City of Desire: Chapter 1032 Class (Patreon)

Prooread by Thomas F

Damon Hardt

“Five minutes,” informed the mage. I nodded and waited by the gate with my wife, daughter, and the military officers.

Some merchants and others wanted to be here as well, but didn’t get permission.

Martial law is in effect in the city; the army now controls everything.

A few minutes passed when I heard the sound. I turned and saw a beast stopped not far away from us, and a moment later, the woman dismounted.

Looking tired as usual.

Though a moment later, that tiredness disappeared. Her expression became firm, showing no emotion, much less tiredness.

“General,” the officers saluted while I nodded at the woman respectfully.

I rarely see her; General Javier handles most affairs.

She has been spending her time training.

I have never seen her train, nor am I permitted to, but I know what she was doing—and it gives me hope.

That hope is why I didn’t force my daughter to go to Greltheaven.

I looked at her, standing beside me. I had told her that if she wished, she could go to Greltheaven. I did it many times and hoped she would, but the girl didn’t want to leave me and her mother, and the city.

Today is important for her; she will turn fifteen today at seven in the morning.

She will gain her class today, which has made all three of us nervous.

A person’s class can shape their entire future.

A powerful one would open many doors and carry her far.

Lord Silver’s presence might increase her odds of receiving a better class. Throughout the empires and beyond, families traditionally send their children to their lord’s castle for their fifteenth birthday.

Nobles pay the imperial family for the privilege of spending that night in one of their castles, while a stay at the emperor’s palace costs a fortune.

My own children spent their fifteenth birthdays at the head of our house’s residence.

I heard others ask Silver for the same favor, but he simply replied, ‘A class isn’t permanent. Work hard, and you can earn the one you want.’

Well, if anyone deserves to say that, it would be him.

I remember his class; it was quite good for a starting class, but nothing compared to mine. Now, even after advancing into the noble class, it still quakes under him whenever he projects the power of his class.

“He is here.”

The general’s voice brought me back to reality, and I looked ahead and saw the gates opening.

A few moments passed before I heard the noise, before I saw them—a group of thirty-odd riders, led by Lord Silver.

Aside from Lord Silver, Baroness Leila, and a few others, everyone else wore a cloak that hid their faces and bodies.

“Welcome to Panar, my lord,” I greeted.

“Thank you, Governor,” he said and nodded at Scala and my daughter before turning to General Azalia.

“Lord Silver,”

“Is everyone available?” he asked, and she nodded. “Yes, they are waiting in the conference room.”

“Good, let’s go.” He replied, dismounted, and walked toward the carriage.

Then he suddenly stopped and turned, appearing in front of my daughter with a smile growing on his slightly tired face.

“Best of luck, Miss Vanelia. I hope you will receive the class you desire,” he said, and I felt the power of his classes covering her. The power of it didn’t even touch me, but it sent a shudder through my soul.

He had grown even more powerful.

It’s been months since I last felt the power of his classes. They felt even more powerful than before. Scala felt it too as her eyes glanced at me.

Instead of scaring me, it made me feel relieved.

The more powerful he is, the better the chances of our victory are.

“Thank you, my lord,” she replied with a perfect bow. He smiled before walking away with General Azalia. Usually, the first meeting is with the Governor, but protocols change in wartime.

We stayed in our place until he stepped into the carriage and it moved.

Only then did we step into our carriage.

“Mom, Dad, I am nervous,” said Lia, as we were about to leave her room after tucking her into bed. We haven’t done that in years, but today is special.

“There is nothing to be nervous about, love. You will get a great class,” said Scala, caressing her.

“Don’t worry, dear, with the hard work you have put in, you will get an enviable class,” I added.

“Do you both really think so?” she asked. It wasn't the first time she'd asked. Well, she didn’t ask as many times as I had to my mother.

That poor woman had lost in the end and told me to shut up and go to sleep.

“We know so, love,” replied Scala and kissed her head. “Now sleep, dear, when you wake up tomorrow. You will have the best class and amazing skills.”

With that, we stepped out of the room and closed the door behind us.

“I am nervous; even more than I had been with my own class and classes of our two oldest,” said Scala, turning to me. All the worries she had been hiding had come out on her face.

“Me too.”

She said nothing and walked quickly until we reached the parlor, where we sat down.

“In our times and even with two of our sons, we were never so worried,” she said. I nodded at that. “That’s because while we were hopeful, we also knew what class our children and we ourselves would receive.”

“It would be like our parents and their parents.”

“With her, because of the changed circumstances, there is hope that she might get an amazing class or a class that is more powerful than what our relatives and we have received.”

It had us excited, but also worried, because classes are fickle.

There is a good chance she will receive the classes that we had received, not the ones we are hoping for.

“I hope it will be something like Gilded Heiress, Silken Daughter, or Golden Scion,” she said; all of these classes are incredible.

“If she gets any of those, she would get a huge leg up,” I agreed.

Being the daughter of the Governor will help her more than being a member of a powerful merchant house would, given the uncertain times and the state of our house.

It is why we desperately want her to have a better class. So she would have a better future.

“Speaking of it, I have been thinking about something,” she said hesitantly. It surprised me; Scale is one of the most confident women I know.

I am fortunate to call her my wife.

“What is it?” I asked. She hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth.

“I am thinking of sending her to work in the Velvet Garden.”

Saying I was surprised would be an understatement. I opened my mouth, but closed it a moment later.

The Velvet Garden is associated with whores. They admit different people, but those are who rule it. Still, the facts about it are undeniable.

“It is a good choice for her,” I said finally. She seemed surprised by my agreement.

Well, me too, but we can’t turn away from reality.

“She could work here, and it will give her good experience and some influence because of our position, but just that.”

“You know, how Silver is; he won't bestow her with important responsibilities just because she is our daughter.”

I have quite a lot of power here, including choosing my people, but important appointments need Greltheaven's permission.

For every appointment, there needs to be a reason, and there are follow-up inquiries.

Some tried to promote their friends and families to important positions without them having the capability. Their friends and family not only didn’t get the jobs. They ended up losing their jobs, being transferred, demoted, and warned.

“Velvet Garden is a power center, and its influence will increase even further after the opening,” she said.

Their members wielded incredible influence. They also act as the eyes and ears of Silver, making them the single most powerful faction in Greltheaven that is zealously loyal to Silver.

“Have you talked about her to them?” I asked.

Scala has a good relationship with Velvet Garden. I didn’t use to like her visits to Velvet Garden, but now I am grateful for the connections.

“No, but getting inside won’t be easy, and she won’t get an easy ride.”

“And she will probably need to start from quite a low position.” I couldn’t help but nod at that.

The city might be strict with the usage of influence, but it couldn’t be compared to Velvet Garden. There, one could only rise if they had the capability.

These women are very capable.

Sometimes, I have a hard time believing it. Take my assistance, Lorle; she is as capable as wily old men of my house.

We discussed things for some time before going to bed. This is likely the last night I will get a good sleep.

“Ahhh!”

The scream alarmed me and nearly got me up from my chair before I realized it was one of joy.

“She woke up,” I said, and Scala, sitting in front of me, nodded.

It is seven and a half in the morning; I have to leave for the office in a few minutes. Today is a very busy day; I have a lot of meetings, including one with Lord Silver.

“Do we?” I asked, feeling excited.

It was a scream of joy, meaning she got excellent class.

“Don’t worry, it won’t be long before she comes running.” The words had barely left her mouth when I heard the door opening, and a few seconds later, Lia came running in her nightclothes.

There was a smile on her face, the biggest one I had ever seen.

“I got Young Dame!” she shouted, and I am really glad I had covered the room in Privacy a moment before. It’s not something the staff should know.

Scala gasped and got up, then hugged her.

“Congratulations; it’s a very powerful class,” said Scala, having a hard time believing it. She isn’t the only one; I couldn’t believe it either.

It’s better than any class we had prayed for; it is only one level below Lady.

“What skills did you get?” Scala asked. I was curious too; given her class, they must be good, but seeing the disappointment on my daughter’s face, my joy couldn’t help but dim.

“Perfect Manners and a Keen Mind,” she replied.

“That's incredible!” I gasped, with joy returning tenfold.

“Why?” asked Lia. “I didn’t get movement skill, combat skill, presence skills, or negotiation skills.”

Hearing that, both of us couldn’t help but laugh. This made our sweet daughter glare at us.

“They’re more valuable than you realize, my dear,” I said. Scala nodded.

“Perfect Manners does more than help you learn perfect etiquette; it keeps you from making the minor social mistakes common at your age.”

“It will help you carry yourself well—something especially important given your social standing.” Lia nodded, beginning to understand the skill’s value.

“Keen Mind, meanwhile, will help you learn faster.”

“For a young woman in your position, these are ideal. They’ll serve you better now than movement or presence skills, which you can gain later.”

“Really?” asked Lia, disappointment disappearing from her face.

“Believe me, my dear daughter,”

A few minutes later, she disappeared back into her room to freshen up, while I turned to my wife.

“Young Dame, I could hardly believe it,” she said, even now having a hard time believing it. It is hard to believe; nobody would believe it, not even my father.

“Velvet Garden would be the ideal place to refine a class like that,” I said.

It was a beautiful but demanding place, with fierce competition.

There, my daughter could grow into the woman she needed to become—one capable of surviving and thriving in these dangerous yet beautiful times.