Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Fiancée's Conviction
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The office of the eldest son, Melrikan Hardenharts.
Jenica arrived first, followed belatedly by Bianca. Melrikan smiled at the sight.
"It's been a long time since the family has gathered like this."
Jenica remained silent.
Melikran was the sort of man who prioritized the family name over its individual members.
Born as the firstborn son destined to lead House Hardenharts, he had received such training from a young age.
So she knew well that whenever he said something like this, nine times out of ten it was about family business.
"The reason I called you both here today is because of family matters."
Sure enough, the word "family" came from Melrikan's mouth.
With the family head Douglaskan away, he was acting as head in his stead.
He had the authority to discuss family affairs.
"What is it?"
Jenica spoke with a hint of curtness.
She felt uncomfortable in this setting with Bianca present.
"It's about Valheim's fiancée."
Jenica tilted her head.
Was there any need to bring up Valheim's fiancée again?
"Jenica, it looks like we'll have to change the fiancée from Bianca to you."
But his following words made Jenica's eyes widen in shock.
For a moment, she was so dumbfounded that words failed her.
It felt no different from saying he was selling her off in a political marriage.
"Wha...?"
"No."
In that instant, it was Bianca—not Jenica—who voiced her objection first.
Melikran, clearly caught off guard, turned to her with a surprised expression.
"Bianca?"
"No. Lord Krash's fiancée is me."
Her eyebrows were furrowed ever so slightly in defiance.
But Melrikan, who paid little attention to her usual demeanor, failed to notice.
Jenica, however, was different.
"Bianca, you..."
Having hated her so much, Jenica was the one person in House Hardenharts who observed Bianca most closely.
She had picked up on the faint trace of emotion from Bianca.
"Bianca, this is family business. There's no room for your personal feelings."
"Then when exactly can I have a say in things?"
Until now, Bianca had never voiced her opinion anywhere.
Shunned by the family her whole life, she had never had the chance.
Was that why? Melrikan seemed caught off guard.
It was the first time Bianca had expressed herself so assertively, leaving him at a loss for words.
But the matter had already been decided in the meeting.
A decision once made could not be overturned.
"It can't be done. Stop acting like a child."
"I am a child. I was back then, and I still am now."
Yet Bianca refused to yield.
"That's why I'm going to throw a tantrum. Kids are at the age where they say they want what they want."
Bianca stared straight at Melrikan.
"And the one thing I've always wanted to hold onto is being Lord Krash's fiancée."
There was no place in House Hardenharts where she felt at ease.
There was only one place where she could be comfortable.
By Krash's side.
Only Krash, who resembled her so closely, truly understood her.
So even if it was for the family's sake, she intended to insist on staying by Krash's side no matter what.
"Bianca!"
Melikran erupted in anger at the sight of her.
He glared at her with clear fury.
"Hah, this isn't your place to interfere! This is a major family matter. Krash Valheim's Valheim blood has awakened late, which means he'll claim a significant position in Staron, true to his name. Do you really think you can stay by his side? It'll only make things harder for you."
Children easily latch onto those around them.
Melikran judged that Bianca was simply acting on childish greed.
"You, with your curse, will eventually be discarded by him too."
As if to awaken her to reality, that's what Melrikan said.
"Brother, hold on—that's too harsh!"
Even Jenica was appalled; those weren't words to say in front of Bianca.
But Melrikan turned to Jenica with a frown.
"It's not harsh. It's just stating facts. Jenica, you're the same. Considering what you've done to her until now, you should think it's right for you to go to Valheim for her sake. And yet here you are, an adult who can't prioritize the family."
Melikran covered his face with his hand and let out a long sigh.
His two young sisters were nothing but headaches.
"Both of you, get that through your heads and leave. I have letters to write to Valheim."
At his sharp command, Jenica furrowed her brows and glared at him.
But Bianca didn't even react to his outburst, let alone stand up.
Realizing this late, Melrikan turned to her, his anger flaring.
"Bianca!"
"Don't yell. I have ears too."
Yet she didn't flinch at his rage.
True to her nickname of Snow Woman from behind her back, her face coldly stared down Melrikan.
"I don't care about the family."
"What? Does that even make sense? You're a Hardenharts!"
"There's no place for me in House Hardenharts."
She flatly denied his words.
"This is Father's family, Brother's family, Sister's family. Not mine."
Jenica's body twitched.
Her conscience, buried deep within, stabbed at her fiercely.
"So I have no intention of backing down."
And seeing Bianca like that, she realized it.
This girl had changed.
"Even if I'm excommunicated from House Hardenharts or lose my status as fiancée."
Bianca's blue eyes shone more clearly than ever.
She knew better than anyone that he would never yield his will, no matter the situation.
Having taken after him, in this moment, she stated her thoughts more clearly than anyone.
"I'm staying by Lord Krash's side."
It was the moment Melrikan opened his mouth to shout at her next words.
Knock knock.
A knock echoed through the room.
Melikran, whose anger had reached its peak, turned to the door.
"I'm busy right now! Come back later!"
"Uh, um, Lord Melrikan, Lord Krash requests an audience."
"What?"
Melikran stiffened.
Even as the youngest of Valheim, Krash was still a Valheim.
Though tainted with the stigma of being a halfwit for now, he would soon make his name known far and wide.
Young or not, he couldn't be treated lightly.
Melikran reined in his surging anger.
His ability to clearly separate public and private matters showed he was qualified to act as family head.
"Lord Krash?"
Meanwhile, Bianca's eyes widened round.
What was he planning to do by coming here?
"Let him in."
As Melrikan spoke, the door creaked open.
There stood Krash, entering with his hands clasped behind his back.
Even as he stepped into the office, Krash's expression was remarkably composed.
Melikran could tell from that leisure: he was beginning to carry himself as a true Valheim bloodline.
"I apologize for the sudden visit. I hope I'm not intruding."
And Krash's words were more polite than expected.
Bianca felt a chill at the speech that didn't suit him at all, but Krash grinned shamelessly.
Strictly speaking, Melrikan was the older brother of his fiancée.
An elder by age, it was right to address him as such.
"No, it's fine. After the major incident at Hardenharts, I should have visited you first. My apologies."
"Not at all. You even provided treatment. You're busy with Hardenharts matters, so I'm the one who was rude barging in like this."
Melikran thought Krash was more reasonable than expected.
From what he'd heard, the boy had been quite reckless, but now on the cusp of adulthood, he'd pulled himself together.
"So, what brings you here?"
That made the reason for his visit all the more puzzling.
There was no reason for Krash to seek him out specifically.
"Ah, I have a simple request."
Krash glanced toward Bianca as he spoke.
"I have no intention of getting engaged to someone who bullies people. So drop the idea of changing fiancées."
In that moment, Melrikan's body froze solid.
Jenica was the same.
"Wh-what do you mean by that?"
Melikran asked, sounding flustered.
But Krash's expression didn't change.
"Exactly what I said. The incident where I took down the Butcher Hound at Hardenharts can go in two directions."
Krash stated his piece regardless of Melrikan's confusion.
"One: Krash Valheim stepped up to save his fiancée, lost an arm in the process, but protected her and slew the Butcher Hound."
This was good news for Hardenharts too.
It meant Krash cherished his fiancée that much.
The engagement between Hardenharts and Valheim would solidify even further.
Assuming Krash didn't abandon Bianca.
"Two: Hardenharts had such lax security that a Butcher Hound infiltrated, putting the direct Valheim heir, Krash Valheim, in mortal danger."
And the second was the worst possible story.
From questioning Hardenharts' defenses to nearly killing a Valheim direct heir—it could lead to breaking the engagement and pose a massive threat to Hardenharts' standing in the political world.
"As acting family head, Brother Melrikan, you must know which is better."
Which rumor would be preferable? Krash asked with a smile.
Hearing this, Melrikan nearly roared in anger but barely held it back.
"...What do you want?"
There was no reason to sour relations with Krash over this.
And Krash likely felt the same.
His brazen approach meant he wanted something.
So without losing face, Melrikan decided to grant it.
"Nothing big."
Krash turned to Bianca.
"Let Bianca do what she wants."
Whether engagement or annulment, anything.
As long as she could do what she desired, that was enough.
Bianca's eyes widened hugely.
Melikran looked at her and Krash, letting out a groan.
'...I completely overlooked this.'
Their engagement had only lasted a year at most.
Given Bianca's personality, he hadn't thought Valheim's halfwit would treat her well.
That's why he'd rushed the matter.
But their bond was deeper than he'd imagined.
'I thought Bianca was just whining because she hated being in Hardenharts. Who knew it was mutual.'
Ironically, Melrikan felt relieved.
At least the engagement between Hardenharts and Valheim wouldn't break.
"...Bianca is cursed."
So he asked Krash again for confirmation.
Could he keep holding onto the cursed Bianca until the end?
"You really don't know much about family, do you?"
From the earlier conversation, Melrikan still hadn't sensed Bianca's feelings at all.
Melikran looked at Krash puzzled by his out-of-left-field remark.
"The curse never mattered in the first place."
At Krash's firm declaration, he let out a long sigh and slumped into his chair.
"...I understand."
Melikran decided to accept his words straightforwardly.
Krash's will mattered more than Bianca's anyway.
Since he said so, there was no reason for him to object further.
Only one thing lingered subtly in his mind: the childish ingenuity of using this as a card to achieve his goal was oddly chilling.
"Then, if that's all."
Krash turned to leave, having said his piece, then paused.
"Oh, right—one more thing, if you don't mind?"
"What is it?"
Melikran felt a twinge of anxiety, unsure what else might come.
"Could you say my arm was safely healed by the priest you invited to Hardenharts?"
He glanced at his empty right sleeve as he spoke.
Melikran showed doubt about this part.
What did he mean, healed an unhealed arm?
"Results will be out in two days. You can check then and report to Valheim. No priest hiring costs, so it shouldn't be bad for Hardenharts either."
Two days wasn't without leeway.
Whatever his plan, Krash didn't seem to be bluffing.
"Understood. We'll talk after seeing the results in two days."
"Thank you."
Krash walked out as if truly done speaking.
Watching him go, Melrikan turned to Bianca once the door closed.
"...Bianca."
"Yes."
"Do as you wish."
It was already settled earlier, but with permission reaffirmed, Bianca shot up from her seat.
"I will."
She flung open the door and dashed out.
It lacked any decorum befitting a daughter of Hardenharts, but Melrikan didn't stop her.
He merely turned to Jenica.
"...Jenica, has Bianca changed somehow?"
She wouldn't normally run off like that.
Her actions just now had been more emotional than anyone else's.
"She has."
Jenica stared blankly at where Bianca had been.
"A lot."