111 Chapter 111 - Investigation Interlude: The Proposal (1/2)

As Gren returned to the FMC HQ after fixing up the homes, he was greeted by a stagecoach with a familiar symbol on it in the alley.Seeing soldiers standing in his way, Gren prepared his automatic rifle.”The Adiers again?Did Jessica send out that letter yet?”

”No, she told me that she would only be sending it after we're done cleaning up the other guilds.We don't really have time to be setting up meetings right now.I have no idea why they're here but we should be careful.”Annie had her left hand ready to pull out her dagger.”I don't think that we should trust them just because they're related to three of your wives.”The way that Annie mentioned his wives made Gren wonder if she had a problem with that but it was difficult to tell with the casual tone that her voice was in.

The two of them approached the soldiers guarding the entrance but stopped a distance away so that they didn't start any trouble.”Red hair.You must be Annie.In that case, the other one would be Gren.”An older soldier sized the two of them up.”Green eyes.The two of you can come through.”It felt weird being told that he could go into his own home but Gren didn't want to start a fight if he didn't have to.

The kitchen still had the table in it but the magic devices were removed and transferred to the underground so it looked bare.Sitting at the table was Jade and a broad-shouldered man with blonde hair.Gren couldn't see what the man looked like since his back was turned but he recognized the elderly man; it was the same man that was part of the supposed rescue squad.”Your Grace, the man you have been waiting for has arrived.”The elderly man announced Gren's presence and let the others know that he was there.It seemed that the man with his back turned to Gren was this 'Grace'.

”Gren!”Jade ran up and hugged Gren when she noticed him.”Daddy, this is the man I was talking about.My husband, Gren.”Gren thought it was odd that Jade referred to her father that way but was too worried about what the Duke was here for.If it was anybody else from the Adier family then he'd be less worried but, in Gren's eyes, the Duke and his soldiers were currently an enemy that weren't able to be defeated.

As Jade held on to him, Gren watched as the Duke stood up and turned around.Unlike his sons, the Duke had a thick jaw and chin that made him look tough.He even had a thick moustache covering his upper lip that completed his masculine look.”We finally meet in person.I've learned so much about you that it feels like I've known you a long time.”Gren didn't like the sound of that; he would prefer it if the Duke knew little about him.

”I wish I could say the same.I know almost nothing about you, Duke Adier.”Gren didn't even know the Duke's first name.On Earth there was a quote from Sun Tzu that would be appropriate here but Gren couldn't remember the exact quote.Gren still didn't understand his own self and the Duke was a mystery to him so it'd be unlikely that he'd win.There was always the option of just shooting him like what Gren did to Susan but that would only make his situation much worse.

”You should address him as Your Grace.Only those who are close in rank to him can address him by his title.”The elderly man seemed to care more about the title than the Duke did since the Duke just shrugged it off.

”It's fine, Sebastian.In a way, his rank is greater than my own.”The Duke had on a serious face ever since Gren first saw him.It was impossible to tell what he was thinking.”I've heard that you refused to heal my daughter, Henrietta.Can you tell me why?”

Gren wasn't sure if telling him the truth was a good idea but a lie wouldn't be convincing.”Trying to heal your daughter is how I got locked up by your sons.I don't know if she was in on it but I don't want to risk the same thing happening again.”There was a bit more to the story but omitting some parts of the story wasn't technically a lie.”I hope you understand that I can't risk my freedom.I've got children of my own and I don't want to leave them without a father.”

”It seems that there has been a misunderstanding.It was only one of my sons that was involved in your wrongful capture.Raymond and Henrietta had nothing to do with Robert's schemes.”It was hard to tell if the Duke was telling the truth; it was possible that he was lying just to get Gren to heal Henrietta and place some trust in Raymond.

”I'm sorry if this offends you but I can't just take your word as the truth.You say that only one of your sons was acting against me but I find it too coincidental.He was the only one who wasn't there when I was captured and his goal was to take over where your father left off.Your father's actions would have helped your family if he succeeded so it's not like your children don't have a motive to help him.”There was one way for him to gain trust in them but it was a process that he didn't expect them to agree to.

Jade didn't like seeing her father and husband arguing.Especially when the fate of the little sister she hadn't met yet was the topic of their argument.”Why can't you just help her?It doesn't cost you anything and if you don't help her then she might die.”It was tough for Gren to say no to his new wife.Jade's large eyes and thick lips made her pouting face more effective.”I've always wanted to meet my little sister and I might not get a chance if you don't heal her.”

Gren didn't want to disappoint his new wife so, after a bit of consideration, he gave in; like usual.”Alright, I'll heal her.However, I do have one condition.She comes in alone and her guards stay outside.I don't want a repeat of what happened last time.”After Gren gave his approval, Jade hugged him tightly before raising her face like she wanted a kiss.It would be awkward to kiss her in front of her father so Gren squeezed her nose instead.

”I can agree to allowing my daughter to meet with you alone but it will make things difficult for her.You've already groped her in public even though it was by accident.Nobody will believe that she's a virgin if she's alone with you.”Gren wasn't sure where the Duke was going with this.From what he had seen since coming to this world, virginity wasn't important to the people.”I don't want my daughter becoming a secondary wife to some lower noble.”

”Why would she need to become a secondary wife to a lower noble if they thought that she lost her virginity?”Gren didn't even know what a secondary wife was.”Nobody I know of seems to care if someone's a virgin.Even you have been with Jade's mother.”

”I didn't take Scarlett as my wife.No noble would even though she's a beautiful woman.”Gren didn't expect to find out the name of Jade's mother but it was staring him in the face this entire time.”The primary wife is the only one that can give birth to heirs and heiresses.The lower nobles won't risk taking a primary wife that has slept around since they want their successor to be from their bloodline.The higher nobles like myself don't take secondary wives since it has been a bad idea, historically.”Although Gren wanted to know about the historical reasons, it wasn't necessary to the discussion at hand.

Gren was beginning to understand what the Duke was talking about but didn't know what to do about it.The Duke, however, already had something in mind.”Of course, there is one solution that will not only solve the problem of her being unable to find a husband but it will solve problems that both of us are currently facing.You can't trust my family and I don't have a successor that I can rely on.Robert is too much like his grandfathers and Raymond only cares about the army.Henrietta is a smart girl but she gets too distracted by magic to be able to take over for me and she has no children.”

Gren was sure that he knew what the Duke was about to propose but he had to ask anyways.”So, you want me to become Henrietta's husband?”It was the conclusion that anybody would come to considering everything that the Duke had said.

”Yes.You and my daughter would gain complete control of the family when I retire.There would be no need to worry about my family acting against your family when they become one.”The Duke did bring up a good point but something felt off about this situation.