The entire Martial Palace fell silent. Seeing Emperor Johann arrive, Linley and Olivier both rose to their feet. In the Martial Palace, the Emperor had the highest rank. They had to at least give the Emperor some face.
Wharton’s gaze fell upon Nina. Nina was behind her mother, the Empress. As soon as she entered, she looked at him.
“Big lunk…” Nina’s mouth moved, but she didn’t speak.
Wharton squeezed out a smile of his own, but his eyes were firm. The two knew what the other was thinking from the gaze they shared. No matter who Emperor Johann selected today, Wharton wouldn’t give up.
“Nina is mine. Nobody can take her from me.” Wharton glanced at Blumer from afar, then turned to look at his Imperial Majesty, Emperor Johann.
“Your Imperial Majesty!”
All the nobles and ministers in the palace fell to one knee, bowing respectfully.
“Arise, all of you.” Emperor Johann turned to look at Olivier and Linley, saying modestly, “Linley, Olivier, please, take your seats.”
Wharton also stared at Linley from afar. With Linley there, Wharton felt the utmost confidence.
Emperor Johann then turned to look at the Empress and his Imperial Consorts. “All of you, you can sit over there. Nina, sit with your Imperial mother.” The Empress, the Imperial Consorts, and the seven princesses all sat on the other side of the palace, where a row of seats had been arranged.
In the O’Brien Empire, the Empress and the consorts were not permitted to get involved in politics. In the Martial Palace, even the Empress could only sit below and watch.
“Today is a very important day. Haha…We expect many of you have been waiting for this day. Indeed, today, We are going to announce who will be the one to marry Our beloved daughter.” Emperor Johann smiled towards Nina as he spoke.
Linley, Olivier, and everyone else stared raptly at Emperor Johann.
Wharton felt his heart begin to thump loudly.
Who would it be?
Himself? Or Blumer?
“As for who We will select, before We make the announcement, We would like to introduce two of the personal disciples of the War God.” Emperor Johann saw the two figures flying in this direction from far away. Both men were dressed in long blue robes. Upon entering the Martial Palace, the first one nodded towards Blumer.
“Your Imperial Majesty.” Only then did the two men greet Emperor Johann.
The expression on Wharton’s face changed.
The personal disciples of the War God? Seeing these two arrive, Wharton sensed that things were not going to go well. Blumer, not too far away from him, cast Wharton a delighted glance.
These two had clearly come in support of Blumer.
“We shall make some introductions, first. This person on the left is Mr. Lanke [Lan’ke], a personal disciple of the War God and a Saint-level expert.” Emperor Johann said in a loud voice. “This person on the right is Mr. Castro [Ka’si’te’luo], a personal disciple of the War God and a Saint-level expert as well.”
The nobles and ministers in the Martial Palace all made gestures of respect towards the two Saint-level experts.
“Lanke, Castro, please take a seat over there, near Linley and Olivier.” Emperor Johann said with a smile.
Lanke, Castro, Linley, and Olivier were all seated together.
Wharton cleared his throat. Right now, he truly felt under a great deal of pressure. The atmosphere was clearly in favor of Blumer. At this moment in time, Emperor Johann spoke.
“Blumer, Wharton, come to the middle.” Emperor Johann said in a clear voice.
“Yes, your Imperial Majesty.”
Taking a deep breath, Wharton forced himself to stop thinking wild thoughts, then headed to the center of the palace. Blumer and Wharton stared at each other coldly, then stood shoulder to shoulder.
Everyone’s attention was focused on these two.
“We are going to announce who shall become Nina’s husband. Naturally, that’s only if you two both desire to marry Nina. We shall ask you one more time; do the two of you both wish to marry Nina?” Emperor Johann said in a solemn voice.
This was the final moment.
Blumer immediately said. “Your Imperial Majesty, my greatest desire and dream is to be able to take Princess Nina as my wife.”
Wharton said respectfully, “Your Imperial Majesty, it is also your servant’s dream that I can have an open, public marriage ceremony with Nina, and that the two of us shall be together forever, never to be apart.”
As Wharton spoke, he looked at Nina.
Nina was looking at Wharton as well. Their gazes met. Most of the people in the palace noticed this, and Blumer’s face sank.
“Haha, wonderful.” Emperor Johann laughed loudly. “Since both of you are so sincere, We are very gratified. But in the end, We must choose one person.”
As he spoke, Emperor Johann cast a smiling glance at Blumer.
This glance immediately dissipated the rage in Blumer’s heart. He could sense what Emperor Johann’s hidden meaning was, and Blumer suddenly felt confidence.
Who would be chosen?
To the contrary, Wharton was growing anxious as he looked anxiously at Emperor Johann.
“Everyone, please be quiet. We solemnly announce that-”
“Wait.” That personal disciple of the War God, Castro, stood up and spoke out, preventing Emperor Johann from speaking. Emperor Johann looked questioningly towards him.
If it had been someone else who had interrupted him, he would’ve shouted in anger already. But the person stopping him was Castro.
“Your Imperial Majesty.” Castro actually headed towards Emperor Johann, in the middle of the palace. All of the nobles and ministers were stupefied. “There is something I must tell you in private, your Imperial Majesty.” As he spoke, Castro glanced at Blumer.
The palace attendants didn’t know whether they should try to block him or not try to block him.
“Step aside. Castro has something he wishes to discuss with Us.” Emperor Johann instructed his attendants to step aside, and Castro walked directly to Emperor Johann’s side.
Emperor Johann looked at Castro quizzically.
Castro whispered a few words quietly into Emperor Johann’s ear. Emperor Johann frowned, glancing at Castro. But then Emperor Johann started, and a smile appeared on his face.
Castro stepped away.