Chapter 21: Title
After his father reached Silver Class, many sought to form connections with him, both within the clan and beyond. Still, it surprised Ember greatly when House Oberon turned out to be one of them. Steered by Timber Blackstone, they had proposed a matrimonial union between Rain and Frin Oberon.
Supposedly, his father’s Silver Class was not just a common class at all. As far as Ember understood it, classes were like an inheritance, a legacy bestowed from ascendants of the past, though he had no clue what kind of lunatic would leave behind a legacy like the Brick Layer class. As there were some legacies of a higher realm, there were others that only led to a dead end.
His father had clearly gotten the former. Cliff’s second class, Dawn Marshal, granted him a clear path towards Gold rank. It might take a few decades, or even a century, or perhaps he would never ascend, but the probability alone had made many of the old fellows’ underwear wet.
Now, Rain was barely fourteen. Although there were actual talks of marriage, everyone seemed satisfied with only an engagement for now. The actual marriage would come later, once both parties had reached a respectable age and level in their classes. Even so, his father was far from pleased.
After a considerable effort inquiring to both of his parents, Ember learned some of the history behind it. A couple of decades ago, Cliff had been one of the brightest prospects of House Blackstone, and not just by their standards. Even among the bloodline clans, few youths could match his skill.
Timber Blackstone had been overjoyed by his son’s accomplishments, and at that time, their relationship had been much stronger. The father took his son along almost everywhere to impart wisdom and experience.
He had even arranged an engagement for Cliff with someone from House Oberon without consulting him. By then, Cliff had already been in a relationship with Rosanna and had asked to break the arrangement before it even became official. When that did not work, he defied his father’s will and married Rosanna.
Timber Blackstone was still not convinced. According to him, it was nothing to frown upon to have an official wife and a dozen other mistresses. It was perfectly acceptable for him to relegate Rosanna to a mere mistress while taking the high noble as an official spouse.
Cliff Blackstone, being the faithful man he was, did not share that mindset. He had declared firmly that he would marry and love only one woman, and one woman alone.