-- Yaiga City, Laboon Empire, Ten.--


    .


    Today''s weather was moody.


    It has been four days since the skies cried, pouring their frustrations on those below.


    The rainy days came with a confident wind, rousing the trees into a vortex of dance.


    To some it offered the gift of meditation, cleansing their chaotic minds. The peculiar sounds of rain hitting the building''s surfaces were most satisfying. But for others, the rain only fuelled their disturbed hearts.


    It was a fact that bad things always happen at night.


    In the eerie dark hours, a man no older than 23, tightly gripped the little girl in his arms.


    The man was Earl Peetage, the famous ''Empire''s de.''


    After reaching adulthood at 14, Peetage''s already impressive reputation was blown to even higher heights after he officially took on more serious roles. But one of his most notable aplishments was his refusal to get engaged at 6.


    Such a thing was unheard of. Which child of nobility has the right to decide on their marriage? Even peasant children do not have this right. So one can imagine how shocking the news was when it broke.


    Of course, everyone had a right to pick and choose their marriage partners, but not to the extent of freedom Peetage had.


    During the ages of 6~10, parents would scout families and make a list of potential inws.


    What was love? Can anyone tell them what purpose it served except giving temporalforts? Can one buy food with it? Can it buy their fancy clothes and shoes? Can it afford the many servants taking care of them?


    Love was indeed a fantasy full of facies for many parents, especially the mothers who have to fight for their husbands and their lives when treading on dangerous waters.


    Parents would look for the most politically suitable candidate that could better the family.


    Sometimes, the right marriage could boost their ranks from lesser abilities to higher ones.


    In addition, parents would look at the sort of household their soon-to-be inws came from.


    One might have power, influence, and wealth. But if the family in question was stingy with wealth or prone to scandal, that was another matter to consider.


    They wanted someone who would help them when times were rough and not a family that would drag them down instead.


    Of course, the next item on the menu was how their potential son-inw looked, as well as his overall reputation.


    Marrying an ugly boy/girl would make them lose face. People will mock them as parents for letting their children marry beasts.


    If it was a daughter-inw to be married in, there should be no visible scars on her body, and no deformation of any sort.


    Please!


    Even though some of them had no love for their many children, they still didn''t want people to think so by saying that they allowed their children to marry ugly monsters.


    Such a thing will ruin their household''s reputation. Meaning anyone rted to them, including unmarried cousins, will also take a hit to their reputation.


    People might say: Don''t marry a girl from XXX family, because they are all wicked.


    Reputation is everything!<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Parents also consider several other factors. Only after they screened the list of potential suitors, would they send portraits to their children.


    Perhaps the original number of 100, but after screening, their children might be left with 10 to choose from.


    That was how things were usually done. So at age 6 when Peetage refused all candidates from the list, one can understand why it shocked the entire Ten.


    Men in particr, could marry 2 to 100 wives if they liked. So at age 6, most boys get their first fiancé.


    As they grew, they added more to their harem, perhaps 1 every 2 years or something like that. But no matter what they do, they must marry their wives in the order they got them.


    Parents made sure that the first wife, the one in charge of the harem, came from a well-sought-after family.


    Most children have no say over the fate of their first wives/husbands. However, in Peetage''s case, he took a bold stand that made Ten see him in a different light.


    Year after year, he turned down many suitors. He also had no lovers and was even thought to like men.


    This wasn''t also a problem.


    In medieval times, do you know how many fishermen, sailors, knights, and pirates swung both ways?


    Sometimes, one could spend over a year out at sea. So do you think they don''t please themselves when the urge calls?


    The same was true for knights and warriors who had to remain hidden for months end, as they tried not to be spotted by locals.


    Sometimes, they had to stay out and camp out in rock-secluded areas for months while waiting for orders from their superiors.


    One can be sure that they performed several adult activities during this time.


    That''s why in this era, it wasn''t unusual for men to marry other men.


    Heck! Some were even presented to enemy nobles and royals as peace offerings.


    The only rule was that even if one wanted to marry a man, they must also marry another woman and sleep with her regrly. This was to ensure they have an heir.


    Peetage was indeed strange, refusing to get married or to have lovers, be it a man or woman.


    Some even thought the problem was with his ''lower man.'' And for a while, his parents became the most devoted prayers to Yangbo, the God of Thunder.


    **That was the God the Yangia empire believed in.


    Everyone thought Peetage was bound to die alone until he suddenly announced his marriage at 17.


    His actions took many by storm, making them wonder who the mysterious woman who seeded in taming the Empire''s de was.


    Her name was Vina, the unfavoured daughter of a low-ss baron. And over the years, she has bore him 2 children: a son and a daughter.


    With her, he wasplete.


    She and their children were his bottom line.


    Sadly, some people just like to poke at the devil''s tail, looking for trouble.