Wesley’s Worries
Wesley, having opened up to me and Gary, confided his worries about the marriage. But his troubles weren’t the usual ones about differences in values or lifestyle—it was something far deeper and murkier.
“My family—the Jenkins family—has supported the kingdom’s nobility in various ways for generations.”
The Jenkins family was well-known in the kingdom. They didn’t have a title, but their influence wasn’t small.
However, it seemed the family had a particular obsession with acquiring a title. They harbored ambitions to rise into the ranks of nobility, going out of their way to curry favor with titled families—an unpleasant truth that Wesley didn’t hide.
“My father has always catered to the whims of nobles. That’s how we lived comfortably… but he fiercely opposed my marriage.”
“… Opposed it?”
Whoa, this just got a lot more complicated. I had assumed they were forcing Wesley into marriage to gain status—but wait. The Glaberson family, while a distinguished line of magicians, didn’t have a title. That explained the opposition.
“Because the Glaberson family isn’t titled.”
“Ah, that explains it. But in the end, they agreed to it, right? Even set a date for the ceremony.”
“Yes… At first, I was so happy they finally approved… but…”
“There was an ulterior motive, wasn’t there?”
“Ulterior motive…?”
Gary tilted his head, not quite catching on.
“The Glaberson family has strong ties to the McCreeds. I’d wager they planned to get close to the McCreeds through this marriage, pry out some secrets, and use them as leverage.”
“Huh… I see. That’s a pretty roundabout scheme.”
“They probably had no other choice. But this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Jenkins family.”
What pushed things along even more was the fact that Lady Lillian and Wesley genuinely loved each other, regardless of their social standings.
If it had been a calculated political marriage aimed at worming into noble circles, others might’ve gotten suspicious of their intentions.
But since it appeared to be a normal marriage, no one would suspect foul play.
“I’m a knight stationed in the capital, so I can’t return home often… but I’m constantly worried my father’s up to something behind the scenes. Even Lillian’s hesitance about the marriage… my father could be pulling the strings from the shadows.”
Wesley’s voice trembled as he spoke, emotion welling up inside him.
I knew firsthand how busy knights posted in the capital were. That’s exactly why he couldn’t keep tabs on his family’s shady dealings… and exactly why someone like me, stationed in the countryside with more freedom to act, was needed.
“Wesley, I’ll go have a talk with your father.”
“W-what!?”
Wesley cried out in shock at my proposal, but sitting beside him, Gary grinned with a face that said, “I knew you’d say that.”
What do you think about this chapter?
