The Shining Star Above The Heaven-Chapter 431: What Do You Think of Him?

Aldrian was silent for a moment. In truth, he did not dwell too much on who would lead the alliance in the future. For now, his primary concern was securing the support of the sovereign families from each territory across the continent. Once the alliance was established, they could decide on its leader.

He smiled at the baron.

"To be honest, I haven’t thought that far ahead. But let’s hear your reasoning—why do you say that? What makes you so certain that I should lead? What makes you think I would be a good leader?" he asked.

"What makes you believe I am suited for this position?"

Baron Rosalind continued to smile at Aldrian.

"There are several reasons why I believe young master should lead the alliance. The first, of course, is strength. Without a doubt, young master is already one of the strongest individuals on the continent. Many people are well aware of this, and with strength comes respect. No member of the alliance will overlook this factor, even if young master is much younger than the others. In the end, strength still reigns supreme."

"Second, your affiliation. From what I have observed of young master’s movements in recent years, I can conclude that young master is not tied to any single territory. Your travels across various regions of the continent make you seem more like an adventurer than a noble tied to a specific empire. It would be best if the alliance leader were someone who is not already a subject of any particular empire, as that would allow the leader to make impartial decisions."

"Third, it’s about maintaining harmony among the alliance members. If young master has already gained the support of several sovereign families across different territories, then they must have accepted that joining this alliance means setting aside past grievances between their lands. With young master leading the alliance—and for the reasons I mentioned earlier—I believe they will choose young master as their leader, just as I have now."

"In other words, they trust you more to lead this alliance. They would feel more assured with young master at the helm than entrusting the position to someone else."

The baron finally stopped speaking, then picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Aldrian nodded in understanding after hearing the explanation. What Baron Rosalind had said was reasonable, and he agreed with all of it. In fact, he couldn’t find any flaws in the baron’s reasoning.

However, there was one more factor that made him believe he was the best choice to lead the alliance.

Beyond the reasons the baron already mentioned, he believed that by the time the prophecy come, his domain would have already covered almost the entire continent. This would provide him with a steady flow of reliable, real-time information, greatly aiding in decision-making. Having such an ability would make leadership much easier.

Also, with his domain, he could definitely do many things with his ability without having to wait for orders from a higher authority. He could act at his own discretion, and there would be no conflict in decision-making because, as the leader, his decision would be final.

"I see. That is also reasonable. However, let’s set that aside for now and leave it for the future, when all of us gather to make that decision. It’s still too premature to decide, but I appreciate your assessment of me as a leader," Aldrian said.

"Alright," Baron Rosalind replied with a smile.

Although Aldrian said that, Baron Rosalind knew that the position of alliance leader would eventually fall to Aldrian. He could sense it instinctively, but it was also just common sense. If the leaders of various territories were already showing their support for Aldrian in forming this alliance, then they must have already placed their trust in him.

There was no way those stubborn old men would set aside their differences and join the alliance despite the prophecy drawing closer if not for Aldrian.

After that, Aldrian and Baron Rosalind talked about other matters for more than an hour before finally finishing their discussion. Aldrian excused himself and asked to be led to his room to rest. He had been awake for days, experiencing many things during that time, so he felt he needed a moment to rest his mind.

Although, as a Duke-stage cultivator, he could go without sleep for long periods, his mind and mental state were not like his body, they still required rest. Over the past few days, he had experienced some visions, gained new comprehensions, and had been constantly thinking, enough reason for him to take a break.

After Aldrian left, Baron Rosalind turned to his daughter.

"What do you think of him, my dear?"

Elena tilted her head.

"Hmm, he is truly capable and will undoubtedly leave his name in the history of the continent. Even now, his achievements have already recorded for future generations to remember."

"Yes, I agree. But that’s not what I meant by my question, my dear," Baron Rosalind said with a smile.

Elena looked at her father in confusion, not understanding his intent.

"What do you—"

"I mean, what do you think of him in your eyes as a woman?"

Finally, Elena realized the direction of her father’s question, and she couldn’t help but blush.

"Father, what do you mean?" she asked, her voice trembling as she avoided his gaze. She seemed flustered, unwilling to meet his eyes directly.

"Look at my daughter, getting shy just because I asked about a man. Is this the first time I’ve seen this from you? You’ve always seemed uninterested in men. Many young masters of noble families, even the first and second princes, have shown interest in you, yet you never wavered. But now, with a young man as capable as Young Master Aldrian appearing, I think he is the most suitable match for you. At this point, I don’t think there’s a better man than him."

Elena’s face grew even redder as her father seemed to have already made up his mind about her and Aldrian, making her feel incredibly embarrassed. With her face flushed, she lowered her head and mumbled in a quiet voice.

"What are you talking about? With Young Master? Although he is admirable, he already has a lover... Why would I be with him?"

By the end of her sentence, her voice was barely louder than a whisper, but Baron Rosalind heard her clearly.

He was momentarily stunned—Aldrian already had a lover? But after a brief pause, he simply shrugged, not seeming to mind. Instead, he found himself more amused by his daughter’s reaction than anything else.

"Ah, I see. You’re already interested in him, but his lover is keeping you from approaching him. Don’t worry, my dear. A man as capable as him will surely attract many women, and a harem is not—"

"Father, stop it! I don’t want to discuss this right now!" she shouted in embarrassment, standing up and stomping her foot before striding toward the door, intending to leave.

She couldn’t believe her father had just suggested she accept being part of a harem! Never in her life had she thought he would say such a thing. She knew her father’s character well—he always wanted the best for her and considered her precious.

Even if she were to marry, her father would ensure that her husband had only her as his spouse. She was far too precious to be part of a harem! But what was this now?!

"Ahahaha! My dear, don’t be so shy. Let’s talk about it!" Baron Rosalind’s boisterous laughter echoed behind her.

"No! If you keep talking about this, I’ll tell Mother," Elena said as she neared the door.

Just as she was about to reach for the handle, the door suddenly opened, revealing a mature woman.

The woman bore a strong resemblance to Elena, though her features were more refined and carried a graceful maturity. Her beauty exuded the warmth and elegance of a motherly figure.

Elena froze in surprise at the sight of her.

"Mother?!" she blurted out.

The woman was indeed Cynthia Rosalind, Elena’s mother. She stepped inside with a gentle smile, her eyes filled with warmth as she looked at her daughter.

"Where are you going? Are you finished speaking with your father and Young Master Aldrian? I just met him in the hallway," she asked.

Elena just nodded repeatedly before suddenly hugging her mother.

"Mother, Father has been bullying me," she said in a grievance-filled tone.

Cynthia was stunned by her daughter’s complaint and turned to look at Baron Rosalind with narrowed eyes. However, he simply raised his hands in surrender and smiled at her, which only left her puzzled—until she heard his voice transmission.

"It’s about Young Master Aldrian and a harem."

Cynthia’s eyes widened slightly as she grasped the situation, then shifted her gaze back to her daughter.

"Father wants to pair me with Young Master Aldrian even though he already has a lover," Elena pouted. "He’s such a bully."

Instead of responding immediately, Cynthia tilted her head, seeming to consider something.

"So, what’s the problem? He is a nice and capable man—of course, many women are attracted to him. There’s no harm if you become one of them. You’re already mature and should start thinking about your future spouse. In that regard, I believe Young Master Aldrian is the best choice."

Elena froze and stepped away from her mother, staring at her with wide eyes and a flushed face.

"Mother, you too?!"

The mother who had always supported her had now betrayed her!

"Ah, you’re all the same!" Elena shouted, stomping her foot before striding out of the room, covering her embarrassed face.

Baron Rosalind and his wife simply laughed as they watched their daughter. This was the first time they had seen her so flustered over a discussion about a man. At the very least, they now knew that their daughter was capable of being attracted to someone!