Chapter 30: Marriage, Parting, and the Severed Vision
In the early hours of the morning, the dance came to an end, and the guests went to the guest rooms that had been prepared to rest under the guidance of the servants. Only Moriarty received the baron's instructions in advance and was waiting to meet his father in the large study.
"Sit down, Moriarty." The Baron sat in his usual high-backed leather chair, with a steaming cup of strong black tea on the oak desk in front of him.
"Thank you, father." Moriarty sat down on the sofa on the other side and looked at Baron Ensberg.
"I know about Windsor Castle and the coalition operation in Beni Village. You have done a good job, Moriarty." The Baron picked up the black tea and took a sip. In the mist of the black tea, the Baron's blue color was reflected.
The eyes were a little hazy and seemed to be twinkling.
"Thank you for the compliment, father." Moriarty just smiled and said.
"Yes." The baron put down his tea cup, leaned back on his chair, and nodded.
For a moment, the father and son looked at each other in silence, and there was silence in the study.
"Moriarty, I heard that Viscount Salk sent you a letter yesterday." After a while, the Baron first broke the strange silence and said calmly.
"Yes." Moriarty nodded generously and replied: "The Viscount seems to miss his pearl, so he hopes that I will 'drive' Miss Salk home early. However, as you can see,
Miss Salk had no immediate intention of returning home, and the letter was subsequently confiscated."
"That's right." The Baron nodded noncommittally, paused briefly, and suddenly the conversation changed: "Moriarty, what do you think of Miss Farasha?"
"Well...a very beautiful aristocratic lady, with beautiful appearance and graceful temperament, she should be the object of pursuit of many aristocratic men." Moriarty thought for a while and spoke slowly and carefully.
"Well, yes." The Baron nodded, sighed softly, and said in a deep voice: "And, in addition, she is the only daughter of Viscount Farasha and the second heir to the Farasha family."
"Oh, that's really amazing. I am a rare beauty, and I also have a huge amount of wealth to inherit. It's like a gold mine." Moriarty laughed a little exaggeratedly, but he still sat down
Stay still on the sofa.
"Indeed, it is like a gold mine. And now, this gold mine has followed your father to Ivy, hoping to become the new mistress of Ivy. What do you think, my son, Moriarty?
." Without too many detours or tests, the Baron directly turned over his trump card at this moment, looked into Moriarty's eyes, and said.
"So, if this marriage can finally be realized, what will it bring to the Ensberg family?" Moriarty met the baron's gaze, stood up slowly, and asked in a leisurely manner.
"The sharing of two new trade routes, the lumber agency rights for the entire Ruhr County, a fifteen-year mining contract for a medium-sized copper mine, and the five estates that will be inherited by Viscount Faraxia." Baron Ensberg said every word.
He answered Moriarty's questions with a calm voice as if he was conducting a business negotiation. However, this time the opponent in the negotiation was none other than his only son.
"Business routes, trading rights, the mining industry that the family has coveted for a long time, and thousands of acres of future territory, this is almost a million gold coins in long-term benefits. Father, I can't think of any reason to refuse." Moriarty.
He sighed silently and said in a deep voice.
"Yes, I can't refuse. Although I know that, at least until this moment, I don't really love that woman, but as the head of the Ensberg family, I have no right to refuse such a game that can bring huge benefits to the entire family.
A marriage of interest." The Baron nodded, his voice a little dry and hoarse: "So, Moriarty, I hope you can understand. Although, this is not easy."
"No, Father, I can understand your choice." Moriarty said sincerely, seeing a trace of helplessness and guilt that he had never seen on the Baron's face.
If it were the original Moriarty, he might have gone crazy with anger, or fainted in front of the baron's father. However, as a person who has experienced it, Moriarty at this moment understands that in the interests of a big enough, the greatness of the world
Some things have a price, such as loyalty, marriage, and love.
"To be honest, I'm surprised." Looking at Moriarty standing quietly a few meters away from him, the Baron didn't know what to say.
"This is just what every qualified Ensberg man would do, father." Moriarty turned to look at the portrait of the former deputy head of the Ensberg family on the other side of the wall and said calmly.
"Yes, this is how Ensberg became stronger from generation to generation." The baron followed Moriarty's gaze and looked toward the portrait wall, his eyes gradually condensing.
"So, father, when do you plan to hold the wedding?" Moriarty turned back and asked directly.
"It should be a year from now. There are still too many things to prepare before then." The marriage of a noble is never just a matter of two people. Especially for prominent families like the Ensberg family and the Farasha family.
The marriage of local nobles involves the interests of all aspects and needs to be coordinated, straightened out and paved.
"I understand." Moriarty nodded and sat back on the sofa.
"Don't worry, Moriarty. Although I will have a new wife, the position of the first heir of the family is still yours. This will not be shaken." Looking at the man sitting alone opposite
Son, the baron couldn't help but blurt out as he felt an uncontrollable guilt in his heart.
"I have no doubt about this." Moriarty smiled casually, but he didn't take it seriously at all.
Just kidding, for the sake of land and wealth, the Baron can even sacrifice his own happiness; then, if new bargaining chips appear in the future, Moriarty has no doubt that the Baron will not put himself on the balance of exchange. However, for the so-called
Moriarty, the first in line of succession, didn't even care.
"Then what are your plans next, Moriarty? You are mature and capable enough to take charge of your own business. I want to hand over all five of the family's trade routes in the south to you, and I want to take care of all the five trade routes that will be established in Tartaglia."
The shares of the fur workshop have also been transferred to your personal name. After all, you were the first to propose the concept of 'local processing', and I think it will definitely produce better results if you manage it yourself." It can be seen that the Baron wants to
Financially compensate Moriarty. In fact, he also knew in his heart that once he and his new wife gave birth to other descendants, it would be inevitable for the Ensberg family's inheritance rights to be deflected.
"Thank you, Father. However, there is something I want to report to you." Moriarty sat indifferently and said.
"You tell me." The baron couldn't help but feel moved.
"A few months ago, I received a letter from Bracada. It was from Uncle Schmidt."
"I already know this, you continue." The baron also sat back on his chair and picked up the black tea cup again.
"In the letter, Uncle Schmidt hopes that I can go to Brakada to continue my magic studies. I thought about this for a long time and finally decided to accept his suggestion and go to Brakada to study." After that,
Moriarty stood up immediately and bowed deeply to the baron.
"Have you decided yet?" The baron murmured, looking at his only son who was both familiar and yet suddenly strange.
"Yes, it has been decided." Moriarty said firmly and decisively.
"When do you plan to set off?" The baron sighed deeply, then smiled bitterly.
"In a month." Moriarty thought for a while and said.
"One month? That's fine." The baron wanted to stop it, but there was no reason to stop it, just like Moriarty had no reason to stop his new marriage just now.
"Let's do this. From now on, the family will provide you with tuition fees of 5,000 Bracada gold coins and living expenses of 1,000 gold coins every year until you become an official mage. Is that okay?" The Baron was silent for a moment and said in a deep voice, which sounded like
Extreme fatigue.
"Thank you very much for your generosity, Father." Moriarty bowed deeply.
Six thousand Brakada gold coins are almost 10,000 Kingdom gold coins, which is equivalent to the entire profit of a long-distance trade by the Brakada caravan. And in a year, the caravan activities going to Brakada are at most only
Just got to do it twice.
"Also, Father, in order to prepare for my departure in a month, I plan to move out of the manor starting tomorrow." Moriarty continued.
"Really?" The Baron seemed a little "indifferent": "Where are you going to move to?"
"I haven't thought about this yet, but the family should have many peaceful places in other manors," Moriarty said.
"Then go to the 'Shell Villa'. It was once a resort that your mother loved very much. It's close to the town of Yate, but it's very quiet. You should like it. Later, you can just let Hugo arrange it.
"The baron thought for a while and finally said.
"Thank you, Father." Moriarty nodded and said, "Then, if there is nothing else, I will go back to the room first."
"Well, go ahead." The baron waved his hand tiredly, his eyes focusing on the cooled black tea.
"Then I'll take my leave." After saying that, Moriarty turned and walked out of the study.
"Moriarty." Just as Moriarty was about to walk out of the study and close the door again, the baron suddenly raised his eyes and said.
"Yes." Moriarty stopped.
"Remember, son, I will always be your father no matter what." The baron looked at his only son who was about to disappear behind the door and whispered.
"Yes, I will always remember it. Good night, father." Looking at the Baron who was alone in the study, Moriarty nodded slowly and closed the door.
The sight of the father and son was immediately severed.
