Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters-Chapter 883 - 9 Negotiation_3

Chapter 883: Chapter 9 Negotiation_3 Chapter 883: Chapter 9 Negotiation_3 “Oh?” Winters hadn’t recovered his wits, “Ah?!”

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Antonio pointed out, “You thought Mr. Leo was your man, but in reality, he is also a party to the negotiations. A carriage that arrives full surely won’t return empty, will it? Let him stop hiding behind you and lay it all out on the table.”

Winters shuffled slowly toward the tent’s exit, reached the tent flap, was about to lift it, but stopped. He turned back to look at his foster father and asked hesitantly, “Lady Navarre… what exactly is her stance… And how do you see Anna…”

Antonio’s gesture halted, his smile complicated, mixed with both the satisfaction of “finally coaxing the cabbages,” and the blame of “why coax them so recklessly.”

Antonio set down his cup and sighed softly, “What do I think? How else could I think? Do you know the magnitude of trouble you’ve caused?”

Winters stood there dejectedly.

It’s well-known that romantic love is generally an embellishment to married life.

From the noblest of houses to common craftsmen and peasants, marriage has always been a contract of property, status, and power, not the culmination of love.

...

To “abduct” an eligible young lady — more precisely, two — is so egregious, it’s enough to entrench blood feuds between two families for generations, even dozens of generations, regardless of any “late tickets.”

Lady Navarre might even send an assassin to dispose of Winters — it’s a proud tradition in Vineta.

And Winters would never say such garbage as “Anna came of her own accord; I didn’t seduce her.”

“Catherine personally went to apologize to Lady Navarre at her door,” Antonio sighed again, “You may not know, but those two hadn’t seen each other for nearly twenty years… Well, that’s our generation’s old news; better left unmentioned.”

Winters didn’t know what to say.

“For a man, such an affair might become a boast-worthy romantic escapade for a lifetime. For a lady’s reputation, however, it is a devastating blow,” Antonio said as he stretched his hand to warm by the fire, without looking directly at Winters, “So, what do you think?”

“Please go to the Navarre home to propose marriage,” Winters asked bitterly, “Isn’t it too late?”

Antonio glared at his son, “They have to be willing to agree, as well.”

Winters paused, sensing his foster father’s deeper meaning, “Are you saying… there’s still room to reconcile this matter?”

“Nominally, Miss Navarre and Miss Catherine are currently at the Blue Mountain Monastery, serving as novitiate nuns,” Antonio fiddled with the fire.

For a moment, Winters felt like shouting ‘Long live Lady Navarre’ three times in admiration.

“But I’m afraid we can’t hide it for too long.” Antonio sighed heavily, “You still need to discuss this with Mr. Leo. His presence here means he fully represents Lady Navarre.”

“But…” Winters hesitated, “Mr. Leo didn’t mention anything about Anna.”

Antonio’s smile was half-mocking, “He didn’t bring it up, so it doesn’t exist? Have you considered that perhaps he’s waiting for you to speak up?”

Winters was momentarily at a loss for words.

He’d rather jump naked into the frigid river than face such a complicated and unsolvable predicament.

After thinking it over, Winters decided to take the simplest approach and carefully sat down next to his foster father, “What do you think… I should do?”

Antonio gave an odd answer, “That depends on you and Lady Navarre.”

“I don’t understand,” Winters was perplexed.

“In the end, it’s a matter between you and Lady Navarre,” Antonio’s face revealed a nostalgic smile, “If you two are determined to unite, then the process, the outcome, and others’ opinions become irrelevant.”

Antonio patted his son’s shoulder, “By comparison, I’m more concerned about you two eventually growing to loathe each other, turning lovers into enemies. Know this, married life isn’t always so blissful.”

Winters’s cheeks burned as he retorted, “Aren’t you and my aunt very happy?”

“Silly boy,” Antonio stirred the campfire and said leisurely, “That just shows you don’t know the sacrifices we’ve made.”