Chapter 29: Go for it, Brother-in-law 6

Jasmine might have a rugged appearance, but she was diligent and meticulous. After gathering the items that needed washing and changing, she took them away and returned a while later to say that Slan invited her to join him for dinner.

Having spent the entire day in a whirlwind of activity, Xining was famished and gladly accepted the invitation. Stepping out of the guest room, she realized just how massive the estate was. The hallway stretched for a full four hundred meters, and it took about ten minutes of walking just to reach the main hall downstairs. The hall was so vast that it could easily host a royal ball for every eligible girl in the kingdom, including a Cinderella-esque debutante. Xining felt quite depressed; with such opulent lighting, it would be hard to find a man who could match the scale. What was Maria even doing with all this space?

She bypassed the main hall and turned toward a smaller side hall, walking for another five minutes. This so-called "smaller" side hall was still over a hundred square meters, with a table in the center large enough to seat forty people. Seeing such an enormous table, Xining’s mouth twitched slightly. Even though the original host came from a wealthy family, they had nothing like this level of display. This was pure, boundless extravagance from a nouveau riche.

"Miss Su Yun!" Slan stood up to welcome her. He was still wearing his black mage’s robes and an open-front long coat, looking as if he could pick up his staff and head into battle at any moment; he even dressed this way for dinner. Slan was tall and handsome, truly the protagonist of this world, enveloped in a male lead’s aura. Seeing him, Xining confirmed once again that the original host must have been quite satisfied with this brother-in-law. Otherwise, even with Maria being such a jerk, the host would not have chosen to forgive her.

"Please, sit," Slan said. His upbringing was top-tier, and every gesture was noble and graceful. The table was very long, so Slan sat at the head, and Xining took the first seat on his left.

"Where is Yeyu?" Slan asked, looking at the empty seat on his right, where a place setting had also been laid out.

The maid nearby curtsied and replied, "I do not know where Master Yeyu has gone, sir."

Slan looked slightly displeased. "Was he not told that we have an honored guest today?"

The maid lowered her head, her voice exceptionally soft. "He was informed."

Slan could only sigh, then turned to explain to Xining, "My younger brother has been like this since he was a child. After our parents passed away, there was no one to properly discipline him. Please forgive us."

Xining searched through the original host's memories. Yeyu Gamio was Slan’s younger brother, four years his junior. At seventeen, he was still studying at the Magic Academy. The original host could not use magic and thus could not attend the academy, so they rarely interacted. Her name alone branded her as a supporting character; the protagonist’s name was agonizingly long, while the supporting characters’ names were so short they were easily forgotten. Since it was a school holiday, he should have been at the estate. It seemed he was just a playful youth who had forgotten the time for dinner.

As the maid poured the aperitif, Slan smiled and made polite conversation. "If you need anything at all, just let me know. Do not stand on ceremony."

Xining thought for a moment. "I would like to write a letter to my sister, asking her to send some of my clothes. I only have what I am wearing, and I have no change of clothes."

"Very well. Write it after dinner, and I will have a messenger deliver it," Slan agreed. She had actually asked for her clothes to be sent; it seemed she really did intend to stay and help.

Xining smiled. "I would like you to write it for me; that way, we can have another opportunity to communicate."

Slan was stunned for a moment, then gave a wry smile. "Very well."

The aperitif was finished, but Yeyu still hadn’t returned, so Slan ordered the maid to serve the meal. The entire side hall felt empty with only the two of them dining. This was the case for most magic families, not just the Gamios or the Pomfret family. Ten years ago, during the Great War against the Demon Race, almost every notable mage had perished to kill the Demon King and seal him away.

Originally, only males could inherit family estates, but now that the adults of every magic family were nearly gone, they left behind only children. Consequently, the King decreed that heirs would inherit from their parents, with no collateral branches allowed to covet the property; if there were no male heirs, females could inherit. This was how Maria became the head of the Pomfret family. However, if a woman married and took her husband’s surname, she would automatically forfeit her position.

Reflecting on this, Xining said to Slan, "I have a private matter I would like to discuss with you," and glanced around.

After Slan dismissed all the maids, Xining began her scheme. She spoke of the family's hardships and the instructions her parents gave before leaving for the final battle—a story so moving that Xining almost shed tears herself. Ten years ago, when their parents died in battle, Slan was only eleven. Losing their parents while still a child, having to raise his younger brother, and maintaining a vast estate—the hardship was immense.

Slan, feeling a deep sense of empathy, sighed repeatedly. After offering some words of comfort, he promised that he would never treat Maria or her poorly.

"Brother-in-law!" Xining pushed her agenda. "After my sister marries you, I hope she does not change her surname. She will be known as your wife to the public, but she will remain the head of the Pomfret family. I hope that when your children grow up, those with talent and strong magical ability can take the Pomfret name and inherit the estate."

"This..." Slan hesitated. After all, the King's decree only allowed the next generation of fallen mages to enjoy those benefits, and the generation after that would not. It would certainly be improper for a child of his to inherit the Pomfret estate later.

Xining immediately tossed him a "gift package": "Brother-in-law, do not worry. You will have more than one son. In a prophecy, it is said my sister will give birth to a second son, who will possess an exceptionally high magical talent."

Upon hearing that he would be blessed with many children, Slan beamed.

Xining continued to stir him up, painting a picture of family prosperity and social harmony. "You will have at least two sons. And look at my sister—she is strong and healthy; she could easily give birth to ten or eight more. Think about it: families are usually inherited by the eldest, while the second son either becomes a collateral branch or has to start his own household. Your second son won't have to worry about not having an estate to inherit. Both sons will become family heads; isn't that wonderful? From this day on, the Gamio and Pomfret families will truly become one."

To prevent the Pomfret family from perishing, she ruthlessly sold out the host’s own sister. Thinking about how Maria would likely discard the Pomfret name once she married, who else was there to sell out? Letting the second son—who would never inherit the family head position if the eldest were still alive—become a leader instead was practically repaying evil with kindness. There was no need for thanks; they should just hurry up and get married after the children were born.

Slan thought it sounded like a good idea and agreed that as long as they had more than two sons, one would inherit the Pomfret surname.

A preliminary agreement was reached over dinner, and Xining was delighted. Completing this mission was within reach. Staying here was a wise and brilliant decision; if the original plot had played out, the host might have already been dead, and the Pomfret estate would have been nothing but a crater still smoldering with ash.

After the meal, as the dishes were cleared, Slan ordered the items for writing the letter to be brought to the table: paper, ink, a quill, an envelope, and the Gamio family seal and wax stamp. The seal was used to press into the hot red wax on the back of the envelope, proving that the letter had originated from the Gamio estate.