Her

After her loud query, Betty's sky-blue eyes fixed intently on Du Chen, as if to pierce through his very soul.

In truth, Betty had posed a question bordering on idiocy—who would be so foolish as to reveal the name of their beloved? Wouldn't that be tantamount to pushing her directly beneath the Batuk Family's the Blade? Yet, Betty still asked, for the Demoness Betty was the millennia-old Thunder Halberd, an unrivaled Spiritual Power Grandmaster rarely seen from the Holy Batuk Family.

She didn't need Du Chen to answer. She merely needed Du Chen's Spiritual Power to offer a subtle hint after hearing her question. A mouth could lie, but the spirit would not, nor the heart. Betty was truly probing Du Chen's inner being! Let it not be forgotten who had delved into the deepest recesses of Annie's memories, uncovering how they had been tampered with!

Yet, before her, a faint golden mist swirled. Betty gleaned nothing from Du Chen's Spiritual Power...

It was truly unfortunate for her. Du Chen was none other than the father of Belmonde, the Super Spiritual Power Demoness, and the only person in this world impervious to any Spiritual Power scrutiny!

Du Chen, unaware that Betty had already secretly activated a Spiritual Power Secret Technique, his thoughts racing, feigned displeasure, saying, "Madam Betty, why do you ask such a thing? Hmm?" His tone mingled challenge with irritation. He was certain that with Betty's experience, she would understand his implicit message: "What are you doing? Trying to dig up information on my beloved, then harm her!?"

Betty smiled radiantly. She turned, sat on a stone platform in the center of the courtyard, and crossed her legs, chuckling. "Let's be frank! Neither my family nor I would ever harm your beloved. The Batuk Family would never stoop to such contemptible actions! However, I must provide Annie with an explanation, so she clearly understands why she 'lost' and in what aspect she falls short compared to your beloved!? Otherwise, Annie might carry this emotional knot for the rest of her life..."

Du Chen stood with arms crossed, a wry smile playing on his lips internally. *What beloved? It's all just nonsense I concocted!* But the lie had already been uttered; he could only continue to spin the tale.

*Aunt Betty, as I spin my fanciful tales, you may listen with your own interpretations and concoct your own schemes!*

He pursed his lips and said, "I trust in your character, Aunt, that you would not harm my beloved, and I also trust the reputation of the millennia-old Batuk Family! However, 'she' and I have a lovers' pact... it's truly inconvenient for me to reveal her name at this moment!"

"Oh? It seems you're quite fond of this girl! She must be quite exceptional, wouldn't you say? You mentioned a vast disparity in your statuses... such individuals are truly rare! Let me ponder who she might be..."

Betty counted on her fingers, musing aloud, "Your status is that of a Divine Scion Earl-Lord. Compared to you, a girl with a vastly disparate status would either be a commoner, or someone like Annie... Am I right?"

Du Chen felt a surge of irritation at Betty's condescending tone. *What does she mean, 'Annie's status is vastly different from mine'!? The Batuk Family is indeed powerful and noble, but is my true strength somehow inferior!?*

Though if it were possible, he genuinely wished to marry a girl from a commoner family. At least there wouldn't be so many stuffy rules!

Du Chen smiled but offered no reply, effectively acquiescing. In that moment, he truly wished his beloved *was* a commoner.

"'It seems Auntie was right!'" Betty mused inwardly. *Francis's beloved is a girl of status similar to Annie's... A commoner? That's utterly impossible! If Francis wished to obtain a commoner girl who was his soulmate, he could simply use The Prerogative to bring her into his mansion; he wouldn't face such difficulty!*

"'She's very beautiful, isn't she?'" Betty sighed, seemingly lamenting for Annie, then indignantly added, "But could she possibly be more beautiful than our Annie?"

Du Chen hesitated for a moment, then chuckled, "Perhaps in your eyes, she doesn't possess Miss Annie's beauty, but at least in my heart, she is the most beautiful!"

"'She's not as beautiful as my Annie, is she? Then in what aspect is she superior to Annie?'" Betty demanded, clearly displeased, "Are you suggesting my Annie isn't good enough?"

Du Chen shook his head. "Aunt Betty, appearance isn't everything, is it? I concede that Annie is truly exceptional, but I still feel that 'she' is a better fit for me!"

Betty pressed him quickly, "Tell me, what exactly makes her so good!?"

*What makes 'her' so good? Nonsense! I don't even know who 'she' is!*

Du Chen, steeling himself, began to fabricate wildly. "'She... she loves to read, and her knowledge is incredibly vast! However, she rarely interacts with outsiders, preferring her own company... Oh, and what I love most is the sight of her reading by lamplight under the tranquil night sky...'" Cold sweat trickled down his back. Du Chen lamented inwardly, *This is too difficult! I suddenly realized how little I understand women; I don't even know where to begin when trying to improvise a somewhat perfect girl!*

Just as Du Chen was about to run out of fabrications, Betty suddenly waved a hand. "'Alright, Auntie understands. You truly like that girl... Auntie will put your mind at ease and stop pressing you about her. You also needn't worry about the Batuk Family causing her any trouble!'"

Phew! Du Chen let out a sigh of relief.

Betty, meanwhile, was rapidly sifting through the information she had just extracted. *A background similar to Annie's... girls of such stature on the Three Continents are few and far between! Haha, and she's also beautiful, exceptional, and fond of reading... Francis, you naive little fellow, Auntie can deduce who your beloved is in mere minutes!*

Rapidly analyzing and cross-referencing the eligible girls she knew, Betty crossed her legs, let out a hearty laugh, then pondered for a moment, and slowly began, "'Actually... the Holy Church's Code stipulates that nobles may only have one legitimate wife, but to ensure the continuation of the divine bloodline, Divine Scions are permitted to take multiple legitimate wives...'"

Indeed, Divine Scions possessed the privilege of marrying multiple wives. But for Betty to suggest such a thing... to have Annie share a husband with other women, was already a blow to the Batuk Family's honor. The words had barely left her mouth when Betty thought, *I've privately proposed that Annie share a husband without Grandfather's consent. I'm surely in for a scolding when I return, but for Annie's sake... I'll risk it all!*

Betty had thrown caution to the wind, but Du Chen was inwardly groaning. He hastily interjected, "'Auntie, how could this be? How could Miss Annie share a husband with others? There's no man with such qualifications, is there? At least *I* don't have such qualifications!'"

Betty had made up her mind. She immediately waved her hand, roaring with laughter, "'You needn't worry about that; my Annie wouldn't mind!'"

*But I mind!*

"'Heh heh, Auntie, I've actually always wanted to ask, what exactly about me did Annie, or rather, your family, find appealing? Perhaps I'm simply not suited for Miss Annie!'"

Betty said, "'A good question! Auntie will be frank. While you are an outstanding talent among this generation of youths, there are indeed other young men on the Three Continents who are comparable to you, or even seem superior. They would all be desperate to marry Annie! However, there's one thing they can't match...'"

"'And what might that be?'" Du Chen asked, feigning diffidence. In truth, he was fuming inwardly, *What exactly did you find appealing about me? Tell me, and I'll change it, alright!?*

"'Your heart is as kind as a Fallen Gods hero! A Divine Scion even willing to carry a beggar covered in pus and blood to the Sacrificial Institute—as far as I know, you are the only one on the Three Continents!'"

*Ugh, this 'virtue'—he truly couldn't change it, shouldn't change it, and wouldn't dare to change it!*

Du Chen gritted his teeth and said, "Auntie, you are also a straightforward person. Since we've reached this point, I'll state my position clearly. I only wish to marry my beloved, and only 'her'—because I don't want to wrong 'her.'"

Betty fell into an uncharacteristic silence for a long time. Suddenly, a sharp glint flashed in her eyes, her thoughts fluctuating wildly.

*She got it! A background similar to Annie's, very beautiful, and loves to read... Could it be her!?*

Du Chen could never have imagined that Betty had actually pinpointed a girl, a girl whose attributes perfectly matched the beloved he had casually fabricated!

With the answer already in her mind, and recalling all the facets of *that* "her," Betty's face instantly darkened. She stood up, staring at Du Chen, and said coldly, "Francis, don't mind Auntie's bluntness, but I just want to ask you: do you only wish to marry her because you truly love her, or is it because... Hmph!"

Du Chen was stunned, pondering the meaning behind Betty's words. He cried inwardly, *Oh no, did I, like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse, actually make Betty think of a specific girl!? But do I even have such a girl around me? How would I not know!?*

Betty's face flushed with anger, and her gaze even held a hint of disdain. She said frigidly, "I understand, Francis! The matter between you and Annie should be one of mutual consent. Our Batuk Family will not force you, nor would we disregard our standing to trouble you merely because a forced marriage didn't succeed! My words are finished. I bid you farewell!"

With that, she turned and left, reaching the doorway. She looked back and said, "If you and 'her' are truly in love, then consider Auntie's words as mere flatulence! However, if not, and you're pursuing 'her' for *that thing*, then Auntie offers you a piece of advice..."

Her voice suddenly turned cold, and Betty sneered, "Mind your own life! Auntie reminds you, out of consideration for us both being from York Town, and for you having bested me at the gambling table—beware of not surviving past the thirteenth of May!"

"The thirteenth of May!?" "Isn't that the date Phil hinted something major would happen to him!?"

Du Chen was greatly astonished and wanted to press for more details. But Betty had already walked away. He opened his mouth, then shook his head. Judging by Betty's demeanor, even if he caught up, would she truly elaborate for him!?

*Damn it, after being misled by me, which girl did Betty actually think of!?*

*Vastly different status from an Earl-Lord, very beautiful, and loves to read... Who could such a girl be?*