Joshua.

From walking shadow darkening everything with his depressing presence, he incredibly transformed himself into a star that can out brighten the sun. My dear brother spun his soon to be wife sport the most incredible smile. Their bliss shone; they invited everyone to join them. And in the scuffle, he saw me and winked. I gave him a kind finger and laughed heartily.

Father… I hope you can see these from above. Mother… I hope your eyes are burning from this sight.

I heard gossip around the room.

"Aww, they look magnificent!"

"Engaged!? Again!? Tsk, these young nobles can't stay on one thing these days."

"She looks beautiful… Ah! Not as gorgeous as you, dear! Wait!!"

"Just when he became single! Curse that hodge whore!"

"Shut your damn mouth, before you get us kicked out. If you had any proper regrets, you should have got to him when he was sick."

"Rumours be damned. She belongs at our liege's side!"

"The fated couple have reunited! Hurray to the Duke and Duchess!"

"Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!!!"

"The prince is about to boil his top off. Didn't he claim her as a mistress?"

I laughed so loud the prince turned his twisted face to me. I said to a Noble whose name I will forget after today, "Staking claim? Is this the Reob era? Fuck off with that nonsense!" I said it loud and clearly enough for slick hair to hear. "And the lover of a fellow nobleman? Perhaps his jester is puffing up his confidence a little."

"Little Joshua." He came without his entourage. A bold statement of power. Only if I had never seen my brother doing such every day. "Still the gab on you," Wrapped in gorgeous ermine fur whiter than an Osbergian woodcutter's arse, the bastard prince stood before me, trying his best to smile cordially. "Would you like to replace my jester. You do play the fool quite well."

"I am a mirror to my audience." I bowed low because I am not a Barbarian; decorum must be shown, no matter how much of a dick the receiver is. I also bow to the silent masked pope with a suspicious smell."So, gentlemen," I stole two cups of wine for them to drink. "Enjoying the festivities? You seem down, your highness. Doesn't he-" my friend vanished.

"What happened to him?"

"Ran off at the sight of you." Kyros took a cup while the pope abstained.

"Your brother, you fool. What has changed him so? He was never this rebellious…" Kyros' jaw clenched with enough tension to break gems.

"A good woman can change any man."

"No woman is enough to change this so quickly." The prince drank his cup in a single gulp."He had some talent before the incident, but to I80 his personality? Back when I visited Tarion, he used to weep like a puppy from just a bit of fire. Now it doesn't even faze him… High peculiar. It's almost as if someone has taken over his body."

"Possession?" I laughed. " Nonsense. Now you're just saying stuff."

"Not nonsense." Sincerity changed his voice. "In this enthralling world of magical wonders, with the cursed taking over the dead…? Not nonsense."

I was about to laugh it off again into a man entered my man. A stalker of unbelievable talent who did what none could. Vel.

I looked back at my brother in the crowd, dancing with his fiancée, as happy as a prick can be.

Nah.

Nodding to me and the prince, the creepy Clergy man limped to the exit.

"Ah, look at him trudge away, he was so excited to see her, he could hardly keep still. I fear the news has devastated him."

"I would imagine so. Given how much time he wasted keeping them apart. What about you, old chum, sad you 'future' wife-"

"Don't act too familiar with me, Wolfburn."

"I have heard you have a liuen up at Osberg."

What's he curious about? I felt I had to choose my words well.

"Former doctor of the Ming cult working for a duke." The handsome man smiled. "How… suspicious." A left hand patted my head as a right hand handed me a small gift. Now that my friend has seen her. I will bid you farewell. Flipping his coat in dramatic fashion, the prince of Freidland made his way back to the exit. "Kissing feet won't save you from what's to come. Maternal cousins, we are. But I am not family to betrayers, to pissant followers. " piecing blues spark like azure moons as he stared at me over ermin covered shoulder. "I will take what's mine!"

Lightning sparked around my eye as my anger bubbled from within. A massive hand rested on my back. I didn't need to turn around to know it was him. His reassuring, warm presence was enough.

Charles gave me a cup of wine as we watched royalty leave the party early. "Today is to be a good day." Butterflies from my stomach were trapped in my mouth as I was struck by Charles' handsome doublet of royal blue dye that brought out his light features. He caught me gaping and smiled back as he chugged a bottle he brought with him. "What!? I am not on duty. Come friend. Let's go congratulate your brother."

I put the mysterious gift in my pocket and had the night of my life.

Tarion.

Father-in-law and son-in-law clapped hands together so hard, the handshake could be heard outside the dance hall. Sebastian shook my hand furiously. On a weaker man, a shoulder would have been dislocated. "Good show, gentleman. Good bloody show," his big moustached smirked, congratulating me with a heavy pat on the arm. Without her mother present, Caroline danced with her sister and Jen as if there had never been a fight between them. I heard the door close as the prince left. I heard it all. His clear disdain in his voice, his threat. What can he do? What will he do?

"You owe me," wearing a dark red gown, Afia, a darkskin seeker I have taken note of, whispered close.

"Sure… I ask away."

"Let me in. Like my father. No… closer."

"...I will think about it."

Vanessa screamed her small off, "Mother? MOTHER!!" Debbie and Vanessa ran into each arms like magnets; their mother-daughter love was enviable as they cried in each other's arms. Debbie scrunched her dress sleeve to clean her daughter's tears, though I offered clean handkerchiefs for both of them.

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"Congratulations, Venessa!, To both of you. Silly me, I think going…cry again." I gave my fiancee and her mother a wide hug, and I felt invigorated as if my body was healed again.

"Debra…?" I let go, hearing a stupefied n-law stutter his words. "H-How?" he unconsciously tightened his ascot.

"Sebastian…" She smiled, but her eyes mourned. "Time has changed us, hasn't it. Her voice turned cold and authoritative.

Mr Hodge replied with "Time has hardly affected you, my…dear." The younger ones cringe at his attempt at a compliment that was ignored.

"We have a lot to talk about. Later." Debbie grabbed her daughter. "But today we wish my daughter and husband."

"Yes." Hodge smiled. "Yes, later."

Vaneesa grinned ear to blushing ear. "Fiancee, mother. We still have the wedding to plan."

"Wedding?!" A screech louder than a fire alarm beeping assaulted our ears. "Please let me arrange!"

Jen shook her head. "Ah, ah, ah, Aunty Debbie. I got first dibs on my best friend's weddings. Aren't you busy with the orphanage?"

"Ophanage?" I heard Hodge say on the side.

"I can take a few days off to-"

"Let me handle it." Everyone with curious ears turned to the Grandi manager. "I have realised I have hoarded too much wealth. Maybe I should splurge a bit."

This frugal, stingy man wanted to pay for the wedding?

Vanessa and I found our eyes linked and thought that exact thing. We each took the arm of my dear mother-in-law.

"Unless." Sebastian cleared his throat. "You are not okay with it?"

An eyebrow up and looked at us, my smart mother-in-law figure.

"Oh, well… if it isn't a burden."

Free money is Good money.

********

Fire warmed my room, and my fiancée warmed my side. Lands above…! Fiancee… The word became real, and my heart became heavy. I chose this. Not a plot point of the story or an evil stepmother. Me. And so it is my responsibility to treat this with the sincerity it deserves. Today I received no gifts. My order. If my subject needs to give me a gift, I only asked for loyalty, and many swore it this night. It would appear that my statement made a mark on the undecided lords in attendance.

Wow… I pulled up the covers. I never in my life would think I would willingly get hitched. Edward's relationships only amount to short stints of hornyness and honeypot traps. Never anything I would sacrifice my soul for. To love someone this much meant I had to be weak. But in this world…

I felt power swell in my middle dantian and my circle of forged qi.

With this power, I can be honest with my desires.

This world is a dream come true.

I want to stay longer.

Vanessa snorted, and I stifled a chuckle. Her snore woke her as she reached for me, sleepy-eyed.

"I am sorry…" Her mouth slurred from the copious amount of alcohol. "I didn't give you a gift."

"I told." I cover her with the bedsheet, holding her hand underneath. "This is all I need."

Still drowsy, she spoke. "One day…" and back to sleep she went.

I settled myself in my bed, still holding her hand, and welcomed the peace of sleep.

*****

And opened my eyes to the training room.

I did not sense her. Good.

I hear the chilling laughter below.

"The birthday boy has arrived to torture himself once again."

"No," I said with newfound resolution and turned my back to the pit. "Enough is enough. Haru, send me up. Time dilation max. Time to level up."

"Send me up, too."

"Fuck me!" I nearly fell to my arse as Vanessa jumpscare me from behind. "Where did you come from?!"

"I have next to the entire time." Ether flowed around Vanessa's and the digital world glitched. "Learned a thing or two."

"Vanessa… I…"

She held my face between her small hands, bringing it down to her height. Expecting a kiss, I got a flick to the nose. "My gift is letting it go."

A portal opened for us, and she ran headfirst into it. I follow her into the frightening light, not knowing what I may see.

A hungover brother.

4 a.m.

Sleepy eyes, webbed by crust, opened slowly. Hungover as I was floating on the high of last night. What a joyous occasion and to see my brother happy was a refreshing sight after years of torment. Ai reached over to a bedside table where a maid would have put water for me to help with the nausea, but touched a flesh instead. A chest, hairy and massive.

Bloody hell…

The bear of a man was sitting up. Tawny hair a mess, he looked at me, then at my fiddling hands on his chest. He smiled charmingly as he left my bed more naked than a marble statue.

Lands above… I shied away while memories flooded in of our time with each other. "R-R-Robe is over there." I point toward a chair with my head down.

Charles walked over. Putting on the robe, his arms could barely fit and cover his…

"You can use the covers!"

"It's good enough. Going to shower anyway. Busy day." He straightened as a butler should. "Thank you, Milord."

Thunder struck my chest. But I nodded for him to leave. But I wished he didn't. A door closed, and shame fell on me like a cold shower. I should have said something… all I wanted for him to say my name like last night.

Tarion

6 days later.

Four days of travel for a regiment was too slow, but in this low technological age, it's part of leading a big group. We can't teleport 300 men without preparing a well-calculated rune with an enormous amount of mana. Hopeful with Grandi's collaboration with the Sol trading company and our partnership with the Mage Tower, our new mode of transport carry our soldiers with haste.

And hand up, stopped an army.

I signalled for them to spread around the forest. Armed with spears, they pointed their metal tips at the bushes.

Qi enhanced my shout till every being in a one kilometre area could listen.

"SURRENDER, GOLBINS. YOU HIDEOUT HAS BEEN DISCORVERED THERE IS NO WAY OUT BUT PEACE OR VIOLENCE.

I tread on air as I call to my enemies. "SURRENDER AND I WILL GIVE YOU MORE MERCY THAN YOU EVER GAVE THE MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN YOU TOOK AWAY."

I sensed them waiting among the bushes and trees. "IS THIS YOUR ANSWER!"

Only the breeze on the grass.

Fine.

In one motion, my blade flashed into my hand, cutting the air with a blinding amount of qi.

I tried to treat you as human. But I shall slay you like monsters.

The qi slice disappeared before it touched a leaf. A savagely shaped blade was pulled back by a chain to the hands of a lanky hobgoblin wearing human garments with light armour and a helmet with horns attached.

"Duel." Two hands spun two blades with an interconnecting thick metal chain. They spun so fast, they hummed.

"DUEL!!!"

Sly mother fucker. Lifesigt saw it all.

"AFIA!"

Cloaking Spell dispelled, hundreds of sneaking goblins froze under the daylight.

"KILL THEM ALL!!" I shouted, and the slaughter commenced.

The hobgoblin drew a bead of sweat but continued forward. He has marked me. I die or he does. No exceptions.

Oh, what's this?

Steam fumed from his green. The hobgoblin took a stance.

Faster than a blink, I parried a thrown blade to the left and my pommel guarded against a stab at my right side. I pounced, cutting at an open neck, but hit air. The fuming hobgoblin struck my back. A block shook me like a cocktail shaker.

Qi. Natural attained qi.

I turned my greatsword in, pointing at the enemy. Men screamed, goblins die, and I calmed my head and raged my heart. I sense new enemies just as strong as the ones before me. Do they wait till I am weak and tired?

Two blades were chucked, flashsteps let me pass them with no effort. Unruly qi burned off, and the Hobgoblin tried to bring his blade back.

A simple cut through the neck I missed ended the problem.

"One, two, a hundred more? BRING THEM ALL!"

And bursting out of the bushes, the goblins did as I requested.

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