"I see, then you must be a hard worker. I'm sure you are talented and educated enough to be picked up by them."

  'I don't think she is taunting me but why does it sound weird in my ears,' Catherine thought as she sweated.

  "I hope so," she replied politely without taking Vincent's mother's tone negatively. "There are other talented children in the temple who are getting jobs in the Ministry."

  Vincent's mother didn't let her thoughts show on her face. "Working for the Ministry must be nice. Do you plan to continue working there after marriage?"

  The temperature of the room suddenly dropped to a few degrees. The atmosphere completely changed.

  Catherine's voice softened, "That's actually my plan…"

  Vincent's mother cut her off saying, "Is that so? How are you going to take care of both your family and Ministry duty?"

  "Mother…" Vincent started.

  "Let her answer, son." His mother sternly intervened.

  Catherine's throat was dry. "Just like Vincent will take care of both our family and the family business."

  His mother frowned, not understanding the meaning behind her words.

  "What do you mean? You can't possibly compare yourself with a man. The man has to earn for his family while it's the woman's duty to take care of the family. The thing you just said, I've never heard something so absurd."

  Catherine calmly stated, "I'm sure people's ideas about marriage vary from person to person. In the temple, we were taught that husband and wife should support each other equally.

  "Both individuals have their own plans for their personal and matrimonial lives. Men and women are both humans. They have the right to talk to each other, plan their future keeping both of their desires and wishes.

  "A third party has no right to have a say in this – that's what I believe. We, temple children, are free-spirited. Please don't mind our behavior."

  Although she was smiling sweetly, she totally freaked out.

  She kept thinking, 'Oh my Goddess! What am I supposed to do? She hates me. She completely hates me. I just said what Zinnia made me memorize last night. What if Vincent's mother doesn't approve of me now?'

  Vincent's mother was irritated by her last few words.? She couldn't help but fume.

  'I'm Vincent's mother. I gave birth to him and raised him. Do I have no right to say anything about my son's future? I don't accept this! My son's family has to be simple. The daughter-in-law has to be family-oriented. Looks like temple children aren't as great as it seems.'

  However, when Catherine smiled and asked not to mind her behavior, the mother could only swallow her words of complaints.

  Catherine added, "Further, children should grow up with both of their parents. From what we learned, it's the parents' duty to take care of the children. That's why I want Vincent and I will both create a family where everyone will be equal.

  "In the near future, when we have children, they will learn to be strong, hard-working, and amicable like Vincent and wise like his parents. I wish for everyone's cooperation.

  "Since I never had the chance to grow up with a family, I wish my children will have their parents and grandparents when they grow up. Thus, whatever lacking Vincent or I have, it won't reach them."

  She slightly bowed and continued, "I hope you will consider this orphan's wish."

  "Catherine, you don't have to say it like this." Vincent was flustered. He stood up and hurriedly rushed forward.

  While hugging her shoulder, he looked at his mother with a pitiful expression. "Mother, I never asked anything from you. Just this time, please allow me to live the rest of my life with her."

  At her son's plea, his mother reluctantly changed the subject.

  "Fine, I won't bother you two. You chose her. Moreover, it looks like you planned what to say to me beforehand. What can I say after that? Stay for lunch. Once your father comes, greet him. I'm going to prepare some snacks."

  After that, she went back to the kitchen, leaving the couple alone.

  Catherine tightly held Vincent's hand. "Did I do it right? I think your mother is upset. What should I do?"

  Vincent rubbed his forehead before smiling at her. "What are you worrying about? She agreed, didn't she? If she didn't like you, she would oppose."

  "But my job… I can't stop being an employee suddenly. The Imperial Palace isn't as easy as you think. It has numerous rules. Before I started my job there, I had to sign a twenty year contract there. If I breach it, I will have to pay thousands of gold coins as a fee."

  Panicked, Catherine lied one after another.

  "Twenty years… that's a long time," Vincent thoughtfully remarked.

  "Yes, I know. But when I signed the contract, I didn't meet you. I was only thinking about a life with a stable job. Now I really regret it." Catherine deeply sighed.

  'Goddess, please forgive me for lying to him. I don't want to lose my job,' she prayed.

  "Don't think about it anymore. I will manage mother in the evening. I'm sure she will come to accept you when she realizes how true you are toward me and my family," Vincent assured her.

  His voice was gentle and soothing. Catherine relaxed quite a bit.

  While they planned their engagement, his mother brought some warm cookies with two glasses of milk.

  "Vincent, have some cookies with Catherine. I will prepare lunch now. When your father comes home, introduce her to him. Don't tell him too much of your future plans or he might go out of control."

  After giving them a fair warning, his mother went back to the kitchen once again.

  Catherine's face paled. She glanced at Vincent. Vincent helplessly scratched his head.

  "Please understand they aren't city people. They are too old-fashioned. Once we get married, there is nothing that can stop us," he told her.

  'As long as that's true. I would hate to fight with them every single day. I want a family, not a bunch of guards where I can't even breathe,' Catherine thought.

  However, it wasn't as hard as she thought it was to talk to Vincent's father. He was rather quiet and yet amicable.

  He first saw them with gifts all over in the living room. He was stunned.

  Vincent acted quickly. "Father, this is Catherine, the woman I am dating. We wish to get married and want your blessing."

  "Hmm…" his father sat on the couch and asked, "Does your mother know?"

  "Yes, we talked to mother first. She even told us to have lunch before leaving."

  "Hmm…" his father glanced over at Catherine. "You are Catherine."

  Catherine hurriedly gave him a polite bow. "Yes… Sir… My name is Catherine and I'm dating your son."

  "How did you meet my son?"

  "I went to the resort with my friend when we first met."

  "I approached her first father. It was love at first sight," Vincent added before his father could ask him an odd question.

  "I see. When do you plan to get married?" his father inquired.

  'Did he approve of us?' Catherine's eyes beamed.

  Vincent told him, "If you permit us, we will have our engagement by next month and then will hold our wedding ceremony the month after that."

  His father pondered about their wedding plan. "What kind of wedding are you planning? You can't have a grand wedding in such a short period."

  "We aren't planning for a grand wedding. Catherine wishes to have a simple wedding in the flower garden. I want to respect her wishes." Vincent squeezed Catherine's hand.

  His father stared at their joined hands and commented, "I didn't know city girls like nature."

  Catherine explained, "Actually we do like being around nature a lot. All the time, living in a city full of crowds and smoke makes us feel bored. Nature helps us to revive. However, we simply can't get used to the country lifestyle because we are so accustomed to the urban lifestyle."

  "Then why did you decide to marry Vincent? Did you think he would live in the city?" Vincent's father looked at her.

  Catherine shook her head. "No, I knew I had to live here after I get married and I accepted his proposal knowing that."

  "And how are you going to manage living here? What if you get bored with the country lifestyle?"

  "I have already made arrangements for that. I've bought a magic stone that will help me to go to the capital city for my work purposes."

  "…Your work purposes?" Vincent's father delayed the question.

  'Oh no!' Catherine freaked out. 'I slipped about my job! Vincent's mother forbade us not to!'

  Realizing that she screwed, Vincent explained to his father, "Catherine had an employment contract with the Imperial Palace. She has to work there for a certain period. If she breaches the contract, she will be fined."

  His father stayed quiet for a long time before stating, "That sounds like an obstacle. You are all adults now. You know how to deal with your own problem."

  Vincent gulped, almost couldn't surpass his emotions. "Then do you agree to our marriage?"——

  Later, Catherine went back to the tower to share the news, however, something unexpected happened in the tower.