Chapter 243: The Kennedy Clan’s Dilemma

Chapter 243: Chapter 243: The Kennedy Clan’s Dilemma

Duane accepted Natalia’s invitation and joined her in the garden courtyard for a magical duel.

A magical duel was a comparison of casting speed and precision. Normally, it was difficult to compare since the two mages would have different Attributes.

However, both Duane and Natalia happened to possess the Arcane Attribute, and both had an affinity that reached Super Class, making for an easier comparison.

Natalia had always considered herself to be at the pinnacle of her peers in these two aspects.

But against Duane, her performance with her four spells—Magic Shield, Magic Burst Technique, Arcane Missile, and Multiple Arcane Missiles—was completely inferior.

Although she was dealt a blow, she didn’t become dejected or discouraged. On the contrary, she genuinely admired Duane and was happy for him.

"I want to be as amazing as you. Can you teach me your learning methods?" she asked, her tone somewhat coquettish.

"I’ll tell you a secret."

Duane moved closer, leaning down to whisper in Natalia’s ear.

"What is it?"

The intimate gesture made her cheeks flush slightly, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she waited expectantly for his next words.

Duane said softly, "Actually, I’m already a Level 5 Mage."

Natalia’s eyes widened in disbelief. "For real?"

Duane didn’t hesitate. He directly used Light Shaping Magic to cast a Level 2 Healing Skill.

As the warm, golden light washed over her, Natalia froze.

"This is Arcane Shaping..."

She found it incredible, yet she had to believe it.

"But why did you say you were a Level 3 Mage just now?"

Duane straightened up and explained, "I like to keep a low profile. But one should be a little more honest with the people they like."

"You..."

Natalia’s usually cool and aloof cheeks instantly turned as red as an apple. She never expected Duane to be so bold as to say something like that.

"Don’t talk nonsense!"

She also harbored feelings of admiration for Duane, but her upbringing and the mission she carried had always forced her to restrain herself.

She always remembered Count Kais’s words—as the daughter of Nobility, marriage was always a political tool.

So, upon hearing Duane’s direct confession, she was momentarily at a loss as to how to react.

Natalia could only blush and look away.

Watching Natalia run off like a little girl, Duane couldn’t help but smile.

’They say the ambiguous phase of a relationship is the most wonderful. I think I’m starting to get a taste of that.’

However, he also knew that these things couldn’t be rushed.

As a Count’s daughter, Natalia had been tasked since birth with the mission of solidifying and even expanding the Kennedy Clan’s status and power through a marriage alliance.

Neither he nor she would act impulsively like Simone and Constance, which had led to both of them being in a very difficult position.

Duane needed to handle this relationship carefully.

It wasn’t just that he didn’t want to make things difficult for Natalia; he also wanted to build a good relationship with the Kennedy Clan.

After all, what he wanted was the Kennedy Clan’s support in shipbuilding.

It would be highly inappropriate to ruin the relationship between their two families because of a moment of impulse.

「In the middle of the night.」

Count Kais and Lady Delilah, their reunion after a long separation sweeter than a new romance, slept in each other’s arms after a bout of passion.

Among all the Nobility, they were considered a couple with a very harmonious marital relationship.

Delilah nestled against Kais’s chest, her usual stern demeanor gone. At this moment, she was more like a vulnerable young woman.

"What do you think of Duane?" she asked.

"In what respect?"

"In every respect."

Kais mulled it over for a moment before saying, "The kid has impressive personal strength and a knack for governing his Territory, but he’s a bit of an opportunist. Also, he doesn’t see the full picture when looking at certain issues. But he’s young, after all, and has plenty of time to correct that."

"What noble isn’t an opportunist?"

Delilah wasn’t concerned about that point. "At least he knows which opportunities to take and which to pass up. Look at the negotiations a while back. He had no interest at all in Freddy’s Secret Realm and even skipped the talks."

Count Kais couldn’t help but chuckle. "That’s because he was scared by what happened at Lakefront Manor. He’s afraid of being framed by someone again."

"That just proves he knows when to advance and when to retreat. He isn’t so greedy that he’d disregard his own life."

"It seems you’re quite satisfied with Duane," Count Kais said. "What, you want him to be your son-in-law?"

Delilah neither nodded nor denied it, simply saying, "Natalia and he have a good relationship. If you don’t think it’s appropriate, you should reduce their interactions sooner rather than later."

At this, she sighed. "It’s just that the Dean Clan sacrificed everything for your family. I don’t want my three children to also..."

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but cover her face and begin to sob.

At the mention of this topic, Count Kais pulled his wife tighter into his arms, his expression troubled.

"I heard Count Kudro’s strength has advanced again."

Delilah was stunned, then sat up in anger. She complained, "He’s already at the Shooting Star Level. How could he advance even further?"

Count Kais said helplessly, "They say it’s related to the Holy Radiance Court, which is backed by His Majesty."

"The Holy Radiance Court? The one that wants to open churches everywhere?"

"Mm, yes."

The Holy Radiance Court also wanted to establish a church in the Silent Shore, but they were still in the negotiation phase and hadn’t officially moved in yet.

Count Kais and his vassals were all resistant to the idea.

However, some of the lesser nobles already had them in their territories.

"Apparently, the Holy Radiance Court has a Secret Technique that can instantly awaken a Warrior’s potential, with a chance of helping them break through a bottleneck. Kudro has been stuck at the Peak of Shooting Star Level for many years; he must have broken through using this method."

Delilah looked at Kais, her face a mask of helplessness and worry. "Then what about George? He’s already twenty-four!"

"Is he supposed to live under Kudro’s threat for the rest of his life, never daring to marry?"

Kais fell silent.

In fact, years ago, his eldest son, George, and Count Kudro’s daughter had intended to form a marriage alliance, introduced by the King himself.

But later, Count Kudro’s daughter, Tara, suffered an abdominal injury in battle and lost the ability to conceive, so Count Kais rejected the marriage.

After all, George was the heir to the Kennedy Clan. It would be very problematic if his wife couldn’t bear children.

Besides, in Kais’s view, since their two families had neither publicly announced the marriage alliance nor held a formal engagement ceremony, there shouldn’t have been a problem with rejecting it.

But Count Kudro had flown into a rage on the spot. He not only refused Kais’s rejection but also attacked and injured him. He even threatened that if George didn’t marry his daughter, the grand army of Three Realms Lakefront would march south along the Michaelson River and attack the Silent Shore.

Although the King had been mediating between them, there had been no progress.

And so it had dragged on to this day.

Count Kais sighed. "Kudro is a madman. If he says it, he’ll most likely do it!"

Delilah demanded, "Is His Majesty really going to do nothing about that mad dog of his?"

"It’s not that he won’t do anything; it’s that he doesn’t want to."

Kais shook his head. "The situation in the Akutas Kingdom is not good right now. This is precisely the time for His Majesty to strengthen his rule within the Kingdom. If Kudro really did something to us, I’m afraid His Majesty wouldn’t mind using the opportunity to weaken the Kennedy Clan’s power."

’Dealing with it after the fact is still dealing with it.’

Delilah rubbed her throbbing temples. "I heard Prince Otto is interested in marrying Natalia. Is that true?"

"Yes, but I don’t think much of him."

Count Kais commented, "The Crown Prince has a strong personality and great power. When he inherits the throne in the future, it will be difficult for Prince Otto to have any prospects. At most, he’ll be a Count with Royal Family blood."

Delilah felt a sense of powerlessness. "But you can’t deny that agreeing to this marriage would ease the Kennedy Clan’s situation, can you?"

"Yes!"

Kais had been agonizing over this matter recently. On one hand was his family’s predicament; on the other, his beloved daughter’s happiness.

Logic told him what choice to make, but his heart held some selfish desires.

"Our strength is still quite formidable for now; they won’t dare to face us head-on yet. But as time goes on, their lead in the number of High-tier Warriors will be equivalent to indirectly weakening the strength of the Silent Shore."

"Furthermore, George’s inability to marry because of this matter has also weakened the Kennedy Clan’s influence. Some people who should have followed us have thrown their lot in with others. The number of talented people the Silent Shore has lost over the years is significant."

"Marrying Natalia to Prince Otto could at least alleviate the current situation and might even free George from his predicament."

Delilah said weakly, "Stop analyzing all this for me. I just want to know what your decision is."

Count Kais pondered for a long while, then sighed in resignation. "Let’s try to stall for a year or two first."

The more the other side wanted them to submit quickly, the longer he had to hold out.

Compromising too quickly would, in fact, be detrimental.

Of course, Kais wasn’t just stalling for the sake of it; he was also waiting for an opportunity.

"We aren’t the primary target the King wants to weaken. Perhaps we can find a favorable opportunity in the midst of all this."

Delilah sighed. "Alas, to think that you, a respected Count of the Kingdom, are in such a difficult situation."

Kais didn’t deny it.

Of the four High Lord Clans in the Pruck Kingdom, his was in the worst state.

Marquis Sean had exclusive control over the Ore Vein Great Secret Realm and also possessed an Elemental Secret Realm, allowing him to attract Celestial Tier Warriors who wanted to break through to the Shooting Star Level;

Earl Orlando controlled a Relic Secret Realm, cultivated Magic Malt Beer that sold well across the five great kingdoms, and had accumulated immense wealth;

Even Count Kudro, who was economically dependent on the King’s support, had an Elemental Secret Realm under his control.

Only the Kennedy Clan relied purely on their shipbuilding foundation and substantial grain production to support their research and experiments in various fields.

"Don’t think about these things. You just focus on your research."

Kais pulled Delilah into his arms. "If we can create a weapon that can threaten High-tier Warriors, we won’t be so passive."

Delilah grumbled, "Every time you come back, we talk about these troublesome matters. How can I possibly focus on my research?"

"Haha, that’s my fault!"

Count Kais apologized quickly. "How about we go for another round?"

Delilah didn’t respond, but she closed her eyes.