Chapter 25 A New Engagement
Chapter 25
25.1
When Oulidsi asked, "Are you willing to enter into a marriage contract with me and fight together against the Karagalang family?"
Her tone was very relaxed and casual, as if she was joking; however, Hesong knew that Euridsi was not the kind of person who would joke about such things.
Knowing how serious Oulidisi was, Hesong couldn't help but open his eyes wide.
"This... I mean, you..."
Olidesi nodded gently. "I know that the oppression of the Karagalang family caused your mother's tragedy. If you enter into a marriage contract with me, I will kill everyone in the Karagalang family and avenge your mother."
When mentioning "mother", Hesong's fingers trembled slightly.
He stared into Ollidosi's rose-gold eyes, was silent for a while, and finally turned his eyes away.
"Thank you," he said, "but I...I'd better not do this."
Euridsi looked at him quietly, and Hesong slowly closed his eyes.
"My life is pretty good now," he whispered. "My life in the carpentry shop is peaceful, and I cherish it. If I do anything else, I'm afraid I'll lose even this last bit of peace."
As Hesong spoke, he lowered his eyes slightly, staring at the unpolished carvings on the workbench. His fingers unconsciously clenched the plane in his hand, and his knuckles turned a little white.
"You don't know, Oulidsi," Hesong whispered. "You don't know... how powerful they are in Ravenmont."
"Oh," Oulidsi said calmly, "How much power do they have in Ravenmont?"
Herson looked at her sadly.
"Once," he said, "I once thought I had a chance to do something—at that time, Her Majesty the Supreme Queen Lucinda required all school-age children in Ravenmont to attend Gaia Goddess College, with the royal family paying for their education. Back then, I truly believed I had a chance to change things."
Hesong chuckled self-deprecatingly as he spoke. "To get a better job, to make life better for myself and my mother, I studied desperately at the academy... When they dozed off in class, I desperately copied the masters' explanations onto parchment scrolls. When they sneaked out at night to drink, I lit an oil lamp and, by the faint light, desperately memorized the contents of the parchment scrolls."
Oledsi looked at him and said softly, "And that didn't end well, did it?"
Hesong smiled. "There are good times too. In the academy assessment, apart from the Karagalan family's youngest daughter, Cecilia, who is incredibly intelligent and performs exceptionally well, no other apprentice performed better than me in the three studies and four skills. Not even Alex Karagalan and Osborne Karagalan."
Euridice said nothing. She knew there was more to Hersong's story.
He Song said slowly: "And yet... they found me guilty of cheating."
Olidisi was startled, then fell silent.
Hesong's voice was calm, without any resentment, but rather the ripple of a still, indifferent person, as if he were recounting someone else's story without emotion. "Alex Karagaran accused me. He accused me of stealing the Master's assessment materials in advance."
Hesong said, curling his lips slightly. "Ravenmont City is the territory of the Karagalang family. Alex is the child of the Duke and Duchess of Karagalang. He is the legal heir of the Karagalang family. If nothing unexpected happens, he will be the next Duke of Karagalang. Therefore, whatever Alex Karagalang says is the truth. No one in Ravenmont City can oppose him."
Olidisi looked at him: "So, you..."
"Well," He Song nodded slightly, "because of 'cheating', I was expelled from the college. Not only were my grades invalidated, but my reputation was also ruined. People despised me, despised me as a despicable cheater."
He said with a self-deprecating smile: "I have no idea what to do, Oulidsi. What's the point of studying? What's the point of all the academic achievements? I have no idea what to do in front of these people."
Oledsi understood what he meant.
She said, "In the city of Ravenmont, the Caragalan family is in charge of the citizens' taxes and the Knights' Order. Even if you accuse Alex Caragalan, the judges who will carry out 'justice' will still be them."
"Yes." Hesong looked at her quietly. "When I was expelled from the academy, my mother took the parchment scroll filled with my words and tried to fight for justice for me... Then, she fell ill."
As Hesong spoke, he took a deep breath, and a look of pain finally appeared on his calm face.
"She said sorry... you know? She said sorry to me. She said it was all because of her fault—because she was a commoner, she had no power, no money, that I couldn't get the justice I deserved."
Hesong's voice choked.
"Three months later, she died. Alex Karagaran wouldn't allow any of the Morman mermaid doctors to see her. And there was nothing I could do... I went to the Judgment Square to beat the drum, but no judge would see me. I tried to stop the Knights, but they drove me away. I prayed in the temple, but even the goddess Gaia ignored me. There was nothing I could do, Euridsi."
Olidisi was silent for a moment, then said softly, "I'm sorry."
Hesong shook his head slightly and wiped the corners of his eyes with the back of his hand. He took a few deep breaths and slowly regained his composure.
"It's my fault," he said. "I was young, naive, and stupid. I should have known the consequences of going against them."
"...Hesong."
"It was my naiveté and arrogance that killed her."
He Song said, lowering his head. "I have already lost a peaceful life once, and I cannot lose my current life again. Some people say, 'Those who live happily must sometimes give in.' So, I'm sorry, I can't accept your proposal."
Olidisi looked at him quietly, and suddenly laughed softly.
"Really?" she said. "Is your life truly peaceful? Are you truly happy?"
“…”
Hesong was startled, and Oulidsi suddenly raised his head.
She looked straight at him, and her rose-gold eyes seemed to be burning with two flames.
"I will never give in," she said. "If I have to continue to endure unfair treatment and oppression just to survive, I will never be 'happy'."
Hesong's fingers trembled, and Oulidesi spoke clearly: "If the evildoers do not pay the price, if the evildoers are not punished, if I let them continue to do evil, how can I still be a 'happy' person?"
She nodded solemnly as she spoke, "I would rather fight to death than live under oppression!"
Hesong's fingers couldn't stop shaking, but Euridsi didn't try to persuade him anymore.
"This is my temporary address in the tavern." She took out two parchment scrolls and placed them on Hesong's workbench. "And this is my marriage contract."
As she spoke, she raised her head and said clearly, "I'll give you three full Sundays to consider it."
Hersong's fingers unconsciously clenched. Euridsi smiled and said, "After three full Sundays, if you don't come to me, Hersong Wood, with a marriage contract, I will change the person you want to marry. Duke Karagaran has many illegitimate children. You know, I don't have to be with you."
Hesong shuddered and subconsciously reached out his hand, but Oulidisi turned around and walked towards the studio door.
She left without saying another word and without looking back.
Late at night three full Sundays later, heavy rain fell in Ravenmont.
In the heavy rain, Hesong, soaked all over, knocked on the door of Olidesi's room in the tavern.
"...I do." He said, "I am willing to marry you, Euridsi."
25.2
When Euridice and Hesong were married, there was no ceremony:
Although Hesong has the surname "Karagalan", he cannot live in Ravenmont Castle - Duke Karagalan has many illegitimate children, most of whom live with their mothers of commoner origin. Only one illegitimate child who is the most favored by the Duke can live in Ravenmont Castle.
Therefore, after his mother's death, Hesong's life was very difficult; he relied on working as an apprentice in a carpentry shop and living in the studio to barely find a place to stay.
So, when Oulidsi and Hesong got married, they did not hold a ceremony, but only received blessings from Master Catherine and another apprentice Zoe in the carpentry shop.
Regarding Oulidsi, Hesong felt a little apologetic: "I don't have the ability to hold a wedding ceremony... I don't have my own house or my own business."
Hesong said, his tone hesitant, his face reddening, "I had never thought of getting engaged to anyone... I, I was completely unprepared."
Olidisi smiled and said, "Don't worry, I've prepared everything."
As she spoke, she pulled out an administrator's certificate from her suitcase. "During these three full Sundays, I sold all the potions I had made and used the money to buy a piece of land outside of Ravenmont called 'South Hill'. We can live here."
He Song was stunned. He looked at the receipt, confused. "'South Hill'? Why...why would you buy this kind of land? It's far from the market. Usually only people who make a living from farming would live on this kind of land."
Olidisi raised an eyebrow. "It's good enough to have a place to live. You are still picky, Your Highness Hesong."
Hesong was startled and hurriedly shook his hands. "No, no, no... I'm not being picky. What I'm worried about is that we don't know how to farm, and we're commoners, not eligible to rent out land like nobles. We won't get any income, but we'll have to pay taxes on the land."
Olidisi looked at Hesong's panicked and incoherent appearance, and suddenly burst into laughter.
"I was just kidding," she said.
Hesong was stunned. Oulidesi looked at him and smiled meaningfully.
"You'll see, Hersong," she said. "This South Hill field will be of great use to us someday."
Just as Hesong was about to say something, a loud noise suddenly came from the alley outside the carpentry shop.
"There's happy news in Ravenmont City!"
Olidi paused and stopped talking.
She looked out the window. "What's that?"
Hesong also looked out and said, "It's the messenger from the Karagalang family."
As Hesong was speaking, a messenger wearing a small hat rushed over from the other end of the street on a pony. The horse's hooves made a "kick" sound on the cobblestone road, raising a cloud of dust.
He said loudly:
"There's happy news in Ravenmont City!"
"His Excellency Alex Karagarang is about to marry Her Royal Highness Princess Matilda!"
"Eighteen months later, a grand wedding ceremony will be held in Ravenmont City!"
The messenger's voice gradually faded away, and the cheers of some citizens could be heard from far away in the streets.
There was no joyful atmosphere in the carpentry shop.
Hesong's expression darkened slightly. "Alex Karagaran...is he about to marry Her Royal Highness Princess Matilda?"
Oledsi raised his eyebrows: "What's wrong?"
Hesong pursed his lips, lowered his eyes, and looked gloomy. "Alex Karagaran, I think I will never be able to forgive this name in my lifetime. He can be said to be the culprit who killed my mother. However, he can easily marry the princess as if nothing happened, without receiving any punishment..."
Hesong's face was heavy and sad, but Euridsi listened to the noise and showed a half-smile.
"No," she said, "I tell you, Hersong, this Alex Karagaran will not only not marry the princess, but will lose his life during the marriage ceremony."
He Song was shocked, then his eyes widened in surprise: "You, what did you say?"
"I say," laughed Oledsi, "I will kill him at the ceremony, to avenge your mother. He will be the first Kalagalang I kill."
"...How is this possible? Alex is the heir of Duke Karagaran. You can't just kill him casually."
Olidisi didn't say anything else. She just smiled meaningfully.
When Oulidsi and Hesong stood at Alex Karagaran's wedding ceremony, Oulidsi still had that mysterious smile on her face.
Not far away, Alex Karagaran was slowly riding towards them on his horse.
"Shh...he's coming."
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