Book 9: Chapter 4
Cedric was the son of a small-time Muldu merchant. He was young, healthy, and even possessed a bit of business sense. He expected to inherit his father’s shop one day and didn’t need to look on the bright side to see life was coming up roses.
There was something that concerned him, however. Despite coming of age some time ago, he was still unmarried.
“Well, that’s pretty common in Ulbeth…,” Cedric mumbled while minding the store.
Thanks to their nation’s long history, family ties in Ulbeth were far-reaching. Of course, the term “relative” was all subjective, but there were plenty of fish in the sea when hunting for a good partner.
In Ulbeth, marriage was a huge hassle.
First, once you found a possible match, you had to investigate the person’s hometown, lineage, and personal history. You also had to confirm that their close relatives weren’t business rivals or other hostile parties.
Next came ensuring that marriage to this person wouldn’t cause drama among your own kin. You were golden if everything checked out, but Ulbeth’s interwoven families inevitably meant some relatives refused to give their blessing. If there was too much opposition, the engagement was called off. Should compromise appear possible, you did your best to persuade the naysayers. If your potential partner managed to overcome those same obstacles, the two of you could openly discuss marriage.
Frankly, it was one immense pain.
“Count me out…”