Under the attentive care of Monet and Hancock, Lloyd changed into the black, gold embroidered long robe he preferred to wear within the Figarland Family estate. Once he had finished changing, he brought Sharlia with him to the reception hall.
Saint Rosward had already been waiting there for quite some time. Despite being invited inside the estate, he did not dare sit down and instead remained standing respectfully near the entrance of the hall.
The moment Lloyd appeared, Saint Rosward immediately stepped forward, bowed deeply, and greeted him.
"Saint Lloyd."
Lloyd reached out and helped him to his feet. Such a simple gesture immediately left Saint Rosward feeling both honored and overwhelmed.
After all, Lloyd's status had risen once again. Previously, his public identity had been that of the young master of the Figarland Family, a position already beyond the reach of nearly everyone in the Holy Land. Now, however, his authority stood even above that of the Five Elders.
Saint Rosward was among the few Celestial Dragons who already knew this secret. Saint Nusjuro and the others understood that Rosward's daughter had become exceptionally close to the Figarland Family and would most likely enter into a marriage alliance with them. Because of that, they had discreetly revealed Lloyd's new status to him ahead of everyone else.
As a result, Saint Rosward was under tremendous pressure.
He was so preoccupied that he completely failed to notice Sharlia standing quietly behind Lloyd.
Only after hearing her softly call out,
"Father."
Saint Rosward snap back to reality.
He suddenly realized his daughter had been standing there the entire time.
He also understood that if not for Sharlia's relationship with Lloyd, he would still be standing outside the estate gates alongside the other Celestial Dragons, waiting indefinitely.
In truth, he might not even have been granted that privilege.
After all, he had once offended Lloyd at the slave auction.
The thought alone caused cold sweat to form across his forehead.
Lloyd casually gestured toward the interior of the hall.
"Saint Rosward, there's no need to remain standing. Let's go inside and have a seat."
Saint Rosward hurriedly nodded before stepping aside.
There was no chance he would dare walk ahead of Lloyd.
The three entered the reception hall together.
Sharlia naturally took the seat beside Lloyd, her cheeks lightly flushed.
When Saint Rosward sat opposite them and witnessed the scene, he was momentarily stunned.
A surge of overwhelming joy immediately filled his heart.
Lloyd looked toward him with a faint smile.
"Saint Rosward, we're already well acquainted. You don't have to be so reserved whenever you visit."
Saint Rosward straightened his posture.
"Saint Lloyd..."
Lloyd interrupted him.
"You don't have to keep calling me 'Saint.' Simply address me by my name."
Saint Rosward swallowed nervously before replying,
"With your current position, addressing you as Saint is only proper. The people waiting outside don't even have the opportunity to meet you."
Leaning comfortably against the sofa, Lloyd answered evenly,
"You are Sharlia's father. Naturally, you are different from them."
The meaning behind those words could not have been clearer.
Even someone as timid as Saint Rosward understood immediately.
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, he hurriedly replied,
"Saint Lloyd, I truly appreciate your recognition of Sharlia. This is an incredible honor for the Rosward Family."
His exaggerated gratitude only embarrassed Sharlia further.
She silently lowered her head.
Lloyd noticed her discomfort.
The smile on his face gradually disappeared.
His voice became noticeably colder.
"Saint Rosward, if you continue behaving so formally, then our conversation tonight can end here."
Saint Rosward immediately panicked.
"I sincerely apologize... Sa...Lloyd..."
He almost stumbled over Lloyd's name before quickly correcting himself.
Strictly speaking, Saint Rosward was Lloyd's future father in law.
However, Lloyd had little interest in exchanging unnecessary pleasantries.
He got straight to the point.
"Saint Rosward, I intend to enter into a marriage contract with Sharlia. As her father, I would like to hear your opinion."
Without even taking a moment to think, Saint Rosward blurted out,
"I agree! I completely agree to this marriage! Thank..."
"Hm?"
Lloyd merely glanced at him.
That single look instantly silenced Saint Rosward.
He forced an awkward smile while discreetly wiping away the cold sweat gathering on his forehead once again.
Beside Lloyd, Sharlia could no longer hide her happiness.
Gathering her courage, she wrapped both arms around one of Lloyd's and gently rested her forehead against it.
Lloyd casually patted her thigh before looking back toward Saint Rosward.
Originally, he had intended to explain that Sharlia would not become his primary wife.
However, after speaking with Saint Rosward, he found himself completely uninterested in continuing the discussion.
There was no point.
Saint Rosward's personality made further explanation unnecessary.
Lloyd spoke indifferently.
"It's getting late. Uncle Garling should be returning soon. If you have nothing else to discuss, Saint Rosward, I'll have to ask you to excuse yourself. The Figarland Family has important matters to attend to tonight."
The meaning was unmistakable.
It was a polite dismissal.
How could Saint Rosward possibly remain any longer?
He immediately stood up, bowed deeply, and replied,
"Of course. I'll take my leave immediately. Please continue with your important affairs."
Lloyd nodded.
With a snap of his fingers, two Golden Armored Guards entered the reception hall at once.
Without delay, they respectfully escorted Saint Rosward out.
After he had departed, Sharlia gently bit her lip before speaking in a quiet voice.
"I'm sorry, Saint Lloyd. Father made you uncomfortable..."
Lloyd paused for a moment before letting out a faint laugh.
Looking at Sharlia, whose head remained lowered as though she had done something wrong, he gently shook his head.
"What are you apologizing for? I only noticed that you seemed uncomfortable. You probably didn't want your father staying here either, did you?"
Sharlia nodded softly.
She leaned into Lloyd's embrace and whispered,
"Saint Lloyd, Father is simply very timid. Please don't blame him."
Lloyd gently stroked her back.
"Then you know about what happened between us back then?"
"Yes. It was because of Monet and Sugar. Father offended you and said many unpleasant things."
"He told you himself?"
"Yes. I was still very young then, but I remember he barely ate for several days afterward because he regretted it so much."
As she spoke, Sharlia gently rubbed her cheek against Lloyd's chest.
"Saint Lloyd, do you still remember what happened at the Sabaody Archipelago? I was terrified that day. Thankfully, you arrived in time. You saved both Father and me, and you personally executed the pirate who murdered my brother."
She lowered her voice even further.
"That was also the day I met you."
Her words gradually slowed.
"And because of that day, I..."
She suddenly fell silent.
Lloyd lowered his gaze toward the girl resting in his arms.
"What's wrong?"
Sharlia shifted uneasily before placing both hands against Lloyd's chest and slowly lifting herself upright.
Her face had turned completely crimson.
Even the tips of her ears were burning red.
She tightly grasped the front of Lloyd's robe, gathering every ounce of courage she possessed before speaking loudly.
"From that day onward, I wanted to become your wife."
===
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