Rising Shadows: The Fight for Freedom I

Chapter 127: Kirstin's Support

"Hey, Hyman Esestasa has officially severed ties with the Scryk family today, pledging his life to the Supreme God Helios. That fool, who couldn't devise any plan, is now a paladin. And this is precisely why I have come to you today-to clarify your feelings towards Jesseta!" Kirstin elaborated further at the dining table.

"Heh! To give up so easily! Does that guy think this will help Jesseta? Does Hyman believe that this will free Jesseta from her unfortunate future? I bet that fool hasn't even considered the possibility of thwarting Jesseta's ascension by attacking the trial team led by Saint Anna!"

Recalling the solemn expression of the newly minted paladin, who had severed all emotional ties to serve the divine, Kirstin couldn't help but scoff at the man her sister had fallen for. In the mind of the astute teaching assistant, well-versed in military strategy and rational calculations, everything Hyman Esestasa had done was undoubtedly marked by weakness and evasion.

Perhaps it was the relief of finally expressing her true feelings, or perhaps it was due to the immense sincerity displayed by Darn when he revealed the secret about the young mercenaries attacking the saintly team, but once Kirstin began speaking, she could not stop.

"If it weren't for my sister, I think Hyman and I could have become good friends. He is upright, honest, intelligent, sincere, and diligent. If that boy were of noble birth instead of a commoner, then even if he were the lowest-ranking knight, my family and I would likely accept him. Even if Hyman were a commoner, he would still have a fair chance of becoming my brother-in-law."

"However, it is unfortunate that Hyman has sworn allegiance to a noble family, dedicating his life to serve them. While a commoner might not care about such things, my family cannot afford to disregard the freedom of a commoner!"

"That's why my parents have always disapproved of Jesseta's relationship with Hyman... until your arrival."

"From the perspective of kinship, you hail from the most prestigious noble family in the kingdom, and you can undoubtedly provide Jesseta with a carefree life. Moreover, based on your actions and the accounts I have gathered about your interactions with Jesseta, it is evident that you truly love her."

"From a more pragmatic standpoint, if Jesseta were to marry you, not only would she enjoy a life free of worries, but my family and I would also reap numerous benefits!"

"Yet, those are not the most important considerations for my family and me. In fact, the more significant concern is that if Jesseta were to follow Hyman, she would inevitably lose the dignity of a noblewoman and become an unwitting vassal of the Scryk family! Marrying you, however, would not strip her of her freedom, and my family would not suffer disgrace!"

"Look, now Hyman has sworn to become a paladin, a lifelong vow to dedicate himself entirely to the Supreme God. That fool has unwittingly cleared the path for you in matters of the heart with his foolish thoughts and actions. So now, I must seriously ask you: after you risk disrupting the saintly trials and committing blasphemy against the divine to prevent Jesseta from becoming a saint, what do you plan to do next!?"

What comes next? Well, that is...

Delighted to hear one good news after another, Darn's frustrations and anger from the past month vanished in an instant. The rival's self-imposed exile from the realm of emotions, coupled with Jesseta's brother's unexpectedly favorable attitude, filled Darn with optimism about his future and the prospect of success in love.

After my wedding with Aeloria, I will pursue Jesseta; surely, my grandfather and the others will not oppose it! Reflecting on the reasons behind his previous confinement, which stemmed from the need to uphold the dignity of the Spencer and Purdue families and respect the sanctity of the engagement, Darn concluded that once Aeloria became the boy's legitimate wife, pursuing another girl and marrying a second wife would pose no obstacles from the Spencer family's perspective.