Chapter 300 Engaged
I'm fucked.
My feet kept hitting the ground in stress of what could happen next.
I was in the Tepes Kingdom and inside their sinister yet beautiful large palace. I was waiting at the exterior of the throne hall.
Christina was seated next to me, her expression full of concern, while Mother sat on my other side, wearing an unreadable expression that sent shivers down my spine.
Three days had passed since that infamous night with Elizabeth. We had both explained the situation to our families, and while we stayed enclosed in our respective homes waiting for the outcome, the Heads of our Houses held discussions.
I was relieved that neither Mother nor Christina changed their behavior toward me. Initially angry that I had entered Selene's room without explanation, they reassured me, saying that everything would be alright. However, the one I feared most was Duncan Tepes, the Head of the Tepes House. He had been absent for a week and just returned today. The true conclusion would unfold now.
Ignoring the flood of calls and messages from John and Victor, I kept my focus on the present.
"Lady Olphean," one of the guards finally called out.
We all stood up simultaneously.
"Amael, stay behind us," Mother instructed, glancing at Christina. "Watch over him."
"Yes..." Christina gripped my arm with a tense expression.
The reassurance wasn't convincing.
Could a fight break out?
The Head of the Tepes House was a DemiGod, after all.
The grand dark doors opened with a creak, revealing a unique and imposing scene. The throne hall was adorned in dark red, with tapestries hanging here and there. Candlesticks adorned each pillar, casting a beautiful glow on the red carpet that led to the throne at the far end.
Claudia was seated on one throne, and the other throne...
"...!" My body involuntarily froze as I saw the man next to her. He appeared to be in his fifties, lacking any wrinkles, and could easily be mistaken for Elizabeth's father. His long, flowing dark hair framed a face with dark crimson eyes. Resting his fist on his cheek, he regarded Mother with a disinterested gaze.
That monster...
Christina's grip on my arm tightened, but I managed to collect myself. Taking a deep breath, I faced them.
Claudia's gaze was colder than ever, fixated solely on me. It was evident she harbored a desire to tear me apart, and considering her strength, she could indeed accomplish it. The damn granny.
Turning my eyes to Elizabeth, she wore a beautiful dark dress that covered her entire body, and a dark crimson crown adorned her head.
Memories of that night flooded my mind, and I averted my gaze. Elizabeth seemed better than she did three days ago, but her expression remained stiff.
Selene stood next to Elizabeth, wearing the same cold demeanor.
"Alea, it's been a while," Duncan's voice was low and calm.
"Indeed," Mom nodded.
"It's regrettable that the second time you come into my Throne Room, it's for such an absurd matter, Alea," he continued with that disinterested expression.
"This is regrettable, yes," Mom agreed.
"You think so?" Claudia, who had seemingly held back until now, spoke up with a glare. "Your son stained my cute little daughter, and that's all you have to say?!"
Mom narrowed her eyes coldly. "I'm certain that Elizabeth isn't lying. You surely know this was merely an accident."
"Your son caused it. What was he doing in my other princess' room in the first place?!" Claudia shot back.
"A-Amael was trying to prevent Selene from using the potion on Victor!" Christina interjected.
"You think I will believe that? He could have told any of us!" Claudia's voice grew louder, her glare fixed on me.
But any mistake could have led to your granddaughter's demise...
"So he is your second son, Alea?" Duncan's voice cut through the tension as his eyes settled on me.
Nobody should know that I'm not deceased, except Claudia, since she is the prophetess. She likely informed Duncan about it.
"Come forward," he ordered.
Approaching cautiously, I kept a safe distance between us.
"So he is your and Kleines' son, huh…" Duncan mused, his eyes gleaming. "He doesn't resemble either of you, but I see your gaze in him, Alea," he chuckled.
He was clearly trying to intimidate me, but I stood my ground. I've faced Zeus, after all.
"Just like your brother faced me back then, you are as well. What a unique family you have there, Alea," Duncan added before narrowing his eyes dangerously. "But he harmed my Elizabeth."
"It was an accident, Lord Tepes," Mom reiterated, her tone cold.
Duncan smiled. "You sure have guts to give me that look in my territory, Alea. You haven't changed at all."
"My son, like your granddaughter, are both equally victims; there is no one at fault," Mom asserted.
"No one except Selene, Mother," Christina disagreed, shooting a glare at Selene. "Because of her, Amael lost his… his innocence and virginity!"
This is somewhat embarrassing.
"Ah! You are blaming my other princess now?" Claudia asked, fed up.
"Of course, I'm blaming, oh Great Prophetess! She nearly stole Victor's virginity, and because of her, Amael and Elizabeth suffered!" Christina seemed to have snapped as well.
"He is mine," Selene, instead of defending herself, only reminded everyone that Victor was hers.
"Youngsters these days…" Duncan shook his head. "I can understand your point of view, Alea, but your son is still the one who tainted my granddaughter. I cannot slide past that."
"What?" Mom frowned.
Duncan nodded and continued. "I propose that your son leaves Sancta Vedelia right away. It will be better to explain and deal with that. Your son's cowardice led him to this situation, Alea."
"...!" Christina, Mom, and even Elizabeth looked at Duncan in confusion.
"N-No way he is leaving us again!" Christina snapped.
"This seems to be the only resolution," Claudia wore a triumphant expression.
In response to Duncan's decision, Mother remained silent, her confusion evident.
She's surely bewildered.
It makes absolutely no sense.
"What a farce," I muttered audibly enough for everyone to hear.
All eyes turned toward me.
Approaching Duncan Tepes, I spoke my mind, "So, I'm the victim here, and the solution is expelling me from my own House? Is this some kind of joke?" I tilted my head in irritation.
A tense silence hung in the air after my words.
"Boy, you shouldn't test my patience," Duncan warned, his oppressive aura palpable, but I paid it no heed.
I was weary of these individuals.
"How about we make it fair and have me expelled along with your other granddaughter, the one responsible for all of this?" I pointed at Selene with a glare.
"...," Selene shot a defiant glare in return.
I snorted, mocking her, "Of course, you wouldn't want to be separated from Victor, huh?"
"You brat!" Claudia stomped the ground angrily, rising to her feet, but Duncan raised his hand, silencing her.
He observed me carefully.
"What, are you going to kill me?" I scoffed, daring him. "Well, get in line. I already have some lousy gods on my tail with a stronger desire to kill me than you. A DemiGod isn't scary to me, Lord Duncan Tepes."
"Y-You...!" Claudia was utterly dumbfounded, much like Elizabeth, Selene, and Christina. Mother, however, wore an arrogant grin, nodding in approval.
A prolonged silence ensued as I continued to glare at Duncan, whose disinterested expression gradually transformed into a wide smile as he suddenly stood up, appearing right in front of me.
"..." I didn't even see him move.
However, my mother intervened, stepping in front of me to shield me from Duncan.
"I just want to see him closer, Alea," Duncan said seriously, and his request prompted my mother to step away.
He's too tall.
I lifted my gaze to meet his, and he peered down at me, towering over me by at least two heads.
"Amael Idea Olphean or Edward Falkrona?" he inquired.
"Whatever," I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly.
Duncan nodded and turned slightly, motioning for Elizabeth to come forward.
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
Both Elizabeth and I voiced our confusion as Duncan took my hand and hers, clasping them together with his large hand.
"I hereby announce the engagement between my granddaughter, Elizabeth Amaya Tepes, and Amael Idea Olphean," he declared, and a giant crimson circle materialized above us. "This is my word, and this is the best outcome. Alea?" he addressed my mother.
I looked at my mother in disbelief, silently pleading for assistance, but she shook her head.
"I accept."
"Duncan! What are you doing?!" Claudia stood up in shock, but a single stern look from Duncan silenced her.
As the crimson circle dissipated, a slight dizziness washed over me, much like Elizabeth. However, my bewilderment wasn't solely due to the circle.
"W-What the hell?" I muttered, struggling to comprehend.
Duncan smiled and raised his hands. "The unofficial engagement is done. We will soon organize an official one. Inform all the other Houses!"
"..."
"..."
Elizabeth and I exchanged appalled looks, both of us left utterly dumbfounded by the unexpected turn of events.
The sourc𝗲 of this content is free(w)ebnov(𝒆)l