35 Did You Prepare the Dower? (1/2)
”Dad!”
Iliana yelled as Wolfgang's body crashed into concrete. Alarmed, she rushed toward him, but by the time she reached his side, he was already standing up.
Unlike Konrad, however, besides dust and a trembling fist, there was no visible damage on his body.
”Your name?”
”Konrad.”
”Good. Very Good. You are by far more outstanding than I believed. With such battle power and cultivation talent, you are bound to become a mighty saint in the future. Entrusting my daughter to you, I have no worries.”
But although he let nothing transpire on his jubilant face, Wolfgang was horrified. In the ways of the Holy Flame Empire, he was of the previous generation. In that time, his bloodline and physique ranked among the best within the entire country, and only a rare few such as the crown prince could surpass him.
Never did he expect that in a context of ten blows, he would be sent flying with a single one! And while he didn't sustain as much physical damage as Konrad, that was because his true cultivation was leagues above his. Was he truly at the same level, his current state would have been…unimaginable.
As for Iliana, only now did she realize how much she'd underestimated Konrad's true might.
Odd, she could swear he didn't possess such a tyrannical physique when they were first attacked!
”Is demonism that powerful?”
She wondered while her father straightened himself.
Konrad, on the other hand, didn't feel like there was anything wrong with this. He was pilling up bonuses upon bonuses with his bloodline, physique, and cultivation method. A different result would have been odd.
”Let's return to the mansion, a feast awaits!”
Wolfgang gave none of them time to complain, warped them in golden light and flew back toward the Kracht mansion.
With a Semi-Saint leading the way, the trip would only take a few seconds. They bypassed the gates and landed at the doorsteps of the main hall.
Unceremoniously, Wolfgang opened it, bringing the two inside the hall lit by artificial white light orbs that hanged below the high ceiling and on ivory pedestals.
As soon as they stepped past the door, Iliana and Konrad were greeted by a procession of aligned butlers and maids forming two perfect lines on the right and left while in the distance, a small group of individuals whose body features reminisced of the usual Kracht's stood with radiant smiles.
Leading them was a beautiful woman with auburn hairs held in a high chignon, and a pair of eyes that would seem identical to Iliana's was it not for hers being the normal circular pupil of the human race.
She was Iliana's mother, Zamira.
”Iliana, welcome back!”
”Young lady, welcome back!”
Led by her mother, the relatives and servants warmly welcomed her, and their voices caused her eyes to once again be overrun by warm tears.
”Mom!”
And without restraint, she ran into her mother's grasp. The painful decade of isolation had finally come to an end.
She was home!
”It's alright. Now everything is going to be alright.”
As for Konrad who witnessed the scene, he, of course, had nothing to say.
A moment afterward, Zamira's eyes rose from Iliana and locked onto him, at first taking him for Iliana's escort, then reckoning that knowing her husband, the escort would not have been able to go beyond the main gate on this particular occasion.
”Who might that young man be?”
Although he was dressed in eunuch clothes, she didn't wish to strike at his dignity by reminding him of that.
But Wolfgang's immediate reply caused her and the entire hall to fall silent.
”Your future son-in-law!”
...
The procession was quickly reduced to a scant few close relatives that alongside the main protagonists entered the dining hall.
At the firm insistence of her father, Iliana was given the honor seat. A position that allowed her to keep all the gathered individuals within her eyesight.
What no one had expected was that Wolfgang also arranged a seat for Konrad to stay by her side.
The servants were quick to serve the wine, and Wolfgang to raise his cup for a toast.
”To the return of my beloved daughter and the arrival of her betrothed!”
But the relatives who still were digesting the news could not reply struggled to give a prompt reply.
”Dad, please stop!”
Iliana interjected, not knowing where to put her face.
”Stop what? I didn't hear you reject the gambling match. In fact, you seemed to be more concerned about his safety than mine?”
”Ahh, the sorrow of raising a daughter!”
Wolfgang's words only caused more confusion within the gathered relatives, with Zamira not being able to keep her mouth shut any longer.
”Could you explain the situation?”
She asked with apparent confusion.
”That is simple. Your good daughter came back with Konrad who presented himself as our son-in-law, which she didn't deny. I have tested the goods, and it is fine material. The next generation of house Kracht should be outstanding!”
Even at the pillory, he wouldn't admit that he had been sent flying with one fist at the same cultivation level.
*Puh*
But his words caused Konrad to spit the wine he was leisurely sipping and the gathered individuals to show strange expressions.
You have tested the goods?
What do you mean by that?