The Devil's Betrothed-Chapter 643: Rewards From The King

The next day, Lucian and his family were ready to leave for the palace to meet the King and Queen.

"Mother, how do I look?" Rina asked, twirling in her new light purple dress, she had bought the previous day.

"You look beautiful, Rina," Gwen replied while admiring her daughter. She was also dressed simply yet elegantly.

"Do I look like a noblewoman now?" Rina inquired.

"Yes, you do," Gwen affirmed.

"Mother, you look beautiful as well. I never knew you could dress like a noble lady," Rina remarked.

"I had served in the Rainier family for a long time and there we servants had to dress properly as well. Just that later our situation was not good, so we had to live a poor life," Gwen answered.

"No wonder you styled my hair in such a beautiful braid and adorned it with jewelry so perfectly," Rina said, glancing around the room. "Where is my brother?"

"He’s in the other room, getting ready," Gwen answered.

Rina gasped. "Mother, I forgot!"

"What?"

"I forgot to buy a dress for my brother yesterday. What is he going to wear now?" She looked worried. "We need to hurry and buy him something. I can’t let him show up like a commoner in front of the King and Queen. Give me some money, I’ll quickly..."

"You worry too much," Paul interjected. "He has something to wear."

"What do you mean, Father?" she asked.

Just then, a door opened and a man stepped out of the room, leaving everyone, especially Rina, Ken, and his wife, in shock.

"M-Mother, who is this handsome man?" Rina asked, her eyes wide with surprise. "Don’t tell me I have another brother you’ve kept hidden from me."

Gwen patted the back of her head, making her wince, and said, "That’s your brother, Luke."

Rina looked at the tall, handsome man standing before her. He was wearing perfectly fitted clothes meant for noble family men: a white shirt, light brown pants, a tailcoat, and a vest, along with long boots. A sword hung at his waist, and beautiful accessories adorned his attire. Unlike his usual stubbled look, his face was clean-shaven. His shoulder-length hair was neatly combed and tied back, with a few strands left loose, adding to his handsomeness. He looked no less than a prince.

"Since when do I have such a handsome brother?" Rina mumbled, unable to take her eyes off him.

"He is your brother. Stop ogling," Gwen warned and walked towards Luke. "I always imagined you wearing these clothes and today it came true." Her fingers traced a small crest attached to the lapel of his coat. "Finally, you can wear your family crest without any worry." ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

"Thank you for preparing it for me, Mother," Lucian said.

"In these, you truly look like your father, Lord Colin Rainier." She turned to her husband. "Isn’t it?"

Paul nodded, his eyes moist. "I feel like Lord Colin is back, and I am seeing him."

"When did you get these clothes?" Rina asked, "I was worried sick thinking about what you’d wear in front of the royals."

"Your father and I prepared them long ago, knowing one day your brother would need them," Gwen answered.

"And you didn’t tell me," she huffed.

"Aren’t you happy seeing him in these clothes?" Gwen asked.

"Of course, I am. Which sister wouldn’t like to have a handsome brother and see other girls getting jealous?" Rina replied. "In the village, despite his shabby looks, so many girls envied me. I’m sure with this current look of his, it’ll be even better."

"So you want a handsome brother just to make others jealous?" Gwen asked in disbelief.

"Why not? It’s not like I can marry him since he is my brother, so I can at least take pride in having a handsome brother," Rina replied as if she was stating the most obvious thing. She turned to Lucian. "Thank you for being so handsome."

Gwen sighed helplessly. "This girl. Where is she learning all this? I don’t know what to do with her..."

Lucian circled his arm around his mother’s shoulders to calm her. "Mother, calm down. We should leave now."

They stepped out of the house where two carriages and well-dressed knights were waiting along with their horses. These knights were in Lucian’s service.

The neighbors watched the family in shock, not understanding what was happening. They could only observe as the family departed in the carriages. Paul sat with his wife in one carriage while Rina and Lucian sat in another.

Rina had been staring at Lucian since they sat inside the carriage.

"What?" Lucian asked, annoyed by her scruitnizing gaze.

"Brother, I was thinking if you go in front of Lady Erin like this, she won’t be able to take her eyes off you."

He frowned. "Seems like you want to return home," and called, "Coachman..."

"Brother, I’m sorry. I won’t say it again."

"Yes, my lord?" came the coachman’s voice.

Rina had a pleading look on her face.

"Nothing. Keep going," Lucian said, and Rina let out a sigh of relief.

"Brother, can I ask you something?"

He offered her a cold glare.

"It’s not about Lady Erin. It’s about you and our family," she replied.

"Go ahead."

"In the village, whenever someone brought a marriage proposal for you, Mother would lie that you were hardly eighteen and there was still time for you to get married. I can understand her reasons. But now, there is nothing to hide and we know you are twenty-two. Would you now agree to marry someone? You are a lord, and there will be a line of ladies waiting for your attention."

"I am still young and do not plan to marry. I need to focus on restoring what my family has lost. Marriage is not part of the plan," Lucian stated, his voice and expressions conveying the determination of someone single-mindedly pursuing a goal.

"What if...." Rina began, then swallowed her words, fearing her brother might throw her out of the carriage if she voiced her thoughts.

"What?" Lucian asked.

"Nothing," she replied with a light smile. "It’s good that you won’t marry anyone so all your attention will be on me and Mother."

Lucian didn’t comment, and the ride continued.

’Thank heavens I didn’t ask him about marrying Lady Erin. I’m sure I wouldn’t be riding with him now,’ Rina thought, deciding to keep quiet.

They reached the palace, and Rina’s eyes widened in awe as she took in the grandeur around her for the first time.

"Mother, it’s not a dream, is it?" she asked.

"No, it’s not," Gwen assured her.

They were respectfully led into the royal court, where Aaron, Nathaniel, and other court members were already waiting for the King and Queen. They were guided to their places.

Arlan arrived just before the King and Queen, and the entire royal court stood to greet them.

The royal decrees were handed over to Aaron Wynter and Lucian Rainier, stating they would be Lords of the northeast, assuming full control of the region as their families had in the past, and pledging their families’ loyalty to the throne.

After that, Lucian’s family was called forward and awarded by the King.

"I will always be grateful for your contribution in protecting Lord Lucian Rainier," Ailwin said as he looked at Gwen and Paul. "I am aware of the sacrifices you have made for him and raised him into a fine young man, of whom we are proud. As per Lucian’s will, from this moment onwards, you will assume his family name, Rainier. You will be addressed as Gwen Rainier and Paul Rainier, parents to Lucian Rainier," the King said, then turned to Rina. "And you, young lady, will be Rina Rainier, Lucian Rainier’s sister."

They thanked the King. The entire family, delighted to hear the decree, accepted it with gratitude. The happiest person was Lucian, who remained calm but whose eyes betrayed how much it meant to him.

"Young Lord Nathaniel Mortem," Ailwin began.

Nathaniel stepped forward, bowed to the King, and listened intently.

"I appreciate your contribution in protecting Lord Aaron Wynter, despite all odds and knowing the consequences of your actions. You have exemplified true friendship that stands unwavering in the face of adversity. I appreciate the kind of man you are, valuing friendship above all else. I hereby award you one of the estates in the north, declaring you its lord. It will be your independent vast estate, and fertile land, solely owned by you. No one from your family will have rights over it. It’s a reward from the King."

Nathaniel accepted the decree and glanced at Arlan, who offered him a light nod. Up until now, everything Nathaniel had belonged to or was associated with his father, leaving him no way out despite being one of the wealthiest lords. Now, Nathaniel had something that was entirely his own, and he suspected it was all thanks to Arlan.

Once the royal court session was over, Lucian informed his parents, "Mother, Father, we have to go somewhere."

"Where?" Gwen asked.

"You wanted to meet old Phil," Lucian replied.

The two nodded, while Rina asked, "Where are we going?"

"Someone you might like to meet," Lucian answered, helping his sister into the carriage.

"Me? Who do I know in the capital to go and meet them?" she wondered.

"You’ll find out soon," he said, and she hummed, unaware she was in for an unexpected shock.

"I am now Rina Rainier," she giggled. "I have a family name."

Lucian smiled at her lightly and hummed in agreement.