Enemies Meet at the Engagement Ceremony

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Despite being stripped of the succession rights in the Gray Duchy, Diana’s aunt remained the commander of the Gray Knights.

 

Just as my grandfather had investigated the newly appearing monsters in the western altered region, Diana was also scheduled to investigate the rapidly increasing number of creatures in the dangerous Kratyn Forest.

 

Kratyn was considered a perilous place, almost a stronghold of monsters. Enoch’s grandfather, Duke Jade Gray, had invited Diana to the mansion specifically to allow a meeting with Enoch.

 

“I know. So, I intentionally came out.”

 

“Why? You never know when else you’ll get a chance to meet Diana’s aunt.”

 

Enoch lives alone with his grandfather, Duke Jade Gray, in the Gray Duchy, separated from his parents.

 

Diana’s deteriorating relationship with Duke Jade Gray had led to her refusal to live together with Enoch’s grandfather.

 

If Diana’s aunt is simply sent away this time, there is no certainty of when they would meet again, especially since this Kratyn Forest investigation is expected to last at least three years.

 

“I understand that. But it’s not good for my mother to scold me without knowing my circumstances properly, especially now.”

 

“Are you mad at aunt Diana?”

 

“I’m angry! Why did I even start learning the sword…”

 

Enoch’s face contorted as if about to cry.

 

The old man’s face, resembling someone who wouldn’t shed a drop of blood even if stabbed, turned into the face of a seven-year-old on the verge of tears, leaving me completely bewildered.

 

“Hey, hey. What’s wrong?”

 

“Noisy, Cherry. Go away.”

 

Belated embarrassment seemed to overwhelm Enoch as he pushed me away with a flushed face.

 

It was a face one would want to capture with a camera if there were one in this world.

 

“Why on earth are you angry?”

 

In response to my question, Enoch glanced at me with an unsettled face.

 

“… Because you said you’re not learning the sword.”

 

I was left speechless by the unexpected blame. Why is he suddenly blaming me?

 

“Because of me?”

 

In my confusion, Enoch suddenly glared at me with a sharp look.

 

“Yes. It’s all because of you, Cherrya Emblem.”

 

Why is this my fault?

 

They saying that people become speechless when perplexed was indeed true. My mind became instantly tangled.

 

I couldn’t figure out where to start or how to respond.

 

“Hey…”

 

“Why won’t you learn the sword?”

 

Enoch looked unfairly upset. It seemed so unjust and infuriating that I wasn’t learning the sword.

 

“Why does that have anything to do with you?”

 

“Why does it not matter? I’m Gray, and you’re Emblem.”

 

“So, why does that matter? Is it written in imperial law that if you’re an Emblem, you have to learn the sword and fight with Gray?”

 

By this point, I was gradually getting heated and frustrated.

 

Ignoring the subtle expectations of my family was already becoming challenging at this moment.

 

In my past life, driven by a useless sense of justice, I lived a life like a moth diving into pitfalls, despite the worries of those around me.

 

Trying to live comfortably with my family this time, which I had only just experienced, seemed unexpectedly difficult.

 

“Whether I learn the sword or not, the fact that I am the Cherrya Emblem doesn’t change, so why does everyone do that!”

 

“It’s different! At least for me!”

 

“What?”

 

“If you don’t learn the sword, I can never beat Cherrya Emblem. Then my mother…”

 

Enoch stopped speaking and choked up, lowering his head deeply.

 

I had been consistently meeting Enoch from birth until now, but seeing him emotionally vulnerable like this was a first.

 

Enoch wasn’t just an old man, as I sometimes teasingly called him; he was a gentle and calm child with good manners.

 

Even though I, as an adult, hadn’t touched some amusing toys and didn’t whine when hungry, I had to manage mealtime on my own since there was no one to fuss over me.

 

When I first handed him the utensils, the young one blushed, vowing to eat without spilling anything. As I watched him with soup smeared around his mouth, I thought:

 

‘Maybe it’s not me, but him, who’s experiencing life for the second time.’

 

Only now could I truly realize that Enoch was indeed just a seven-year-old child.

 

Tears fell drop by drop onto the ground as Enoch bowed his head.

 

It wasn’t just because I wasn’t learning the sword that he was like this. Sensing there was more to the story, I gently patted Enoch’s shoulder and cautiously asked:

 

“Is there a situation where you’re in trouble if I don’t learn swordsmanship?”

 

In response to my question, Enoch leaned back, blinked, and took a deep breath. I quietly watched, waiting for him to compose himself.

 

“Cherry, have you learned about the history of our family and the Emblems?”

 

“Not really…, I just naturally picked it up.”

 

“Gray has never once defeated an Emblem in history. Not even once.”

 

I nodded quietly, refraining from adding more to his words. Saying more might only worsen the situation.

 

True to his words, the Gray Duchy had never defeated an Emblem in swordsmanship.

 

It wasn’t that Gray’s swordsmanship was weak; it was outstanding enough to rival any knight order on the continent without ever facing defeat.

 

The Emblems were simply overpowering.

 

“Your grandfather was a genius never seen before in the history of the Gray Duchy. Actually, your grandfather, Seffield Emblem, never defeated my grandfather until he received the official knighthood.”

 

“Really?”

 

My grandfather is a Swordmaster now, isn’t he?

 

I couldn’t believe the words; it was inconceivable. A Swordmaster, a title held by only a dozen individuals in the continent’s history. And our grandfather, Seffield Emblem, was one of them.

 

Such stories were unheard of among Emblems. It seemed like our grandfather’s dark past had been entirely erased from Emblem records.

 

I leaned in, intrigued by the stories I rarely heard.

 

“If there was anyone who could defeat an Emblem for the first time, everyone hoped it would be your grandfather. However…”

 

Enoch’s words trailed off. It was a once-upon-a-time scenario.

 

From here on, I was well aware of the story.

 

My grandfather, Seffield Emblem, who received the official knighthood, finally began to blossom his extraordinary talent.

 

The prime that began at eighteen was expected to end around thirty, where no one could compete.

 

At thirty, my grandfather had reached the pinnacle of Swordmaster, and no one could match him.

 

Even Jade Gray, who could barely hold a sword against my grandfather, couldn’t be a match when my grandfather became a Swordmaster in his thirties.

 

The time when Jade Gray secluded himself in the Gray Mansion for a year was a well-known incident.

 

The speculation that he took his own life due to despair had almost become an accepted fact, to the extent that funeral discussions were held seriously.

 

“My grandfather barely managed to overcome it. And as with all the past Grays, there was anticipation, hope, and then disappointment…”

 

I nodded quietly at Enoch’s words. If Diana’s aunt couldn’t defeat my mother, the disappointment in the Gray Duchy would continue.

 

“Now, the expectations are on you.”

 

“Right. My grandfather will never acknowledge defeating a weak

 

Emblem. So, if Emblems become commonplace, then I…”

 

“Winning doesn’t mean I won?”

 

In response to my question, Enoch nodded heavily.

 

“My grandfather said that only by breaking that sword when the

 

Emblem is at its peak can we bring our mother back to the mansion.”

 

“…”

 

I couldn’t say anything. It meant that Enoch would eventually have to break me in order to live with his mother.

 

The thought of carrying the expectations of the Gray Duchy on his small shoulders made me shiver with a gruesome sense of horror.

 

I could feel the lingering obsession of Jade Gray, Enoch’s grandfather, and the Gray family.

 

Glancing at Enoch’s hand, I now noticed that his small and delicate hand was completely torn, covered in wounds.

 

“You’re just 7 years old; what on earth have they burdened you with?”

 

I used to teasingly call Enoch an old man while looking at him. But now, I wondered if, despite being an adult in my mind, I had inadvertently treated him more like a child due to the way others around us did.

 

It seemed like my adult mind, when treated with care like a child, was gradually turning more childish itself.

 

“So, please, Cherry. Take up the sword. So that I, I can break your Emblem.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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