MTLNOVEL Chapter 136: Don’t be a scum man!
Kel gave Maria a confused look. “So we do know them?”
“We could set up a betting pool—ow!” The speaker had been slapped by his friend.
“Earl Rosewood wouldn’t be happy if we gamble!”
“Fine, fine.”
“Well, I think it’s Lady Florence Sage,” someone jumped in. “They met a lot last week, in his study room and in the greenhouses. You know what he’s like about his greenhouses.”
A few other staff members nodded in agreement. “They came back in the Rosewood carriage together from the Capital. They are both involved in agriculture and farming.”
Kel felt that it made sense, but then she saw Maria’s expression.
Maria was rolling her eyes.
“Maria, who do you think it is?” Kel asked.
“I think it’s quite obvious,” Maria said.
Kel tilted her head, confused.
“If it’s so obvious, tell us!” someone called out.
“If you know, you know,” Maria said, glancing at a few others who nodded back.
“Come on, tell us!”
“If I’m right—and I know I’m right because I’m right—I won’t say anything,” Maria said.
The implication was that the identity of Earl Rosewood’s crush was sensitive.
“Don’t think you’re right all the time, Maria!” someone called out. “If you don’t tell us, how do we know you’re right?”
“I’ll only tell Kel,” Maria said, patting Kel on the arm. “In private. If she wants to know, that is.”
“I want to know.”
Maria smiled. “Okay, then finish eating and we’ll go somewhere away from this rabble.”
“That’s right, less gossiping, more eating!” Mrs. Cooks decreed. “We need the kitchens to prepare tonight’s feast, so don’t take up space! And as for Earl Rosewood’s sweetheart, we’ll see when he gets married.”
That set off marriage-related gossip instead, starting with whether Earl Rosewood would get married soon after his 18th birthday, and moving to marriages some of them had attended recently.
Kel finished eating and Maria helped her put away her dirty dishes.
“Do you want to go for a walk around the gardens?” Maria suggested.
“Erm, sure,” Kel said.
They headed outside. The Rosewood property had extensive gardens, so they soon found a secluded location.
Kel looked at Maria in expectation. Maria seemed certain, and Kel had always felt that Maria was more knowledgeable and observant about everything.
Maria looked around, making sure there was no one else, before leaning in. “Let me give you a hint. Who is the one person who is in Earl Rosewood’s study room the most? The one who follows him the most?”
Kel didn’t expect these questions. “…Me?” she said weakly.
“You’re not following him right now.”
Kel was shocked. “No, do you mean…” Her voice dropped to a whisper, “—His Highness?”
Maria looked back at her, no denying it.
“Then…what should I do…” Kel said weakly.
She felt uneasy. She had never considered that Earl Rosewood might like other boys. She didn’t think nobles were like that.
But then again, when was Earl Rosewood ever like other nobles?
But then again, Maria had been wrong before…
Maria tapped Kel on the nose. “Still not convinced? Do you remember one of the first laws that Earl Rosewood changed? It was the marriage laws, even though there were many other laws that would have been easier to change.”
Kel’s eyes widened. “You’re right. I recall from the census that there has been a rise in male-male and female-female weddings lately in the Rosewood fief.”
“And what was Earl Rosewood’s reaction?”
Kel frowned in thought. “He was…satisfied, I think.”
Then, if Maria was right…and if Earl Rosewood liked His Highness…did His Highness like Earl Rosewood? There was no historical precedence for a Crown Prince to marry another man! Was Earl Rosewood destined to be unmarried? Or worse, would Earl Rosewood be removed from his position for daring? What would happen to the Rosewood fief then?
“What are you worrying about now?” Maria said with a helpless expression. “Don’t worry about it. There’s no need to make that face. Just know that I’m right and that if we were allowed to make bets, then I would win a lot of money. Earl Rosewood doesn’t need our help. Do you remember who is Earl Rosewood with right now, alone, without us, on his birthday?”
“Oh.”
“The two are entwined. No one can defeat Earl Rosewood, and no one can defeat them when they’re together,” Maria said confidently.
“…I suppose…”
Maria patted Kel on the head with an indulgent expression. “Trust me. Now, do you want to go into town today for some fun, or stay here and rest? There’s a fair in town celebrating Earl Rosewood’s birthday, so there should be some interesting things to look at.”
Kel pushed Maria’s hand away. “Since you want to go to town, then we’ll go to town.”
“Great!”
Ren Xiyang and Rian were elsewhere in the Rosewood fief.
They sat on the front driver’s seat of the Imperial carriage. Through the morning, they proceeded at a leisurely pace. Ren Xiyang mostly showed off the abundant fields around the fief, telling Rian about the different fertilisation regimes and seed types.
Rian put on a serious expression and nodded gravely. “No one else has fields as productive as you,” he praised. “Your fertilisation methods have doubled the output of the fields. If we can roll this out across the kingdom, we would never have to worry about food again.”
Ren Xiyang frowned. “That assumes that consumption doesn’t increase. You need to manage the land, the environment and population growth well. If we chase increasing crop harvests and allow haphazard housing construction, then we risk ruining the land and worsening the lives of the people. And once that happens, it’ll become much more expensive to fix.”
“Yes, of course,” Rian agreed. He smiled softly. He liked these little reminders about all the things Ren Xiyang had told him about his old world, of their abundance, but also destruction.
“We’ve been sitting on the carriage for a while, why don’t we go for a walk?” Rian said.
“Drive a little further, there’s an experimental garden field that’s nice.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“Appreciated, your Highness.”
Upon reaching the location, the two of them hopped off the carriage. Ren Xiyang’s quick magical sweep found no one nearby, so he reached out and took Rian’s hand.
Rian quickly looked at him, his eyes bright and a happy smile on his lips.
Ren Xiyang smiled back faintly.
“So, you call this a garden,” Rian said jokingly.
“Experimental.” Ren Xiyang squeezed Rian’s hand and tugged him forward.
The experimental garden field that Ren Xiyang was talking about was a ‘mixed-use’ field that was purposefully semi-wild. Dozens of vegetables, wildflowers, shrubs, and grasses grew on the plot of land, as well as a handful of fruit trees. There was a bee hive in the corner and an ephemeral pond in the middle of the plot that filled in the winter and slowly dried away by the summer. Birds tweeted in the trees and bees hovered over flowers.
There was a vague footpath, created over time by visitors such as Ren Xiyang and the locals who were allowed to freely—and responsibly—harvest from the plot.
Ren Xiyang called it a ‘garden’ because it wasn’t an exercise in effective and efficient agriculture, but rather a pretty place to be in.
Unsurprisingly, Ren Xiyang’s idea of a nice garden was different from other nobles’ ideas of a nice garden. But he felt that if there were more ‘gardens’ like this in the towns, then it would provide both access to a natural environment and food for town dwellers.
“If there were a few of these in the Capital, perhaps I’d like to visit more often. This, and greenhouses,” Ren Xiyang said idly.
“Is that so,” Rian said thoughtfully. “Are you implying something about the future, Xiyang?”
“Maybe.”
“You said that we were dating-courting. That it was to help assess marriage suitability. Over the last few weeks, have you found me suitable for marriage? Seeing your sex list, it seems that you have lots of plans for us.”
Ren Xiyang suddenly felt nervous. No way, was he going to lead into that?
“I…haven’t been thinking about that,” Ren Xiyang said honestly.
Rian made a sad expression. If he had puppy-dog ears, they would be drooping. “Does that mean you wish to marry someone else? Is there someone else in your heart? Do you simply want to play with me in the bedroom, play with my heart, and then throw me away?”
“…What have you been reading lately, Your Highness?”
“There are many infamous nobles who have done just that. Why, just last week, there were rumours of such a matter.”
“Not to a prince, I assume.”
“As you tell me—there is a first for everything.”
“I don’t have any intentions to break up with you at the moment. Even though you signed me up for the Imperial Magical Academy.”
Rian had the grace to look apologetic. “As a mage, you’re expected to attend.”
“There’s a first for everything. Why didn’t you get us into the University directly?”
Rian cleared his throat. “The University would never agree. But you shouldn’t change the subject.” He walked forward and faced Ren Xiyang. “I’m the best person you could possibly marry. I can’t think of a better person to be by your side. I have many advantages. I’m tall, rich, strong, handsome, and powerful. I can make you the second king of Sedaveria. Or, I could help you retire from your role as Earl Rosewood and grant you all the land you wish to farm in peace. I can provide for you, I can protect you. I am the best person for you to work with to advance any and all of your plans—”
Ren Xiyang unconsciously held his breath. Was he going to…
“—So, you should consider it seriously, and tell me whether you agree that I’m the best marriage candidate.”
…That was all? Ren Xiyang thought Rian would propose to him directly.
Ren Xiyang felt relief. He wasn’t ready to reply if Rian really did propose to him.
Yet, at the same time, he also felt…disappointment? That something was missing? Given how Rian had signed him up to the Imperial Magical Academy, Ren Xiyang had half-expected to see Rian produce a set of ready-to-be-signed marriage papers directly.
Ren Xiyang pushed down his conflicting feelings and nodded. “Okay, I’ll think about it seriously.”
“I know you’re busy too, so I’ve prepared this for you.” Rian took out a folded piece of paper from inside his pocket and handed them over.
“Thanks.”
The paper listed the pros and cons of marrying him.
It was serious and well thought out, tailored to Ren Xiyang’s perspective. There were multiple entries in the ‘cons’ column, including required attendance at social events in the future, dealing with [annoying] nobles, increased likelihood of attempted assassinations, a necessarily public marriage, increased scrutiny in his actions, and handling of negative and inflammatory rumours.
Ren Xiyang’s lips thinned as he raised his eyes from the papers. Although Rian was acting calm and collected and even lighthearted, he had to be nervous underneath.
His body temperature was a little off.
Ren Xiyang couldn’t keep reading the papers in front of Rian though, so he tucked them away. “Are you hungry yet? Should we return to the manor for lunch, or head to one of the towns?”
“My dear, it’s your birthday. Of course, I have something prepared for us.” Rian started leading them out of the experimental garden field and back to their carriage. “Go sit inside the carriage and don’t come out until I tell you to.”
Ren Xiyang raised an eyebrow. “Should I close the curtains too?”
“That would be ideal.”
“Okay.” Ren Xiyang went inside. He dutifully closed the curtains. He turned on the inside lights and took out that piece of paper again.
The carriage started moving as Ren Xiyang started reading. Rian had listed out most of the ‘pros’ in his little speech.
Ren Xiyang sighed.
Rian wants marriage. And he wants to marry me.
There were butterflies in his stomach.
Ren Xiyang smiled wryly. Was that a sign that he should say yes, if Rian were to propose? Or was it a sign that Ren Xiyang wasn’t ready to make the commitment?
Rian was his best friend. He liked him, he trusted him. He owed it to Rian to seriously consider the topic of marriage.
Rian suppressed his nerves. His mind went over his conversation with Ren Xiyang again and again.
He had been right to prepare that list of pros and cons last minute.
It was true that he felt disappointed; but at the same time, it showed that his judgement of Ren Xiyang was correct and that he indeed knew Ren Xiyang well.
That outcome won’t spoil what Rian had planned next.
Rian drove the carriage to a spot that his agents had previously scoped out for him: a secluded clearing in the forest.
The agents had been confused when he asked them, but they had still gone ahead and dutifully planted local wildflowers and wheat seeds around the clearing’s perimeter. Now, the flowers were in bloom and the wheat was tall and swayed gently in the wind.
Rian eased the carriage to a stop.
“Don’t come out yet!”
“Okay.”
Rian opened the carriage luggage space at the back. Levitation magic made light work of the setup.
“Now…” Rian opened the carriage door and held out his hand. “My dear.”
Ren Xiyang took his hand and stepped out.
Rian escorted him to the other side of the carriage, revealing his preparations—
Ten large chests of gold, a thick picnic blanket, and a large covered picnic basket.
“Happy 15th birthday, Xiyang,” Rian said. “My present to you—your chests of gold, as promised.”
“Can I?”
“Go ahead.”
Ren Xiyang let go of Rian’s hand and quickly walked over to the chests. He opened them all, revealing the gold coins inside. Their golden glow reflected in his eyes. A smile grew on his face as he turned back to Rian.
“I didn’t actually expect this, thank you.”
Rian gave an exaggerated pout. “Did I not promise you? Don’t I keep my word?”
“—You could have chosen smaller chests, or filled it lower,” Ren Xiyang said, his eyes curling with humour.
“Their size and depth show the size and depth of my affection,” Rian said seriously. He walked slowly towards Ren Xiyang and picked up his hands. “Ren Xiyang.”
“Hm?” Ren Xiyang’s stomach had butterflies again.
Rian’s blue eyes were intense and the heat of his hands transmitted into Ren Xiyang’s skin.
Scum man Ren Xiyang who ‘wants to play with Rian’s heart before throwing him away’: …
By the way, results from that poll a few weeks ago!
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