Samuel Linton was just a hunter, so naturally he couldn’t understand what Robert Clark meant, but he was a meticulous person and vaguely sensed that his perfectly healthy son seemed a bit different. There was something intriguing between his brows, quite unlike his usual self. But so what? As long as his son was fine, if he made something of himself in the future, wouldn’t that bring honor to the family? Samuel Linton instinctively avoided those complicated thoughts; how could he have known that his real son was already gone from here.

Seeing that the only outsider had also left, Charles King could no longer hold back her tears. She hugged her son tightly and burst into sobs. “Henry Linton, you mustn’t scare your mother like that again. Do you know how worried I was? If you hadn’t woken up, what would your father and I have done…”

Henry Linton only felt scalding tears splashing onto his collar, his arms, his face. The heart that had long since grown cold and died seemed to warm up again. So what if they were this poor? So what if they were as rich as a nation? In his heart, this kind-faced woman was a thousand times more beautiful than his own stunningly beautiful real mother. He reached back and hugged Charles King, comforting his mother over and over, “Mother, aren’t I fine now? You don’t have to worry anymore, nothing like this will happen again. If you keep crying, you won’t be pretty anymore!”

Samuel Linton could only stare in shock. When did his usually stubborn son learn to comfort people? This was a huge change. Sigh, hopefully this serious illness will make him more sensible. This son is good in every way, except he refuses to admit defeat—he always wants to take a gamble, whether it’s hunting with me in the mountains or playing with other kids. The more impossible something seems, the more he wants to try, without considering his own abilities. Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but smile. He was just like me when I was young!

Samuel Linton cleared his throat and then said, “Alright, Charlie, what are you crying for in front of our son? Isn’t everything fine now? By the way, what food do we have left at home?” As he spoke, his face immediately darkened. The past few days they’d gotten by on wild vegetable porridge, but now that his son had just recovered from a serious illness, how could they not give him something nourishing?

Hearing his father’s words, Henry Linton finally realized his stomach was growling, and he felt a bit embarrassed. But seeing his parents’ even gloomier faces, he immediately understood a harsh reality: he was no longer in the imperial palace. Judging from the situation, ever since Samuel Linton—no, he should say father—broke his leg, the family had become more and more destitute. Didn’t he used to climb trees to steal bird nests? He never expected that the first challenge he’d face now would be simply filling his stomach. How ironic!

Finally, Samuel Linton steeled himself and said, “We can’t just sit here and starve. Charlie, go sell the things in that box! They should be worth a little money at least!”

What box? Henry Linton was completely confused. He had no idea there was anything valuable left at home. The Linton family had been hunters for generations; the only things of value were a few animal pelts, but even those had long since been sold to pay for his father’s leg treatment. How could there be any precious items left?

“Are you crazy?” Charles King stared at her husband in disbelief. “It’s been over ten years, and you’ve never even considered touching the things in that box. Have you forgotten what you said back then?”

Chapter Two: First Hunt

“It’s been so many years. Look at the state of our family now—how could we possibly be worthy of Mr. Howard’s daughter? Why are you still keeping those things?” Samuel Linton’s voice was a bit hoarse, but mostly helpless. “We can’t even fill our stomachs, and you’re still thinking about marrying off our son? That’s just wishful thinking!”

Henry Linton finally understood a bit. So the things in that box had something to do with him, and they were quite valuable. He’d spent years in the palace—even though he’d never been involved with women, he at least understood a little. Looking at the bare walls of this home, he couldn’t understand why someone would want to be engaged to the Linton family.

Samuel Linton saw the confusion on his son’s face and sighed. “You’re old enough now, so I might as well tell you. Your father once saved an important person—your Uncle Howard. Even though he was of a different status, he never put on airs. At the time, your mother was pregnant with you, and Mrs. Howard was also expecting, so the engagement was arranged. According to those learned people, it’s called, called…” Samuel Linton scratched his head awkwardly, unable to remember the fancy term.

“Betrothal in the womb!” Henry Linton blurted out, but immediately regretted it. Why did he have to say so much? Girls from noble families would never look down on ordinary boys, and with the family’s current situation, just as his father said, how could they be worthy of that young lady? Besides, he had just gained the love of his parents and had no interest in marriage at all. Thirteen-year-olds really are too young to talk about marriage.

“Henry Linton really has read a lot!” Charles King looked at her son lovingly. “If you ask me, Mr. Howard and Mrs. Howard are honest people—they might not look down on our family. Wasn’t it them who brought up the engagement in the first place? Besides, you can’t sell off a betrothal token like that. If word got out, how could our Linton family show our faces?”