After hearing His Blackstone say “engagement,” Ai Lin’s body tensed almost imperceptibly.
“Don’t worry, like I said, I won’t use this as a condition.”
His Blackstone noticed Ai Lin’s reaction, so he could only speak in a gentler tone.
“Actually, I know that this marriage between us has always been a burden in your heart.”
Ai Lin was taken aback. Although that was indeed how she felt, she hadn’t expected His Blackstone to put it so bluntly.
“I’ve thought about it too. I’ll be heading to the royal capital to deliver weapons to you anyway, so why not take this opportunity to go see my old man together and clear this up?”
“Clear this up… what do you mean?”
“Hmm… simply put, I can take the initiative to dissolve our engagement.”
After saying that, His Blackstone picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip.
But Ai Lin didn’t respond for a long time, as if she hadn’t understood what His Blackstone meant.
“You…”
After a long silence, Ai Lin finally spoke slowly.
“What did you say?”
“I’ll take the initiative to dissolve the engagement.”
His Blackstone spread his hands.
“This engagement was originally decided by both families when we were still young. It’s been so long now, and our families never asked for our opinions.”
“Last time we met in the royal capital, I could tell you don’t actually like me, right?”
“Then there’s no need to force this. I don’t want to use this engagement to tie you down.”
“This…”
Ai Lin tried to digest His Blackstone’s string of words.
“But… what about the Blackstone Duke?”
“That’s my concern. You just need to tell me whether you’re willing to dissolve the engagement or not.”
Ai Lin didn’t answer.
The entire reception hall suddenly fell silent.
His Blackstone looked at Ai Lin, who had her head lowered, and felt conflicted.
Not to mention Ai Lin’s icy beauty appearance, just her cool aura combined with the title of “Sword Maiden of the Kingdom” was enough to stir the hearts of most men.
But he really didn’t dare to gamble.
Even if Feng Aotian was now almost impossible to appear before Ai Lin, there was no guarantee that something else wouldn’t happen that would make Ai Lin settle accounts with him like in the original game.
By letting go now, he could save face for both sides and also do her a favor.
At the very least… it shouldn’t trigger the death ending.
Besides, in his previous life, His Blackstone was a decent young man who had received a higher education. He truly couldn’t bring himself to forcefully tie a young girl to him using an engagement arranged by their fathers.
‘But still, what if… just what if… she…’
His Blackstone shook his head inwardly, brushing that inexplicable thought out of his mind.
“Are you… already in love with someone?”
“Huh?”
His Blackstone had expected her to readily agree, but he didn’t expect to hear that.
“Is it that girl beside you when we met in the royal capital last time?”
“You mean Ni Wei? She’s a maid at our mansion.”
“Yes, I know.”
Ai Lin said calmly.
“But she doesn’t look like a maid at all. I thought you two…”
“Stop, stop, stop.”
His Blackstone quickly waved his hand to interrupt Ai Lin.
“So what do you mean?”
“I think… I need to think about it. There’s no rush.”
“Huh?”
His Blackstone thought for a moment that he had misheard.
‘Hey, hey, this isn’t right, Lady Sword Maiden?!’
‘Haven’t you always seen this engagement as a stain?’
‘Shouldn’t you be agreeing without hesitation in this situation?’
“Um… if you have any concerns, actually…”
“No concerns, I just want to think about it.”
Ai Lin finally raised her head, her ice-blue eyes meeting His Blackstone’s.
But this time, there seemed to be less sharpness in her eyes.
His Blackstone felt his brain had short-circuited for a moment.
“Then… let’s talk about it later.”
“Mm.”
Ai Lin nodded and stood up from her seat.
“Then I’ll head back to the royal capital.”
“Ah, I’ll see you out.”
The two walked side by side to the entrance of the Duke’s Mansion.
His Blackstone stepped forward to open the carriage door for Ai Lin and watched her board.
Just as the carriage was about to depart, Ai Lin suddenly pulled open the carriage curtain.
“About the Gray Crystal weapons… thank you.”
“Don’t worry.”
His Blackstone’s tone was serious.
“I’ll do my best on my end.”
Ai Lin nodded and said nothing more.
Soon, the carriage disappeared from His Blackstone’s sight.
His Blackstone stared at the departing carriage for a long while before letting out a long sigh.
‘So… what was all that about today?’
‘Why does it feel like things didn’t go at all as I expected?’
‘Oh well. Since she said she’d think about it, I’ll wait until she’s made up her mind.’
In the carriage, Ai Lin leaned against the window, her heart in turmoil.
After interacting with His Blackstone today, the Sword Maiden of the Kingdom felt that he wasn’t as bad as the rumors claimed.
And… strangely enough.
‘Wasn’t dissolving the engagement what I wanted most?’
‘What’s more, he, His Blackstone, took the initiative to propose it, so I don’t even have to bear any public opinion risks.’
‘But why, when he actually brought it up, do I feel an emptiness in my heart, as if I’ve lost something?’
***
Over the next few days, thanks to the quite attractive overtime pay His Blackstone offered, the several blacksmith shops under him worked around the clock.
To ensure that the soldiers of the Kingdom Knights could all be equipped with Gray Crystal weapons for the upcoming war, His Blackstone also specially applied for a fund of 300,000 gold coins from his father, the Duke.
Otherwise, relying solely on the limited funds he controlled, supplying weapons to an entire army would be somewhat laughable.
Considering that his son’s fiancée was in the Kingdom Knights, the Blackstone Duke’s approval was quite straightforward.
Now, besides Molis, even Li Nuo Er was temporarily transferred by His Blackstone to oversee production, just to ensure that the forged Gray Crystal weapons had no quality issues.
A week later, according to the requirements Ai Lin had previously proposed, all the Gray Crystal weapons for the Kingdom Knights were ready.
His Blackstone inspected them himself one more time, and after confirming there were no issues, he had the Gray Crystal weapons packed and loaded onto carriages.
“Young Master, are you really going to deliver them yourself?”
Florin stood beside His Blackstone, looking at the long line of carriages, her tone worried.
“I could just handle it. Why trouble yourself with the trip?”
“No, I have to go this time. Don’t worry, nothing will happen.”
After reassuring Florin, His Blackstone jumped onto the first carriage.
***
The Kingdom Knights’ garrison was located in the Eastern District of the Royal Capital.
Just as he jumped off the carriage, His Blackstone was astounded by the sight of the Kingdom Knights.
The camp was filled with fully equipped knights, and the training grounds echoed with shouts, completely unlike a force that had just suffered a heavy defeat.
The guard at the gate spotted His Blackstone and immediately rushed over warily.
“Who goes there?”
“His Blackstone. I’m here to deliver weapons.”
Upon hearing His Blackstone’s answer, the guard’s eyes lit up.
“Is it the same kind the Captain used last time?”
“That’s right.”
“Great! Please wait a moment, I’ll go report immediately!”
With that, the guard quickly ran into the camp.
Before long, a familiar figure walked out from the barracks.
Ai Lin wasn’t wearing her light armor today but had changed into a different set of clothes.
Her upper body wore a black riding jacket over a creamy white stand-collar shirt, with two buttons undone at the collar, revealing a stunning sight and exuding a natural aura.
Her lower half was clad in high-waisted soft leather pants with crisp creases. The fine leather fabric perfectly accentuated her leg curves, and the pant legs were neatly tucked into short leather boots. The half-inch heels stretched her waist and legs to an exaggerated proportion, adding a lazy and alluring charm.
“You’re here?”
“Mm.”
His Blackstone pointed to the convoy behind him.
“The quantity is forged to your specifications. It should ensure every soldier in the Knights can be equipped with at least one Gray Crystal weapon. Have someone come and count them.”
Ai Lin looked at His Blackstone’s fully loaded carriages and instructed the guard beside her.
“Call a few people over.”
“Yes!”
Ai Lin nodded and then turned to look at His Blackstone.
“His Blackstone.”
“Here!”
The Sword Maiden’s cool tone made His Blackstone unconsciously stand up straight.
This, instead, amused the ice-faced Sword Maiden of the Kingdom, and she laughed.
“Don’t be nervous. Our Captain wants to see you. Is that convenient?”
“Of course.”
“Mm, then come with me.”
The two crossed the empty training ground and arrived at a tent at the deepest part of the garrison.
“Captain, the Gray Crystal weapons have been delivered.”
Ai Lin lifted the tent flap and led His Blackstone inside.
The tent was filled with the bitter smell of medicinal herbs.
A middle-aged man was propping himself up on a pillow.
His right shoulder was wrapped in bandages, and blood could still be faintly seen seeping through the gauze on his chest. Even after all this time, his wounds hadn’t fully healed, showing how severely he had been injured.
The Captain’s handsome face was somewhat pale, but His Blackstone could see a fire burning in his eyes.
“His Blackstone, this is our Captain, known as ‘Steel Heart,’ Leonard.”
His Blackstone nodded at the man.
“Greetings, Captain.”
“Oh? You’re the Blackstone Duke’s son? No need to be so formal.”
Leonard waved his hand, but inadvertently tugged at his wound. A pained expression flickered across his face, but he quickly covered it with a hearty laugh.
“If it weren’t for the short sword you sent earlier, I probably would have been done for at the border. I heard this batch of weapons you’ve provided this time was free of charge. I, Leonard, will remember this favor!”
“You flatter me, Captain.”