Chapter: 162
Engagement.
A promise to marry in the future.
Kraush stared ahead, replaying the meaning in his mind.
“Are you talking about Haring?”
He hesitated and asked again, just to be sure.
“I will not accept a refusal.”
The Poison King, Hauran, reassured him once more.
Kraush felt a faint headache coming on.
It was because he understood exactly why Hauran was saying such things.
“Chirp chirp?!”
Meanwhile, the corpse rat from Ebelasque in his pocket inexplicably shrieked.
“Wait, hold on!”
Was it because he was the main character but had been excluded from the conversation? Haring, usually so composed, intervened with an uncharacteristically loud voice, putting herself between the two.
“Father, what do you mean engagement? What nonsense is this out of the blue?”
Haring demanded at least a proper explanation from Hauran.
Hauran let out a short breath and looked at Haring.
“My daughter, the Empire is like a storm cloud about to burst.”
His eyes were filled with concern for her.
“It’s the time for a generational change in imperial authority, and countless nobles are secretly aiming their knives at each other.”
Once the throne changes hands, a bloodbath will certainly follow. The one sitting on the throne would never tolerate nobles who did not follow him.
“And moreover, there have been suspicious activities within the palace.”
It likely referred to the Bloodline Theory stolen by the Luminary.
Kraush subtly suspected that Ixion was in cahoots with the palace.
Hauran must have caught a hint of that too.
“With that situation, Lagrain has effectively been pushed out of the Central Nobility. Our future status is uncertain.”
Haring’s eyes trembled at this revelation.
“That’s because I intervened.”
She had come to realize it too. Lagrain’s current predicament was due to her independent actions.
“I’ll take responsibility for this. I’ll head to the Empire and face the consequences.”
If the family was to be treated like this, she declared she would step up.
“My daughter, don’t even think about such things.”
Hauran shook his head at his daughter, who wanted to sacrifice herself for the family.
“I respect your decision. What does our family motto say? Repay debts doubly, and avenge enmities tenfold. You’ve done a splendid job there.”
Hauran thumped his chest.
The wounds were around his chest, making him grimace slightly, but he wore a proud smile.
“Didn’t you crush our lifelong family enemy with your own hands?”
Haring’s eyes widened.
“I’m proud of you.”
His eyes reflected a father’s affection.
He did not pressure her for her choice; rather, he took pride in her decision.
Tears began to well up in Haring’s eyes because Hauran genuinely felt proud of her.
“And this is not something to blame you for in the first place.”
At that moment, the kind fatherly face melted away.
What replaced it was a visage as menacing as a vengeful spirit.
“It’s the fault of that lad who egged you on.”
His piercing gaze shifted directly at Kraush.
“That’s why I proposed engagement. It’s akin to taking responsibility.”
“If I marry into Balheim, that means I can stay in Starlon without worrying about the unstable Empire, right?”
Kraush saw through Hauran’s reasoning and let out a short sigh.
It was indeed a responsibility to shoulder.
Haring was currently in the Empire’s bad books.
So, sending her abroad was a more prudent decision than becoming a target within the Empire.
Especially if it was Balheim.
As a direct heir’s wife, even if she originated from the Empire, no one would dare dismiss her.
Thus, it was indeed the best position for her to stay in Starlon unbothered.
However, Hauran had overlooked one detail.
“Father, Kraush already has a fiancée.”
Before Kraush could speak, Haring shook her head, revealing the fact.
As she said, Kraush indeed had a fiancée.
Bianca Hardenhartz.
A girl of just 14 years this year.
Hauran likely wasn’t unaware of this fact.
But he merely scoffed.
“The Lagrain family, known for producing the Ten Great Lords. Although we’ve fallen behind in the Empire, our bloodline is not something to be ashamed of. If we propose marriage to Balheim, they’ll welcome us with open arms.”
Kraush couldn’t deny that.
But those words made him sharpen his stance.
“Are you suggesting that we forcefully dissolve the engagement with the Hardenhartz family and solidify an engagement with Lagrain?”
Hauran picked up on Kraush’s dissatisfaction.
“You seem to have a decent relationship with your fiancée?”
And he caught on to the dynamics between Kraush and Bianca as well.
Had it just been an arrangement, Kraush wouldn’t be reacting this way.
“This is absurd.”
Yet Hauran had no intention of backing down.
“I plan to visit Balheim soon to formalize the engagement.”
He had his daughter’s future at stake.
If they couldn’t do it in the Empire, then he was prepared to place her in the highest position outside the Empire.
“Your duty is to rise to the top for my daughter.”
It was a starkly one-sided ultimatum.
An overly invested father showed no intentions of wavering.
Deep coldness fell over Kraush’s eyes.
“I won’t deny the responsibility.”
Simultaneously, a murderous aura began to fill the room from Kraush’s body.
Feeling the pressure, Hauran’s eyebrows twitched.
“However, for this unreasonable engagement, even for a moment…”
Whoosh—
With the heat radiating from him, dark flames flickered.
“If you approach my fiancée, Bianca Hardenhartz, I will destroy not just Lagrain but the Empire as well.”
Kraush warned, threatening to incinerate everything in his grasp.
In response to that warning, Hauran’s expression hardened.
Here was a mere 15-year-old boy daring to threaten him.
“You’ve got some nerve.”
Hauran had never been fond of Kraush.
While he had assisted in revenge, Kraush had ultimately complicated Haring’s life.
In truth, if it were not for this situation, Hauran would not have disliked him much.
After all, he was well aware of what his daughter had been through.
But, Hauran’s dislike for Kraush stemmed from another reason.
He had read the emotions within his daughter’s letters, in which fragments of her feelings were laid bare.
Though she seemed unaware of it, Haring had developed feelings for Kraush.
The letters were filled with stories about him, reminiscent of how his wife behaved when she had fallen in love.
In a situation where signs of emotions beyond gratitude were glaringly obvious, it was no wonder Hauran was thrown into a tailspin.
How could this little punk come in and steal his only daughter’s heart?
Grit—
Hauran gritted his teeth, desperately trying to handle the surge of blood from his eyes.
But he loved his daughter more than anything.
The Lagrain family had a longstanding trait.
Once one develops feelings for someone, they would carry that person in their heart for a lifetime.
For those living among poison, love was also toxic.
Perhaps this curse-like trait would also ensnare Haring.
No matter how much he tried to wrestle his daughter away from Kraush, she would likely cherish him for life.
So he reconsidered his stance.
For his daughter’s sake, he’d rather be unreasonable and tie them together.
Though he didn’t like the idea of throwing his daughter to some brat, he absolutely despised the thought of her suffering.
Thus, Hauran had no intention of budging.
“If that’s your concern, then break off the current engagement and accept ours. Then there should be no offense to the Hardenhartz family.”
Murderous intent dripped from Hauran’s eyes.
The fact that Kraush was against him offering his beautiful daughter only fanned the flames of his anger.
“Enough, enough!”
At that moment, Haring shouted.
Both men turned their gazes to her.
With fists clenched tightly, she spun around to confront Hauran.
“Father, my path is mine to decide. This responsibility I’m taking is my own, not something for Kraush to bear. Why do you place this on him?”
“That’s…”
Hauran flinched at Haring’s sharp response.
He was taken aback because it was the first time he had ever seen his daughter raise her voice in anger.
“Engagements, responsibilities… Don’t put any pressure on Kraush. And for heaven’s sake, don’t do anything shady behind the scenes.”
If he dared to do anything suspicious, she warned him she wouldn’t let it slide.
Haring’s eyes mirrored Hauran’s ferocity.
In the face of that intensity, Hauran’s expression softened slightly.
Haring then turned her gaze back to Kraush.
“Kraush, I’m sorry. My father is being unreasonable. Just… forget about this. I’ll make sure it doesn’t affect you.”
The way Haring looked at Kraush was filled with warmth.
Seeing her treat him so differently ignited Hauran’s anger once again, but he swallowed it down.
Instead, Haring, with a pained expression, asked one last time.
“… Do you really not want to get engaged? After all, it could mean staying by Kraush Balheim’s side for life.”
As Hauran questioned, Haring looked back at her father.
She couldn’t fathom why he was pushing this so hard.
While Hauran sensed the turmoil in her heart, Haring was unaware of her own feelings.
Perhaps this was why Haring started imagining her engagement to Kraush.
Engagement is a promise made in advance to marry.
In other words, if they were to get engaged, Haring would become Kraush’s wife.
Haring envisioned being Kraush’s wife.
The first image that came to her was of the blunt yet caring Kraush calling her name beside her.
Soon after, his thick hand would slowly stroke her hair.
Twitch—
Haring’s shoulders instinctively reacted.
Her face began to heat up.
When heading to bed, she often found herself in such a daze.
It was because after defeating the Luminary, Kraush’s smile as he looked at her would often spring to mind.
Is it any wonder she frequently found herself daydreaming about him?
She much preferred attending unnamed classes to meet him over going back to her dormitory.
And as she slowly revisited those memories…
She realized in that moment.
Just who her feelings were directed toward.
“Ah.”
Haring’s gaze fell on Kraush.
The moment she read the awkward look on his face, she felt a tight squeeze in her heart.
Her fleeting desire evaporated the instant she laid eyes on him.
Kraush had a fiancée.
And Haring knew he cherished that fiancée deeply.
A part of her felt as if a knife were slicing through her heart.
And she understood why her father had insisted on this engagement.
It was because he had sensed her emotions.
“… No, I won’t get engaged.”
Now that she finally understood her feelings, she answered with a heavy heart.
“Because Kraush has a fiancée.”
A sad smile broke on Haring’s face as those words emerged.
Hauran, who had been staring at her, lowered his head and turned away.
“Very well, if that’s your decision, I understand.”
Hauran turned away after that.
He couldn’t bear to see his daughter in pain any longer.
“Let’s talk for a moment. I won’t force the issue of engagement on you.”
He gestured at Kraush to follow him.
With a glance at Haring, Kraush turned and followed.
Outside, Hauran rummaged through his belongings and pulled out something.
It was a book.
And Kraush recognized it immediately.
“The Bloodline Theory.”
The secret text of the Lagrain family.
The one stolen by the Luminary.
As Kraush looked at it curiously, Hauran handed it to him.
“Take it.”
“Uh?”
“You defeated the one who was our family’s nemesis. And you rescued my daughter more than once from peril. There’s no way to repay that.”
Hauran’s words astonished Kraush.
“So I brought this, the greatest gift that Lagrain can offer now. Haring said you’re obsessed with strength. This will help you.”
Well, it was indeed helpful.
Kraush had just recently created a temporary strength potion using poison and curses.
With the Bloodline Theory, he could probably make it much more efficiently.
After such a surprising gift, Hauran let out a slight sigh.
Then he clasped Kraush’s shoulder warmly.
“Use the Bloodline Theory to become stronger moving forward.”
Hauran had done his homework on Kraush.
At just 15 years of age, he had been racking up insane achievements.
All those who walked this path shared one thing in common.
They were destined to challenge the summit.
And today, he had seen Kraush with his own eyes.
This kid would make it big.
He would undoubtedly reach great heights someday—perhaps even surpassing the Ten Great Lords to become something even greater.
The poison glistening in his eyes was the proof of it.
“And keep getting stronger until no one can dare cast a disparaging eye upon you.”
Kraush wore a confused expression.
Yet Hauran’s eyes were filled with sincerity.
“And when that day comes, welcome my daughter.”
“… Wasn’t that a finished conversation? I already said I have a fiancée.”
“Possessing multiple wives is common for capable men.”
Just take King Poseus, for example.
Nobody would bat an eye in regard to capable men having several wives.
Kraush stared at Hauran in disbelief.
The stubborn determination to keep Haring by his side was all too evident.
“So grow strong. If you can’t, I’ll personally come to you and forcefully make you stronger.”
Hauran left him with those frightening words and walked away.
Kraush, left there alone, looked dumbfounded.
He then glanced down at the Bloodline Theory and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Man, what a tiring day this has been.”
For some reason, Crimson Garden was also unusually quiet today.
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