The entire Martial Merit Hall fell silent at once. Seeing that His Majesty Johan had arrived, both Lin Lei and
Wotton's gaze immediately locked onto Nina. She was following behind her mother the Queen, and upon entering, she looked straight at him as well.
"Big guy..." Nina's lips moved, though no sound came out.
Wotton could only manage a thin smile, but his gaze was unwavering. With just that single exchanged glance, both of them understood what the other was thinking. No matter whom His Majesty Johan chose today, he, Wotton, would never give up.
"Nina is mine. No one can take her away." Wotton shot a glance toward Brunner in the distance, then turned his eyes back to His Majesty Johan on the throne.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
The nobles and ministers throughout the hall dropped to one knee and bowed respectfully.
"Rise, all of you." His Majesty Johan turned to face Lin Lei and Olivier, speaking in an amiable tone. "Lin Lei, Olivier, please take your seats."
Wotton spotted Lin Lei in the distance as well. With Lin Lei present, he felt a surge of complete confidence.
His Majesty Johan then turned toward the Queen and the concubines. "You may all sit over there. Nina, sit with your mother." The Queen, the concubines, and the Seventh Princess Nina all moved to the other side of the hall, where another row of seats had been arranged.
In the
"Today is an important day. Ha ha... I believe many of you have been waiting for this moment for a long time. That's right—today, this Emperor will announce who shall marry my precious daughter." As he spoke, His Majesty Johan smiled warmly at Nina.
Lin Lei, Olivier, and the large crowd of onlookers all fixed their eyes on the Emperor.
Wotton felt his heart pounding, thump, thump, thump.
Who would he choose?
Him, or Brunner?
"As for the choice, this Emperor will announce it momentarily. But before that, let me introduce the Martial God's two direct disciples." His Majesty Johan had already spotted two figures flying in from the distance. Both wore cyan robes. Upon entering the Martial Merit Hall, the first thing they did was nod in acknowledgment to Brunner.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." Only after that did the two men bow to the Emperor.
Wotton's expression shifted.
The Martial God's direct disciples? Seeing these two enter, Wotton felt a growing sense of unease. Not far away, Brunner cast a smug glance in his direction.
These two had clearly come to bolster Brunner's standing.
"Allow me to introduce them. The one on the left is Mr. Lanke, a direct disciple of the Martial God. He is also a Saint Realm powerhouse." His Majesty Johan announced in a clear voice. "The one on the right is Mr. Casbert, also a direct disciple of the Martial God, and likewise a Saint Realm powerhouse."
The nobles and ministers in the Martial Merit Hall offered respectful greetings to the two Saint Realm powerhouses.
"Lanke, Casbert, please take your seats over there, next to Lin Lei and Olivier." His Majesty Johan said with a smile.
Lanke, Casbert, Lin Lei, and Olivier all sat together.
Wotton swallowed hard. At this moment, he truly felt the pressure. The situation on the field clearly favored Brunner. Then His Majesty Johan spoke.
"Brunner, Wotton—step forward to the center." His Majesty Johan called out in a commanding voice.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Wotton took a deep breath, forcing himself to stop his anxious thoughts, and walked toward the open space in the center. Brunner and Wotton exchanged a cold, indifferent look, then stood shoulder to shoulder.
Every pair of eyes in the hall converged upon them.
"This Emperor must choose who shall ultimately become Nina's husband. The prerequisite, naturally, is that both of you wish to marry her. In this final moment, I ask you—do you still wish to take Nina as your wife?" His Majesty Johan's expression grew solemn.
They had reached the final moment.
Brunner answered immediately. "Your Majesty, I have thought of her day and night, and it has always been my dream to marry Princess Nina."
Wotton spoke respectfully as well. "Your Majesty, it is also my dream to hold a grand, proper wedding with Nina here in the capital, to be together for the rest of our lives, never to part."
As he spoke, Wotton looked toward Nina.
Nina gazed back at Wotton. Their eyes met, and the majority of those in the Martial Merit Hall noticed. Brunner's face darkened at the sight.
"Ha ha, good." His Majesty Johan laughed heartily. "Both of you are so sincere—this Emperor is quite pleased. But in the end, I can only choose one."
As he said this, His Majesty Johan shot Brunner a smiling glance.
That single look sent Brunner's heart soaring with joy. He could sense the meaning behind the Emperor's expression. Brunner already felt assured in his heart.
Who would be chosen?
Wotton watched His Majesty Johan with a mixture of worry and hope.
"Everyone, quiet. This Emperor now solemnly announces—"
"Wait." At that moment, one of the Martial God's direct disciples—Casbert—rose to his feet and called out to stop His Majesty Johan. The Emperor looked at Casbert with confusion.
Had anyone else interrupted him, he would have already erupted in anger. But the one who had stopped him was Casbert.
"Your Majesty." Casbert actually walked straight toward His Majesty Johan at the top of the hall, leaving every noble and minister in the Martial Merit Hall stunned. "I have something to tell Your Majesty in private." As he spoke, Casbert glanced toward Brunner.
The court attendants hesitated, unsure whether to block his path or let him pass.
"You may step back. Casbert has something to discuss with this Emperor." His Majesty Johan waved the attendant aside, and Casbert walked right up to the Emperor's side.
His Majesty Johan regarded Casbert with puzzlement.
Casbert leaned in and whispered a few words into the Emperor's ear. His Majesty Johan's brow furrowed as he looked at Casbert. Then, after a moment of surprise, a smile spread across his face.
Casbert simply walked back down.
"What is Casbert doing?" A sense of foreboding washed over Lin Lei. "Could it be that Casbert is privately asking His Majesty Johan to choose Brunner?"
In his heart, Lin Lei wished for his brother's marriage to go as smoothly as possible.
But there was nothing he could do. Behind Brunner stood the Martial God's Gate.
"Ha ha, I just had a brief word with Casbert. Now, this Emperor officially announces that the man who shall marry my daughter Nina is—" A smile appeared on His Majesty Johan's face.