Nothing embarrassing the two parties happened during the dinner. Earl Hessa was hospitable and hospitable, and Jenkins also behaved extremely properly. Although his etiquette tends to be feminine and has some characteristics unique to the Northern Kingdom, his undisguised nobility still won the appreciation of Count Hesha and his wife.
With the exception of Jenkins, the young people at the dinner table are not qualified to enter the conversation rashly. After this pleasant and relaxing dinner, Earl Hessa invited Jenkins to chat in the study.
Hathaway's expression was very worried. She wanted to say something, but was stopped by her mother.
It wasn't until the figures of the two men disappeared behind the door that the Countess said softly:
"Haiwei, at this time, you'd better not say anything, this is the most correct way."
In order to show the importance of this dinner, the countess wears the emerald necklace that was given to him by her grandmother when she was married. This necklace will only be passed on to girls as a dowry, and it is at least a thousand years old.
"I hope this necklace can be left to you, not your sister. That little fool, until now, thinks that the son of the Caliph family really likes her."
She said meaningfully.
"Even the craziest gambler knows that he who hedges his bets never ends well."
After a long silence, the red-haired girl retorted in a low voice.
The eavesdropping boy shivered and covered his face as if he didn't see anything.
"It's not hedging, honey..."
The elegant smile on the Countess's face has not changed at all:
"He just saw the chaos in the kingdom, so in order to avoid the worst outcome, he had to make some preparations in advance."
"Prepare in advance? No, I'm sorry, please forgive me, but I may have misheard you. Did you just mean that the queen is dying?"
Frowning, Jenkins repeated the big news:
"You have a great sense of humor. When I met Her Majesty in Beldyran a few weeks ago, she looked very healthy."
"This is not a very secret thing. In fact, there are not many people who know about it."
The count sat behind the desk, clasping his hands on the table. Behind him is a huge oil painting of portraits of people. The person in the painting is himself, holding a naval saber, and his entire chest is covered with medals.
Jenkins nodded and leaned forward, "So, why did you tell me this?"
"Young people these days can be really forthright."
The Count looked into Jenkins' eyes and said:
"I saw the potential for chaos and wanted to plan for the worst. I think you'll understand what I'm saying."
"certainly."
He shrugged, then raised one leg and leaned back comfortably on the back of the chair:
"so what?"
"I hope you can protect at least one of my sons at some point."
"I feel that you are more straightforward than me."
He tapped his fingers on the handle of the seat, and, as Miss Stuart had said, kept speaking a little slower to show he was in control of the conversation.
"Then what can I get?"
He suddenly realized that this might be an opportunity.
"You really are not as innocent as Hathaway imagined. How can someone who can be favored by the Orthodox Church be a pure white paper?"
The count sighed, and without waiting for Jenkins to continue speaking, he added:
"But that's what I'm looking for. If I didn't believe in your ability to let the church choose to protect my son at the most critical time, how could I meet you at such a sensitive moment?"
He opened the drawer of the nearby desk and placed a stack of documents on the table:
"Here are some of the assets I own, including..."
"Monsieur Count, I think we should be sincere to each other."
What Jenkins cares about is not gold pounds, and accepting these things is equivalent to giving someone else an excuse.
"I knew it."
The count laughed without any surprise, and put those things back in the drawer.
"I can now confirm that the dinner tonight is indeed valuable. Then, I agree to marry Hathaway to you."
Jenkins felt his heart stop for a second, but he wasn't sure if it was an illusion, since he wouldn't die if it stopped.
The earl's study area is not as large as imagined, and the only lighting tool used now is the gas lamp on the wall. The gas lamp had obviously been in use for a considerable time, so the light it emitted was somewhat dim.
Jenkins extremely hoped that under the dim light, the Earl would not find himself showing a panicked expression for less than a second.
"Hathaway belongs to herself, I don't want you to use her as a trading tool."
He finally said the lines of the third-rate novels that he hated the most.
"I said this when I was young, but not on such a respectable occasion, but in the granary of a small farm. What we traded was a year's lease preference for cattle."
Jenkins' curiosity made him want to know the continuation of the earl's story, but now is not a good time to inquire.
"My promise above is still valid. At the same time, I can promise to open part of my information channels for your use."
This is equivalent to a promise to cooperate with the church, and the object of his open information channels is naturally the church.
"I appreciate your proposal, but I hate your attitude."
Jenkins said bluntly, seeing the formulaic smile still on the Earl's face.
"That's the only thing that makes me feel that you're really a young man. But you're bound to say yes, aren't you? It's good for both parties, and we..."
"I think the honorable Earl Hesha must know the Galvin family that was investigated a few days ago and is related to the cult."
Jenkins suddenly interrupted him extremely impolitely.
"certainly."
He was surprised and didn't understand the meaning of Jenkins' introduction of this topic:
"Why, are you trying to say that I will end up self-destructing like that idiot who provoked you?"
"No no no."
Jenkins shook his head, he would not do such a boring thing:
"At the same time, some prohibited arms were also found in the Galvin family. In this sensitive period, anyone who has anything to do with that batch of arms will be out of luck. You should also agree with this point of view."
"I think so."
The Count nodded slightly.
"Well, I have some interesting letters in my hands. No, no, no, don't make such a face, Count Hessa. I knew it, and you must immediately understand what I mean. It's very interesting, isn't it? But I understand that if a military person like you does not engage in the business of reselling arms, then he will be sorry for his position."