Chapter 15: The Result
The Martial Hall instantly fell silent. As Emperor Joan arrived, Linley and the others also rose to their feet. In the Martial Hall, the emperor held the highest status, and at the very least, one had to show him face.
Wharton's gaze immediately locked onto Nina. Nina followed behind her mother, the empress, and as she entered, she too looked toward him.
"Big guy..." Nina's lips moved, but no sound came out.
Wharton could only force a faint smile, but his gaze was resolute. With just one look, they both understood what the other was thinking. No matter who Emperor Joan chose today, Wharton would not give up.
"Nina is mine. No one can take her away." Wharton glanced at the distant Bloomer, then looked toward Emperor Joan, seated on the throne.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
The nobles and ministers in the hall all knelt on one knee, paying their respects.
"Rise, all of you." Emperor Joan turned to look at Linley and Olivia, speaking with a humble tone. "Linley, Olivia, please take your seats."
Wharton also saw Linley in the distance. With Linley there, Wharton was filled with absolute confidence.
Emperor Joan then looked toward the empress and the imperial consorts. "All of you, sit over there. Nina, sit with your mother." The empress, the consorts, and the Seventh Princess Nina all moved to the other side of the hall, where another row of seats was arranged.
In the O'Brien Empire, the empress and consorts were not allowed to interfere in state affairs. In the Martial Hall, even the empress could only sit below.
"Today is an important day. Haha... I believe many have been waiting for this day. Yes, today I will announce who will marry my precious daughter." Emperor Joan even smiled at Nina as he spoke.
Linley, Olivia, and a large group of others all watched Emperor Joan.
Wharton felt his heart thumping, thumping, thumping.
Who would be chosen?
Himself or Bloomer?
"As for who will be chosen, I will announce it shortly. Before I announce it, let me first introduce the two personal disciples of the War God." Emperor Joan also saw two figures flying in from a distance. Both wore blue robes. After entering the Martial Hall, the first thing they did was nod toward Bloomer.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." Only then did the two bow to Emperor Joan.
Wharton's expression changed.
Personal disciples of the War God? Seeing these two enter, Wharton sensed that things were very unfavorable. Not far away, Bloomer shot Wharton a smug glance.
These two were clearly here to support Bloomer.
"Let me introduce you. On the left is Mr. Lanco, a personal disciple of the War God and also a Saint-level powerhouse." Emperor Joan announced loudly. "On the right is Mr. Casbert, a personal disciple of the War God, also a Saint-level powerhouse."
The nobles and ministers in the Martial Hall all respectfully acknowledged these two Saint-level experts.
"Lanco, Casbert, please sit over there, next to Linley and Olivia." Emperor Joan said with a smile.
Lanco, Casbert, Linley, and Olivia all sat together.
Wharton swallowed hard. At this moment, he truly felt the pressure. The situation on the field was clearly in Bloomer's favor. Just then, Emperor Joan spoke.
"Bloomer, Wharton, come to the center." Emperor Joan said loudly.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Wharton took a deep breath to stop himself from overthinking and walked toward the open space in the center. Bloomer and Wharton exchanged a cold glance, then stood side by side.
Everyone in the hall focused their gazes on them.
"The premise for me to choose who will ultimately become Nina's husband is that both of you wish to marry Nina. I will ask you one last time: do you still want to marry Nina?" Emperor Joan's expression turned serious.
The final moment had arrived.
Bloomer immediately said, "Your Majesty, I have thought of it day and night, and my dream is to marry Princess Nina as my wife."
Wharton also said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I too dream of holding a grand wedding with Nina in the imperial capital, openly and honorably, and spending our lives together, never to be separated."
As he spoke, Wharton looked toward Nina.
Nina also looked at Wharton. Their mutual gaze was noticed by most people in the Martial Hall. Bloomer, standing nearby, darkened his expression.
"Haha, good." Emperor Joan laughed heartily. "Both of you are so sincere, and I am very pleased. But in the end, I can only choose one."
As he spoke, Emperor Joan glanced at Bloomer with a smile.
That single look made Bloomer's heart bloom with joy. He could feel Emperor Joan's intention. Bloomer already had a sense of the outcome.
Who would be chosen?
At this moment, Wharton looked at Emperor Joan with worry and anticipation.
"Everyone, be quiet. I now solemnly announce—"
"Wait a moment." At that moment, the War God's personal disciple, Casbert, stood up and interrupted Emperor Joan. Emperor Joan looked at Casbert with confusion.
If anyone else had interrupted him, he would have scolded them. But it was Casbert who stopped him.
"Your Majesty." Casbert actually walked directly toward Emperor Joan, who was on the dais. The nobles and ministers in the Martial Hall were all stunned. "I have something to tell Your Majesty in private." As he spoke, Casbert glanced at Bloomer.
The palace attendant didn't know whether to block him or not.
"Step aside. Casbert and I have matters to discuss." Emperor Joan dismissed the attendant. Casbert walked directly to Emperor Joan's side.
Emperor Joan looked at Casbert with confusion.
But Casbert whispered a few words into Emperor Joan's ear. Emperor Joan frowned and glanced at Casbert. Then he paused, and a smile appeared on his face.
Casbert then walked back down.
"What is Casbert doing?" Linley felt a sense of unease. "Could it be that Casbert is privately asking Emperor Joan to choose Bloomer?"
In Linley's heart, he wanted his younger brother's marriage to be as perfect as possible.
But there was no way around it. Bloomer had the War God's Sect behind him.
"Haha. I just had a brief chat with Casbert. Now I officially announce that the person who will marry my daughter Nina is—" Emperor Joan's face broke into a smile.
The entire hall fell silent.
The drop of a needle could be heard clearly.
Wharton and Bloomer both stared nervously at Emperor Joan.
"That person is—" Emperor Joan said loudly, "Wharton Baruch!"
"Wharton Baruch!" "Wharton Baruch!" "Wharton Baruch!" ... Wharton's name echoed repeatedly through the Martial Hall.
The entire hall fell silent.
Bloomer was dumbfounded.
Wharton was stunned.
Nina was also frozen.
"Ahhh—" Wharton let out an excited roar and rushed directly toward Nina. Nina snapped out of it, and the two embraced directly.
Wharton and Nina hugged tightly in the Martial Hall, as if no one else was there. Nina was crying tears of joy.
"Impossible!" Bloomer shook his head repeatedly, unable to accept this result.
In truth, Bloomer had no real feelings for Princess Nina. But Bloomer had a strong desire for possession—he wanted to claim everything good. Moreover, among the younger generation, people often compared him to Wharton.
So Bloomer wanted to completely suppress Wharton.
The duels and the pursuit of Nina were all for this reason. What Bloomer truly loved was himself.
"Wharton, Nina." Emperor Joan's voice rang out.
Wharton and Nina finally realized where they were—the Martial Hall. Nina's face turned red, and she immediately retreated into her mother's arms.
Wharton quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I was just too excited."
"I understand, I understand." Emperor Joan nodded with a smile.
Then Emperor Joan looked at Bloomer. "Bloomer, you and Wharton are both equally outstanding. But I have to consider my daughter's interests. Do you understand?"
What else could Bloomer do at this point?
He was not Wharton. In Bloomer's heart, even if Princess Nina became his wife, she would only be something to show off. He had no real feelings for Nina. Although the failure was hard for him to accept, he wouldn't lose his composure.
"I understand Your Majesty's intentions." Bloomer could only grit his teeth and swallow his bitterness.
Emperor Joan nodded in satisfaction.
"Haha..." Emperor Joan laughed heartily. "I am very happy today. So, I will also set the date for Wharton and Nina's engagement. The 12th of next month. Wharton, you and Nina will get engaged on that day. Do you have any objections?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I have no objections." Wharton was beaming with joy. How could he possibly have any objections?
Linley, sitting nearby, watched his younger brother laughing like that in the center of the hall and felt a surge of happiness and relief. His brother's feelings had finally come to a perfect end, unlike his own.
Thinking of himself, Linley felt a pang of pain.
"Linley, congratulations." The War God's personal disciple, Lanco, said warmly from beside him.
Casbert also smiled and said, "Master Linley, when I was at War God Mountain, I also enjoyed collecting stone carvings. I have always admired you, Master Linley. If you have time, would you like to visit War God Mountain? We welcome you at any time."
"If I have time, I will definitely go." Linley was in a very good mood at the moment.
Olivia, however, stood up and walked directly to his younger brother Bloomer, patting him on the shoulder.
"Linley, Wharton, you will join me for a meal today, how about it?" Emperor Joan said loudly. "Olivia, Bloomer, Lanco, Casbert, you will also join me."
Lanco and Casbert stood up.
"Your Majesty, we have important matters to attend to back at War God Mountain, so we cannot stay." Casbert said.
"Very well." Emperor Joan did not insist.
"Your Majesty, I also need to prepare for my battle with Hudderson in a little over a month. My younger brother will return with me as well." Olivia also declined.
How could Bloomer, having just failed, possibly stay for a meal?
Emperor Joan understood and nodded.
However, Linley and Wharton accepted the emperor's goodwill. After all, the emperor would soon be Wharton's father-in-law. They had to show him that much respect.
"I didn't expect this." Linley's face was full of smiles.
Indeed, he hadn't expected it. Linley had already sent Jenny, Rebecca, and the others out of the imperial capital. He had been prepared to forcibly take Nina away and have her elope with Wharton. But the final result was this. It was truly surprising.
The court session ended. Nina left with the empress and the consorts.
Linley and Wharton, however, left with Emperor Joan.
"Brother." Wharton's face was still full of smiles. He was simply too happy. Without realizing it, he would break into a grin.
Linley was happy for Wharton too.
"Linley, from now on, we are family." Emperor Joan said to Linley with a smile.
"Yes, family." Linley smiled faintly.
*******
Lanco and Casbert flew side by side through the air, heading directly toward War God Mountain outside the imperial capital.
"Senior brother, what happened? What did you say to Joan?" Lanco was puzzled. Why had Emperor Joan chosen Wharton? He had previously agreed to choose Bloomer.
"I told Joan that our teacher, the War God, ordered him to choose Wharton!" Casbert said irritably.
"The teacher?" Lanco was stunned.
"How should I know? Shortly after we arrived at the hall, the teacher's voice echoed in my mind, ordering me to tell Joan. Then the teacher also transmitted a message to Joan." Casbert said helplessly. "The teacher probably worried that if he only transmitted to Joan, Joan wouldn't believe it was the War God speaking to him. After all, the teacher has never transmitted to Joan before."
"Why did the teacher do this?" Lanco was confused.
"How should I know?" Casbert was also puzzled.