Time is the fairest thing in life.
"I never knew I would be such a sought-after commodity," Malin sighed as he learned of the Hagelberrys’ favorable view of him and their preparations for a marital alliance, his gaze turning to Lulu—he honestly quite liked this girl.
Even Clovis couldn’t keep up with Malin on some matters, the only one who could always help him was this Night Watcher, whether organizing meeting details or finalizing transaction particulars.
"So, what do you think about our marriage contract?"
"...I will not marry you. I detest the Hagelberry family. From birth, I’ve been oppressed and bullied by my peers within the family, and I feel not the slightest bit of fondness for this clan, not even my grandfather’s affection can change that...I don’t believe I should sacrifice my happiness and future for the sake of this family," Lulu said to Malin, voicing her inner thoughts, and concluded with, "As a Night Watcher, I will not fall in love with anyone."
"But I will accept the Hagelberry family’s proposal, and I will discuss it with Faye and the others," Malin watched the girl before him, who was putting up a brave front, just like he used to: "Lulu, do you know? The fortitude that’s all about putting up a front is actually the ugliest form of cowardice."
"I am not ugly in the least!" retorted the girl, glaring angrily at Malin.
"Then why not be stronger? Your grandfather has chosen you, so why can’t you try to change, change your own fate, change the fate of your children, and even change the fate of your family, even if all these incentives are just for the sake of your grandfather?" Malin challenged.
In the silence that followed between him and her, Malin could see the tears welling up in the girl’s eyes: "I’ve had dreams where my descendants tell me they carry the name Haus, not Hagelberry. Do you understand?"
"I understand, Haus, Gaiate, I’ve seen children with that surname who acknowledged me as their ancestor, but to them, I’m just a shapeless ghost. They can’t hear me when I say my name; they can’t see it when I write it... But have you seen me become disheartened over this?" Malin shook his head as he looked at the girl in front of him: "No, I have not despaired, nor have I become disheartened, and maybe one day I will vanish from this world, but until that day comes, as long as I am here, I will fight for my ideals."
All that Malin said left Lulu stunned in her spot, feeling as though she was witnessing something extraordinary.
"I’ve heard someone say that the biggest difference between men and women is not motorcycles, big houses, or lavish wealth... The biggest difference in their lives is whom they marry. I will make you happy, and I will also strive to help every child that comes here seeking assistance. I’ll tell them that fate may bring you face to face with death one day, and what I need to do is help them escape from deadly snares and desperate situations before that day comes... so marry me."
Having said that, Malin extended his hand, waiting for Lulu to place hers in it.
But in the end, the girl could not bring herself to reach out.
"I need to think it over," she said, and quickly chose to leave: "I will wait in my small church tower for you to complete the task."
"...Wait for me, I will come for you," Malin nodded, eventually watching her board the carriage sent by the Church to fetch her.
"What’s up with that girl?" Old Gaiate had been observing from a distance and gained a thorough understanding of his son’s romantic prowess.
The youth of today are indeed remarkable; if he had such tricks up his sleeve back in his day, he wouldn’t have ended up a bachelor for life, much less have an unspoken farewell with Sophia.
"She said she would wait for me in her little tower, it’s too cold in the North for her to keep up with us," Malin replied, then discussed the affairs of the Hagelberry family with his father. Malin suspected the old man would surely criticize the Hagelberry family’s barbaric practices akin to gene stealers.
"Isn’t that quite good?" Old Gaiate’s response almost made Malin spit blood on the daydreaming girl at the counter.
Seeing the puzzled look on Malin’s face, the old man shook his head: "My child, in this era, unions of strong men with equally strong women are blessed, but such lovers can’t exist in countless numbers in this world. For the continuation of the family and lineage, sometimes one must sire many children. Offspring are the necessary means to carry on your family legacy, and the greater their number, the better chance your family has of surviving the Tide of the Dead until the waters recede."
After speaking, Old Gaiate patted Malin’s shoulder: "Trust me, child, you’re not doing anything wrong, and neither is the Hagelberry family. The mistake lies in the fact that you both exist in such a chaotic and dangerous world."
Malin nodded awkwardly, begrudgingly admitting there was some sense to the old man’s words—you had to give in to the Truth Sequence’s comprehensive superiority over an amateur like Malin.
After all, even a kitchen knife could be the cause of twenty-one arguments in the hands of the demanding "Want Your Life 3000," and the young man, who loathed debating, decided it was best to downplay major issues and dissolve the minor ones.