Page 243

I was doomed. No matter how positively I tried to think about it, the conclusion remained the same. This was a disaster.

I never imagined that Marghetta would kneel alongside me. I knew she was incredibly decisive, but I didn't realize it was to this extent.

“M-Marghetta! You don’t have to do this!”

“They say that a married couple shares everything. It’s not fit for a Valentian wife to ignore her husband’s suffering.”

With that, she knelt down and held her ground. Even though it would be easy to lift her up, it was only possible if she pretended to let me.

Trying to force someone who resisted to stand up usually resulted in injury. And so, I couldn’t bring myself to stop her too forcefully.

As we continued to struggle, the Iron-Blooded Duke appeared. His gaze fell on his youngest daughter, who was kneeling before him.

"...Come inside."

I caught a glimpse of the emotion that flashed through his eyes in that brief moment.

It was the look of a madman wondering how best to break someone so that everyone would talk about it.

How long does it take for bones to heal again?

Even from his back, I could already feel his displeasure. As I followed him, I couldn’t help but think that something was definitely going to break.

Still, the Iron-Blooded Duke would probably break the bone cleanly since he was an expert at beating people. Fixing it would be simple. Unless, of course, he decided to shatter it completely out of spite. That would take a while to heal.

As I absentmindedly touched my right arm, Marghetta spoke cautiously beside me.

“Carl, I—”

But she closed her mouth again when I quietly held her hand. This wasn’t the time for apologies.

Marghetta’s actions had certainly pushed the Duke’s temper to its limit, but it all started because of me. If I had acted properly, I wouldn’t have ended up kneeling in front of the mansion, and Marghetta wouldn’t have joined me.

Moreover, Marghetta did this out of concern for me. It was only because of my poor reputation that things turned out this way. If the Duke thought well of me, this would have been nothing more than a minor incident.

“Don’t worry too much. Everything will be fine.”

Yes, everything will be fine. The fact that the Iron-blooded Duke let us in was a positive sign.

If he were truly furious and dead set against the marriage, he would have drawn his sword at the front gate. I’d have had to dodge his strikes like it was a scene from Dark Souls. He was definitely the kind of person who would do that.

“Brother-in-law is right. Don’t worry too much.”

And supporting my words was a noblewoman with the signature red hair of the Valentis, someone who looked just like Marghetta might in the future.

She was the odd one out, who stayed close to us while the other siblings were near their father.

“Dear Mar, it was a bit much to surprise Father like that. Let’s apologize later, okay?”

“Yes, unnie...”

“Good.”

She was Marghetta’s 4th sister.

Though there was a considerable age difference between them, the nobility in this world generally aged gracefully, so they still looked like sisters.

“Don’t worry too much, Carl. Father may seem harsh, but he’s kind-hearted.”

“Ah, yes. I’m well aware of that.”

“That’s a relief. My husband was a bit scared because he didn’t know that.”

She chuckled, and I managed an awkward smile in return.

I could feel the Iron-Blooded Duke ahead glancing back at us, but I pretended not to notice. Surely he wouldn't hit me in front of his daughters, right?

"Hmm. Brother-in-law, I didn't expect you'd bring your other wives while asking for his permission for marriage."

Her comment made me instinctively glance toward the Iron-blooded Duke. I hadn’t planned on it either, but he insisted on bringing the guests.

“Are you planning to visit other fathers for their approval after this?”

Her curious tone made me feel even worse. I didn’t know where to look after noticing Louise and Irina’s faces turn red.

Maybe it would be better to stay next to the Iron-blooded Duke...? At least then it might just end with some physical pain.

***I managed to escape the miraculous trap of the Iron-Blooded Duke and the future sisters-in-law thanks to the Valenti family’s head butler.

When I first saw the head butler rushing over from afar, I expected him to receive a scolding from the Iron-blooded Duke. After all, he had failed to greet the guests, leaving the Iron-blooded Duke himself to do so. It could be considered a disgrace to the family.

However, no one in the Valenti family blamed the butler.

"Butler, please guide our guests."

"Yes, my lord."

He simply gave orders as if nothing had happened.

Seeing this, I realized that even Valenti's head butler was an overworked soul. No one even blamed him for being slightly late.

Are all butlers like this?

Indeed, the head butler of Krasius also suffered from overwork. Besides, the position itself entailed overseeing the administration of an entire estate.

But wasn’t this too much? Seeing such a pitiable soul up close—

"You, follow me."

Of course, the most pitiful one here was me. I wasn't in a position to feel sorry for others.

"Yes, sir."

At the Iron-blooded Duke's call, I walked forward with the feeling of an ox being led to slaughter. I tried to follow the butler, but the Iron-blooded Duke noticed immediately. I had hoped he wouldn't, but I failed.

As I followed the Duke, his children patted my shoulder in passing.

"Hmph."

In a way, this was a friendly gesture. But the Duke only snorted at the sight, offering no other reaction.

What did that mean? Did he think he didn't need anyone else because he was planning to deal with me himself?

Just how much does he plan to punish me?

There was a law of conservation of anger. If many people shared their anger, then each individual's anger would be less. However, it became overwhelming if one person shouldered it all.

That was the current state of the Iron-blooded Duke. The more his family showed kindness, the angrier he seemed to get.

"The Valentis value blood."

As I tried to think of a way to minimize the pain while walking along, the Duke spoke in a low voice.

Blood.

For a moment, an image of him striking an enemy commander with his fist flashed in my mind—

"That's why, as the year ends, the entire family gathers."

Ah, that kind of blood.

"The Valenti family spends the time from the end of the year until the New Year together. Even the married daughters are no exception."

"That's a beautiful tradition."

"But in the past, brothers often killed each other to inherit the title."

Oh, damn it. How was I supposed to react to something like that?

"Even amidst the chaos, my grandfather valued family bonds. This tradition started with him."

The Iron-Blooded Duke spoke with a distant tone and stopped in front of a door unlike any other. It was a luxurious yet ominously black door, set apart from the other rooms.

Above the door and written in elegant script were the words:

Room of Truth

What a terrifying name.

It felt like a place where I could be zapped by some powerful magic at any moment.

"My grandfather's wish was passed down through the generations. The wish I inherited must continue through my children into the future."

While I was lost in these strange thoughts, the Iron-blooded Duke, who was holding the doorknob, turned to look at me. His face was no longer filled with displeasure but was instead deeply serious.

"The Valenti values family. No matter how capable you are, you're rejected if you're an enemy of the bloodline. If you're family, you're embraced, even if you're lacking."

The more he spoke, the more I began to understand why the Duke held such disdain for me.

It wasn’t just because I had taken his youngest daughter; it also wasn’t because I had other women despite being with her.

"Mar was saddened when you pushed her away, but that's as far as it went. If you had no ties to us, we wouldn’t care."

Even though I had refused the marriage with his daughter, that alone wouldn't make me an enemy.

"But you came back. Despite pushing her away, you returned, asking to become part of the Valenti family."

That was the crux of it. Despite rejecting his offer and distancing myself from the Valentis, I returned.

From the Iron-blooded Duke's perspective, I was no longer an outsider. He needed to determine if I truly belonged with the Valentis.

***"***No matter how capable you are, you're rejected if you're an enemy of the bloodline. If you're family, you're embraced, even if you're lacking." ."

Regardless of my qualities, I would be considered an enemy if I neglected Marghetta. Conversely, if I become a devoted husband to Marghetta, I'd family, even with my imperfections.

This was why the Duke felt uneasy about me. I declared my intention to be part of their family, but maintained no real relationship with Marghetta and instead pursued other women.

"Can you commit yourself to the Valenti family?"

The Iron-blooded Duke asked. Could I truly become a member of the Valenti family and his son-in-law?

My answer was simple.

"Yes, sir. Absolutely."

"That's a good answer."

The Duke replied indifferently, turning the doorknob.

"Whether it's true or not, we'll find out soon."

The room of truth opened.

...No way. He’s not actually going to torture me, right?

***I could only stare blankly as Father disappeared, dragging Carl behind him.

I had already unintentionally provoked him. Even if I stepped in now, it would only defuse the immediate situation, but it wouldn’t calm his anger in the long run.

"It'll be over soon, right?"

However, 4th sister spoke with a calm expression.

"Yes, probably. Father isn't as he used to be."

Even eldest sister chimed in.

I was confused. Father seemed very angry, and yet my sisters acted like it was nothing.

It felt strange. Father had always been so particular about family matters. He was also the one who said that there wouldn’t be a wedding unless everything was perfect.

Sensing my unease, 4th sister smiled gently and patted my head.

"Our dear Mar, are you very frightened?"

"Oh. It’s Mar’s first time seeing this, isn’t it?”

Following 4th sister's lead, 3rd sister smiled and hugged me from behind, as if to reassure me that everything was fine.

"Just think of it as a ritual. It's always been this way. He did the same with your brothers-in-law."

?

"Only my husband really suffered. Father was still strong back then, and he threw him out the window."

??

“And then, eldest brother-in-law just climbed back up as if nothing happened. Father saw that and gave his approval.”

???

I was even more confused. I couldn't understand the conversation I was hearing.

A ritual?

Did this happen every time my sisters got married?

Thrown out…?

Does that mean he’s going to throw Carl out, too…?

I unconsciously glanced out the window, wondering if he had already been thrown out.

No one’s there.

Contrary to my fears, there was no one outside.

"Mar, not that window. He’ll be thrown out the other side."

I quickly ran to the opposite window after hearing brother’s words.

Fortunately, there was no one there, either.

…Wait, was that really something to be thankful for? I wasn’t so sure anymore.