The System Presents a Second Candidate

Raymond was relieved when he heard the words of the Light Messenger. The heavy burden that had weighed on his heart lifted, and he sighed with relief.

He immediately took his leave from the other messengers and rushed back to the Radiant Church to report everything that had happened at the Holy Light Alliance Headquarters to Rowan.

As Rowan listened to Raymond's report, he fell deep into thought. One year—just the right amount of time to earn the reward for having a child. But even so, preparations must be made.

From Raymond's account, it was clear that other factions were eyeing Bluean Duchy, preparing to carve it up. Only the Radiant Church, with its immense power, was unaffected by such petty territorial ambitions.

Rowan summoned his Knight Commander, Blake. A hulking figure with a fierce countenance, Blake was a man driven by his thirst for battle—a true war fanatic. He had been chosen by Rowan himself, a symbol of his strategy to combine Eastern wisdom with battle-hardened resolve to ascend to his current position.

Raymond recounted the events to Blake, his fury rising with every word. Blake's eyes widened with rage, his voice booming as he declared, "Your Holiness, they dared to bully us? We should show them what happens when you provoke the Radiant Church! It's always us doing the bullying—no one dares to treat us this way!"

Raymond joined in, fuming. "This entire visit to the Holy Light Alliance was a humiliation. They treat us like prey. The Light Messenger may pretend to uphold the rules, but he's clearly siding with them. They don't respect us at all."

Rowan stood, his expression stern. "Everyone back home, prepare for war. We'll make them regret ever trying to bully the Radiant Church. We'll make them pay a hundred times over."

After the two men left, Rowan's thoughts were interrupted by the familiar voice of the system.

Ding! A new candidate has been detected: Evelyn, possessing the Emperor's Body—a born leader. The larger the number of people under her command, the faster her cultivation. It is recommended that the host marry her.

Rowan processed the information, a thought crossing his mind: Finally, a second candidate has appeared.

Meanwhile, Evelyn's brow furrowed deeply. Her once radiant face now clouded with worry, and her fair skin seemed to have lost some of its luster.

Evelyn's family had long been a prosperous business dynasty, involved in everything from precious jewelry to everyday necessities. Their influence stretched across bustling cities and remote villages alike. Thanks to her sharp business acumen, the family had amassed a fortune, making them one of the most influential families in Bluean Duchy.

But now, they had drawn the attention of Crown Prince Derrick.

Derrick was arrogant, greedy, and ruthless. Using his royal status, he ruthlessly targeted Evelyn's family's businesses. With the power of his position, he enacted unfair policies, ruthlessly suppressing their commercial activities.

He sent his officials to harass Evelyn's stores, creating all sorts of problems. As a result, Evelyn's family was on the brink of ruin—once-thriving stores now stood deserted, their goods unsold, and their financials in disarray.

But Derrick was not content with simply destroying the family's business. His greedy eyes were now fixed on Evelyn herself. With her beauty rivaling the blooming flowers, Evelyn captivated him completely. Derrick, already notorious for his vices, decided to marry her, demanding that Evelyn's family hand over half their wealth as her dowry.

Evelyn's heart burned with anger and despair. She refused to be forced into becoming his toy.

The family meeting was heavy with tension as they debated their next move. The family patriarch, Leona, Evelyn's father, was the first to speak, his expression dark, his voice filled with resolve and fury.

"I will never allow this marriage," he declared. "This is nothing less than pushing Evelyn into a pit of fire. And demanding half of our wealth for a dowry? This is nothing short of banditry."

The third elder, frowning with worry, spoke up. "Given the current state of the family, we have no choice but to agree. We cannot oppose Derrick. I suspect the Emperor Montrey is behind this—otherwise, Derrick wouldn't be so brazen."

The second elder, with a different perspective, slowly replied, "I believe this entire situation stems from Evelyn. She must bear the consequences. Agreeing to Derrick's terms is the only way forward. By doing so, we tie ourselves to the crown, and in time, our business will recover."

Leona's face darkened. "That's nonsense! Derrick targeted our business first, then he decided to marry Evelyn. Don't try to twist the facts."

His voice trembled with anger. The suggestion that his daughter had caused their troubles was unacceptable.

The second elder retorted stubbornly, "Who's to say Derrick didn't target Evelyn first? Perhaps they plotted this together to gain more wealth. Otherwise, why would he demand such unreasonable terms?"

Leona stood up in a fury, his voice loud and unwavering. "You're speaking nonsense! Anyone with common sense can see through this."

The patriarch's anger reached its peak, unwilling to let the second elder slander his daughter.

Just then, the eldest elder spoke calmly, "Patriarch, we must consider the bigger picture. It seems we may have no choice but to sacrifice Evelyn. While the second elder's suggestion may seem far-fetched, it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility."

Leona's eyes blazed with determination. "I will not sacrifice Evelyn's happiness for the family's sake. I will not tolerate this injustice."

Only Leona knew how extraordinary Evelyn was. She was not only smart but had also demonstrated exceptional leadership and decision-making in managing the family's business. Leona always consulted her on important matters, trusting her insights. Her ability to see through complicated situations and find the best solutions had earned her the respect of many within the family.

The second elder, his voice insistent, spoke again, "This is a family decision. You can't go against it. If you keep opposing, you'll ruin us all."

The eldest elder spoke again, "Before I came here, I consulted the family's senior members. They all agree that Evelyn should marry Derrick. However, the dowry demands need to be negotiated, and we should try to reduce them."