How should I turn this down?
If a lowly hereditary knight like rejects a marriage proposal from the Finance Minister, rumors will spread among the nobility that I don’t know my place. I would have accepted any reasonable offer, but this is sothing I absolutely can’t agree to. Give up my family na and noble lineage for a matrilineal marriage?
Plus, the mont I enter a matrilineal marriage, I lose any right to inheritance.
I can’t receive a fief, and even if I did, it would pass to the matrilineal line.
This proposal directly conflicts with my goals.
But if I simply refuse outright, I’d be trampling on the Finance Minister’s dignity after he praised and elevated . Does it even make sense for a lowly knight to disrespect the Finance Minister like that? Even if the Finance Minister lets it slide, the nobles in his faction won’t leave alone.
"Are you having trouble deciding? Don’t worry. There may be issues of status, but with my recomndation, the Elsheirs will accept. It would be fitting to match you with the second daughter. If the eldest daughter marries a prince, you’d be connected to royalty by blood, wouldn’t you?" he asked.
Even a blood connection to a prince.
Why is the Finance Minister making this offer?
I swallowed hard and activated the Manager Scouter.
[Heinz von Reinfeldt’s History]
[Age: 53] [Affiliation: Finance Departnt – Finance Minister] [Address: Northwest District of Linz Boulevard]
[Heinz von Reinfeldt’s Status]
[Health: Good] [Mindset: Deception – Exploitation] [Disposition: Deceit (Neutral)] [Favorability: 10]
His mindset toward was deception and exploitation.
The Elsheir son-in-law proposal was clearly bait.
What does he gain by pushing into becoming a son-in-law? And his disposition is deceit (neutral), no less.
The scouter was plainly telling he’s soone I can’t trust.
What could I possibly say to the Finance Minister, who was waiting for my answer with an easy smile? Just then, like a lifeline, a new quest appeared.
[Master Negotiator I Quest]
[Refuse the Finance Minister’s marriage proposal]
[Diplomat Scouter temporarily provided]
[Reward: 500 points, 500 copper coins]
[50 Family Prestige points awarded]
Two things stood out most in this quest: the Diplomat Scouter and Family Prestige.
But I didn’t have ti to deliberate. First, I activated the Diplomat Scouter. According to the system’s explanation, the Diplomat Scouter can identify negotiation objectives and justifications.
I can see the objective of the negotiation?
Since what I was most curious about was the Finance Minister’s true aim, I activated it right away. My vision briefly distorted before normalizing. A common phenonon when using scouters.
[To expand his eldest son Adelbert’s influence over the Elsheirs, he’s recomnding a subordinate as their son-in-law. The Finance Minister, wary of his son’s growing influence in the Finance Departnt, is pushing Wolfgang in as the Elsheir son-in-law to use him as a convenient pawn.]
Did I read that right? He’s trying to keep his own son in check?
The Elsheirs must be a hot potato within the Finance Departnt right now. The eldest son is also pushing his own subordinate in as a son-in-law, and the Finance Minister is using to block his son’s move. There was a reason he had showered with all that flowery praise.
It wasn’t just flattery—it was an elaborate sche to bestow favors on a poor duchy knight and use him as a convenient pawn. Without confirming it through the Diplomat Scouter, I would never have known. To think he’s using the Elsheirs and just to keep his own son in check.
Father and son were waging a power struggle behind the scenes.
This is without a doubt a poisoned chalice.
But what grounds can I use to refuse?
I activated the justification search.
[Available Justifications: Knighthood, rit, Family Status, Delay]
Let try to craft sothing using these justifications.
"Is there anything to think about? It’s rare for a lowly hereditary knight to receive such an offer," the count’s voice ca again.
"I’m grateful for the Finance Minister’s kindness. However, I’m a knight who hasn’t received official [knighthood]. How could soone like , without even the Ritter title, marry into a prestigious family as their son-in-law?"
For now, I’m a lower noble who can’t spar with the Finance Minister in debate.
I haven’t even been knighted yet, so I’m not qualified to beco the son-in-law of a prestigious family.
"The knighthood can be recognized through your father’s rit, so that’s not a problem. I’ll inform His Highness about this matter and arrange it for you. Rember that such favors don’t co often," he said, waving a hand.
"However, that [rit] belongs entirely to my father. It’s not my own, and if a re hereditary knight with no personal achievents becos the Elsheir son-in-law, not only will others look down on , but I fear it might reflect poorly on you, Finance Minister."
"Oh, you think that way? How admirable. But that’s not sothing you need to worry about. There’ll be talk, sure, but it’ll mostly co from the fools in the Administrative and Military Departnts."
"But I have a desire to be recognized as a worthy knight through my own rit rather than my family’s legacy. I want to elevate my [family’s status] so as not to bring sha to the Elsheir family or to you, Finance Minister. I’m terribly sorry, but could you please grant a period of [delay]?" I said.
"You want to be recognized for your personal rit, not your family’s? So you’re asking for a postponent?"
The Finance Minister’s gaze hardened as he looked at .
A pressure bore down on that made my old encounters with the CEO during my office days seem trivial. In a company, the worst that happens is getting fired, but here, I could literally lose my head. However, from what I could tell, while his expression was rather intimidating, the Finance Minister didn’t seem too displeased.
I was truly fortunate to receive the Diplomat Scouter at this critical mont. Those eyes studying intently were unnerving, but I could read the Finance Minister’s mindset through the Manager Scouter, so I felt so asure of relief. Sohow, my justification seed to be landing.
"Not a refusal, but a postponent? You have quite a way with words. I’ll allow a brief delay. I’m not so unaware that every knight harbors such ambitions. But Sir Streit, let advise you—re stalling will only displease everyone involved. Keep that firmly in mind," he said at last, deliberately.
"I will keep it in mind."
Seeing the ssage that the Master Negotiator I Quest was complete, I felt a wave of relief.
I received the reward and gained 50 Family Prestige points.
Does higher Family Prestige confer so kind of influence?
And I acquired a title.
"rit, huh. There happens to be a fitting opportunity. And it’s not unrelated to you—it’s sothing you uncovered yourself, after all," the count mused, almost to himself.
...Don’t tell it’s the fence case.
From what I recall, the organization connected to that fence is Rafel.
The fake guard belonged to a slum organization called Rafel.
"My son is investigating that case. But there’s been less headway than expected."
Isn’t that a criminal matter? Shouldn’t the Judicial Departnt normally be handling it?
The Judicial Departnt upholds law and justice, overseeing trials and public safety.
Why is Finance investigating that case?
But before I could wonder further, I had no choice but to accept.
Refusing when he’s offering a chance to earn rit would be tantamount to deceiving the Finance Minister. I had no choice. I had no other options or grounds to refuse anymore.
"...Thank you for giving this opportunity."
"Show the abilities that bureaucrats have been praising so highly. I’ll be watching with interest."
As expected, his skill at ensnaring people was masterful.
But since I secured a promise of delay, I’ve bought myself enough ti.
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