Founder Of The Greatest Noble Family

Roland brought a few gifts for his children.Tired mentally taking care of kids,he decided to rest early.

Waking up early,he had his morning coffee and moved out again to the Artisan Building before the appointed time.

Roland stood in the waiting room of the professional building, his fingers tapping nervously on the table.

To say he wasn't nervous would be a lie. Years ago, when he was just a foot soldier, she had been a distant star untouchable, admired, the subject of countless barrack whispers.

He too had been one of those young men swept up in his own imagination, fueled by the dreams of youth and the occasional stolen glimpse of her presence. Now, fate had spun an odd thread, bringing them face to face again.

A soft knock echoed. Roland cleared his throat and called out, "Come in."

The door creaked open, and the woman who entered made his breath catch. She had a strikingly beautiful face, one that carried a noble elegance and natural grace. But the smile she wore was faint, almost mechanical.

Her right sleeve fluttered loosely in the air.It was empty. She was missing an arm.

There were also several scars over her face that made her look hideous but she didn't covered it.

Roland instinctively stood up, stunned by the contrast between memory and reality. The woman before him, Amelia, carried herself with a refined poise that reminded him of high-born tutors and sword-masters—flawless in etiquette, polished in motion. She took a small bow, her posture elegant and dignified, but it only made Roland more uncomfortable.

"Senior… you don't need to do that," he said quickly, a flicker of guilt tightening his chest.

Amelia raised her eyes and studied him with a frown. She caught the sorrow etched on his face—he wasn't good at hiding his emotions.

"Did you call me senior?" she asked.

Roland straightened his back and saluted sharply. "I am Roland Weiss from the 21st Infantry Regiment of the Knight Legion."

Amelia blinked, her expression changing. "Uh… have you made some contribution and been elevated to nobil.."

She stopped mid-sentence. Her eyes widened, and without hesitation, she stepped forward and grabbed his hand. Roland was surprised, but he didn't pull away. Her touch lingered, as if trying to confirm something that her eyes couldn't believe.

"You… who are you?" she asked again, her voice more intense this time.

"Since when did we have another Transcendent Knight and that too a Baron?"

"Senior, I am Baron Roland from the southern region. I once served under your command. I was the third son of my family, and like many, I was sent to the army. Unfortunately, during a trip, my entire family died to an undead tide." He gave a bitter smile.

Amelia stepped back slowly, her mind spiraling. A baron? No, a Transcendent Knight. That level of power couldn't be achieved so quietly.

If what he said was true, then the entire Kingdom of Jin should have been in an uproar. Yet no one seemed to know.

Sensing her swirling thoughts, Roland gave a dry cough. "Senior… it was just some luck. After I got married, settled down, and had kids, I started training again. I had a few insights that… somehow pushed me to this stage."

She narrowed her eyes slightly. Despite the surprise, she examined his mana flow again to clear the doubts.

Roland's lips twitched.

'Seriously..Why does everyone think that I am in cahoots with the cultist.'

Amelia examined carefully but there was no signs of corruption, no evil arts, no instability.

The flow was pure, steady, clear.

"It's unbelievable," she muttered, "but… since there's no indication of dark practice, and your mana is unusually refined… enlightenment might really be the only explanation."

She still looked skeptical, but she nodded slowly, digesting the shock.

"Still, why are you only a Baron? Your strength could easily earn you the title of Duke," she said.

Roland gave a slight shrug, a casual smile on his lips. "Too much trouble, Senior. I really don't want to attract that kind of attention. I only recently broke through… and I like being low-key.Also I don't have anyone backing me."

Of course, the truth was far more complicated.

He didn't want the king's gaze on him.

That man wasn't just corrupt, manipulative, and cruel.A bastard to the core.

He was the last person Roland wanted to deal with. Being noticed by him would be nothing short of a curse. For now, hiding behind a modest title was the best defense he had.

Roland looked at Amelia with concern.

"Senior... that's about me. But what about you?" he asked.

"I remember around fourteen years ago, you had already broken through to the 7th rank," he said softly. "Everyone believed you would reach the 10th rank and become the first Mage Master of the Kingdom of Jin. They thought you'd take over as the Court Mage."

At those words, Amelia's eyes dimmed. Her gaze dropped slightly, and a bitter smile played on her lips. The dreams of her youth had long since faded, leaving only disappointment behind.

"I did reach the 8th rank when I turned thirty," she said quietly. "But we faced a terrible situation. We were sent to deal with criminals who escaped from the Empire. That man... he chopped off my hands and slashed my eye and killed my entire team."

Roland's eyes widened in shock, but he stayed silent as she continued.

"I burned away my own lifespan to survive. We managed to kill him, but it ended everything for me.Now I'm still at 7th rank, but even casting intermediate spells causes me pain."

Roland clenched his fists as he listened. He could tell her foundation had been damaged. Maybe it could be cured but he knew not to give her false hope.

"Isn't there a way to heal you?" he asked gently.

"There is… but the elixir would cost a few million coins," she replied. "And it would have to be bought from the Empire, which makes it even more expensive."

A heavy silence filled the air between them.

The Empire's greedy merchants had been haggling too much.Unlike original price,they had to pay two times or more than that if they had to buy.

Roland didn't know what to say. The words he wanted to offer felt hollow.

Then he looked up at her. "Are you married?"

Amelia raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden question. Her sharp eyes narrowed on Roland.

"Why?" she asked. "Do you want to marry me?"

Roland didn't back down. He nodded once.

Amelia didn't blush or flinch. She wasn't a naïve girl anymore. She wasn't offended either. Compared to nobles who tried to trick or buy her, Roland's words felt much more direct and honest.

"You've seen my face, right?" she said slowly. "I'm a cripple. You probably thought about marrying the strong, beautiful me from years ago... but look at me now."

Roland chuckled softly and nodded. "That's one of the reasons, yes. But there's another."