The Seven Deadly Child
Issabela's Polemic
Theo frowned when he finished listening to the story from his father.
"To find and meet mother I must become a heaven-stage King?" Ask Theo wonder.
"Son, while with your mother, I knew she wasn't the kind of person to say things for no apparent reason, especially when it came to her children."
"From his expression he looked very worried and begged me to actually convey this to you. I don't know why he said this was for your safety."
"Hahh, and in addition, according to your mother, her uncle, who was the messenger as the picker, was an earth-level Emperor. One of the peak existences in this Gaia Land."
"If he wants to, he can destroy our House in just the blink of an eye. Therefore, your mother was very worried, and you can imagine if an Emperor was assigned as the pick-up envoy, how powerful a 5-star Gold-ranked house would be." Close Lord Arduric. Take a long breath.
Hearing his father's words, Theo inevitably became a little restless. This helpless condition was one of the most unfavorable things. He trained hard all this time so that he would never feel this kind of feeling again. However, now that he realized, he was still too weak. And you have to train harder.
He wanted to reach the highest height so that he would not feel this kind of helpless feeling anymore. Don't want to have to bow under someone else's feet anymore.
"Hahh. okay dad, I get it. It's also good, at least in the next few years, there's a real target I have to achieve." Answer Theo.
"Remain assured, I'll bring mom back someday." Theo looked at his father with a gaze full of determination and brilliant sharpness.
Hearing Theo's words and eyes, Lord Arduric somehow felt the urge to believe in his son, inexplicably believing that Theo was now only a late-stage Pioner, will be able to reach King in a few more years.
"Son, I believe you!" Answer Lord Arduric. Looked at Theo with pride.
Lord Arduric felt, with Theo. The future of his House will be brilliant for the future.
"Then Dad, you said before about mom and sister. I assume mom's problem has been conveyed. So, what's wrong with Issabela's sister?" Ask Theo.
"The matter of your brother." Lord Arduric began to recount Issabela's condition.
A few years ago, just when the beginning of the internal conflict House Alknight occurred. There was an emissary from one of the other 10 Biggest Knight Group who paid a visit to House Alknight. They were the House of Braveheart that came from the Blackwood Empire.
Their arrival had a slightly surprising goal: to apply for Issabela. The leader of this delegation said, Their first young master is already interested and falls in love with Issabela from the first time they met at the imperial Academy.
The elders certainly warmly welcome this engagement, because according to old traditions as well, the age of Issabela is approaching the status of compulsory marriage. Getting engaged is definitely time.
Not to mention there are rumors that say the rebels have been supported by outsiders, one of the 10 Biggest Group Knights, the House of Helsinsberg of Ironshield Empire. Therefore, they could solidify their position very quickly and stably.
The elders assume, the offer of engagement from the House of Braveheart is an opportunity that can make the position of the official party becomes stronger, because with this engagement, the, the official party will also have the support of 5-star Gold groups such as the rebel side.
Lord Arduric and Master Bosweric themselves had other thoughts, they could have guessed that these two houses only wanted to play with fire and fish in the murky water. They wanted to establish their influence in the Glaire Empire by taking control of the Alknight House.
Why should house Alknight, because the house Alknight which is experiencing a decline is considered easier to master. And despite the decline, the Alknight house still has a big name in the past, with all its potential. House Alknight is a promising investment place.
The distressed Lord Arduric spent his time discussing with Madam Alena and Issabela herself about this condition.
Seeing both her parents feeling depressed, and her concern for the internal condition of the house, Issabela heartily said she accepted this proposal.
Despite saying accept, Lord Arduric could see there were points of coercion and powerlessness in the eyes of Issabela. This made his heart broken, his first child, his only daughter, had to be willing to make a political tool of marriage.
With all his heart-wrenching objections, Lord Arduric finally accepted this proposal. And one year later, an official proposal banquet was held at the Alknight house.
"So it's like that.." Lord Arduric closed his explanation by bowing his head.
He couldn't look into Theo's eyes. Lord Arduric felt like a failed parent. He felt he had sold his daughter. Plus, before this, Theo had discussed the issue of old traditions about the marriage boundary, which Theo said was inhumane for the women in the house. Because according to Theo, this tradition seems to assume and encourage to make the women in the house are goods, not humans who can be traded for ownership.
This tradition has a gap to be made an excuse as mentioned by Theo. And at this time, Lord Arduric himself did the vile thing Theo meant. It made him very embarrassed and could not look into Theo's face.
Seeing his father keep his head down. "Father raise your head, after this never bow to anyone again, including your own children!" Theo said firmly.
"You are God, I know your burden has been heavy in recent years. I think you understand this too, he wouldn't like to see you like this after all his sacrifices!"
"I do not agree with this old tradition and want to change it, but I also understand it will not be easy."
"I can understand what you're doing, I also believe it's not what you want. I'm sure you love big brother from the bottom of your heart, don't want something like this to happen to him."
"We've all been entangled in some things that are beyond our control. Together we change this slowly, I will help you fully after this to resolve all conflicts, and rebuild our house for the better, to be more brilliant for the future."
"We think about the matter of brother's engagement, along with thinking about how to resolve the internal conflict slowly, because these two things are related to each other." Theo. Staring at his father with a stern look.
Looking at the stern look in Theo's eyes. Somehow Lord Arduric regained his confidence. He felt an urge to believe Theo's words. The burden on his heart became lighter. The sharpness in his eyes that had dimmed back strengthened.
"Son..what exactly have you been through in the past few years?"
Theo just smiled at his father's question. It was enough for him to see his father regain his sharpness.
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Here is an illustration from Issabela Alknight.
(Note: This picture is not mine, I just chose from some reference that fits my imagination about the image of Issabela.)