Making 850
Making 850
What?
Gilmore turned down the position of imperial preceptor and showed no interest in half of the Golden Tower Empire’s territory.
This, indeed, took all the civil and military officials by surprise.
But upon further reflection, it wasn’t strange at all.
Consider this, Gilmore had easily defeated the Ice Venerable Master and the eight Ice Kings.
If he truly coveted the lands of the Golden Tower Empire, he could claim them in the blink of an eye.
Neither the Golden Tower Empire nor the Ice Clan could stand as his match.
Anything he desired was almost within his grasp.
He didn’t need Huston to offer him half of the empire.
So, it was clear that Gilmore genuinely held no interest in so–called power or territory.
At the banquet, Huston showed no significant change in expression upon hearing Gilmore’s refusal of his generous offer. He had anticipated such a response.
Huston addressed Gilmore, “Mr. Reed, since you are not inclined to stay as the imperial preceptor for the Golden Tower Empire, nor wish to share the reign with me, I won’t press you.
“However, the position of the imperial preceptor and my promise to share the empire with
Il always be open to you.”
Gilmore replied, “For that, I thank Your Majesty.”
Sitting beside Huston, Amy kept stealing glances at Gilmore.
Seeing him decline her father’s invitation, her eyes sparkled with an enigmatic light.
The grand and lively banquet continued for two whole hours before all the civil and military officials finally left, content and
merry.
And with that, the officials had all dispersed.
Huston, along with Amy and Yacouba, escorted Gilmore, Lilian, Claire, and Christine out of the palace.
“Mr. Reed, and all of Mr. Reed’s companions, please take your time leaving,” Huston said to Gilmore and the ladies with utmost courtesy.
Gilmore replied, “Your Majesty, no need for formalities. Please, return to the palace and rest.”
Huston nodded and turned to Yacouba, saying, “Yacouba, please see Mr. Reed and the ladies out for me.”
-Yacouba saluted Huston and answered, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Then, Yacouba escorted Gilmore and the group away from the royal palace.
As Gilmore’s figure receded, Amy’s eyes flickered with complex emotions.
She lowered her head, biting her lip, seemingly lost in thought.
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Standing aside, Huston, about to return to his own palace quarters, suddenly noticed his daughter’s demeanor.
He couldn’t help but ask her, “Amy, what’s wrong? You seem a little down to me.”
Amy glanced at her father, her lips pressed tightly together, and gave a small nod.
Huston quickly expressed his concern, “Amy, why are you unhappy? Tell your father, maybe I can help you.”
But Amy shook her head and said, “Father, you can’t help me.”
Huston’s expression became serious as he said, “Nonsense, as the ruler of this empire, how could there be something I can’t help you with?
“Tell me, what’s the matter?”
Amy looked at her father, hesitating and stuttering before she finally murmured, “Father, I… I’ve fallen for Gilmore.”
Huston was stunned.
Seeing her father’s expression, Amy knew that what she had revealed had shocked him.
Clearly, if her own father was stunned, it was natural that he wouldn’t be able to help her.
With her face blushing, too embarrassed to speak, she stamped her foot and pouted, “I knew you couldn’t help me, yet you made me say it. It’s just… mortifying!”
After saying that, Amy turned and walked away quickly, as if fleeing the scene.
It took a while after Amy had left for Huston to snap back to reality.
Then he chuckled to himself, musing, “Well, well, it turns out my little girl has fallen fc
re!
“There’s no longer any worry about our darling daughter not finding a suitor.
“However, the girl does have good taste. Gilmore is indeed a great man.”
But then, a thought occurred to Huston.
Even though his daughter, Amy, had taken a liking to Gilmore, whether Gilmore reciprocated those feelings was an entirely different story.
And Huston was well aware that Gilmore already had a bevy of companions.
Each of these companions was a beauty beyond compare, with unmatched grace.
Whether his daughter could catch Gilmore’s eye was indeed a question worth pondering.
Huston fell into a thoughtful silence.
Needless to say, having Gilmore as a son–in–law would be a dream come true.
But Gilmore was unmoved even by the imperial preceptor, and even half of the Golden Tower Empire’s lands failed to tempt him.
How then could he persuade Gilmore to agree to this match?
And would those numerous companions of Gilmore’s accept Amy joining their ranks?
Even though many questions remained, Huston had made up his mind, regardless of success or failure, no matter what it
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took.
He was determined to arrange this match for his daughter.
At the Princess’s residence.
After Gilmore, Claire, Lilian, and Christine returned to the residence, everyone sat in the living room, drinking coffee and
resting.
While sipping coffee, Gilmore glanced around at the women and said, “We’ve been in the Golden Tower Empire for quite some time now and have seen plenty of its sights.
“We don’t have any business left here, so let’s all get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow morning, we’ll leave the Golden Tower Empire and head back to our 21st–century world.”
Living in the Golden Tower Empire, even for a short while, had been like stepping back into ancient times.
Truth be told, the ladies felt a tinge of reluctance to leave. They had grown fond of this place and its charm.
But emotions aside, they knew they had to return to the modern world.
Lilian, Claire, and the others all nodded at Gilmore in agreement.
After chatting for a bit longer, everyone retired to their rooms to sleep.
The next morning,
After a night’s rest, they were all rejuvenated, looking fresh and alert.
Once they had washed up and eaten breakfast, Gilmore said to the women, “Let’s set off now!”
They all nodded in agreement.
Of course, they did not plan to bid farewell to Huston or Amy.
They intended to slip away quietly, just as they had quietly arrived in this ancient empire.
However, just as they were about to leave the premises of the Princess’s residence, a voice rang out at the main gate, “The emperor has arrived!”
This was something Gilmore and the others had not expected.
Just as they were about to leave, Huston arrived – what a coincidence.
Gilmore had to tell the ladies, “It seems we must meet with Mr. Franko before we can leave.”
The women could only offer a resigned smile.
There was no sending someone of his stature away.
So, Gilmore and his companions went to greet Huston.
Surrounded by guards and palace maids, Huston approached Gilmore and the others with a smile on his face. Content © NôvelDrama.Org 2024.
“Mr. Reed,” he began, “I hope my early visit hasn’t disturbed your rest.”
Gilmore responded, “Your Majesty, I was already up. You haven’t disturbed me at all.”
Then, he invited Huston into the Princess’s residence to an attic upstairs.
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Once they were seated in the living room and the maids had served coffee, Huston gestured for his attendants to leave them alone.
As the guards and maids left, closing the grand doors of the attic behind them, Gilmore sensed that the emperor had something significant to discuss.
Facing Huston, Gilmore asked, “Your Majesty, is there something you wish to discuss with me?”
Huston, with a solemn look, nodded and said, “Mr. Reed, indeed, there is something”
“Please, Your Majesty, speak your mind.”
Huston’s gaze was penetrating as he asked, “Mr. Reed, what do you think of my only daughter, Amy?”
Gilmore, as well as Lilian, Claire, and Christine, who were sitting in the living room, had an inkling of where this was heading.
Gilmore hadn’t expected the emperor to ask such a question and replied, “Your Majesty, the princess is the pride and joy of the Golden Tower Empire.”
Hearing Gilmore’s praise for his daughter, Huston’s heart swelled with joy.
He looked at Gilmore and sighed, “Mr. Reed, to be frank, my daughter Amy holds you in special regard.
“I’ve come today to ask, Mr. Reed, do you fancy my daughter Amy?”
Upon hearing this, Gilmore thought to himself, “As expected, it’s a matter of love!”
Meanwhile, a hint of amusement twinkled in the eyes of Lilian and Claire, who were in the living room.
It wasn’t a surprise to them that Amy had a soft spot for Gilmore.
With his extraordinary abilities and the air of a legendary hero, what woman wouldn’t be drawn to him?
So, the fact that Amy had fallen for him seemed quite natural to everyone.
However, Gilmore found himself in a tight spot and said to the emperor, “Your Majesty, the princess is a noblewoman, while I am but an ordinary man.
“It would be unfair to her, and besides, I already have betrothed.
As he said this, he gestured towards Lilian, Claire, and the other ladies seated in the living room.
Huston was well aware of Gilmore’s many fiancées.
Frowning, he sighed and said, “Ah, I have always said that you, Mr. Reed, are a person of noble character, like an immortal. How could my earthly daughter be a match for you?
“Yet, she’s smitten as if bewitched, insisting that she will marry none but you, or else she’d rather stay single all her life.
“Now that you’ve spoken thus, there’s nothing I can do. It’s a pity, she is my only child.
“To think she would choose solitude over all else because of you it truly breaks my heart.”
Gilmore was visibly distressed upon hearing the emperor’s words.
He knew there was likely some exaggeration in what Huston had said, but if he refused, Amy might truly end up a spinster, dedicating herself to a solitary life.
wed,
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He couldn’t help but glance at Lilian, Claire, and the other ladies in the hall, as if seeking their input.
To his surprise, they were all grinning at him, clearly finding joy in his predicament.
This…
C
Why was it that other people’s girlfriends would be on pins and needles over their boyfriends‘ interactions with other women, ready to go to war, while his own seemed to lack that reaction entirely?
What was going on here?
Just then, Claire said with a laugh, “Gilmore, the princess has declared she will marry no one but you, preferring to remain alone otherwise. Don’t you have even a sliver of chivalry in you?
“Yeah, the princess is so devoted, you should just marry her!”
“Marry her!”
“Marry her!”
The ladies echoed in unison, their voices filled with mirth.
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