I Want to Marry You?

What was going on?

I had an engagement?

When did that happen? Why didn't I know about it?

Aaron had never heard of this in the previous owner's memories.

Old Albert hadn't mentioned that he had a fiancée before he died!

This was House of Iris—the House of Iris from the Yagrant Kingdom, just as Alice had introduced it.

Or, to sum up just how formidable they were in one sentence: House of Iris controlled at least forty percent of the entire kingdom's military strength!

Their private army, the famed Iris Legion, was stationed in Uruk, at the kingdom's northernmost border, facing the Kingdom of Gelin's Mecca City from afar and constantly guarding against the northern barbarians sweeping south to pillage.

Moreover, perhaps influenced by certain traditions of the Kingdom of Gelin, House of Iris placed immense importance on bloodlines but treated men and women equally.

In other words, any direct member of House of Iris was theoretically qualified to inherit the family and become the future Grand Duke of Iris!

And Alice before him...

Even as a country bumpkin and a down-and-out noble, Aaron was not so ignorant that he could fail to see the arrogance and noble bearing that seemed branded into her bones.

That was not something collateral branches could cultivate.

Besides, House of Iris would not stoop so low as to deceive someone who had nothing like him.

So he really had a young and beautiful fiancée?

Alice took a deep breath but said nothing. Noble etiquette only allowed her to glance at Aaron, though the warning in her eyes was unmistakable.

Aaron gave an awkward smile. It was not that he had failed to hear her; he simply found it unbelievable.

Sart casually dispersed the Spirit Powder in the room. He gave Alice a thoughtful look and seemingly absentmindedly rubbed the crystal ball in his hand.

"Master Sart, there is no need to divine my purpose." Alice noticed Sart's little movement and gently shook her head. "I came to Leyden City not only because of Tien's death, but also because of this marriage."

Sart's gaze flickered. He was not embarrassed that Alice had noticed his gesture. In fact, he had deliberately let her see it.

He had to prove through his actions that he stood on Aaron's side.

The best way to deal with lies was to believe none of them. The next best was to foresee the future.

Having just witnessed that two-colored coin tainted with the aura of fate, Sart could use that aura as the primary ingredient to conduct a simple divination ritual without any particular ceremony or incense.

Even if he did not know what the prophecy would reveal, Alice did not know either!

The unknown itself was a deterrent.

Aaron carefully searched through his memories again, yet he still could not recall the slightest trace of this marriage.

If there really had been such an arrangement, Old Albert should have explained it, right?

Why hadn't that old man mentioned even this?

Still, Aaron, familiar with every kind of cliché plot, quickly caught on and did not know whether to laugh or cry.

After all, someone from House of Iris could not possibly end up with a fallen noble, could she?

I know this plot!

The woman comes to break off the engagement, and the man roars, "You'll regret this! I'm the one rejecting you!"

The woman has lofty status and overwhelming strength, while he is merely a fallen noble who has only just entered the Black Iron Tier.

More cleverly still, he had a system!

Wasn't this the classic worthless-trash engagement-cancellation storyline? The script was already written!

"So, are we following the procedure, or should we just shout it out?"

Hearing Aaron utter those inexplicable words, Alice frowned. "What? Procedure? What is that?"

Though she did not understand, it did not stop her from guessing what he meant. The disgust that had faded slightly from her face deepened once more.

What she hated most was glib talk, especially when it came from her fiancé. Her hand had already unconsciously gripped the longsword at her waist.

Sart was intrigued as well. He studied the two with interest and deliberately gave Aaron an extra look.

Although he was still not entirely sure of Aaron's family background, judging from his etiquette and conduct, his origins did not seem particularly noble.

Prominent families usually had dedicated courses in noble etiquette to sustain and satisfy their pitiful vanity.

After all, those noble lords racked their brains trying to emphasize how superior they were.

Simply in terms of posture, Alice, despite also being a noble, could leave a certain fallen noble far behind.

Of course, if Aaron were truly like Alice, Sart would instead have to consider how to get along with him.

Yes, Sart hated nobles, second only to how much he hated Heretical Cultists.

Though Transcendents inevitably had dealings with nobles, Sart still tried to avoid unnecessary contact.

But now, Sart was quite curious.

The two families actually had an engagement?

How had the fallen Albert Family become connected with House of Iris?

Thinking again of the secret surrounding Aaron, an almost imperceptible glint flashed through Sart's eyes. He nodded thoughtfully.

It seemed this fallen Albert Family was not as simple as it appeared.

"Alright, alright, I understand how you feel." Aaron looked at Alice, who had practically written disgust across her face, glanced at the rune-glimmering shield and longsword, and decisively backed down.

Breaking off the engagement was breaking off the engagement. What was the big deal?

With that temperament, I wouldn't want you anyway!

Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Never underestimate a poor youth!

Once the three-year deadline arrived, wouldn't a mere House of Iris be destroyed with the flick of a finger?

"What do you need me to do?" Aaron replied instinctively even as he grumbled inwardly.

"What else could you do?" Alice took a deep breath and could not help raising her voice. "Set a time, then invite a diviner to serve as witness."

Before Aaron could react, he muttered, "We aren't even married yet, and we need a witness to dissolve the engagement..."

A crisp sword chime rang out.

Alice could no longer suppress the anger in her heart. She drew her sword again, its tip pointing rudely at Aaron as she enunciated each word. "Sir Albert Aaron, are you insulting me?"

Sart gave a light cough and casually stepped in front of Aaron, though behind his back he secretly gave Aaron a thumbs-up.

Good lad. You've got guts!

Nobles and noble families were often two different concepts. The former were duplicitous and honey-tongued, dagger-hearted, while the latter often placed enormous importance on the intangible honor of their family.

Agreements reached between individual nobles could often be changed at will, but agreements between families were nearly impossible to alter. As family members enjoyed the benefits of their family, they naturally had to shoulder the corresponding responsibilities.

And now, Aaron actually wanted to tear up this agreement?

The Albert Family had already fallen so far, and Aaron did not seem like someone willing to uphold family honor, so naturally he did not care.

But the other side was House of Iris of the Yagrant Kingdom!

If this matter got out...

What would those tedious nobles, who spent all day doing nothing but holding tea parties and gossiping, think of it?

"House of Iris disregarded noble honor and actually forced the declining Albert Family to end the engagement..."

"Alice, as the family heir, actually ignored the family's honor..."

"The weak Albert Family ultimately chose compromise in the face of power..."

Even Sart, who despised nobles, could imagine what those nobles would say upon learning the news. Naturally, Alice could think of it too.

"If you are unwilling to fulfill the engagement, then I will kill you first, and then use my blood to prove the glory of House of Iris!"

Alice's eyes nearly spat fire. She gripped her longsword tightly as silvery-white radiance flickered unstably across its blade. She could strike at any moment.

Yet Aaron still had not realized why. He was completely dumbfounded.

Huh?

What happened to the worthless-trash engagement-cancellation storyline?

How had it turned into a rich, powerful woman holding a sword and forcing him to marry her?