Chapter 268: Side Story – ‘Fathers-in-Law’ Please Give Me Your Daughters! (4)
kauSophia Arden.vcLtm
UlFMzloBefore marrying into the Arden family, everyone knew her as Sophia Sana, a famous swordswoman considered a heroine of the east.tVC
elLYGHer life changed upon marrying into the Ardens.PyghM0q
PCjefWith the rise of Garand Arden, the Emperor of the Sword, the Arden family had taken control of the east.JHTk
a3pq7Gerard Arden, the next patriarch, was considered brilliant in intelligence and business, but his sword talent was completely average.pFt
we1Being a second-class knight isn’t low; it’s the standard of high-ranking guardians.orxZ8y
TRfXSBBut in a clan full of genius swordsmen, someone who wasn’t a true prodigy lacked the charisma to lead them.WBxsfDx
aJWGngjIn that sense, Sophia Sana was the swordswoman who could compensate for Gerard’s shortcomings.qNXl
tfKcShe was a representative of the east. A first-class knight. Her reputation as a swordswoman even surpassed Gerard’s.mzF8
gttAlThat arranged marriage wasn’t because Sophia had high expectations for Gerard.LSp
FuT7gPqAfter giving birth to Lunia, both lived busy lives fulfilling family duties, expanding the Arden school and its dojos throughout the continent.zSDY
sFPEven so, Sophia remembered that her family had been fairly normal and happy.H9qN
nZUd8Until the crisis arrived.EfoO5ag
4dEVTn“Who is that child?”nXHV
rkYCA“…He is my son.”DblC
TVZnau“That can’t be!”hqITG
n0BoUPROne day, her husband returned home carrying a baby.dpcFL
aEI0UoShe needed no further investigation. It was an illegitimate child.2uca7nr
GqLtj4cHer husband—this man—had formed a second life outside the home.l5p8
zr0jSophia had lived righteously.E1dn4U
D4rqShe trusted in his integrity.lxbnt
ZG0A5NShe had never doubted him.Xrv1
zk7xGKBut he had not been the same.TlZk7
MZnThe only one who had respected fidelity was her.P0lv7Y
VdYkShe had been betrayed.tPsL
f763That shattered Sophia’s strength.kMKy
OqogHer husband began acting uncomfortable, avoiding conversation.MoDw0bS
5rsGThe illegitimate son, innocent but a living proof of infidelity.bfUZ1
N5nGTGPAnd her own daughter, carrying that boy on her back because no one else took care of him.YEiD
UeBv0aSophia chose to look the other way. She lived only for the family’s glory.KCXvk
WnwOP“He’s handsome.”xOlbYN
8BBKOne day, her daughter introduced a young man she wanted to get engaged to.g8A
YCiye“His face is completely my type. Besides, it’s fun to steal something from my little sister.”LeHlUDa
BAf33Back then, Sophia gently scolded Lunia.BDciiz
Zc0ETff“Stealing someone else’s fiancé isn’t morally right.”hpic
TxkiKEven though Alisha was the living evidence of the betrayal Sophia hated, Lunia’s declaration still surprised her.hIRb
iynoZ7Then came the fiasco of the fiancé-kidnapping during the engagement ceremony.VTIjQ
rRxySeeing the unstable course of Lunia’s romance, she couldn’t help feeling uneasy.c6xR
mf7lOQ1But over time, the name Corin Loch grew without limit, shining brighter and brighter.zzuBeWS
lyQ7MSAnd eventually, the Emperor of the Sword said a shocking line.HJPpI
vJFBgU“Lunia and Alisha. He will take both as wives.”maGRxNA
9hkSmwvAfter saying that, he even mobilized clan forces, clashing with the southern Dunaleff family and the royal family. Sophia felt she would faint.x7r
acysjx9She sought out her husband, toward whom she had held resentment for years, but even he didn’t oppose it.zBONh
KgtSG“Corin Loch is the Sun Knight. The president of the Guardian Association. The heir of the Sword Master. If he becomes our son-in-law…”jNJ
TBfXXIt was a movement she could not stop.JSG
bpiltSending both sisters, Lunia and Alisha, as wives of the same man.ZvFBJXO
KSTeWell, up to that point, Sophia could tolerate it.fbstBQ
OB8TAlthough Alisha was her daughter only on documents, she had never really considered her her own. She was a sad child, a living wound she couldn’t face directly.VN2f
LiLsFvBut at least the two sisters got along. Better that than seeing them fight over the same man.aSkE
nAOAnd Lunia had also grown within the eastern culture, where what matters is strength.62OyL
VeF4GWI“Not even two… but seven women?”y3Yt443
RM1The daughter of Duke Dunaleff, the royal princesses.nkUv
7WdMXZWYes, yes it was unacceptable, but after what happened last year, maybe this was the least terrible option.DWs6Do
1akmGF7“And the elegant academy director, Master Erin Danua, as well…”hU3
b5cMIDAt that moment, something inside Sophia broke.plZjV
KjK4qYes.k0e9L
eNpZQIn the end, all men are the same.ZWi4
cvHzBeasts unable to control what’s between their legs.6YTsIQF
B3BbFMEven if her daughter said she loved him, this couldn’t be accepted.MnSq
DYX3SDShe would not allow her daughter to live the same miserable life she had, deceived by a womanizer.qx2a
mFZY8“S-Sophia…?”2QDV
b55xGBut in the Arden family, the authority of the ex-patriarch was absolute.SO8w
EPHRAnd besides, in the east—where strength was respected—a strong man with multiple wives wasn’t looked down upon.GLaM
TIlu6ATherefore—GEPhG
zJU9E5Sophia Arden—no, Sophia Sana, the swordswoman—decided that this time she would not back down.fr7
7XBP9Total opposition to the marriage with Corin Loch. Hunger strike.m9FbLr
ck0qNjCShe decided to start a hunger strike.KgMt77m
4sKIGShe would never accept a womanizer as a son-in-law.VdZgAT4
joay***f4A
icptpgkWhen I heard the news about Sophia’s hunger strike, I was paralyzed.S3d
Hl42JN“W-we shouldn’t stop her?”vL2RO
VC1dvZ“…”1zl
mmeLg“…”CA0
nmcZUhvNeither Lunia nor Alisha said anything. Neither of them had expected something like this.vnnGyY
hZXTp“Father or the elders will probably try to stop her, but…”rp9Oj
DTa3“Lady Sophia is still a first-class knight. If she draws her sword, only a few could stop her without injuring her.”bCV
rYdebuTo stop someone of Sophia’s level without harming her, you’d need a semi-elite knight or someone like Garand Arden.QvW
dvXdFJ“And the Emperor of the Sword?”RvQX
wIXPf“He’s not the type to intervene in these matters. And besides, he’s always been weak against my mother.”zkj0
DUMMmIw“Father always respected her a lot.”qyQd9EF
yxr23yoThe old sword maniac preferred Sophia far more than Gerard because of her martial mastery.Iqu
W21mC84“I’m going to talk to her.”yvN6
VPkM“Are you sure?”Kk6hgzZ
7CWx“In the end, I’m the cause.”kmlNhs
juq7Everything began because of me. And I had to resolve it myself.9RtdxoH
Za9K***YZv0
OrIQSophia was sitting in the center of the main courtyard, with a sword resting beside her, carrying out a silent protest.dziUaIx
IJbShe had been there for hours without moving. Her posture radiated the uprightness of a warrior.v7SK49
dcBCFa“Lady Sophia…”UMnBDq
0dj“…”pbAaj
3fosqShe opened her eyes when she heard my voice.6VD0
WbCfrGVEven though she was nearing fifty, she had the elegance and firmness of an older version of Lunia.CKjE75x
VMTtxR“Corin Loch.”0sJoX
vwbPms5“…”9m1
YbqmzObHer eyes, sharp like Lunia’s—or rather, Lunia’s eyes were like hers—pierced straight into my core.o64X
mmSDxo“May we talk?”7ZBD
56JUngI sat in front of her, imitating her posture. The hard ground hurt, but I couldn’t allow myself the slightest disrespect.pYMryOh
xN2d“Do you wish to tell me something?”Y4qZQ
XOU1“You’re the one who has something to say.”C8IHj
SzDovUThat was true. She had already expressed her stance through her actions.HIA
IR4q“Could you not give me your permission?”f3HG
NPWVg“I refuse.”P82gEOM
mroSophia’s resolve was absolute. She could not accept her daughter marrying someone like me.ncV
JxQVriIIt was a perfectly logical reaction.Rc3qm
ZV17zF“Marriage is something sacred. A pact between a man and a woman that must be based on mutual respect. It must be one-to-one. It cannot exist in plural.”CqDTmIm
aFzueEWOf course. Anyone would think that.Cf6gtA
bkYKEMA person can only love one person fully.z0dtGU
fkzqOiAdding a second makes everything tangled.pYD3
pQ1EBHAnd seven was absurd.cNuuNt
hbQ7“I think so too.”CxG8f
v3hI5Z“…You do realize your words and actions don’t match?”4Meg
qFJxOf course I know.09yS
8uoFNkX“Emotions are like that… suddenly, out of nowhere, things ended up like this.”XSxwDQ
autG“Not everyone will understand, that I know very well. I also think it’s something I must apologize for. In the end, they were dragged into something between us.”QKdjG
6X8txN“Even so, I want to try my best. I don’t want anyone to end up unhappy.”Yq6
ozjN5And I also wanted to save my own life a little.eIIeh
dT4b“At first I made the vow to save everyone, but somehow everything got tangled until it became this.”jr5XqJP
hLpE“…You really cannot give up?”SQA
GbM1KJ“No, I cannot. In this I am completely certain.”VyntCH
5lgX“I thought you were… a more upright man.”bfQ8cV
1YqCould it be that in Lady Sophia’s eyes I also appeared to be someone decent? I really do get along with older people.vWR
A8GRTOK“Don’t hurt yourself.”0SBJlL
Rq3s“Even if I don’t give up, as long as my father and my husband approve, everything will go their way in the end.”USaxrp
yD5UeIt seemed she didn’t believe this hunger strike would have any effect. Her face—serene yet filled with pain—made me feel sorry for her. She looked sad.hETI
WjcnZAs someone who had lived through a failed marriage, this act undoubtedly came from a sincere desire to protect her daughter. There was no way to deny that.cV4nO9Z
uL1“Um… Sir Corin.”AQwYOGH
JlkS“Please tell me.”ctGQBm
6jl“Do you love her? My daughter, Lunia?”tXo1gF
4Po9“…”oAXvdRu
uBYtXSLunia and Alisha are both special to me. And Lunia is––J99u73o
PTmU***acLuP
HBVuI(Flashback)Cl91y
lndoThe night grew deeper.sx6u2
jzJQnS0For the first time in a long while, I remembered the past.SBvO
WjaRNMuSix years ago.hg8e
1VYN7kWhen I reincarnated into this world for the first time.e5i3NUo
owcmyRI still didn’t know the madness of Park Sihoo.U75D2c6
7ZO“I am Lunia Arden.”Q71v
EeBhLunia was the first woman in this world for whom I felt affection.MjbS0
tAZByAfter Alisha’s death in the original timeline, Lunia joined later. Before meeting my master, she was my guide and my closest companion.NaEOH
01PFEShe was an admirable woman.O6RJr3
REq2HtThe kind of person anyone could fall in love with.RfNN
WM9Q3She was brusque, but dedicated.p6DA
HhwVCold, but passionate.01Fe
STGyESharp, but capable of embracing her allies.YHC9D
s6vy7bThe reason I could never get closer to her was the person she desperately sought to avenge.9wMwLLh
oXQTgx“It has to be me. No one else can relieve that child’s resentment.”l2U
6b6WXThe older sister who carried the isolated half-sister on her back.F7whT
f7mThe family member who contained her rage while holding the little girl’s corpse.Rou
SL5zThe avenger who followed the trail of the stolen weapon’s thief.JDwwY9j
rYEaemThat was why I couldn’t get too close.UETnH
WfKkBssI could only support her from behind, helplessly.mj0l0
8fgn8“Would you marry me?”v3K05xW
SOrHIn the timeline where Alisha survived, when I met her again, Lunia made that absurd “contract marriage” proposal.9G6
T8zGTF“The world is really…”tVx6JB
Lk6jOqAnd yes, it was impossible back then to know how everything would end. Looking at it now, maybe even then she already felt something for me.IVv
MRgZ5sJKnock, knock.uFTa9
5RszSomeone knocked on the door. Before I could say anything, the door opened.w7hWPMR
j7leS5“Were you sleeping?”YQJjXTC
vlE“Miss Lunia?”TJHj
taCLunia Arden. She entered my room wearing a simple white hanbok.rdtOv
Kbz6“May I come in?”SPtq0
ZEl4vS6“…Would you leave if I said no?”1uy35C3
2cn“No.”EM4gFbr
Urgn0MShe entered as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Her straightforward personality hadn’t changed one bit.UAZTt
7gqd8“Well, I think I can guess why, but the reason?”FzbjJE
DMQHM“Actions speak louder than words. Seeing my mother hurting herself like that in protest, I thought that as her daughter, I should help ease that pain.”CKRVg06
XS8dTIn short—JYmU2p
XvHf“You want to force things by making them a done deal.”IfEa
6fh“Um, no…”YoGMXfb
FimsZHBefore I could say anything, she lay down beside me on the bed.MzeORuI
XZ5SK7rShe rested her head on one hand and looked at me with a radiant smile.jJZ6
JddX“Don’t you like me, my fiancé?”wcwk
Lbdp“…Not at all.”KCpz
c2kWho could reject such a beauty, such a heroine, who also loves me?L5SJWU
qFhrc2“Even so, acting before getting permission makes me feel a bit guilty.”HuHZ
sL3dM“Since you’re dumb and too upright, I thought you’d say you’d wait until you had permission.”d1YGcsY
Mdpi13W“That’s already settled. I’m going to marry all of them. Without leaving anyone behind.”Y64uFIZ
7juR“My fiancé is very ambitious.”U7sG
v1Dkx“My life depends on it.”OeibUPN
fvnwMmkLunia knew about my vows, so she let out a soft laugh. With that lovely smile, while playing with her hair, I asked.UAX8cU
X1FAmor“But Lunia.”d8MW
OylTl“What is it?”HNv3
8CfoL“The truth is that hardly any of this makes sense. What did you see in me? What made you fall in love?”yPJ0
4vqDLunia has always been charming. She doesn’t know, but I met her six years earlier. I know how warm, how wonderful she is.lZL3Jj
sqnPKqBut in this timeline, we’ve spent far less time together.OwIsD
iXPZicE“You’re handsome.”guYGJ
2Y2ht“Excuse me?”tQ496F
7r3j“You’re my type. Your face and your way of living.”6MBx
wKbQq0Well, that was true in the previous timeline too. What changed this time?iOQjbe
kET“More than anything…”YGj8qrD
HvVle“More than anything?”Fc2
wt2bAh“Because my sister desired you.”l1k
QfzVbx“…..”ToTWq
WOreThese sisters are out of their minds what the hell?!iX1
hziJ“Seriously?”C1DHvw5
vcKp7DL“It’s an important part. If my sister wants it, it’s mine. As the older sister, I have the right to take everything that brat desires.”t9I
9sx0Even if it was the man she loved, she added.WLQZaAF
32gG“You do know this isn’t normal?”1Uf
Dcf2KBZ“I’m aware.”6ppZFl
yOO9E2To start her feelings by wanting to steal from her sister the man she liked?JZXcln6
rDgaRWhat the hell is going on with this family?Ltd
h3IJLady Sophia was perfectly normal—could this be some genetic distortion in the Arden lineage?QQF46
nmWYC“Well, this time I also stole the turn before you, I’m very satisfied.”Yr9J
4V9nuM“Hmm…”KVi
z5LLunia slid across the bed, getting closer. Her wide hanbok loosened, and her enormous curves came into view.6Qy0oGB
cJAMlI0Comparable to Marie’s, without exaggeration.tu5qhH
qwEb2S“Huff…”Q1bOxZ
gOpPu“What’s wrong with you?”pwm
DbePG“Thank you, God…”VsL
AFrpKIn the end, my donations to the temple when I was a child really did pay off.bgqfPzm
gTlnwm“What a fool. Technically, you’re also a god, aren’t you?”re0IN
0FPEN8Z“That topic is still up for debate.”UVhmUc
phThdcI needed to talk with Estelle and my master. I still hadn’t processed it.eXG
kWVus“So to convince my mother, why don’t we ignite the flames of love?”uzBGT
VZD“Gulp.”VklJYDe
fQePI swallowed and was about to touch her face when…6K9a
rxDKnock, knock.sYo
GtjSI“Corin-ssi… are you awake?”iTMR
8XHvoMidnight.JQxm
CRztA second guest had arrived.jNUjY5C
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HaydenZeMan
VIP Qi RefinementWas this chapter translated by ai? it’s near unreadably bad