Betrothal Gift

 "Since Sir had taken care of me in the capital, I will do all I can to help you in the future," Ryker promised the man.

 While promise can be cheap, he did not intend to renegade his words. After all, his parents did not raise him to be an ungrateful person.

 The Count merely smiled in return before pouring another cup to him. The two soon talk about the other subjects, mostly of the Secret Realm and Ryker's plan for his journey, all while Ryker's new slave remained at the side, feeling a bit neglected.

-x-

 After his talk with the Count, Ryker went to Hal Family Estate, to talk of his engagement with Shuri. The Count had told him that while the higher-ups of Hal Family agreed to the union, the finer details should be discussed between him and them.

 So, he find himself in a meeting room, facing the three most important people in Hal Family, the patriarch aka Solance's father, Shuri's father, and Elder Hal, the founder of the Hal Family and Shuri's grandfather.

 "You already talk to the Count, right?" Elder Hal asked first, going straight to business.

 "Yes," Ryker replied, his tone and expression the epitome of calmness.

 "Good. So you should know that we agreed with the marriage,"

 "Yes,"

 "While the marriage is confirmed, there still a lot to discuss, namely the time of wedding, where it will be held, and the betrothal gift," Ryker had wry smile at the mention of gift.

 The Count had told him of it, and he had read the custome of marriage of Boluron Continent, which is pretty much the same in any nations of the continent.

 Betrothal gift is essentially something given by the groom to the bride's family, to prove his sincerity for the union between him and the bride. 

 The betrothal gift itself did not need to be expensive but it needed to be sincere or make it seem so. After all, the bride's family will essentially gave their daughter to the groom, so, they needed some way to make sure she will be treated right, which is the reason for the betrothal gift.

 Of course, the betrothal gifts depend on the groom's capability. Considering his wealth, he would not give them paltry sum, but he could not give them too much either, or it would be bragging and might strain his relationship with the bride's family, in this case, Hal Family.

 As for why he did not need to give betrothal gift during his marriage with Ina, its mostly because of his status as cultivator to the mortal is akin to a lord to a peasant. For him to pick their daughter is already considered a gift enough, though he do gave a late betrothal gift to the entire village in the form of loot he obtained from the bandits.

 As for Era, Miriam, and Mashia, he already did it with them, not to mention he already proven his sincerity and desire to take them as his lovers. As the representive of all three, and adopted father of one of them, even if it's just a recent decision, the Count had told him the wedding rings would suffice.

 For Lisha, it's a bit complicated. Similar to the trio, she did not have any parents left alive. However, because of her status as a widow, it complicate things. Thankfully, the custom for widow is a bit more lenient. 

 As long as she agreed to the marriage, she would be the one to receive the betrothal gift instead of her family, so there is no need for the discussion.

 So, Ryker only need to think of a suitable betrothal gift for Shuri and Hal Family. Thankfully, he had made some preparation for it.

 Ryker took something out of his storage ring before presenting it in front of the three men. They take a look before a look of surprise formed on their faces.

 "A suitable gift," Elder Hal nodded, approving of his gift. The other two also seem to agree with their father.

 Ryker smiled. Considering Hal Family is the family that involved itself in the military, guards, and protection of the military, a weapon would be an appropriate gift for the family.

 Of course, he could not settle for something common, so all the weapon he took out were created by him. He presented 10 swords, all middle-grade Genesis Armament. Though, they are not the best weapon he gave to the Hal Family. 

 The best was a twin dagger, also a middle-grade Genesis Armament, though being slightly better in quality compared to the swords. It is also the reason why the three approved of the gift.

 For a betrothal gift, a portion of it will be given to the bride. Him giving them the twin daggers told him he knew of this, as Shuri is a dagger user. He subtly told them the daggers were meant for the young mistress of Hal Family, which show of his sincerity as well as his knowledge of his bride.

 Of course, aside from the weapons, he also gifted them some resources, though it mostly out of courtesies, like giving coins for mortal betrothal gift.

 With the betrothal gift approved, Ryker expected the next part would be smooth, or so he hope.

-x-

 Thankfully, his prediction proven correct as the three men did not make it hard for him, with the exception being Shuri's father, who gave him a threatening talk about treating his daughter correct.

 Then again, he believe it is something all father, well, all father who loved their daughter would do. Ryker and the other two did not stop him, as they all knew he merely doing this for his daughter, though Elder Hal did stop him went the man went of the tangent.

 After some more discussion, namely of the location as well as the time of the wedding, Ryker left the mansion and head towards the cottage. Though it is now devoid of life with the exception being Ina and his new slave.

 The reason of the absence of the rest of his lovers is because of the marriage. While he already took almost all of their chastity, it is a custom to separate the bride and groom, or in this case, brides and groom until the day of the wedding.

 While he wanted to do it with Ina, in the end, he hold himself back, knowing he should hold his lust for the near future, though he do get intimate with the brunette, kissing and some perverse touch, though not going beyond it.

 However, it still not enough to inhibit his desire. He only grateful the date of the wedding merely a week a way or he might not be able to hold himself.