Steel Empire
The Unwanted Engagement

Berengar was just about to step out of the Castle when he heard his father's voice calling out to him.

"Listen, don't you mind talking to me in the study now?"

Berengar let out a long breath. Apparently, his plan to visit Gunther and use his connections to implement the four-terrain system had to wait. Steadily, Berengar stepped into his father's study. As he sat on the chair in front of his father's table, he could see his father looking at him with a curious look.

Berengar knew the performance very well, but before he could protest, Sieghard let out a heavy sigh like his own son had done not two minutes before.

"Listen, my son, you are twenty years old and still unmarried.Father understand your reasons; however, a healthy light returns to your skin every day. Whatever you do is good for your health. Now that your childhood weakness seems to have passed, it's time to think about finding a wife."

Berengar repeatedly knocked on the armrest in his chair while putting his face on his right fist, a habit he had developed in his previous life every time he sat down. During these moments, the only sound that could be heard was the clang of a wooden armrest each time a finger touched it.

In Berengar's mind, he was trying to figure out a way to prolong this discussion. She's not ready to get married. After all, she has so much work to do, and dating a woman will spend much of her time currently needed elsewhere. However, he could not tell his father such things, given how the young master's ambitions were on the verge of violating his father's right as a Baron.

Her father may love fashion and luxury, but she's not stupid. He knew Berengar had big plans for the kingdom, but Berengar was young; he would have plenty of time to enact such a policy when he inherited the Baron's position. For now, she must find herself a bride and have children, thus continuing the family line.

Basically Berengar has a 21st century mindset for these kinds of things. The plan is to get married in her thirties to a beautiful woman who is ten years younger than herself after she made a fortune by starting the industrialization of her family's land. However, in his estimation, this would take many years to reach completely.

One of his biggest concerns is that despite the vast resource-rich land his family owns, its inhabitants are sparse, uneducated, and largely unskilled, considering how most of them work in the fields. For now, he cannot take over the family finances without his father's consent; therefore, he cannot implement policies that require large investments such as public education, that will be crucial in creating a new generation of skilled workers in areas that are absolutely necessary for the industrial society to thrive.

Despite being lost in thought, Berengar needed to answer to his father. The man was getting impatient, especially since the only thing the old baron could hear over the past few moments was the sound of a knock produced by Berengar's fingers repeatedly pouncing on the wooden armrest of his chair.

Just as Sieghard was about to scold Berengar, the young master sighed as he sounded sad at his father's request.

"What are you thinking?"

A small smile spread across Sieghard's lips as he stared at his son; the boy eventually grew up.

"You remember your cousin Adela, right? The third daughter of my sister and the daughter of Prince Steiermark."

Berengar rebelled at the thought of marrying his cousin. He had almost forgotten that it was a fairly common practice in the Medieval period for nobles to marry off their sons and daughters to their biological children. Nevertheless, he kept a flat face as he showed respect for his father's wishes.

"Little adela? I haven't seen him for a long time; how old is he now, thirteen?"

Sieghard nodded at his son with a smile on his face.

"He'll be thirteen this year. I heard she developed into an amazing young woman."

Berengar was trying not to frown; he expected an age difference, but this was too young for him to feel comfortable courting; although it might be a little more normal at the moment, it was too young, the 21st century mindset makes him feel like a groomer just by thinking about it. Nevertheless, the more he thought about it, the more interesting the idea became to him. Not because she was interested in her twelve-year-old cousin, but this gave her roughly four years to carry out her plans before she got married. At most, they would be engaged in name only, and she might be able to find a way to get out of the engagement before the girl turns sixteen and she is forced to do the act.

Berengar began to knock on his chair once more as he thought of a monumental decision that would affect his entire life. After a while, he broke the silence between the two.

"I have to meet him first and see what kind of young woman he is now..."

His father was happy, though a little disappointed. He did not fully succeed in convincing his son to accept the engagement upon request, but Berengar did not completely reject it either. There may still be hope for the young man.

After nodding in agreement, Sieghard got up from his seat and escorted Berengar to the door.

"I will send a letter to your uncle and inform him of your request; you will get his response in two weeks."

Berengar nodded; at least, this potential engagement would give him the time he so desperately needed. He probably won't appear before the girl for another three months. At that time, there should have been some significant gains in his muscle mass, and his appearance would have improved tremendously. He would feel embarrassed trying to approach a girl in her current form.

After settling the affair, Berengar was finally able to leave the Castle and meet Gunther to see how he was doing and the land he worked on. Gunther has worked hard, not only tending to the fields but spreading the idea of a four-field system to other farmers. It was only a day, but he managed to convince his three friends to implement such a system in the fields they were engaged in. It seems Berengar doesn't have much to do in terms of deploying the system. Gunther was on good terms with many farmers in the Barony of Kufstein.

All Berengar had to do was sit back and let his competent subordinates spread the industrial and agricultural innovations that he had been stirring. For the remaining month, he will spend his time and energy on improving his fitness and building relationships with the locals.

For the rest of the night, he would return to the castle, bathe, and rest soundly. That was her plan, of course, but just like the day before, when she entered the castle gate, Henrietta ran over and hugged her, asking for her whereabouts.

"Sister, where have you been?"

A worried expression appeared on the little loli's face. Berengar could not help but smile at his cuteness and pat his head.

"I just visited the city and got to know the locals; it was God's job to understand the condition of his people."

The little girl smiled as she felt her head clapped and finally let go of her embrace on her brother.

"It's finally time for dinner! Let's eat!"

He said as he pranced towards the dining room. Berengar followed him; as he did so, he realized the same strange presence he had felt the night before. Lambert's spies are getting sloppy. Just like the night before, Berengar ignored him and proceeded to the dining room. Still, he kept an eye on the area he suspected the spy was hiding. He did not want to receive the bolts behind while he did not pay attention.

After arriving at the dining room with his younger sister, Berengar saw that his family was already sitting down. They had not expected him to be home this fast after all his daily routines over the past few days had kept him busy during this hour. Nevertheless, he had arrived on time for once, his mother and father were happy to see him, but Lambert was clearly not. After sitting on the chair opposite Lambert, Berengar stared at him for a while with an indifferent expression before returning his gaze to the plate in front of him. When she suddenly heard the voice of her mother's affection calling out to her.

"So, my son, did I hear you're finally engaged?"

Berengar almost choked on his food when he heard those words; he looked at his mother with a shocked expression on his face. It had been a few hours since he had discussed this with his father, and he had not fully accepted the engagement. How did it suddenly turn into a completed deal? Was this the arrangement from her father all along? Had the old man already negotiated the engagement by the time they discussed?

Henrietta dropped her fork when she heard those words and looked at Berengar in shock. His brother is getting married? He never even thought about it because he was much older and still single. Although she was very familiar with her older brother, she had absolutely no unhealthy ideas towards him; if anything, she was happy that there was finally someone who could spend the rest of her life with him. After his shock dissipated, he smiled at Berengar and immediately asked all sorts of questions.

"Who is that?"

"Is she pretty?"

"Do I know him?"

Henrietta sends Berengar a barrage of questions while still trying to understand what goes on behind the scenes. Lambert was equally astonished; he did not believe a single noble in the region was interested in making an engagement with Berengar. Damn, he had gone to great lengths to prevent it; only the one acting without his knowledge, or the knowledge of the Count of Tyrol for that matter! The boy did not believe someone in County Tyrol would risk angering the Count. After all, the two had planned together against Berengar for quite some time. He never expected the Count from other regions to personally arrange an engagement with the trash who was his elder brother.

Berengar, finally roused from his shock, glared at his father menacingly, his fists clenched as he struggled with resisting the urge to attack the old Baron for plotting against him. Nevertheless, he was in no position to do so and calm himself down, gritting his teeth as he punished his father for his actions.

"Dad! What are you doing!?!"

Sieghard stared at his wayward son; for too long, he had allowed this boy's lazy behavior, the fact that he showed interest in the proposed marriage was a good enough reason for him to accept it. He knew in his heart that sooner or later, the boy would accept the proposal, so why would he bother wasting time with the introductions between the two cousins.

"You seem interested, so I sped up the process by accepting the Count's terms."

Berengar was furious, so there really was a requirement already set, and his father measured Berengar's level of interest whether he should accept it or not. Berengar was interested, but not for reasons his father believed. He wanted to meet with the girl to know for sure if his plan could work or not. It was too late now, she was already engaged, and there was nothing she could do about it. No longer wanting to eat, Berengar tore the napkin out of his bed and threw it aside as he exited the dining room. He was no longer interested in eating with his family.

After finishing the bath, she returned to her room, where she fell asleep. He would no longer think of things that were out of his control; for now, he would have to focus his efforts on becoming stronger. It only took a month or so before his innovation was fully adopted and placed within the Barony of Kufstein.

On the other side of the Castle, an oil lamp was lit on the table in Lambert's room; he quickly wrote a letter to the Count of Tyrol, his future father-in-law asked for his help in plotting against his brother once again. If his brother had to marry and have a son before Lambert could get rid of him, it would be disastrous for their plan. Only after the oil completely burned from the lamp did Lambert put down his feather pen. Attaching the letter to the pigeon post, he sent his evil plan into the night sky and headed for the Count's residence in Innsbruck.