The morning sun was just rising, flooding the stone corridors of Monte Castle with golden light. Outside the window, Snowball Flowers unfurled their pure white petals in the bright dawn.

After finishing breakfast, Murphy and Aurora strolled side-by-side through the corridor.

"Regarding Kaiden’s marriage," Aurora said, pausing before an arched window, her fingertips lightly touching the budding Snowball Flowers on the windowsill. "Alina is indeed the first choice. Her father is a Southern Count with wealthy lands. More importantly, the Laura Clan holds considerable prestige among the southern nobility."

Murphy stood beside her, his gaze falling upon Kaiden practicing his Swordsmanship in the courtyard. "What about the red-haired girl? Annie Peric, if I recall?"

"Viscount Peric does control the Eastern Border Iron Mine," Aurora said with a slight frown, "but his relationship with the Royal Family has been strained in recent years. While a marriage alliance would grant us access to high-quality iron ore, it might also attract unnecessary trouble."

"And Sofia Douglas?" Murphy asked thoughtfully. "She’s Duke Douglas’s granddaughter, after all."

Aurora shook her head gently. "That’s precisely why she’s even less suitable. The Douglas Clan already has close ties with the Monte Territory; there’s no need to reinforce them with a marriage. Besides..." She paused. "Sofia’s blonde hair is completely at odds with the Douglas Clan’s traditional black hair. Furthermore, Duke Temeris is the true backer of the Monte Territory. We don’t need to curry favor with the Douglas Clan through marriage."

Sunlight streamed through the window, dancing on Aurora’s delicate profile.

She turned to face Murphy, her tone firm. "A man can only have one wife. This is the teaching of the God of Truth, and it is the proper way for nobility. No matter how many lovers he might have in the future, the position of the official wife must be chosen with the utmost care."

The corners of Murphy’s mouth tilted up slightly. "Does that mean your choice to marry me back then was also the result of such careful calculation?"

Aurora froze for a moment, then let out a soft laugh. She reached out to adjust his collar. "You’re different."

"Oh?" Murphy took her hand, his fingertips gently caressing the wedding ring on her finger. "How am I different?"

The morning breeze drifted through the long corridor, carrying the faint fragrance of Snowball Flowers.

Aurora gazed at Kaiden, who was practicing his Swordsmanship diligently in the courtyard, her voice soft yet firm. "Back then at Duval Castle, although I was the heir to the Duval Clan, I was in a very difficult position. You could have just walked away, but you always stayed by my side to protect me." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

She turned to gaze at Murphy, her azure eyes exceptionally bright in the morning light. "More importantly, you never changed the way you treated me because of my status. You still treated me like your most important little sister."

Murphy was silent for a moment, his palm gently stroking her still-youthful face. "So, I was the best choice back then?"

"Not just the best," Aurora said, leaning into his embrace, her voice tinged with a hint of playfulness. "You were the only one. Because you’re my family. You’re my big brother, and you’ll always be my big brother."

Shouts from Kaiden’s Swordsmanship practice echoed from the courtyard, mingled with the clear, admiring cries of the girls watching. Among them, Alina’s voice was particularly distinct.

"So," Murphy said, putting an arm around Aurora’s shoulders, his gaze returning to the courtyard, "you think Alina Laura is the most suitable choice?"

Aurora nodded lightly. "The Laura Clan’s status is distinguished, and..." She paused. "I can tell that girl genuinely likes Kaiden, just as you were with me back then."

Murphy frowned slightly. "I, on the other hand, find Count Laura a bit too snobbish. I’m afraid it might affect Alina’s character."

"Even so," Aurora said firmly, "the way Alina looks at Kaiden is sincere. I can see she genuinely likes him, and that feeling won’t change because of what her father is like."

The morning sun was warm and bright, illuminating the entire corridor in a golden splendor.

Murphy watched Kaiden practicing his Swordsmanship intently in the courtyard and finally nodded slowly.

"We’ll do as you say, then." His voice was exceptionally gentle in the morning light. "But in the end, it still comes down to Kaiden’s own choice."

Aurora smiled and leaned on his shoulder. "Then it’s settled. I’ll find a suitable time to sound out Kaiden’s feelings."

Just then, the sound of steady footsteps came from the end of the corridor.

The butler, Bernard, a man in his sixties, approached at a slow pace. His silver-white hair shone in the sunlight, and despite his slightly stooped frame, he maintained a butler’s dignified bearing.

As an old retainer from Sylvan’s era, he had been forced by various issues to go to the South with Kaiden, even missing Murphy and Aurora’s wedding.

However, as Murphy’s position within the territory grew more stable, and especially as Margaret’s power and influence increased, the old obstacles had vanished.

This old butler, deeply trusted by Murphy, was finally able to return to his post at Monte Castle.

In Bernard’s eyes, there was no connection between Governor Melfield and the late Lord Sylvan.

He believed, however, that the mysterious society Sylvan had encountered when he went to the South was Melfield’s organization. It was this connection, he reasoned, that had led to Sylvan’s strange behavior, Melfield’s subsequent close relationship with Miss Aurora, the birth of Kaiden, and ultimately, their wedding ten years ago.

The old butler had to admit, this Governor far surpassed Sylvan in both personal strength and administrative ability.

The younger generation in the territory now had long since forgotten the former Baron, Sylvan, and the Duval Clan, relegating them to a corner of their memories.

The new spinning workshops, the improved farming tools, the prosperous Northern Trade Route—these tangible changes had made the common people recognize only the benevolence of the Governor.

However, Bernard had originally been a retainer of the Former Lady Baron’s family and had always been loyal to Miss Aurora. He didn’t care whether the name of the Duval Clan continued or not.