Rising Shadows: The Fight for Freedom I

Chapter 9: Nightfall

When will I get married? I don't even know when I'm getting engaged today, so how could I possibly know when I'll marry!

As the night deepened and the jubilant guests gradually dispersed, after Bob and Langiro, a few of Darn's close friends, bid their farewells and returned home, Darn finally had the chance to retreat and rest.

Although it was his first time attending his own banquet as an adult and spending the day hosting guests alongside his father, Darn felt no fatigue at all. On the contrary, upon returning to his small courtyard, he remained spirited and appeared quite exhilarated.

It was no wonder; at sixteen, youth is at its most vibrant, and today Darn had received a thrilling piece of news. If he were to return to his room and fall asleep immediately, that would be truly abnormal!

Thus, even though it was well past midnight, Darn found himself wide awake. After lying on his bed for a brief moment, he sprang up with excitement once more.

I got engaged today, so when will I get married? The moment he recalled the image of the beautiful girl in pure white lace from earlier, Darn couldn't help but ponder this question that others had asked him countless times. Yet, after much contemplation, he realized he had no idea what the answer was.

According to the customs of the Ilysia continent, in some regions, boys marry and have children at the age of fourteen. In the Kingdom of Bylins, the legal minimum age is fifteen, while in the northern Nagalan plains, the most outrageous fact Darn knew was that some were married at five-of course, this age applied to those fearsome beastmen.

But why should I care about how old those beastmen, minotaurs, or centaurs are when they find wives? What matters now is, when will I get married!? That guy Bob already has two maidens warming his bed, and I've heard that Langiro has found a sweetheart as well. Yet here I am, the son of the governor, still a virgin-if this gets out, it would be utterly embarrassing!

Thinking of the matter of face, Darn grew increasingly restless. After calculating the time and pondering briefly, the eager boy slipped out of his room and made his way toward the courtyard where his parents resided.

At that very moment, in the governor's bedroom, Antonio leaned against the window while his wife, Kliya, sat quietly at her vanity, undressing and removing her makeup.

As she shed her splendid garments and removed her precious jewelry, under the dim light, the middle-aged governor's wife, after finishing her makeup removal, showed no signs of aging. On the contrary, in the soft shadows, she appeared even more radiant.

Antonio focused intently on every movement of his wife beneath the light, and gradually, a fire ignited deep within him, growing ever more intense, rekindling the passionate feelings he had experienced in his youth.

When he saw his wife lightly extend her delicate wrist to comb her lustrous black hair, Antonio could no longer contain himself and gently approached her.

"My dear, you've worked so hard today; let's take some time to rest! I should make it up to you!" the governor declared, sweeping his wife into his arms. Kliya, casting a flirtatious glance at her husband, suddenly reached out and playfully twisted away.

"Ah! Darling, no, no, no!" Feeling the delightful sensation at his waist, the governor's expression fell, and the vigor he had just displayed vanished in an instant, leaving only helplessness and regret. How could the mood he had cultivated dissipate so quickly?

However, to Antonio's surprise, after teaching her eager husband a lesson, Kliya wrapped one arm around Antonio's neck and gently massaged the spot she had just pinched. Just as he was about to set his wife down in a gentlemanly manner, Antonio found himself reluctant to let go under Kliya's tender touch.

"Darling, you know I've been exhausted all day, and you're not being considerate at all. Are you trying to wear me out?" the governor's wife teased, while Antonio's heart raced with a tinge of guilt.

"My dear, you're right; I was reckless. Let's just rest tonight... um, but what about tomorrow!?" After a brief pause, Antonio, summoning the unparalleled courage of a high-ranking warrior, uttered the words that made him feel as if he were bleeding inside. Yet, in the end, the governor revealed a sly side akin to a young lad.

Hehe, my beloved is truly easy to please, isn't she? But I do enjoy this side of Antonio! Satisfied, Kliya shot her husband another glance, increasing the pressure of her caress and subtly shifting her position.

What... what does she mean by this? Caught between heaven and hell, Antonio felt an overwhelming sense of conflict until...

"You bad man, you've bullied me for a lifetime. Hmm, considering how hard you've worked for Darn, I'll let you have your way just this once!"

The sultry voice of his wife sounded like the most exquisite music to Antonio's ears. With her permission, the high-ranking warrior felt his strength surge, almost breaking through his limits, which filled him with uncontainable joy. Yet, before he could unleash this newfound power, Kliya's next words forced him to restrain himself.

"Eager beaver, don't rush! The night is still long. Let's first discuss the matter of children before you take advantage of me!" Two fingers dangerously pinched a soft spot, and the governor's wife, poised to strike, clearly indicated to her husband that it was not yet time for games.

"Children! What's there to discuss about our children? I've already made arrangements for him, and his future is incredibly bright. We needn't discuss Darn any further!" With a pained expression, Antonio looked at his wife pitifully, and deep down, for the first time in his life, he felt a profound resentment toward his precious son!

"What I want to discuss isn't that. Didn't you say that the beastmen on the plains would definitely invade us? And this time, the scale will surely surpass previous ones. So, when shall we arrange for Darn to go to the capital, Beneto?" Sensing her husband's discontent, Kliya soothed Antonio while swiftly posing her question.

"Very soon! I'll arrange it tomorrow. The Royal Magic and Martial Arts Academy has already been contacted; the only thing left is for Darn to either go to the capital on his own or accompany a noble!"

"Darn has never traveled far on his own. I can't let him go such a long distance alone; let's find a noble who is also heading to the capital to accompany him!" After considering her husband's words, Kliya made a decisive decision.

"Alright! No problem! I'll do as you say! Just in time, the youngest son of the Chubais family is going to... now can we continue?"

Kliya's lips curled into a smile, and without saying a word, the blush on her cheeks and the glimmer in her eyes provided Antonio with the best answer. Thus, without further ado, Antonio swept his wife into his arms and swiftly made his way to the bed, and then...

"Mom! Mom! Are you asleep? Mom!?" Suddenly, the tranquility of the night was shattered by an approaching voice, accompanied by familiar footsteps and a scent. Antonio froze once more.

"I'm not asleep! What's wrong? Darn!?" Gently stroking her husband's rigid body, Kliya tried to calm the seemingly agitated man, suppressing her desire to laugh. However, deep inside, the governor's wife couldn't help but think...

Hehe, why is this child looking for me at this hour!? Oh dear, I hope my husband isn't too uncomfortable; holding it in for so long can't be good for him...