Imperial Throne

Chapter 170 : The Second Soderbell Family Meeting

Chapter 170: The Second Soderbell Family Meeting

“Yes.” Yam nodded. “This is the sword guard of the Demonic Sword… It was hidden in the Bourbon Family's Secret Vault.”

“These past few days, I’ve thought it over carefully. The Bourbon Family clearly made thorough arrangements regarding this Demonic Sword back then.”

“They brought the sword back to their ancestral land of origin, and as for the Bourbon Family’s ancestral land, it must have been passed down through generations. As long as someone escaped, naturally, they would return to the ancestral land in the future. Then, they would inevitably reclaim the Demonic Sword. After that, guided by the sword, they would find the missing half of the sword hilt and the Counterweight Stone, and thus discover the location of the family’s Secret Vault.”

“Once the Secret Vault is opened, the sword guard would surely be found, and with it, the Demonic Sword could at least become a proper war sword again.”

Ion thought for a moment and agreed that what Yam said made sense, but there were still some uncertainties: “Then what about the two spheres we obtained from Molly?”

“That part, I haven’t figured out.” Yam also shook his head. “And the Demonic Sword is too sharp. We tried crafting some scabbards for it, but none could contain it. We don’t know if the Bourbon Family ever found a scabbard for the Demonic Sword. If they did, then who holds it now? And if they didn’t… then did the Bourbon Family ever use the Demonic Sword in public back then?”

“I think not.” Ion pondered briefly before speaking. “If they had, it wouldn’t have gone unnoticed. Everyone would know the Bourbon Family possessed such a sword—it would’ve drawn public attention. But in reality, we’ve appeared with the Demonic Sword a few times now, and no one has paid much attention, which already says a lot.”

Yam nodded, not pursuing the matter further.

He already had a general understanding that the Bourbon Family, too, had only risen from nothing after obtaining the Demonic Sword, eventually becoming a count family that ruled Red Eagle Territory for over two hundred years. But they grew too quickly and were too ostentatious. Combined with being targeted by the Forest Witches, they ultimately rose through their bloodline and perished because of it.

Yam knew that if the Soderbell Family did not learn from this, they would soon become the second Bourbon Family.

With Ion’s summons, many members of the Soderbell Family gathered in the small study.

The study, once spacious enough, now began to feel a bit cramped with Aches, Cindy, and Liam joining in—it was just barely sufficient for now, but if one or two more people were added, the study would become overcrowded.

However, for the foreseeable future, the study would still suffice.

“Today, I’ve gathered everyone mainly to announce two matters.”

Once seated, everyone’s attention turned to Yam as he spoke.

“The first matter concerns the marriage alliance between our Soderbell Family and the Kasein Family.”

As soon as Yam finished, Akar’s brows furrowed tightly. “A marriage alliance? Are they trying to introduce a fiancée to Aches?”

Aches was momentarily stunned.

“I’m going to have a sister?” Cindy, on the other hand, cheered with sudden excitement.

Upon hearing the word “sister,” Liam shuddered instinctively. He now had a natural fear of that word.

Yam noticed the annoyance on Aches’s face and suddenly realized that his greatest worry might be gradually turning into reality. But it clearly wasn’t the right time for such discussions, so he continued, “It’s not just Aches. Liam as well.”

This time, both Akar and Liam were stunned.

Unlike Aches, who already understood what a fiancée meant, Liam, after hearing Cindy’s words, instinctively thought they were also finding a sister for him. His little brain couldn’t quite grasp the rest, but he knew—one for Aches, one for himself, and with Cindy’s words added in, that meant he’d have three sisters!

Triple the fear!

Poor Liam’s face instantly turned pale.

“Marquis Visen’s intention?”

Yam nodded and recounted the gist of what Marquis Visen had told him.

Cindy and Liam didn’t quite understand, but Aches had already caught the threatening implication behind the marquis’s words: if the Soderbell Family wanted to remain in Red Eagle Territory, they must form a marriage alliance with the Kasein Family. Refuse, and there would be no way out. Marquis Visen would not allow such a great potential threat to remain in Red Eagle Territory. Since his external image already resembled that of a madman, making a move against the Soderbell Family would require no hesitation.

Moreover, with the current power of the Kasein Family, even if they pretended to agree to the marquis’s proposal, it would be impossible to escape the Kasein Family’s grasp for a long time—perhaps even for generations.

“Aches’s betrothed has already been decided,” Yam sighed. “It’s Angelina Kasein, granddaughter of Hans Kasein, Marquis Visen’s second son. She’s ten years old this year. In a few months, Marquis Visen will have her come to White Mountain Territory. She may live here for a few years. We’ll hold an engagement ceremony first—the actual wedding will wait until Angelina grows up.”

In the Tyrella Kingdom, one was considered an adult at sixteen.

Among noble families, it was customary to hold a coming-of-age ceremony at sixteen to celebrate adulthood. In practice, it was also an announcement that the family now had a marriageable member, inviting other noble families interested in an alliance to approach. Of course, there were occasional exceptions—like when Burton and Monica held their coming-of-age ceremonies, the Kasein Family did not signal any openness to alliances.

“What about Liam?” Akar asked in a deep voice.

“Marquis Visen didn’t say it explicitly, but I can roughly guess his meaning,” said Yam in a soft voice. “If nothing goes wrong, it should be Monica Kasein’s daughter. Because Marquis Visen said that Liam’s betrothed would be arranged by Monica later, and combining that with the fact that Miss Monica just held her wedding a few months ago, I think there’s a high chance it will be Miss Monica’s daughter.”

“She’s that sure the child she’ll give birth to will be a girl?” Akar sneered coldly.

“You’d better pray she gives birth to a daughter.” But Ion suddenly spoke up at that moment, taking a stance entirely different from Akar’s.

Both Yam and Akar couldn’t help but look at Ion.

Even Aches and Cindy also turned to look at their grandfather.

Only Liam still wore a pale face, lost in a daze.

“If Monica really gives birth to a daughter and marries her to Liam, then when Annie wants to pass Gem Territory on to Liam, there won’t be any resistance,” Ion said in a deep voice. “She might even help you find a way to resolve the problem of Annie’s fake son.”

Liam’s current status was, in fact, quite awkward.

The people Joshua had brought were all purged by Annie after Joshua’s death. Precisely because of this, the Kasein Family believed that Annie had lost control and turned against the Kasein Family. However, due to Akar being Annie’s Guardian Knight, and Akar being Yam’s younger brother, with Yam being entangled in the matter of the Bourbon Secret Vault, the Kasein Family hadn’t moved against Annie.

Then, because the entire Lord’s Manor of Gem Territory was now under Annie’s control, no one said anything when Liam called Annie “Mother” there.

However, Annie’s public identity was that of Joshua Kasein’s wife. So in public settings, Liam couldn’t call Annie “Mother.” Even though Annie had already released word externally that she had adopted Liam as her foster son, the Kasein Family wouldn’t recognize it because it involved the inheritance of Gem Territory. Therefore, if Annie insisted on letting Liam inherit Gem Territory in the future, there would definitely be trouble.

Though Akar was a bit rash and impulsive, he wasn’t truly a fool. So once his father pointed it out, he immediately understood.

To completely eliminate the crisis of Liam inheriting Gem Territory, the best solution was for Liam to marry Monica’s daughter. That way, their interests would be fully bound to Monica’s. The future of the Kasein Family would inevitably be handed over to a descendant of Marquis Visen’s third or fourth son. After all, they all possessed Marquis Visen’s Berserk Ape Bloodline. As long as a descendant of relatively high aptitude was born, there would be no doubt they’d become the successor.

But what if this talented heir was born from Liam and Monica’s daughter?

Let it be known—they now held that drop of True Blood containing the Berserk Ape Bloodline from Burton!

Aches silently watched the expressions changing on the faces of his two uncles, and his gaze dimmed.

Then, he suddenly felt his right hand being gently grasped by a small hand.

Aches turned his head and saw Cindy sitting beside him. She had reached out and held his hand, so he smiled and whispered, “I’m fine, Little Cindy.”

“Mm.” Cindy nodded.

She didn’t quite understand what the adults were talking about, but she could sense that Aches’s mood had suddenly dropped.

Yam glanced at Akar and Aches, then spoke again, “Having finished the first matter, let’s move on to the second.”

Akar had clearly accepted the marriage alliance with the Kasein Family.

This matter, whether for the Soderbell Family or for Liam, was more beneficial than detrimental, so he naturally wouldn’t object.

And of the two directly affected parties, Liam was still young and didn’t understand these things. Akar and Annie had plenty of ways to persuade him. Only Aches, who had already formed his own sense of identity and values, would feel troubled, so his heart now felt somewhat tormented.

“There’s a second matter?”

“I know, I know!” Cindy suddenly raised her hand excitedly.

“You know?” Both Yam and Ion were a bit surprised. Ion even chuckled and said, “Then let’s hear it.”

“Father brought back a component of the Demonic Sword,” Cindy said. “Last night when Father returned, the Demonic Sword sensed it and told me.”