yeah, what beeaggro said. I don't think the dad is really concerned about getting an heir (and even if he was, there is the alternative of the Gareth (did I remember Evie's brother's name right?) having children too someday), and is merely using it as one of several excuses to remain an overprotective father. However long it might last. And I suspect "not that long" to be the answer, if the events of this chapter are any indication.
For my part, I found this to be a great chapter.
Garth is just a cousin, and likely has an inheritance of his own from his side of the family. But I do agree that he’s mostly just being overprotective. His first issue with the relationship was standard nobility concerns, and his second issue stemmed entirely from not wanting his daughter exposed to scorn. There might also be some unspoken concerns regarding Evie, and the curse, being so close to Yvonne. It didn’t seem like his words came from a place of malice, and it seemed like he was starting to come to terms with the idea by the end of the chapter. He’ll get past it soon enough, methinks.
As for adoption, that can be a bit tricky. As Narrow Escape elegantly put, lineal, biological descent tends to be a major concern for members of the nobility, as that is the main justification for holding onto their power. An adopted child, even one of another noble house, breaks that line. Not only would this be seen as inappropriate by other nobles, it’d also damage the legitimacy of both the adopted child, should they inherit, and their parents. For a family who is currently in exile, barely holding onto their claim to nobility as is, and likely beset by enemies who desire to see it wiped out entirely, adoption probably wouldn’t be a viable idea.
last edited at Nov 24, 2024 11:53PM