Chapter 178: Oath
The day of the duel—the battle of pride, the live show—had finally arrived. Unexpectedly, the noble ladies in the capital took a liking to this Northern method. They viewed it as an event that clearly showcased the love between a father and a fiancé. As a result, many people gathered in the imperial palace’s sparring hall. The knights were also very interested in the famous fight between Duke Heilon and the Prince. Thanks to this, the crowd was comparable to that of an official event. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
Shit.
“Father, you’ve decided to embarrass me, right?”
Abel chuckled. “No way. I’m just trying to make everything clear.”
What the hell?
Abel stroked my head. “To those shitty assholes who still talk about your origins, trying to bring you down—how lucky I am to have found you.”
“Uh…”
It was a shared secret among Abel, Sigren, and me that the emperor was included in those ‘shitty assholes.’
Abel placed his hand on my head and looked solemn. “That’s it. Those shitty assholes should know better. After this, if they’re not satisfied with their lives, they can try running their mouths again, and I’ll send them off to their new life—their grave.”
Oh, so he was sending out warnings? It wasn’t because he was against the engagement?
I looked at Abel’s back with emotions I couldn’t quite identify—surprise, gratitude, or amusement. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
Ah, I don’t know, so I guess I’ll just clap.
Abel’s favorite weapon was the bastard sword—a heavy sword that most people couldn’t lift with one hand, including me. However, Abel wielded it with one hand and effortlessly cut through monsters. Somehow, it made me wonder if Sigren would be okay. Well, Sigren was also quite strong, so I felt a little less worried. Although, if I were to fight against Abel, I wouldn’t take it lightly.
“Lady Fiona, if Prince Sigren wins, you will be betrothed to him?”
Livia’s face was filled with excitement.
I shook my head. “No. In the North, the deciding factor isn’t victory or defeat. It’s whether the father-in-law acknowledges the soon-to-be son-in-law.”
Wait, wait. Now that I thought about it, this meant that the duel would only end if Abel acknowledged Sigren. I remembered Abel jokingly saying something along the lines of, “I’ll allow it when dirt gets in my eyes.” Gosh, should I break into the middle of the duel and throw dirt in his eyes?
While I was lost in thought, the fight began. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
Cling!
A metallic sound rang out.
“Uohhhh…” The knights watched the fight with childlike excitement.
“Lady, what would you do if the fight doesn’t end?”
I responded bluntly, “Then I’ll blow them away and be the winner myself.”
Livia laughed briefly, as if she had heard a funny joke.
Of course, I wasn’t joking; I was being serious.
***
“What happened in the mine?”
CLANG!
Abel asked as their swords clashed.
Sigren responded firmly, “Nothing.”
Abel clicked his tongue and pushed his sword forward, initiating a brief struggle for power.
“Fiona has been acting strangely since then.”
“Nothing happened.” Of course, it was a lie. Sigren recalled the Darkness that had taken the form of Fiona, and Fiona’s agitation over it. It seemed she hadn’t told Abel about it, so he couldn’t say anything either.
“Keeping secrets now? You’ve really grown up.”
The two briefly collided. Sigren retreated to the side as the blade struck him sideways. “What do you want to do to acknowledge me?”
“I’m not sure.” Abel had no intention of giving an acknowledgment.
“If we fight too long, Fiona will unleash her lightning here.”
Abel glanced at Fiona quickly. When he found her glaring at them, he laughed. “But I don’t plan on letting you pass.”
With that, his sword aimed for Sigren’s side.
Sigren deflected the incoming blow. Abel’s words were nothing new to him; they were expected. Somehow, he couldn’t help but recall his childhood memories. Abel had treated him like a devil back then, but his actions didn’t contain the malice that those mercenaries had. Abel had just trained him harshly—really harshly. Every time, Fiona would come and anxiously stroke his dusty cheeks. Sigren cherished every moment of it. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“As expected, I think Heilon is better.”
“What?” Abel looked at Sigren strangely, surprised by his unexpected words.
“No matter what, I can’t feel any attachment to the capital.”
Sigren thoroughly understood why Abel was unhappy about his and Fiona’s engagement. If he became emperor, Fiona would have to stay in the capital.
“My half-sister came to visit not long ago.”
“Princess Aria?”
As their swords clashed, Sigren continued, “She said that I, who do not like the capital or noble society, am not fit to be emperor.”
It was a bold statement, but it was true. Still, it caught him off guard when he heard it.
After Sigren’s words, Abel fell silent for a brief moment. Sigren didn’t miss that. Abel quickly blocked an attack, muttering, “This guy.”
“Of course, that doesn’t mean I have any intention of backing down from anything related to Fiona.”
Abel gritted his teeth. He could see the determination in Sigren’s eyes right now. Somehow, it made him wonder how Sigren would have grown if Fiona hadn’t tamed him. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Ah, have you said this to Fiona?”
Sigren smiled.
“I’ll accept if there’s dirt in my eyes.”
“What’s—”
“You have to put dirt in my eyes.”
Sigren raised his sword from the bottom. Abel blocked it, but Sigren moved his right foot. Soon, soil flew into Abel’s eyes.
“You punk!” Abel reflexively blocked it.
“Oooohhhh…” The onlookers were invested in this unusual tactic, which wasn’t typically used among knights. Fiona let out a distraught groan. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“They say it’s useless to raise a child!”
Sigren grinned. “Do you accept me now?”
“Pity, but it didn’t get in.”
“….”
“Also, even a hundred years is too early for you to be engaged to Fiona!”
“I’m afraid I can’t wait a hundred years!”
The conversation between the two men grew childish, their voices rising so that even the onlookers could hear them.
Fiona shivered in embarrassment. This was not a situation in which she could applaud.
“Lady Fiona, are you okay?”
“I’m not okay…” Fiona’s fair cheeks turned red from shame. Then, dark clouds began to gather in the sky.
“Uh, it looks like it’s going to rain; they should stop this…”
“Don’t worry, it’s just a lightning strike in a dry sky.”
“Yes?”
Fiona jumped up and shouted, “STOP NOW!”
BANG! Lightning struck the training ground.
“….”
Everyone froze, including Abel and Sigren, who had been fighting childishly. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Now both of you are covered in dirt!”
The lightning didn’t aim for Abel and Sigren but randomly smashed the training ground around them.
And Abel, with dust in his eyes due to his adoptive daughter’s mischief, shed tears.
***
The two men groaned.
“Oh lord, I almost died because of my daughter.”
“I’m the same. I almost got killed by my lover.”
I had a lot to say too, considering the outcome was like this.
“That’s why you should’ve done it in moderation!”
I was dying of shame. The two of them might have been serious, but I was embarrassed.
“You’ve got dirt in your eyes, so now admit it.”
“It didn’t get in.”
“What a lie! I can see you’re crying!”
“It’s because my heart aches at the evil behavior of my daughter, whom I raised so diligently…”
“Don’t say nonsense.”
Abel chuckled. It seemed he was enjoying teasing me. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
Sigren lightly kissed my cheek as if to calm me down. Abel’s brows naturally rose at the sight.
“Should the engagement ceremony be held at Heilon Mansion?”
“Is that okay with you?”
“Wherever you want it to be, I’ll like it.”
That was really nice to hear.
“Prepare an expensive ring worthy of my daughter, Sigren.”
I was against it. “Don’t bother. I don’t need one.”
Hmm, did that mean the engagement was acknowledged?
“Oh, do you allow it?” Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
Abel muttered, sounding disappointed. “You threw dirt in my eyes.”
I laughed. “I’m sorry.”
Meanwhile, Sigren responded by kissing a handful of my hair. “Of course, I must prepare something that suits her.”
“Don’t. Please don’t!”
It seemed Sigren still didn’t fully understand me.
“It’s just an engagement party; let’s keep it normal.”
“Don’t worry, Fiona.”
The words “Don’t worry” from his lips sounded like a command to worry.
“If the engagement party is too grand, what will the wedding be like later on? I’d have a hard time preparing for that.”
Sigren laughed.
“I’ll bring you a dragon, then.”
Abel nodded in satisfaction at that absurd remark, his expression clearly saying, ‘Yes, you have to do that.’
I sighed at the sight.
Everyone was so crazy. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
***
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