after tending to her social obligations.
Charles had come to inquire about the dagger, needing to act quickly before the attendant outside grew suspicious of his absence.
"Sister Jenny, please stop teasing me. I'm here to find out what the dagger is for!" he said earnestly.
With a playful smile, Jenny leaned back in her chair, which was adorned with gold and jade. She stretched lazily, her curves and sun-kissed skin exuding a captivating charm.
Charles understood her implication. The blood ties among nobles were often overshadowed by self-interest; if he wanted to learn the dagger's secret, Jenny would expect some benefit in return.
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"What do you want?" he asked, his sapphire eyes fixed on her.
"Let’s discuss it after your initiation ceremony. I owe you one," Jenny replied, gently stroking the little black cat that had made its way to her feet.
Charles considered her words briefly and nodded. For him, passing the initiation ceremony took precedence over everything else.
"Alright, but make sure your request doesn’t exceed my abilities."
"Of course! How could a sister deceive her brother?"
Charles inwardly scoffed, well aware that she likely did not regard their sibling bond with much weight.
"In truth, I don’t know the purpose of that dagger. But when I was at the initiation ceremony, Jack approached me," she continued.
Charles felt his heart drop. "You agreed?"
Jenny nodded, her expression steady. "The conditions he proposed were too enticing to refuse, but I paid a price for my greed."
"When I entered the initiation ceremony, my blue blood concentration reached 40%."
Charles's eyes widened. He knew Jenny's blue blood concentration was normally 35%.
"And then you...?"
"Yes, after I achieved enlightenment, the dagger emitted a burst of blue light, and my blue blood concentration began to plummet, dropping all the way down to 35%."
Her tone remained calm, but Charles could sense the fury simmering beneath the surface.
"This dagger ruined me!"
"And it will ruin you too!"
"I hope you didn’t sign that devil's contract with him; otherwise, you’re on your own!"
Observing Charles' increasingly grim expression, Jenny wore a mockingly dramatic smile.
"You won’t sign it, will you?"
"...."
It was clear that the dagger Jack had gone to such lengths to procure for the initiation ceremony was anything but benign. This strange dagger had the power to diminish one's blue blood concentration by a full 5%.
Upon returning to his room, Charles shed his long black coat, feeling frustrated. He had prepared so thoroughly for the initiation ceremony; he could not allow this dagger to ruin everything.
Since he could not resist the devil's contract and bring the dagger into the initiation ceremony, he had to place his trust in the True Vision Eye given to him by Mammon, a treasure he had purchased for 100,000 gold coins.
It was said to have the ability to see through all extraordinary powers… Charles thought silently, quickly retrieving the dagger. With a flash of golden light in his eyes, he stared intensely at the mysterious weapon.
He silently prayed that this eye would function correctly; otherwise, he might lose a devoted believer in Mammon.
Suddenly, a sharp sensation pierced Charles's mind, followed by a message materializing in his thoughts.
"Dagger of Greed."