Chapter 85 The Marriage Promise
Adam prepared to meet Enoch in the largest council chamber in the city.
This council chamber was usually only open during grand festivals or on the days when his descendants, who had been sent to foreign lands, returned.
Across from the council chamber was the temple he had personally overseen the construction of. He had sent people to search for all the fragrant spices in the world, finally selecting three that he found appealing, whose scent resembled the aroma of heaven in his memory.
He had them burned continuously from morning till night, so that he would not be neglected should God ever truly descend.
Over the years, he had not seen God, but he had gradually developed the habit of burning incense. He quite liked it; whenever the incense burned, if a breeze was blowing, even sitting at the far end of the council chamber, one could feel the fragrance lingering at the tip of one's nose.
"Today, a southeast wind is blowing. Make sure the three kinds of incense for the temple are readily available and not lacking," Adam's youngest granddaughter said, carrying a basin of water, as she entered from outside. She overheard him instructing the steward and was quite surprised.
"Grandpa, is that Enoch really that good? Is he worth all this fuss and grand gesture?"
"He deserves this special treatment," Adam said to his granddaughter.
This extraordinary young man had resolved the threat in the east, found those poor missing girls, and contributed to ending the war.
And he even brought back his two daughters… Thinking of this, he glanced at the inner room and instructed his granddaughter.
"Take good care of Grandma, don't let her be too sad…" Just then, Eve suddenly came out.
"Why didn't you rest? Why did you come out?" Adam went to help her. Eve was delicate and sensitive, always prone to melancholy; he was afraid she would be too heartbroken.
"I'll go with you," Eve said. Adam was taken aback.
"Where to?" He asked, then realized she wanted to go to the council chamber with him, and was puzzled.
His wife, uninterested in tedious political discussions and never glancing at the council chamber, had suddenly changed her tune.
He glanced at her cautiously, noticing her eyes were still slightly red and swollen, but her expression was calmer than he had expected.
"Adam, I want to see that child," she said.
Perhaps he could tell her more about their daughters, her eyes seemed to say.
"I know," Adam sighed, and they walked out together.
The council chamber was more lively than ever, because Adam had just thrown a tantrum, and his scattered sons, as if sensing something amiss, had all come from their respective cities to show their filial piety.
'This location was well-chosen; otherwise, how could so many people fit?'
Adam thought silently as he and Eve walked to the head seats, flanked by the city's priests, with dozens of sons arranged in order below, and then his most capable and outstanding grandchildren.
These were his proud descendants, whom he had raised himself, yet none of them could compare to the young man standing in the center of the hall.
He hadn't had a chance to look at Enoch properly during their brief meeting outside the city. Having rested at the post station and washed away the dust of his journey, Enoch was exceptionally handsome. Fortunately, there were few unmarried women present, and the only one who was audacious and shameless was spoiled by him.
The little girl who had secretly run away blushed, seemingly captivated by Enoch at first glance.
He pondered this, focusing his attention on Enoch.
When Enoch recounted his journey eastward, Adam had noticed his clear articulation and refined speech. Now, in the council hall, he had asked about some details, which Enoch answered readily, his thoughts flowing quickly and considerately.
When discussing Akliman, he was very mindful of their feelings.
Adam then asked about his background. Enoch listed his lineage from Adam down to his father, answering clearly and calmly. "How many people remember their origins like you do? This is truly rare, a testament to your sincere gratitude," Adam nodded in affirmation. Seth, standing beside him, looked pleased, while Enoch was filled with pride, for Enoch was their descendant.
"Enoch…" Adam murmured Enoch's name, pondering how to reward him, when suddenly something occurred to him.
He asked him when he was born.
Enoch paused, unsure of the patriarch's meaning, when an official entered the hall to report.
"Patriarch, Queen Astara of Horma is outside requesting an audience."
"Astara?" Adam thought for a moment before remembering that she was the daughter of the former lord of Horma in the Kadesh region.
"Let her in," he said, setting aside a chair nearby for Enoch to sit beside him.
Soon, a veiled girl entered. Astara, always beautiful, used to wear the traditional Kadesh gold bells on her hands and feet, their jingling adding to her charm as she walked, her skirt billowing.
But this time, the ordeal had robbed her of all her spirit. She wore a black veil, even her hair ribbon was black. Enoch glanced at her and noticed how much thinner she had become, and couldn't help but sigh.
When he and Edna led the trapped girls out, Astara was no longer there. She had been taken back to Hormar by Badley. Even so, she still hadn't seen her father one last time.
The lord of the city had died in the war, leaving her with more than just the grief of losing loved ones. Having just escaped the tiger's den, she took on the heavy responsibility of rebuilding Hormar.
This woman, she had poured countless efforts into restoring stability to Hormar.
"Astarus of Horma, on behalf of his father, has come to apologize to the Ancestor of Men," the girl said, bowing gracefully. The white-robed priests following behind her also bowed.
Horma, under the leadership of its former lord, had gradually aligned itself with Cain and hadn't visited Adam's city for a long time.
This time, she brought only priests who believed in the Creator God. They respectfully greeted Adam and presented their gifts.
"You are a good child. Since you are here, stay in the capital for a few more days," Adam said, pitying her for losing her father at a young age and being a frail woman. He initially didn't want to accept her gifts, but Astarus insisted. He noticed the fear and unease in the girl's eyes and didn't refuse.
"Thank you, Ancestor of Men," Astarus said, a barely perceptible sigh of relief as Adam accepted the gifts. His gaze then met Enoch's beside the Ancestor of Men. She paused, then gave a slightly weary smile.
She stood quietly in the spot designated by the Ancestor of Men, listening to Adam's friendly conversation with Enoch. In just a few months, their positions had been completely reversed.
She was no longer the high-ranking daughter of a city lord, and he was no longer the wretched son of a shepherd.
But she didn't need pity. Time would heal the wounds, and as long as she had the protection of Adam City, those cities wouldn't act rashly for the time being.
She still had much to do, until she could stand up again.
Just like the incense lingering around her nose at this moment.
She recognized the incense; it was a unique spice from the Red Sea region, made from the shell of a small animal. At first, it smelled bland, but the longer it burned, the stronger the fragrance became.
Herma's little incident didn't attract much attention. After settling the new guest, Adam continued to ask Enoch about his birth date, and then confirmed that he was the child he had been looking for all those years ago. He was overjoyed.
"Why didn't you come sooner?" he said reproachfully, giving the young man he was growing increasingly fond of him a second look. Seeing that Enoch didn't understand, Adam recounted the events surrounding his birth and even before. "I have already notified all regions that any children who meet the criteria should be sent to the capital immediately."
"Ancestor of Man," upon hearing this, one of the priests accompanying him from Hormar stepped forward and bowed, "we have also heard his professors mention Enoch's talent."
"Since you already knew, why didn't you report it to me?" Adam asked, looking at him.
"Please calm your anger. We submitted petitions and letters of recommendation, but for some reason, they have vanished without a trace."
Adam understood. His sharp gaze pierced the current high priest of the capital. The priests' reports would first reach the high priest. He remembered the previous high priest demanding the name 'Enoch' from him; what else was unclear?
"How dare you!"
Priest Sorobadan's face turned pale, and he knelt down before him with a thud.
"What a dutiful and virtuous high priest!" Adam exclaimed, furious. "I trusted you so much!"
"The Ancestor of Man," Enoch spoke up, "Times have changed. Why are you so angry?"
"The Creator God is all-knowing and all-powerful. How could He not have foreseen this? Perhaps this is a trial He is giving me."
Adam was appeased by his words. He nodded repeatedly, "You are right. I misunderstood. Now that the truth is clear, I will appoint you high priest according to God's will."
Upon hearing this, the high priest's eyes flashed with resentment. Even Enosh, who had initially been so pleased with Enoch, lost his smile.
Enoch sighed inwardly, contemplating the complexities of human nature.
Having possessed the Book of Paradise, he had long since lost any attachment to power and was unwilling to get involved in power struggles. He rose from Adam's side and returned to his original position. He solemnly pleaded for Zerubbadan, repeatedly stating that he had no interest in the position of high priest.
Everyone present had lived past a hundred; they were accustomed to the undercurrents of power struggles, yet this was the first time they had encountered someone so unconcerned with vanity. They were deeply moved by Enoch's actions.
Adam's affection for him deepened, and in his delight, he immediately offered to marry his granddaughter to Enoch.
Upon hearing this, Enoch's heart pounded. He felt as if he were back that morning, still at the inn, having just changed his clothes and found Edna still dressed the same.
Edna said she wouldn't go with him to see Adam.
'Why?'
'What would I do there? You're a hero, what am I?'
'You're a hero too.'
'Alright, don't flatter me, there's a crease here.'
'Where?' He looked in the direction Edna was looking, but saw nothing.
'Does it look inappropriate?' he asked anxiously, rubbing his neck.
'You like Adam that much?' She reached out and smoothed the wrinkles he couldn't reach. "All done, all done, I've fixed you. You're so old, yet you still act like a little kid."
Enoch was about to retort when Edna spoke softly.
"But this trip might just bring you back a perfect wife."
"What did you say?"
"Isn't it? It's your tradition, heroes and beauties go together." She sounded like she was joking, but it wasn't funny at all.
Enoch was unusually angry. He didn't understand why Edna could say such hurtful things in such a calm tone.
"I don't need a wife," he said. How could he possibly open his heart to prove it?
"How can a man not need a wife?" / "Everyone has a wife."
This was the first time he had shown such panic since entering the palace, as if someone had forcibly ripped open his heart, completely exposing his inner unease.
He was angry with Edna, but whose anger was it really?
Edna?
No, it was himself.
"Don't be so capricious, that's the patriarch's most beloved child," Enoch scolded him, while gesturing with his eyes not to refuse.
"Why don't you want a wife?" Adam asked him.
Enoch couldn't answer. His mind was filled with vast knowledge, yet he couldn't answer even such a simple question.
So he hated his own powerlessness, his own cowardice, his inability to change his situation.
He was willing to abandon everything to be with Edna, but Edna couldn't.
'Listen to me, you will have a wife, beautiful, gentle, and understanding, and then you will have a child just as beautiful and lovely,' the angel coaxed, trying earnestly to paint a beautiful picture of the future for him.
But she didn't know that as she spoke, the light in her eyes was about to shatter.
He then knew that she felt the same way about him.
He also wanted to tell her that if the future wife wasn't her, all of this would be meaningless.
But he couldn't speak. The fate of angels falling in love with humans, as described in the Book of Heaven, was a consequence he didn't want Edna to bear.
"Why?" Adam was utterly bewildered, but the once quick-witted young man had suddenly become a dull mute. He pressed for an explanation, but received none.
Seeing the sorrowful expression on his beloved granddaughter's face, he felt a pang of regret. He had been too hasty; now, if he handled things poorly, he would ruin her reputation.
The atmosphere in the council chamber tensed for a moment. Just then, a soft, melodious voice suddenly rang out.
"Is it because of that silver-haired girl?"
It was Eve.
What silver-haired girl?
Adam turned and glanced at her. To conceal the wrinkles appearing on her face, she wore a veil. She sat beside him silently, like an idol, and gradually he forgot she was there.
"Was it because of the girl who was with you outside the city gate?" Eve spoke again, her voice gentle, soothing Enoch's heart and gradually calming him down.
He admitted he had fallen in love.
"Marriage is a serious matter and cannot be forced. Just tell the truth. What's there to hide?" Adam was confused but didn't want to argue, so he asked again.
"If that's the case, then who is this girl, and what is her lineage?"
Enoch replied, "No lineage, no lineage."
Adam was speechless, and seeing the murmurs below, he realized that Enoch, like him, thought Enoch had poor taste.
A woman with no lineage, presumably some lowlife.
He'd rather abandon his beautiful, intelligent, and adorable granddaughter for that country bumpkin. He shook his head, somewhat regretfully: "Alright, what's the child's name? I'll arrange the marriage for you."
Enoch was shocked: "No!"
"What, you want to string her along without a proper status? That's not what a good man does!" Adam was once again humiliated, and he began to find Enoch somewhat annoying.
Eve tugged at his sleeve, trying to calm him down. Adam glanced at her and mouthed to her:
'I know.'
He wasn't a tyrant; he wouldn't get angry so easily.
"She is of noble character; Enoch is not worthy of her," Enoch said, bowing his head.
Seeing the deep affection in his eyes, which seemed genuine, Adam patiently and kindly asked:
"Do you like her?"
He nodded.
"Does she like you?"
Enoch hesitated, a blush rising to his face, and nodded slightly.
"That's good! Since you two are so in love, what's the problem? Quickly, call her here!" Adam laughed heartily, seeing his genuine affection. He readily waved his hand, ready to finalize the marriage, but then Enoch knelt before him, saying,
"Please allow Enoch to personally propose to her."
"Hey, marriage has always been decided by elders. You, a man, shouldn't be so rash and impulsive..." Eve subtly nudged him again.
No one was as rash and impulsive as Adam!
Adam, feeling her gaze, remembered that initially there were only the two of them, a man and a woman, and their union hadn't been through the approval of any elders.
His smile faded slightly, but then he heard Enoch continue.
"Although Edna has no parents, I do not wish to force her. If she is unwilling, I will not force her…"
This was something he had never done before. Adam thought silently. God created Eve for him, and he considered her his woman. He had never thought of respecting Eve's wishes, nor had he ever considered whether a woman was willing.
Are you willing?
He glanced at Eve again. For some reason, this woman, whom he had seen through from birth, this time he felt nothing.