Chapter 195 In Order for the Titan Family to Attend
Before Mephist could speak, Old Lady Titan interrupted the couple's conversation with displeasure, "What do you mean 'the penniless Titan family'? Do you know what this invitation means!"
"This is a symbol of power and status. Maybe His Majesty the King discovered he miscalculated Holden's military merits before and wants to make it up to him. Anyway, since the noble Princess Kirenya has invited the Titan family, wealth will soon come our way!"
She turned her head and looked at Nina with satisfaction, "My dear daughter, your opportunity has come. There will surely be many young noblemen at this banquet, and even if there aren't, their mothers will be there. You should understand what I'm saying."
Nina blushed. Of course she understood this was a veiled reference to her marriage prospects. If she could find a suitable fiancé at the princess's banquet, the Titan family's future would be secure.
As for what to wear? Nina thought of the dress that had gotten her slapped by her father. She had originally planned to wear it to that ball to dazzle everyone and directly secure a wealthy nobleman as her fiancé, but things hadn't worked out. This time, Nina was full of confidence—she would not miss out on those excellent men!
Even if she didn't meet anyone, she'd heard that Princess Kirenya enjoyed matchmaking. Nina thought that worst case, she and her mother could ask the princess to help introduce her to a good husband.
In the end, the old lady decided to bring Nina and the Mephist couple to attend the banquet. She had originally wanted to bring Holden too, since he had stormed out in anger a few days ago after she upset him, only returning two days ago, and she wanted to do something to cheer him up.
But Holden coldly turned and went upstairs, leaving only a "Not going," and ignored the old lady no matter how much she shouted at his door.
With no other choice, the old lady could only bring three people. As for Candy, she wished people would think Candy had nothing to do with the Titan family, and there was no way she'd bring her along to embarrass them.
Trion actually didn't want to go. She had a gut feeling this banquet wasn't simple, and one wrong step could lead them into a trap.
But Old Lady Titan wouldn't indulge her the way she indulged Holden, looking at Trion coldly and threatened, "If you don't want to go, fine. Divorce Mephist right now. I can take the opportunity to find Mephist a wife from a noble family. As for you, go back to your poor family."
Trion's eyes reddened with anger. She didn't dare defy Old Lady Titan and could only curse silently in her heart: You're the poor one! The Titan family has already fallen so far, yet you still have the nerve to call others poor! What a blind old woman!
The group got into the carriage and arrived at Princess Kirenya's estate.
As soon as they got off the carriage, Nina couldn't help but cry out, "This is huge!"
Trion, embarrassed by this, opened her fan to cover half her face. Old Lady Titan also thought Nina was making a fuss, though she too rarely saw such a luxurious estate—the last time was a few years ago when she visited the Virlet estate!
The person in charge of reception at the entrance verified the invitation, and a handsome attendant led the Titan family group inside. This time, with Old Lady Titan's reminder, Nina controlled herself and didn't exclaim again, though her eyes were wide as she looked around, unable to take everything in.
Especially those noble ladies and young misses—their dresses were so gorgeous, and the jewelry on their hands and necks so expensive. Nina felt bitter inside, remembering when Anne left Titan Manor, that bitch called Elisa had specifically come to take away her most valuable jewelry.
So what if those things originally belonged to Anne? Nina thought resentfully. Anne hadn't asked her to return them, which meant she was giving them to her, right? Why did she come back later to take them? How shameless!
If she could have worn that jewelry to this banquet, she wouldn't be outshone like this!
Compared to Nina, the old lady seemed somewhat reserved. She carefully observed the guests around her—they spoke eloquently, dressed elegantly, and any random cufflink or bracelet on their hands, if she could pick it up and hide it, would be enough to let the family live three years at their previous standard.
The old lady suppressed her greedy gaze. She didn't dare offend anyone here, nor could she bring herself to beg.
When she first married into the family, the Titan family wasn't the hollow shell with only a noble title that it was now. But the clan members were like insatiable parasites, gnawing the family down to nothing but skin.
Her husband and eldest son were both useless, and only her second son Holden was discovered to have combat talent. So the old lady found a way to send Holden to knight training camp, hoping he could win back glory for the family, and shamelessly sought out eligible noble young ladies everywhere, hoping Holden could advance further with help from his wife's family.
That Holden could successfully propose to Anne was something Old Lady Titan never dared to dream of. Duke and viscount might sound similar, but the difference was like that between an elephant and an ant. With Anne, daughter of a duke, marrying Holden, the benefits the Titan family would receive were almost endless.
Of course, Holden was also capable. During his three years in the southern campaign, he climbed from the most ordinary knight to knight captain, and finally became knight commander. Old Lady Titan felt the Titan family's future was absolutely bright, and she was no longer satisfied with her husband being just a viscount.
If Holden could do it, why couldn't he become an earl, or even a marquis in the future?
It was at this time that the Virlet family suffered a tragedy. Except for Anne who had married out, everyone who stayed at Virlet Manor was brutally murdered by assassins. This once illustrious great family was left with only Anne.
Old Lady Titan was no longer afraid of Anne. She had no one to back her up, so why should such a delicate woman alone control such staggering wealth?
Conveniently, Holden sent word that he had used his military merits to obtain the King's permission to marry Candy.
Though the old lady was angry that Holden had impulsively wasted his military merits, thinking that Candy was the first female knight commander, she felt this marriage wasn't bad either—with Anne's money, Candy's reputation, and Holden continuing to fight on the battlefield, the Titan family wouldn't stagnate.
But then Anne sought an audience with His Majesty the King, forcibly divorced Holden, and took all her wealth with her. The Titan family instantly became an empty shell again.