From a Broken Engagement to the Northern Grand Duke's Son-in-Law

Massive docks stretched before us, merchant guild banners snapping in the harbor wind. The air hung thick with the aroma of exotic spice.

“My word... so this is the trading kingdom,” Hans breathed.

“I’ve never seen a city with so many people…” Roxen added, his voice filled with wonder.

We had disembarked at the harbor moments before. Around us, sailors hauled cargo from ship holds while merchants shouted frantic bids at impromptu auctions.

“Three gold!”

“Bah! I’ll make it five!”

The cacophony was extraordinary. Even coming from the Empire, I’d never experienced population density like this.

“Mind you don’t get lost,” I warned my squad.

“Come on, Captain. We’re not children,” Lancelot grumbled.

If only you were all children… That would be a relief.

I exhaled softly and shook my head.

Finding Martel in this sprawling metropolis would be like searching for a specific grain of sand on a beach.

Should I head to Martel’s tavern?

But that hag would be there. The Grand Master, Enoxia Brahms—the strongest brawler alive and Diva’s shadow queen.

Getting on the wrong side of someone already infamous for her temper would spell nothing but trouble.

“Tsk. I suppose we’d better get moving.”

I scratched the back of my head and started walking. Standing around here wouldn’t accomplish anything, and we had to start somewhere.

“Let’s move out,” I murmured to my squad.

Just then—

“Hey!” A familiar voice rang out behind us.

I turned to see that noble brat from the ship, standing there bristling with righteous indignation. He should have been catatonic with terror for hours yet.

Does he have great backing?

A supremely skilled healer or high-grade potions could manage instant recovery, but short of that, this kind of bounce-back was impossible.

As I puzzled over this, the noble brat unleashed his fury with apoplectic rage.

“Where do you think you’re running off to!”

Running?

I was so astounded I could barely form words.

Despite having graciously spared his life, this was how he repaid me—with fresh provocation.

The little fool clearly had a death wish.

I suppose those fellows are the source of his confidence.

A new cluster of knights surrounded the brat. These were qualitatively different from the ones I’d seen before.

None had reached Master-level, but they all carried themselves with competent menace. High-level Aura Experts, by the look of them.

Twenty of Lancelot, basically…

Honestly, I wasn’t worried about losing, but the problem was all the eyes watching us.

Sure enough, merchants who spotted the disturbance began backing away one by one.

“Hah.” A small sigh escaped me.

Cause a scene here and Enoxia—that old grandma—would show up. She was personally responsible for maintaining order in this place, after all.

I preferred not to make an enemy of her before meeting Martel.

“…Just walk away and I’ll let this slide,” I said, waving dismissively.

Fortunately, the knights beside the brat seemed to grasp the situation. Rather than charging straight in, they focused on restraining their young master.

Unfortunately, the brat himself appeared completely oblivious to context.

“I said seize those filth immediately! Or else I’m telling Father!”

“Very well, Young Master…”

The knights sighed weakly and began moving forward.

One approached me and spoke in low tones. “Sorry, but I have my orders. You should regret crossing the House of Marquis Belferia.”

He raised his fists.

I was just debating whether to blow off his arm when—

Slice!

The sound of a blade tearing through flesh echoed right in front of me.

“AAAAAARGH!”

The knight screamed. In an instant, his wrist had been severed, and Kai stood before him with murderous light flashing in his eyes.

“Worthless dog. How dare you threaten Young Master?” Kai hissed furiously.

The situation had escalated without warning. Merchants panicked at the sudden violence and began fleeing in all directions.

Then—

“My, my. Are our little darlings putting on a show here?”

A voice drifted down from above. I looked up to see a woman descending from the sky as if gravity were merely a suggestion.

Snow-white bobbed hair, a long pipe clenched between her teeth, and an overwhelming aura of intimidation radiating from her very presence.

“It’s Lady Enoxia Brahms,” one of the merchants whispered, as if they’d encountered their savior.

“I trust you’re prepared to pay the price for disturbing the peace?” Enoxia curved her lips into a wicked smile as she questioned us.

The world’s strongest warrior had arrived.

* * *

Damn it... what a nightmare.

I exhaled softly and stared at Enoxia. Of all the times to encounter her.

If she’d appeared while we were getting beaten up, that would have been fine. Anyone could see we would have been the victims in that scenario.

But this? This looked like we were unquestionably the aggressors.

I hastily addressed her. “Wait, please. We were merely dragged into a dispute.”

“Hmm... doesn’t particularly look that way to me.”

“I’ll explain everything if you’ll just calm down!”

I frantically shoved my squad behind me as I shouted.

The Veilmaster, the High Elder, and even that one Master-level knight transformed into a Gargoyle—I’d felt confident about fighting and defeating them all, or at least inflicting massive damage even in defeat.

I could stand defiant before any of them.

But not her.

A monster stronger than the Grand Duke—perhaps even stronger than the Divine Archer himself.

The only thing capable of stopping her would be the legendary Demon God said to dwell in the Demonic Realm.

There was no escape from her.

I clenched my jaw as I glared at the noble brat. If that miserable little shit hadn’t been there, things wouldn’t have gone so catastrophically wrong.

Tap, tap-tap.

I drummed my fingers against my thigh, signaling my squad. Death Veil communication protocol—when I gave the signal, they should run.

But before I could do anything else—

“Your fingers seem rather free-spirited for someone in your position.”

Enoxia closed the distance between us instantly and grabbed my wrist.

Crack!

My wrist twisted with a sickening sound.

A scream rose to my throat, but I forced it down. Enoxia had a habit of becoming marginally less hostile toward those who showed fighting spirit.

Sure enough, when I swallowed my scream and glared at her instead, Enoxia raised an eyebrow as if pleasantly surprised.

“Well, well. A man of substance?”

“So I’ve been told often,” I managed through gritted teeth.

“Is that why you’re so fearless? Hmm?” Enoxia’s brows arched in amusement as she went on. “Berg’s little lordling.”

She knows who I am?

I instantly realized something had gone very wrong.

And the next thing I knew, a massive impact exploded through my abdomen.

WHAM!

Just a kick. That single attack nearly knocked me unconscious.

“Gah!” I gasped raggedly and clutched my stomach.

I felt like I was dying. How could a casual kick hit harder than a Gargoyle’s punch?

I barely managed to focus and grabbed her arm.

Enoxia snorted with derision. “You’re still standing. And here I kicked you hard enough to kill.”

With those words, Enoxia swung her fist again.

BOOM!

My jaw snapped sideways as I slammed into the building across the street.

“Gaaahhh...!”

All strength left my body.

I wanted nothing more than to lose consciousness, but I couldn’t afford to. I could see my squad charging at her up ahead.

I summoned every ounce of willpower to stay conscious and screamed, “Run... huff... RUN NOW!”

They would die if they attacked her. I couldn’t bear to watch anyone else I cared about die.

I layered my last remaining Aura onto an arrow and fired it at Enoxia.

Roooooar!

A massive serpent-dragon flew toward her.

“Oh? Isn’t this the Divine Archer’s technique?” Enoxia tilted her head curiously at my Divine Beast Invocation.

Then she casually waved her hand and severed the Aura-infused arrow.

Snap!

Naturally, my Divine Beast Invocation caused her absolutely no harm. It had merely bought me a precious instant—but even that much was valuable.

I frantically pulled a pendant from my coat and hurled it at Enoxia.

Whoosh!

The reason Enoxia knew about me had to be connected to Martel somehow. The lack of response to my letter was probably related to the same issue.

My letter was intercepted…!

That would explain everything. Enoxia’s uncharacteristically extreme reaction. Martel’s silence. It all made sense.

Enoxia caught the pendant I’d thrown and gave me a questioning look. “What’s this?”

I shouted desperately, “Something I want delivered to Master Martel! I sent a letter but got no response, so I came here personally!”

“Something you want delivered?” Enoxia finally withdrew the Aura she’d been radiating and approached me.

Cough.

I barely suppressed the blood rising in my throat and looked at her.

In the distance, I could see my squad members already subdued. Fortunately, they seemed to have only lost consciousness—no serious injuries.

I exhaled in relief internally and looked at her again.

“So you’re saying that letter wasn’t meant as mockery?” Enoxia asked.

So that’s how she’d interpreted it?

Apparently, writing hastily and keeping it brief had been my downfall.

I looked Enoxia straight in the eye and replied, “No. I came here to tell Master Martel the truth.”

Honestly, I wanted to collapse right then and there, but I forced my trembling legs to support me with every ounce of strength I had.

If I couldn’t convince her here and now, my life would be in immediate danger.

“Hmm...” Fortunately, Enoxia seemed willing to give me the benefit of the doubt. “Your eyes suggest you’re not lying... though there are so many tricksters these days.”

“Please examine the pendant. The truth is contained within.”

“Is that so?” Enoxia nodded as if she understood.

She began focusing on the recording crystal inside the pendant. Images emerged from the record, playing out the events I’d witnessed.

Soon, Enoxia let out a hollow laugh.

“Ha. Haha…” It was a light chuckle, but the fury contained within it made the Veilmaster’s killing intent seem tame by comparison.

“A little Imperial runt had the gall to attack my future husband?”

“…Do you believe me now?”

“Hah. Yes, I believe you. And I apologize—I misunderstood.”

Snap!

Enoxia flicked her fingers. Instantly, all the fatigue and pain accumulated in my body washed away, as if I’d rested for hours.

That’s insane.

I was stunned by her Aura ability. She’d forcibly healed my body using a massive amount of Aura, even cleansing the impurities that had built up in my system.

I was in better condition than before we’d fought.

“This hardly constitutes an apology. I’ll grant you one favor later.”

A favor from Enoxia. That was something no amount of money could buy.

Getting beaten up unfairly was frustrating, but the world had always been about survival of the fittest. I’d save my petty complaints for after I got stronger.

First, I needed to go see Martel with her.

“Could you heal my companions as well?”

“Of course. It was my mistake.”

“Thank you.”

“Anyway… Having seen this, I need to go to Martel immediately. Tell him the truth and punish those rotten bastards.” Enoxia’s eyes flashed with dangerous light.

I nodded as I watched her.

Then out of nowhere, a voice interrupted.

“P-please wait! Lady Enoxia, I’ll give you a million gold if you capture that scum!”

It was that Belferia brat, shouting from afar.

…Is he genuinely insane?