Chapter 174: Chapter 174- for the wedding
The Burg Eltz Lord still lived in the old mansion, though he occupied a smaller, separate building. Between his residence and Daniel and Tiffany’s home lay a man-made lake, serene in the morning light.
That early morning, the Lord was taking a leisurely stroll along the lakeside when he spotted Morrison approaching with Tiffany.
Though advanced in age and nearly semi-retired, the Lord was still kept informed of all matters concerning the Burg Eltz family. Daniel had dutifully reported every detail, including the news that Lilian and Morrison had reconciled.
As they drew closer, the Lord’s sharp voice cut through the morning calm.
"You brat! Come over here!"
Wooden raised an eyebrow.
"He said that?"
Without a second thought, Morrison immediately "betrayed" Daniel.
"Yeah. Otherwise, I’d probably be planning the wedding by now."
There was no other choice—Morrison was eager to get married, but Daniel kept holding him back. Only the Lord could put pressure on Daniel.
So, Morrison had no choice but to "betray" his father.
Wooden strode toward Daniel and Tiffany’s residence, voice firm as he declared,
"I’m going to have a word with him!"
Morrison couldn’t hide his delight and trailed happily behind the Lord.
Daniel knew his father’s temper. Earlier, when he’d mentioned the topic, he had been deliberately vague, leaving Wooden with the impression that neither side really wanted the marriage. In reality, it was Daniel who was holding things back.
Lilian, having just finished her morning routine, came downstairs—and immediately sensed trouble when she saw Morrison walking shoulder to shoulder with Wooden.
"You’re the one stopping them from marrying, aren’t you?" Wooden asked Daniel directly.
Daniel froze, awkwardly glaring at Morrison.
Morrison, meanwhile, casually avoided Daniel’s gaze and instead looked at Lilian with affectionate warmth.
"Dad, we’re about to have breakfast. Why don’t you join us?" Daniel offered, trying to smooth over the tension.
Wooden snorted.
"I’ve already eaten."
The Lord’s schedule was different from everyone else’s—waking up around four or five in the morning and going to bed early. Waiting for breakfast with them would have left him starving.
Judging from Daniel’s evasive expression, Wooden quickly figured out that Daniel was the one holding things back. Logically, it made no sense for Morrison not to want to marry after finally reconciling with Lilian.
After a brief chat with Morrison, it was clear—the young man was desperate to get married. Wooden made up his mind immediately.
"I’ll have someone pick a date in the next few days, and we’ll get this wedding done!"
He continued, lecturing as usual:
"Girls will get married sooner or later. Better to marry early, have kids early—it’s better for her health. While both families are still strong enough to help care for the children, you’ll be free to enjoy life together once they’re grown!"
Daniel could only hold back tears, thinking: my daughter is mine, and no one else can understand how hard it is to let her go.
He protested,
"Dad, marriage isn’t a joke! How can you rush into this?"
Lilian had just reconciled with Morrison, and Daniel hadn’t even been prepared for the idea of marriage. Now, hearing it proposed this way, he felt completely unready. No wonder he had refused Linda’s suggestion earlier that evening.
But Wooden was the undisputed authority of the household. He shot Daniel a sharp glare.
"If you like each other, get married already! Don’t let that brat waste any more time!"
The words hit like thunder. Everyone in the room stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what they were hearing.
Morrison immediately moved to clear his name.
"Lord Wooden, I never meant for my relationship with Lilian to be a joke. I am sincere—I truly want to marry her and welcome her into the Mos family."
Daniel opened his mouth, ready to protest again, but Wooden waved a hand dismissively.
"I’ll have someone choose an auspicious date and let you know. With your two families’ capabilities, even if the wedding were tomorrow, I’m confident you could pull off a perfect ceremony."
With that, Wooden strode away.
Morrison’s grin stretched impossibly wide—there was no turning it back now. His only frustration was with Lilian. This was her marriage, and the Lord had gone ahead and decided the date without even asking her opinion.
But then Morrison realized: even if Wooden had asked her on the spot, there was no way she could have refused.
At first, Lilian had thought she could take things slow, enjoying her time with Morrison without rushing into marriage. But now that they were truly together, she found herself wanting more and more. She wanted the security of officially being his woman, the joy of being by his side at all times, and, not least, she couldn’t stop thinking about the weddings Morrison kept mentioning.
So, the family quietly accepted Wooden’s decision, waiting for him to pick an auspicious day for the wedding.
Saturday evening. Marylin had agreed to accompany Karl to his school’s dance, and though she wasn’t particularly thrilled, she reminded herself that she had made a promise and should show up looking her best—not losing face in front of him.
The past few days had been busy. She had attended multiple job interviews, and her skills were undeniable; several companies had extended offers. In the end, she picked the best one, accepting a managerial position she was very satisfied with. Everything in Burg Eltz had been going smoothly so far—apart from the inexplicable Karl next door. But that, she decided, was nothing to fear.
Marylin knew men too well: they chased what they couldn’t have and lost interest once they got it. Eventually, he would vanish, leaving her alone—no effort needed on her part.
Determined to look stunning for the dance, she started preparing early. First, a face mask, then a manicure. Before she could even begin painting her nails, the doorbell rang.
Marylin knew it had to be Karl. She had barely moved in, and hardly anyone knew her address. With her face still masked, she opened the door—intentionally leaving herself in her most unpolished state.
She thought men often adored women for the flawless images they presented—beautiful makeup, perfect hair—but rarely saw them in their raw, unfiltered form. If they did, she believed, half of them would back off.
Now, standing there in baggy loungewear, messy hair, and a stark white face mask, Marylin expected Karl to recoil.
Instead, he froze for a moment, stunned.
He was dressed in a sharp black suit, every line tailored perfectly. His posture was straight, his face unshielded by glasses for the first time, revealing striking, unguarded features. His dark eyes gleamed like twin stars, deep and mesmerizing, leaving Marylin unable to look away.
This wasn’t the nerdy boy she had known. This was a mature, confident gentleman—charming, magnetic, entirely captivating.
Karl noticed her stunned gaze and allowed himself a small, knowing smile. He had deliberately left off his glasses, aware of the difference it made. Today, he wanted to impress her. Whatever side of himself he could show, he wanted it to be for her.
Marylin, for her part, had revealed her most unpolished side—and yet, he didn’t flinch. He smiled at her anyway.
"You’re smiling," she said, a little flustered, turning away as she walked inside.
"Why?" Karl followed, gently closing the door behind him. "I’m smiling because you’re beautiful."
Marylin raised an eyebrow, gesturing at her mask. "Beautiful? Right now? Aren’t you being a little... dishonest?"
Karl’s smile deepened, unbothered. "No. I mean your inner beauty. How could I possibly care only about the surface?"
Marylin froze.
Well played. Full marks for charm.
"My inner... beauty?"
Marylin blinked, a hint of skepticism in her voice. But she didn’t stop there.
"You even know my inner thoughts? Then tell me—what exactly is going on inside my head?"
Karl’s smile deepened, a teasing glint lighting up his eyes. "I think... you’re stubborn, a little dramatic, and secretly... curious about me."
Marylin froze mid-step, caught off guard. Her cheeks warmed, but she tried to maintain her composure. "Curious about you? That’s hardly the full picture."
Karl stepped closer, lowering his voice just enough that only she could hear. "Maybe not. But I’m willing to figure out the rest... if you let me."
Marylin’s heart skipped a beat. She wasn’t sure whether to be annoyed or... intrigued.