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

Putting aside that little eyesore of an event, the whole incident was wrapped up. Luckily.

Though the tavern lay half-destroyed and Diva’s streets bore the scars of flame and fury, the casualties remained mercifully light. All thanks to the team I’d brought with me.

“Captain!”

Right on cue, my men approached the ruined tavern. From their haggard appearances, they had clearly weathered their own battles throughout the night.

“You’re making my ears ring,” I answered with deliberate gruffness.

My companions exhaled in relief, breaking out into chatter.

“Just the Captain being his usual self.”

“…Young Master in good condition.”

“Doesn’t look like we’ll need to dig any graves.”

“E-everyone? Perhaps you shouldn’t say such things where the captain can hear you.”

What a collection of absolute fools.

I shook my head, seeing them behave so brazenly in my presence. A headache began building behind my temples for no particular reason.

Just then, Martel and Enoxia—who had been exchanging meaningful glances until moments before—turned to address me.

“Ahem... I fear I displayed quite an unseemly spectacle,” Martel said with obvious embarrassment.

Well, at least you’re aware of it.

I held my thoughts back and simply nodded. “It’s fine.”

“Fine my foot,” Enoxia scoffed. “Here, take this. That Demonkin scum dropped it during our fight.”

Dropped something?

Puzzled, I accepted the jewel she extended toward me.

This wasn’t Mithril, nor was it a diamond.

Why was she giving me this?

My confusion proved short-lived.

“Wait.” I let out a disbelieving laugh as I studied the jewel in my palm more carefully. “Don’t tell me this is a Dark Relic.”

Enoxia nodded with satisfaction.

“Uh-huh. It doesn’t appear cursed, but it seems to be a Dark Relic that allows you to channel that bastard’s power.”

Damn…

I stared at the Dark Relic with undisguised awe.

This wasn’t my first encounter with such items—I possessed memories from my previous life, and there was also the ring the Grand Duke had bestowed upon me.

So the reason for my shock was entirely different.

“A Dark Relic containing Aspect power? This is something that should be presented to the Imperial family.”

A Dark Relic containing an Aspect represented an entirely different class from ordinary enchanted items.

Consider the difference between a Dark Relic that merely extinguished flames when you clapped versus one containing concentrated demonic energy.

Which would prove more valuable—and more dangerous?

Obviously the latter.

I began examining the Dark Relic with calculating intensity.

The surface felt smooth as polished glass, and the demonic sigil contained within pulsed with authentic energy.

It seemed genuine.

I swallowed hard and rubbed the artifact between my fingers. I would love to keep it if possible. With this, the tactical applications would prove endless.

But with so many eyes watching, coveting it would inevitably cause problems.

“What a shame.” I sighed softly and resigned myself to presenting it to the court.

But then, Enoxia spoke up with deliberate casualness.

“Do you have to?”

“Pardon?”

“I mean, do you really have to present it?”

“Of course I do. Only the Emperor possesses the authority to wield Dark Relics.”

“That’s only when you use them openly. It’s just us here now—what’s the real problem?”

That was true, but...

I shot her a look that conveyed my confusion. “Would that be acceptable? If I pocket this, wouldn’t you become an accomplice as well?”

“You think I’d fear the Emperor?”

Ah. Of course.

The only reason she remained trapped here was because fighting the entire world simultaneously would prove challenging.

Taking on merely the Empire wouldn’t present particular difficulties for someone of her caliber.

“Forget propriety. Just use it. Besides, there’s no one here who would rat you out for keeping it. Those fellows are all simply worried about your welfare.”

Enoxia gestured toward my men with her chin as she spoke.

As she observed, the eyes of those fools were filled with genuine concern.

“So put that away. Now, the second matter is... ahem. M-Martel, you say it.”

“Good grief. What’s someone of your age so embarrassed about?”

Martel emerged from behind Enoxia and addressed the group.

He glanced at my companions, then looked directly at me and bowed his head deeply.

“First, I wish to express my gratitude. Despite the disgraceful behavior I displayed initially, you saved me. Moreover…”

Martel turned toward the window and gazed upon the scene outside.

Even with everything burned and collapsed, Diva’s citizens were attempting to smile through their pain. They helped one another, cared for families who had lost loved ones.

This was how they chose to live.

“…You saved them as well.”

“Anyone would have done the same.”

“Yet no one else acted. Not Diva’s royal knights, not that so-called king sitting in his palace. They were all simply holding their breath, praying for everything to end.”

Martel smiled with bitter self-awareness. From that expression wafted a feeling steeped in profound regret.

“But you were different. Whatever your motivations, you told me of my grandchild’s death, helped me convey my true feelings to Lady Enoxia, and cared more about individual lives than about political considerations. So…”

Martel bowed again, even deeper this time.

“I offer my thanks to you once more. This gratitude comes from a citizen of Diva, so please don’t burden yourself with formality.”

I found myself speechless as I regarded them both.

Behind Martel, Enoxia was also bowing, eyes closed in silence. As if offering a prayer to whatever gods might be listening.

I watched them with a wry smile.

“This is a first for me.”

Honestly, my behavioral standards remained anchored in rage toward the Duchy of Artezia.

Vengeance served as my driving force. I had lived by killing even my own heart in service of killing them.

After being caught in Maon’s Nightmare this time, I had resolved even more firmly to destroy those cursed scum.

However...

This wouldn’t be such a terrible way to live.

I briefly considered that after completing my revenge, I might choose to live protecting others instead.

With that thought, I gestured for Martel to rise. “Please stand. I don’t feel right with you lowering yourself like this, Master Martel.”

“Hmm? What about me?”

“…You as well, Lady Enoxia.”

“Right?” Enoxia immediately straightened up, coughing dryly.

“I don’t have a problem with it, okay? But I am older, so it feels somewhat awkward... something like that.”

“Maybe you should just remain quiet, Lady Enoxia. Please.”

“How harsh.”

Harsh?

As I regarded Enoxia with coldly settled eyes, Martel smiled faintly and continued speaking.

“In any case, this is what I wish to propose. I would like to repay you, but all I possess is the talent to teach others. Would you grant me the opportunity to instruct you all?”

Martel’s instruction.

Since I had traveled all this way to Diva specifically for this purpose, a happy smile immediately crept onto my lips.

“We would be honored.”

I nodded my acceptance.

It seemed the time had finally come to advance my abilities.

* * *

I had expected to begin receiving Martel’s instruction immediately.

But shortly after that day, I was summoned to Diva’s royal palace.

This wasn’t necessarily unwelcome. The stated purpose was simply to bestow a reward along with words of praise.

Standing before the palace’s audience chamber, a guard spoke to me with practiced formality.

“Please wait here momentarily.”

Shortly thereafter, the doors of the audience chamber began opening, and I found myself face-to-face with the King of Diva.

“Are you the hero who protected our kingdom?” the fat monarch asked, tugging at his elaborate mustache.

A hero? I suppressed a snort of amusement at that.

I bowed my head with appropriate respect and began my response.

“Being called a hero feels rather grandiose, Your Majesty. Please consider me simply a knight who witnessed the kingdom in peril and offered assistance.”

“Well, well... your character proves as excellent as the rumors suggest.”

The king nodded with evident satisfaction.

Rumors, though?

I reflected anew on how dramatically my reputation had transformed compared to my previous life.

Originally, every rumor concerning me would have been thoroughly negative. Now rumors about me were employed as words of praise.

If Father could witness this, he would probably cheer and applaud with pure joy.

While I entertained such idle thoughts, the king spoke again.

“A hero of your caliber deserves proper recognition. Is there anything you desire?”

The king spoke casually, but his eyes probed for sincerity behind my words.

I took a moment to steady my breathing and raised my head with determination.

“I want Enoxia’s freedom.”

The audience chamber instantly fell into profound silence. The king’s eyebrows twitched slightly, but otherwise, no response followed.

I took another deliberate step forward.

“She is too exceptional a being to remain confined within the Kingdom of Diva. She possesses the right to experience a wider world, the freedom to choose her own path.”

After an extended silence, the king slowly replied. “That... is not something I can accomplish through my power alone.”

I had anticipated that response. So I deployed the words I had prepared.

“Then please bring this matter forward as an official agenda item at the World Council.”

The king narrowed his eyes and studied me intently. A lengthy silence stretched between us.

Then, soon, a sigh mixed with something resembling grudging respect escaped his lips.

“Hmm... Very well. I shall discuss it at the council.”

I bowed my head respectfully. That was sufficient for now.

I can approach the Emperor later. He did say to tell him my wish.

If I could surrender the request I planned to make of the Emperor and redirect it toward Enoxia’s cause instead, that would prove profitable in its own right.

Afterward, formal conversation followed the expected patterns.

I departed the audience chamber while forming plans for future action.

Separate from my request regarding Enoxia, the king bestowed one additional treasure upon me.

I hadn’t expected to receive this.

I didn’t know whether Enoxia had spoken with him already, but somehow the king was aware that I served as the Divine Archer’s disciple.

Was that the reason?

The treasure the king presented was none other than the eyepatch the Divine Archer had once worn.

A black eyepatch designed for a single eye.

I examined the eyepatch resting in my palm for a considerable time, feeling the weight of its history and significance.

Then, having made my decision, I began securing it over my eye.

A tingling sensation struck the covered eye immediately. I experienced that sensation while simultaneously feeling a new technique rising within my consciousness.

It worked!

I celebrated inwardly and allowed a slight smile to twist my lips.

The technique I had acquired was Clairvoyance—one of the abilities primarily employed by my master, the realm’s greatest marksman.