Galvin led Art into the inner hall and asked Art to sit on the leather armchair next to the main seat. Then he ordered the maid standing aside to call Madam and Miss Lottie.
Galvin picked up a silver goblet full of wine from the wooden table next to the main seat and handed it to Art. Then he sat on the main chair and rubbed the ring in his hand, and said softly: "Sir Art, I must also know that I invited you here this time not just to help me eliminate the bandits near Sap, right?"
Matt had already guessed what Baron Galvin was thinking. He gently put down the wine glass in his hand and replied: "Lord Galvin, I know what you and Madam mean. This is also what I want to discuss with you when I come to Sapp this time. I just think you also know my situation. I just now Promoted to knight, my fief is just a barren valley, not even a castle. I wonder if you and your wife are willing to let Miss Lottie marry into the valley and suffer with me?" Galvin turned his head, took a sip from the silver wine glass next to the chair, and sighed:
“Art, maybe you don’t know that I just inherited the baronetcy from Lottie’s grandfather twenty years ago. At that time, there was a fertile land in Sapcon, and the people in the territory couldn’t even afford a full meal. Of course, this is not to slander my father. He is indeed a brave noble warrior, but he was too obsessed with the virtues of bravery and fighting, and every copper coin in the territory was stolen. He used it in battle. I have never worn any decent clothes since I was a child, nor have I had a delicious meal like the eldest sons of lords.
So when I took over the Barony of Sapp from my father, there was only a small dilapidated castle and more than fifty ragged citizens. Even the territory of an ordinary knight was richer than mine. "
"It was that year that Lottie was born. I held this guy smaller than my head and watched it for a whole day. I secretly vowed to do my best to create wealth so that my family could enjoy the life that a nobleman should have."
"In the next twenty years, I I have always been obsessed with trading goods and have not gained a good reputation among the nobility. As you heard, people call me "Merchant Noble". Some people have even tried to strip me of my title of baronet and deprive me of my fief. If I hadn't had quite a lot of money in my hands, I would have become a commoner by now. "
"But as you can see, in the past twenty years, I have turned the once dilapidated small castle into the prosperous Sarp Castle now. The number of subjects in my territory exceeds five hundred, the barns are piled with food, and the subjects live and work in peace and contentment."
"It is precisely because of my obsession with business and some family disputes that Lottie is almost twenty years old this year and has not found the person she likes. Because I have a bad reputation and am the object of rejection by the court, real nobles are not willing to marry us, and Lottie looks down on the sons of wealthy merchants. Because of my reputation as a "merchant noble", Lottie also vowed to find a brave warrior as the other half of her life. Over the years, occasionally some sons of minor nobles came to propose to Lottie, but Lottie refused without thinking. "
"Until you come."
“When you first came to Sarpe, you were with Baron Bellian of Provence. At that time, you were still a civilian official, but Lottie came to me to express her feelings. She said that from the first time she saw you, she was sure that you were the brave warrior God gave her.”
“To be honest, I was not willing to let Lottie marry you at first. You are just a guy who works hard to make a living. How can I rest assured that my Lottie will follow you all day long in fear, but as if to confirm Lottie’s words, you immediately defeated a large group of bandits in the southern hills of Sap. You helped me open up business channels. At that time, I thought you were really a great guy. Maybe you could be like me in Sapp, and Lottie was even more fond of you. Under Lottie's persuasion, Madam also liked you, so that was the reason for the family dinner after you returned to Sapp..."
"During the six months since you went to the Eastern Territory, Lottie was very worried about you. Especially after receiving the private messages and gifts you sent back from the battlefield, Lottie became more and more absent-minded... So I sent someone to send you a private message after I learned that you returned to the territory..." Art was also touched by what he heard. He did not expect that when he was out fighting, there would be a noble lady in the distance missing him day and night.
"Lord Galvin, I also like Miss Lottie, but I must tell you my true origin..." Art confessed his (original owner's) true identity and unfortunate experiences to Baron Galvin.
Baron Galvin was not surprised at all when he heard about Art's twists and turns of life. He said calmly: "Art, I have known about your life experience for a long time. After you and Lottie established their intention to get engaged, I specially sent people to Provence and the court to inquire about your life experience. I would rather inquire about your past privately. I have to ask for your forgiveness, but I have to know everything about Lottie’s future husband. I will not hand over my cherished daughter to a guy of unknown origin. But after I learned about your life experience from a businessman friend in the south, I felt a little more sympathy and admiration for you. "
"May God bless the souls of your parents and enjoy eternal peace." Galvin lowered his head and made a holy cross.
"Thank you!" Art also drew a Holy Cross on his chest.
Galvin continued: "As a declining nobleman who fled to a foreign country a few years ago, it is very remarkable that you can train a group of warriors on your own and be recognized by the court. Especially not long ago, I received a request from the palace to various places. According to the newspaper, after seeing the news that you have been officially canonized as a knight, I am even more convinced that Lottie's choice is correct, so I urgently urge you to come to Sapp and get engaged to Lottie. You must know that a newly promoted military noble like you because of your military exploits is very enviable. "
Att was a little embarrassed by Galvin's praise and said: "Since you don't mind my current poor situation, then I have nothing worth saying. But I still want to know Miss Lottie's thoughts. I think the blacksmith you sent to my valley last time has come back to tell you about my achievements. Due to the current situation of the land, I don’t even have a decent mansion now. I wonder if Miss Lottie is willing to..."
"I do!"
Before Art's words could be finished, Lottie's voice rang out.
She heard the conversation between Galvin and Art as soon as she entered the door. She was anxious for fear that her father would say something wrong and make the person she loved displeased, so she couldn't help but speak out her heart.
"I do, Sir Art." Lottie slowly walked into the hall, moved to Art, nodded and replied softly.
Att is fascinated by Lottie.
Lottie wore a tight white brocade dress with a mink shawl on her shoulders. Miss Lottie, tall and blond, looked beautiful against the backdrop of this exquisite dress. She had a clear and white face, with a playful smile on her lips, and a pair of big, translucent green eyes that shone like two jewels inlaid on her delicate face.
Matt rarely feels excited when facing a woman, but this time his heart beat wildly like he had drunk strong ale.
"Luo~~Ti, Miss Lottie." Art stuttered a little...
Lotti's lips raised and her eyebrows curled up in a smile due to Art's dazed look.
Matt was still staring at Lottie in front of him, not knowing what to say for a moment.
"I heard that you were injured by an arrow on the battlefield. Let me see if the injury has healed." Lottie said, stepping forward to lift Art's collar, which frightened Art and kept backing away.
"Humph~" Mr. Galvin coughed softly from the side, and Lottie quickly stopped what she was doing.
"Lottie, where is your mother? Why didn't she come with you?"
Lottie turned around and saluted Galvin, and replied: "My mother went to the kitchen to tell the servants to prepare food for Sir Art, so I came over first."
"Then sit down, and we will discuss the matter when your mother comes over." Galvin was a little embarrassed by Lottie's initiative.
"Art, Lottie is straight-tempered. She heard that you were injured and was worried for a long time." Galvin explained.
Matt sat up straight and replied with a smile: "It was my fault just now that made you and Miss Lottie laugh."
Matt stood up and bowed slightly to Lottie, saying: "Miss Lottie, thank you very much. Thanks to the armor your father gave me, the arrow was weakened by the armor and did not penetrate deeply into the flesh. Now my arrow wound has healed."
Lottie was also a little ashamed of what she had done just now and stared at it. Art took one look at it, then he excused himself to go to the kitchen to help his mother, and left the living room of the house as if he was running away. At the same time, Art followed Lottie's figure and disappeared around the corner of Langfang...
… ……
At noon on the third day after arriving in Sapp, witnessed by Lottie’s parents, relatives, friends and Angus Rowan and other Art’s subordinates, the engagement ceremony of Art Wood Wells and Lottie Huguet was about to begin.
Lottie took Master Galvin's arm and walked into the church door accompanied by her mother and brother. At the main door of Sapp Church, the curate had been waiting for him for a long time wearing a lapel, a white vestment and a saint's cord.
"My lord, Baron, congratulations." The priest gave a slight salute to Galvin, and Galvin returned the salute.
"Then, let's invite the two young men blessed by the Holy Lord to go in and start the ceremony!" The parish priest welcomed Art and Lottie into the church sanctuary.
Sap Church is as luxurious and solemn as Sap Castle, with glazed windows, statues of the Holy Lord, bright candlesticks, and clean halls. The benches in the temple are already filled with relatives and friends who come to watch the ceremony. Most of them are some prestigious knights in Sap Castle. Nobles, squires, elders or wealthy people in the territory. Of course, many civilians in the territory also volunteered to participate in this rare happy event. Angus, Ron and the soldiers of the Sentinel Team sat at the front. They were considered Art's relatives and friends.
Art and Lottie, accompanied by Galvin and his wife, came to the steps in front of the icon of the temple. The priest faced the temple, picked up a delicate parchment that recorded the identities of the two people, and asked again to verify their identities.
Then the priest walked between Art and Lottie, took their hands and put them together, and asked Art: "Att Wood Wells, I ask you in the name of the Holy Lord's apostle, if the Holy Church agrees, are you willing to be engaged to Miss Lottie Huguet in front of you?" Righteousness, I do!"
The priest nodded, then turned to look at Lottie, and asked: "Lottie Hugues, I ask you in the name of the Holy Lord's apostle, are you willing to be engaged to Sir Art Wood Wells in front of you?"
Lotti looked at Art affectionately and said: "In the name of the Holy Lord, I am willing!"
The priest slowly raised their hands, touched them lightly on their lips, and blessed in Latin: "I am engaged to you in the holy name of the Father and the Son, Amen."
After everyone was quiet, the priest gently let go of their hands and said to Art and Lottie: "You two have received the blessing of the Holy Lord, and now you can exchange your engagement rings."
At this time, Art took off the knight's ring from his finger, gently raised Lottie's hand, put the ring on Lottie's finger, and said: "Dear Lottie, in the name of the ring on your hand, I and everything I have will belong to you, and I will always be loyal to this love of the Holy Spirit."
Lottie also took off a gem-set ring from her finger and put it on Art's little finger. She looked at Art with tears of happiness and said, "In the name of the ring, I am willing to give everything I have for you..."
Warm cheers rang out in the church sanctuary...
Throughout the afternoon, Sapp was immersed in the joyful atmosphere of the engagement party of the lord's daughter, Miss Lottie. Art also discussed with Baron Galvin that after the construction of the Valley Lord's mansion is completed, he will bring people to Sapp Castle to marry Miss Lottie. Baron Galvin also promised to fund the recruitment of a group of the best craftsmen from Sapp and surrounding areas to go to Art's Valley Knights to help him complete the mansion as soon as possible...