"Uncle!"
Carl pushed the door open and stepped out of the room, greeting the plump, squinty-eyed Gegil.
His gaze then fell on the girl beside Gegil, and his voice softened as he said, "Iweni, you're here too."
"Cousin."
His cousin Iweni was as shy as ever.
Today, she wore a lavish dress adorned with an abundance of lace, bows, and satin flowers. Although beautiful, it was somewhat too extravagant and unsuitable for a girl of about ten.
The landlord's daughter, Jenny, was also there, attending to the father and daughter. Seeing Carl emerge, she quickly found an excuse and returned to her room.
"Carl."
Gegil stepped forward and excitedly grasped Carl's hands, his small eyes squeezing out a few tears. "I heard about your father's situation. It's truly unthinkable… Let the past be the past!"
"Did you go to claim the title today?"
"Yes," Carl said, his expression flat. "Uncle, your news certainly travels fast."
His father had passed away some time ago. This man hadn't come sooner, nor later, but chose this precise moment to visit.
How very… timely!
Gegil chuckled awkwardly, rubbing his hands together. "Carl," he said, "there's something I'm not sure if you're aware of. Your father mentioned your marriage to me before."
"He wanted you to marry Iweni, and I agreed at the time."
As he spoke, he nudged Iweni, who stood beside him, her face flushed red and her eyes shy, silently urging her to say something.
"Cousin Carl."
Iweni lowered her head, her fingers twisting the fabric of her dress. Her voice was just barely audible.
"That's just her personality," Gegil said with a smile. "You know that, Carl. But it's no problem. Once you two are married and become familiar with each other, everything will be fine."
"Uncle!"
Carl frowned. He finally understood why Iweni was dressed so extravagantly—they were here to discuss marriage. He then said, "I went to apply to inherit the title today, but I didn't receive the priest's approval."
"Hmm?"
"Ah!"
Exclamations of surprise arose—one of concern, the other of astonishment.
"You didn't get approval?" Gegil instinctively pulled his daughter back a step, his small eyes flickering. "Why?"
Although the Baron title wasn't technically inheritable by law, it had been passed from father to son for centuries.
Unless there was some special reason.
If Carl wasn't going to be a Baron, he certainly couldn't marry his daughter, whom he had raised for so many years, to him.
"I was just about to come looking for you, Uncle."
Carl took a deep breath, an urgent look on his face. "The priest requires thirty Gold Coins to prove the Bergman family's devotion to God. I don't have that much. I was wondering if you could lend me some?"
"Ah!"
At the mention of borrowing money, Gegil's expression changed drastically. He pulled his daughter back another step and asked casually, "How much do you want to borrow?"
"I only have one Gold Coin on me," Carl said with a bitter smile. "The rest will have to come from you, Uncle. But please rest assured, once I inherit the Barony and earn some money, I will definitely repay you."
"Twenty-nine Gold Coins!" Gegil exclaimed, practically jumping in frustration as he pointed at Carl and shouted, "I'd have to be mad to lend you that!"
"You won't lend it?" Carl's expression darkened. "Without the money, I can't inherit the title. And without the title, I'm afraid I can't arrange a wedding with my cousin either."
"Hmph!" Gegil scoffed. "No money and no title, yet you still want to marry my daughter?"
"Hmm…" Gegil's eyes flickered, and then he suddenly added, "However, if it's money you want, it's not entirely impossible…"
Hmm?
Carl raised an eyebrow.
He knew his uncle's personality very well; he was as stingy as Glangtai. For him not to be immediately scared off by the request for money but instead to relent was completely unexpected.
"Carl."
Gegil leaned in closer and whispered, "You have no money, and you can't obtain the Barony. Instead of letting it go to waste, why not sell the title to me?"
"Uncle!"
Carl was speechless. "Can a title even be bought and sold?"
"Why not?" Gegil's voice rose. "I'll offer fifty… no, forty Gold Coins. Use thirty of them to secure the title, and the rest are yours to keep."
"The rest?" Carl's face was openly mocking as he said, "My dear uncle, you're willing to leave me ten Gold Coins? How truly considerate of you."
"Of course," Gegil chuckled. "First, you inherit the title. Then, you marry Iweni. After the marriage, you transfer the title to my daughter."
"And finally, it will be transferred to me."
Carl was stunned.
Come to think of it, this actually seemed somewhat feasible.
The Gando Kingdom was no stranger to queens and had granted titles to many women. Daughters, wives, and even parents could inherit titles.
"Heh…"
Carl shook his head with a bitter smile, a sense of helplessness washing over him.
Dealing with this uncle of his was, for him, even more draining than facing a half-dead creature.
"You should leave. I am not selling the title."
"Wait!" Gegil said hurriedly. "If you think the price isn't right, we can discuss it further. If forty Gold Coins aren't enough, then fifty!"
"Get out!" Carl suddenly roared.
The sound, like a clap of thunder, made Gegil stumble backward. His heart pounded in his chest when he saw Carl's ferocious expression.
The scars from the scorching, inflamed by his anger, looked like centipedes writhing on his face, making one's heart pound.
His powerful build exuded an invisible, oppressive aura.
"Fine, I'll leave! What are you yelling for?!"
Taking another step back, Gegil didn't dare to look Carl in the eyes. He pulled a reluctant Iweni towards the door, muttering under his breath as they went, "Just like your father. If you can't inherit the title, I'd like to see how you'll manage to live then."
Carl's face remained dark. Only after the outer door closed and Gegil's figure was out of sight did he finally let out a long, heavy sigh.
"SQUEAK…"
The door to the side room opened a crack, revealing Jenny's somewhat worried face. "Carl, are you… alright?"
"I'm fine."
Carl shook his head, composing himself. "I might have to go out again today. If anyone else comes looking for me, just refuse them."
"Okay."
Jenny nodded. She opened her mouth as if to ask something but ultimately didn't say anything.
He didn't inherit the title? What will happen to Carl's life now?
Out on the street, Carl was about to hail a carriage when he saw a familiar figure hurrying towards him.
"Iweni?"
"Cousin Carl."
Iweni's forehead was beaded with sweat, and she was panting heavily. Her dress hem was stained with a good deal of mud, clear evidence of her haste.
She glanced behind her, then stuffed a Jade Pendant into Carl's hand. Lowering her head, she said softly, "I don't have anything else. This was a birthday gift from my father. I heard it's quite valuable."
"Iweni," Carl said, stunned. "There's no need…"
"I have to go! I can't let Father find out." Before he could finish, Iweni quickly waved her hand. "Cousin Carl, see you next time!"
She must have secretly run back. After handing over the pendant, she turned and hurried away.
Watching Iweni hurry away, Carl gently shook his head. Her sentiment was indeed precious, but the pendant itself wasn't valuable.
Even with his own daughter, Gegil was just as stingy.
The Jade Pendant was not only made of inferior jade, but the craftsmanship was also very crude, like a practice piece or a toy.
Wiping the dust from it, Carl carefully tucked the Jade Pendant into his breast pocket and hailed a carriage.
"To Lu Ang Street!"
"Four pennies."