The Devil's Betrothed-Chapter 719: Ahrens In the North

A guest arrived at Nathaniel’s estate—his friend, Arthur Clarence. The lieutenant colonel was warmly welcomed to the vast estate of the young Lord Mortem.

"So, enjoying all this wealth, my dear friend?" Arthur asked as he pulled Nathaniel into a strong, manly hug, patting his back.

"What do you think?" Nathaniel replied with a smirk.

Arthur looked at him closely. "You look troubled. Did that ass of a father do something to bother you again?"

Nathaniel sighed as they walked through the main entrance of the residence, which opened into the central garden.

"What a beautiful place, and unique in its style," Arthur remarked, taking in the surroundings. "The King has truly been generous with you."

Nathaniel led him towards the left wing of the residence. On the first floor, he guided Arthur to an open lounge. As they settled in, Arthur pressed the question again. "So, what did your old man do this time?"

"Tying a woman to my neck," Nathaniel replied, offering a bored expression.

"What? Which woman?"

"No idea."

"What’s he blackmailing you with this time? That last favor you owe him?"

Nathaniel simply nodded, not offering any more details.

"You could just refuse. It’s not like anyone can force you," Arthur suggested.

"Only if I could."

"Well, don’t take this the wrong way, but this time I’m not pitying you—I’m pitying the poor woman your father picks for you," Arthur commented playfully. "As much as I love you as a friend, I know what kind of man you are with women, and I wouldn’t wish you to marry anyone."

"As if I want to," Nathaniel frowned. "Being with women that way is disgusting. Whoever she is, she’ll live like a widow."

Arthur shook his head, knowing there was no changing Nathaniel’s views. The trauma he had suffered had shaped him, and though Arthur never approved of how Nathaniel dealt with it, he understood why his friend felt the way he did.

The butler arrived, serving them freshly brewed tea to ward off the cold.

"Ahren’s family should be here anytime now. It’s been more than two weeks they left," Arthur informed him. "Are you prepared?"

"The butler is handling everything. My cousins will stay in my part of the residence, and Erin will stay on the other side," Nathaniel said, gesturing toward the section meant for his future wife.

"That part seems to be reserved for your wife, and both sides are equally visible from each other," Arthur observed. "Even if you don’t want your wife, if she stays there, you’ll still see her often. Sounds romantic, doesn’t it? I can already picture a sweet love story unfolding in this beautiful residence while a man and a woman exchange glances from their side of the residence."

Nathaniel glanced at the opposite wing and muttered, "It’s cold most of the year. Having thick curtains hanging everywhere would be ideal."

Arthur smirked. "What if the woman you marry is genuinely a good person and has nothing to do with whatever scheme your father’s concocted?"

"Whether she’s good or bad doesn’t concern me. The only mercy I’ll show her is allowing her to live here. She can do whatever she wants on her side, as long as she doesn’t interfere with my life. If she does, I’ll send her back to my father and let her stay with him."

"Tsk! Don’t be so harsh on a woman who’s about to take wedding vows with you," Arthur chided. "By the way, when is this supposed marriage happening?"

"Go ask my father," Nathaniel replied with a frown. "Instead of worrying about mine, you should start thinking about your own. You’re not getting any younger. Lord Clarence must be expecting another little soldier in the family by now."

"I will, I will," Arthur leaned back in his chair and sighed. "I’m just waiting for the right woman who can steal this soldier’s heart. I wonder where she’s hiding." freewebnσvel.cѳm

"Certainly not on the battlefield," Nathaniel countered. "Take a break from your work and search among the living, instead of the bodies of those you’ve killed."

Arthur sighed again. "Out of all our friends, I’m the only one who ever loved the idea of finding a woman, falling in love, marrying her, and having a ton of kids. Yet, all you bastards—Arlan Cromwell, even that thick-headed Aaron—are getting everything I wanted, while I’m still searching for a woman. What kind of treachery is this?"

Just then, the butler arrived. "My Lord, the entourage from the capital has arrived."

Nathaniel nodded, and the two friends went outside to greet the guests. Soon, a procession of carriages, accompanied by guards and knights from Ahren’s household, stopped in front of the residence.

Rowan, Rafal, and Imbert stepped out of the carriage first. Rowan, with his trademark bright smile, walked over to his cousin. "Nathan, how fortunate for you to have me as a guest in this splendid new residence of yours."

Rowan was about to hug Nathaniel but was pushed away. "Get off. You stink from the travel, you asshole."

"Who got on your nerves?" Rowan asked, then turned to Arthur. "Good to see you."

Arthur nodded and replied, "He woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Don’t mind him."

Nathaniel ignored the two and walked over to the carriage where Erin was stepping out with the help of the servants. He offered her his hand, which she accepted with a smile.

"Thank you, Cousin Nathan."

"How was the journey?" he asked.

"A little tiring, but it was enjoyable," she replied.

"Why is he always so rude to us and sweet to her? Do we now need to wear woman’s cloths for him to be sweet to us?" Rowan commented loudly before shouting, "Isn’t she stinking to you now?"

"She is not disgusting like you," Nathaniel shouted back and guided Erin towards the residence, who was smiling at their banter.

"The only woman he has ever been good to, is your sister Erin," Arthur remarked, "Let him be so I can see my friend is still a human."

"It will take at least a few lifetimes for your monster friend to turn into a human," Rowan commented and stretched his limbs, "Damn a nice soak in warm water is must. I am gonna use that monsters bath."

"There are guest rooms prepared for you," Nathaniel retorted.

"But I’m sure the owner’s bath is much more luxurious with huge pool," Rowan grinned, then turned to Rafal and Imbert. "How about we all take a nice soak together in his bath?"

"I would love to," Rafal responded and looked at his quiet commander, and answered for him as well. "Commander will join us as well."

"Oh, it’s been a while since we had wine and a chat over a nice, warm soak together," Arthur chimed in. "I’ll join you guys as well."

"Disgusting," Nathaniel scowled angrily. "If you dare step into my bath, I’ll throw all of you out to freeze in the cold."

Rowan scoffed. "As if you could." He walked ahead into the residence and asked the butler, "Where is your lord’s lavish bath with the pool?"

The butler hesitated, glancing nervously back at Nathaniel, who was clearly not pleased.

"Never mind, I’ll find it myself," Rowan declared as he eyed the two sides of the residence around the central garden. "That side looks like it’s for a woman, so this one’s definitely for us."

Nathaniel couldn’t stop his stubborn cousins and friends, so he simply continued guiding Erin toward her side of the residence, where he would never set foot.

"The servants will help you with everything you need, and they’ll show you the chamber you are going to stay," Nathaniel said.

"Thank you, Cousin Nathan."

"You can just call me Nathan. This is my estate, and no one will object," he added softly.

"Sure," Erin smiled. "And I’m sorry for the trouble my brothers are about to cause. You know how the second one is."

"Don’t worry. I’m used to it," he assured her, then left to deal with the chaos his cousin and friends were likely stirring up.

Erin watched Nathaniel leaving. She knew sharing and letting others touch his personal things, Nathaniel hated it with passion.

’I hope deities give you a strength to deal with brother Rowan,’ Erin smiled inwardly and left with the servants, who guided her to her chamber.