Lian reluctantly spoke up and asked, her voice edged with frustration, “Who is it this time?”
The family head paused, his piercing blue eyes lingering on her. “I’m sure you’ve been watching the live stream.”
“What about it?” Lian asked, her brow furrowing.
Zhang Xian continued, “The one with the White Comets,” he narrowed his eyes.
Lian narrowed her eyes in return. “Don’t tell me…”
“Yes,” he cut her off, “the summoner boy. You’ll be marrying him.”
Lian felt a sharp sting at the implication. “Giving off your granddaughter to a child? Can’t you offer him some kind of old relic from the family treasures and ask him for a favor?”
Zhang Xian sighed. “I’m disappointed in your level of intelligence, Lian, I thought it was supposed to be your greatest quility. If we did something like that, not only would the guild demand an official contract in order to get his help, but what’s to stop him from helping our competitors?”
“Besides, soon enough, that young man will lack for nothing. Fame? He’s already famous. Money? A scale from one of his dragons could fetch millions of union credits. This is all he can achieve at his current level. Imagine how much more terrifying an existence he will be a year from now.”
He stepped closer. “And so we must capitalize on this chance, and offer him something he doesn’t have a life companion. Securing him as a member of our family will not only ensure the smooth completion of this project but also help our family grow by leaps and bounds in the future. I’m sure even you can clearly see that.”
Lian clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. “Grandfather, this is outrageous. He’s just a boy, and you’re talking about binding him to our family for life?”
“You say that but what is to stop the other families from sending their daughters after him as well?”
“And as I said earlier, I’ve already secured help from a master, so I won’t be-”
“This is not up for debate, Lian.” Zhang Xian’s expression hardened as he cut her off. “Reguadless of if you get that master or not, you will do as you are told. Our family’s future depends on it.”
It was obvious old Xian was going for the bigger fish in this scenario, that being Alister becoming a member of their family and helping the family prosper, looking at a future with him at their aid till the end was far more intriguing than succeeding in this one major project.
Lian’s jaw tightened, her eyes flashing with anger. “And what about my future? Do I not get a say in my own life?”
Zhang Xian’s eyes locked with hers. “Your future is the family’s future. Do not forget your place, child, or do you want to disappoint me like your useless father did?”
Lian gritted her teeth, she felt stung from his words. She wanted to say something but old Xian spoke up again.
“I let that boy have his way, and where is he now?” freeweɓnovel.cѳm
“The fool was most likely ripped limb from limb and chewed up to satiate the appetite of some monster in the wastelands.”
“All because he wanted to go on some adventure to look for the parts of some broken shiny sword.”
“Pathetic!”
“Look, Lian! You are already useless enough as it is. That White Comet boy may have gotten lucky, but you certainly aren’t. You aren’t powerful, famous, neither are you lucky. In fact, that is the aspect of your life you are most lacking.”
“The only thing you have going for you is your sharp mind and your body. In fact, with that massive scar on your back, I should feel ashamed of letting someone marry you.”
“So I don’t know where you are getting this misplaced pride or high self-esteem from, child. You better drop it and do what I tell you.”
Lian turned away, her heart heavy with the weight of her grandfather’s demands. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “Fine. I’ll do it.”
Old Xian’s stern gaze remained fixed on Lian as he continued speaking, “The Wasteland Display Event will be ending in a couple of days. After it’s done, the Union usually holds a party to celebrate the guilds for their efforts. Naturally, the top families will be invited.”
“You should spark a flame with the boy there. This is your last chance to make something of yourself. I suggest you don’t mess it up.”
Fenrir, could sense her reluctance, rubbed its head against her side, sliently trying to comfort her. Lian bowed her head reluctantly. “Yes, Grandfather.”
Old Xian dismissed her with a wave. “You can go now.”
Lian turned and walked out of the room, her steps felt heavy with the weight of her grandfather’s expectations. As she stepped out of the mansion, she encountered her two bodyguards waiting for her.
“How did it go?” one of them asked, sounding concerned. “What did the family head want?”
Lian remained silent for a moment, her thoughts swirling. She walked for a while finally pausing when she reached the garden, the moonlight casting a soft, silver glow over the
scene.
She looked up at the moon, her expression seemed blank. Her bodyguards could sense she seemed troubled, so they stopped and exchanged worried looks at each other.
“Are you okay, Miss Lian?” the second bodyguard asked softly.
Lian gritted her teeth, the frustration bubbling over. “I won’t be handed out like some prized goose.”
“I’ll prove I’m useful without having to give myself away.”
Fenrir nuzzled her side again, silently showing its support. Her bodyguards, reassured by her.
Her bodyguards exchanged a glance before the first one spoke up. “We believe in you, Miss Lian. You’re smart and resourceful. You’ll definitely figure something out.”
The second bodyguard nodded. “We’re here to help you in any way we can. You aren’t doing
this alone.”
Lian’s tense shoulders eased a bit, and she managed a small, grateful smile.
“Thank you. I appreciate your support more than you know.”
She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “We need to redouble our efforts to find the items Mr. Spade wants. If we impress him, perhaps we can secure his help again in the future.”
And so, that was her hope and her plan: to prove her worth without compromising. However, she would soon learn that things don’t always go as planned.