Lin seemed to shrink, when her aunt continued to yell at her, until she had finally run out of breath.
"Um, how about I just don't sign it?", Ivan asked tentatively. At the same time these words left his mouth he could see his mentor throwing him a look full of pity. And indeed Jenny, who had just got her breath back, once again started to yell, but this time he was the target.
"What? So you think my niece isn't good enough for you?"
When he heard this question, Ivan wanted to cry. First she was angry at Lin because she signed the marriage contract, and know that he had proposed an easy solution, she was angry at him.
Without a way to stop her, they could only wait for her to calm down.
"So what are the two going to do about this?", she waved the document through the air.
Ivan didn't dare to say anything, since his last proposal had lead to him being yelled at for at least five minutes.
Lin looked at him and then said, "Sorry Ivan, but you will have to sign this. If not I will try anything in my power to do it, even if I have to use force."
Everyone looked at her in surprise. They had thought that even though the prophecy had forced her to put this into the chest, she didn't really care about it. Maybe she would have even preferred for him not to sign.
"Why are you insisting on him signing it?", for the first time Miranda mixed into the conversation.
Seeing that everyone was looking at her questioning, Lin took a deep breath before explaining. "It wasn't just that I had to insert the contract into the gift. I too have to make sure that he signs it. And that at any cost."
"But why? Is it really only because of the family rules?"
"No it isn't. Each prophecy made by the main family has three parts. The first one is a certain event that will happen, in this case me being forced to use my pet during the tournament. Then there is a part, that describes the actions one should use to get the good outcome. Which would be the gift and the marriage. The last part are two outcomes, one which will occur if the second part is fulfilled and another which will occur if not." She then paused for a bit. "I can't tell you everything about the last part, but both outcomes have something to do with my family. Besides that there is also something concerning only me, which I can tell you about.
It isn't anything specific but if I don't get married then I would at most live until I'm fifty. Which is also the reason that my grandpa agreed."
When they heard the last part everyone sucked in a deep breath, except Ivan, who didn't really understand the significance of it.
"Really? It said that you won't live longer than fifty if you don't marry Ivan?", Jenny asked in a concerned voice.
"Yes. Of course it isn't sure, how long I could live if we marry, but it should be the same as everyone else.", which depended on ones strength as well as luck.
"Then how is the success rate of these prophecies?"
"According to the family records, they were never wrong. And there are more than two hundred recorded cases."
"Ivan. Sign it.", Jenny forcefully put the contract before him and then starred at him, daring him to refuse.
*Damn, don't I get any choice in this? I already got ice cold wife. Do I really need another one? ... Even though she looks just as beautiful. *, Ivan whined in his heart, but didn't dare show it on the outside. He could only pick up the pen and sign at the intended location.
<< Congratulation you have married Lin Tang.
Luck +1
Remark: I don't even know what to say anymore. >>
<< Congratulations, Lin Tang has entered the Hope family. >>
<< Congratulation, with the marriage to Lin Tang, all you marriages have been made official. Each member of the marriage will gain one 'Ring of Marriage'. >>
The next moment something on his and Lin's finger shimmered and a plain but beautiful ring appeared on their ring finger.
<< Ring of Marriage, Artifact
This ring is a sign that you are officially married and the marriage is witnessed and enforced by the gods.
Wearer of the ring are under the following effects:
'Blessing of the Gods' : You are blessed by the gods. This improves your interaction with the energy of the Heavens.
'Blessing of the World': You are blessed by the World. This improves your interaction with the energy of the Earth.
'Blessing of the Spirit': You are blessed by the Grand Spirit. This improves your interaction with the energy of the Spirit.
'Blessing of the Grand Chaos': You are blessed by the Grand Chaos. Who said that one had to follow all the rules? Maybe there will be a surprise.
'Curse of the System': The System is more likely to create additional rules for you. One daily quest with a penalty upon failure.
This ring can not be removed. Upon death the ring will collect the soul and teleport to the owner of the main Ring, Ivan.
Bearer of the Rings can sense each others location and condition.
Bearer of the Rings can only have sexual intercourse with each other.
Bearer of the Rings can enter the Ring Space. !! Currently unavailable. To unlock this feature an Artifact grade independent space is required. !!
Bearer of the Rings can access the Blood Linage !! Currently unavailable. To unlock this feature an Artifact grade blood crystal is required. !!
Bearer of the Rings can access the Herb Space !! Currently unavailable. To unlock this feature an Artifact grade herb space is required. !!
The Power of Growth. This ring has the ability to grow together with the bearer.
Magic Power + 10
Luck +5
Inventory Space +10
>>