Chapter 268: Side Story – ‘Fathers-in-Law’ Please Give Me Your Daughters! (4)

Sophia Arden.

Before marrying into the Arden family, everyone knew her as Sophia Sana, a famous swordswoman considered a heroine of the east.

Her life changed upon marrying into the Ardens.

With the rise of Garand Arden, the Emperor of the Sword, the Arden family had taken control of the east.

Gerard Arden, the next patriarch, was considered brilliant in intelligence and business, but his sword talent was completely average.

Being a second-class knight isn’t low; it’s the standard of high-ranking guardians.

But in a clan full of genius swordsmen, someone who wasn’t a true prodigy lacked the charisma to lead them.

In that sense, Sophia Sana was the swordswoman who could compensate for Gerard’s shortcomings.

She was a representative of the east. A first-class knight. Her reputation as a swordswoman even surpassed Gerard’s.

That arranged marriage wasn’t because Sophia had high expectations for Gerard.

After giving birth to Lunia, both lived busy lives fulfilling family duties, expanding the Arden school and its dojos throughout the continent.

Even so, Sophia remembered that her family had been fairly normal and happy.

Until the crisis arrived.

“Who is that child?”

“…He is my son.”

“That can’t be!”

One day, her husband returned home carrying a baby.

She needed no further investigation. It was an illegitimate child.

Her husband—this man—had formed a second life outside the home.

Sophia had lived righteously.

She trusted in his integrity.

She had never doubted him.

But he had not been the same.

The only one who had respected fidelity was her.

She had been betrayed.

That shattered Sophia’s strength.

Her husband began acting uncomfortable, avoiding conversation.

The illegitimate son, innocent but a living proof of infidelity.

And her own daughter, carrying that boy on her back because no one else took care of him.

Sophia chose to look the other way. She lived only for the family’s glory.

“He’s handsome.”

One day, her daughter introduced a young man she wanted to get engaged to.

“His face is completely my type. Besides, it’s fun to steal something from my little sister.”

Back then, Sophia gently scolded Lunia.

“Stealing someone else’s fiancé isn’t morally right.”

Even though Alisha was the living evidence of the betrayal Sophia hated, Lunia’s declaration still surprised her.

Then came the fiasco of the fiancé-kidnapping during the engagement ceremony.

Seeing the unstable course of Lunia’s romance, she couldn’t help feeling uneasy.

But over time, the name Corin Loch grew without limit, shining brighter and brighter.

And eventually, the Emperor of the Sword said a shocking line.

“Lunia and Alisha. He will take both as wives.”

After saying that, he even mobilized clan forces, clashing with the southern Dunaleff family and the royal family. Sophia felt she would faint.

She sought out her husband, toward whom she had held resentment for years, but even he didn’t oppose it.

“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…”

It was a movement she could not stop.

Sending both sisters, Lunia and Alisha, as wives of the same man.

Well, up to that point, Sophia could tolerate it.

Although 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.

But at least the two sisters got along. Better that than seeing them fight over the same man.

And Lunia had also grown within the eastern culture, where what matters is strength.

“Not even two… but seven women?”

The daughter of Duke Dunaleff, the royal princesses.

Yes, yes it was unacceptable, but after what happened last year, maybe this was the least terrible option.

“And the elegant academy director, Master Erin Danua, as well…”

At that moment, something inside Sophia broke.

Yes.

In the end, all men are the same.

Beasts unable to control what’s between their legs.

Even if her daughter said she loved him, this couldn’t be accepted.

She would not allow her daughter to live the same miserable life she had, deceived by a womanizer.

“S-Sophia…?”

But in the Arden family, the authority of the ex-patriarch was absolute.

And besides, in the east—where strength was respected—a strong man with multiple wives wasn’t looked down upon.

Therefore—

Sophia Arden—no, Sophia Sana, the swordswoman—decided that this time she would not back down.

Total opposition to the marriage with Corin Loch. Hunger strike.

She decided to start a hunger strike.

She would never accept a womanizer as a son-in-law.

***

When I heard the news about Sophia’s hunger strike, I was paralyzed.

“W-we shouldn’t stop her?”

“…”

“…”

Neither Lunia nor Alisha said anything. Neither of them had expected something like this.

“Father or the elders will probably try to stop her, but…”

“Lady Sophia is still a first-class knight. If she draws her sword, only a few could stop her without injuring her.”

To stop someone of Sophia’s level without harming her, you’d need a semi-elite knight or someone like Garand Arden.

“And the Emperor of the Sword?”

“He’s not the type to intervene in these matters. And besides, he’s always been weak against my mother.”

“Father always respected her a lot.”

The old sword maniac preferred Sophia far more than Gerard because of her martial mastery.

“I’m going to talk to her.”

“Are you sure?”

“In the end, I’m the cause.”

Everything began because of me. And I had to resolve it myself.

***

Sophia was sitting in the center of the main courtyard, with a sword resting beside her, carrying out a silent protest.

She had been there for hours without moving. Her posture radiated the uprightness of a warrior.

“Lady Sophia…”

“…”

She opened her eyes when she heard my voice.

Even though she was nearing fifty, she had the elegance and firmness of an older version of Lunia.

“Corin Loch.”

“…”

Her eyes, sharp like Lunia’s—or rather, Lunia’s eyes were like hers—pierced straight into my core.

“May we talk?”

I sat in front of her, imitating her posture. The hard ground hurt, but I couldn’t allow myself the slightest disrespect.

“Do you wish to tell me something?”

“You’re the one who has something to say.”

That was true. She had already expressed her stance through her actions.

“Could you not give me your permission?”

“I refuse.”

Sophia’s resolve was absolute. She could not accept her daughter marrying someone like me.

It was a perfectly logical reaction.

“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.”

Of course. Anyone would think that.

A person can only love one person fully.

Adding a second makes everything tangled.

And seven was absurd.

“I think so too.”

“…You do realize your words and actions don’t match?”

Of course I know.

“Emotions are like that… suddenly, out of nowhere, things ended up like this.”

“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.”

“Even so, I want to try my best. I don’t want anyone to end up unhappy.”

And I also wanted to save my own life a little.

“At first I made the vow to save everyone, but somehow everything got tangled until it became this.”

“…You really cannot give up?”

“No, I cannot. In this I am completely certain.”

“I thought you were… a more upright man.”

Could it be that in Lady Sophia’s eyes I also appeared to be someone decent? I really do get along with older people.

“Don’t hurt yourself.”

“Even if I don’t give up, as long as my father and my husband approve, everything will go their way in the end.”

It 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.

As 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.

“Um… Sir Corin.”

“Please tell me.”

“Do you love her? My daughter, Lunia?”

“…”

Lunia and Alisha are both special to me. And Lunia is––

***

(Flashback)

The night grew deeper.

For the first time in a long while, I remembered the past.

Six years ago.

When I reincarnated into this world for the first time.

I still didn’t know the madness of Park Sihoo.

“I am Lunia Arden.”

Lunia was the first woman in this world for whom I felt affection.

After Alisha’s death in the original timeline, Lunia joined later. Before meeting my master, she was my guide and my closest companion.

She was an admirable woman.

The kind of person anyone could fall in love with.

She was brusque, but dedicated.

Cold, but passionate.

Sharp, but capable of embracing her allies.

The reason I could never get closer to her was the person she desperately sought to avenge.

“It has to be me. No one else can relieve that child’s resentment.”

The older sister who carried the isolated half-sister on her back.

The family member who contained her rage while holding the little girl’s corpse.

The avenger who followed the trail of the stolen weapon’s thief.

That was why I couldn’t get too close.

I could only support her from behind, helplessly.

“Would you marry me?”

In the timeline where Alisha survived, when I met her again, Lunia made that absurd “contract marriage” proposal.

“The world is really…”

And 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.

Knock, knock.

Someone knocked on the door. Before I could say anything, the door opened.

“Were you sleeping?”

“Miss Lunia?”

Lunia Arden. She entered my room wearing a simple white hanbok.

“May I come in?”

“…Would you leave if I said no?”

“No.”

She entered as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Her straightforward personality hadn’t changed one bit.

“Well, I think I can guess why, but the reason?”

“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.”

In short—

“You want to force things by making them a done deal.”

“Um, no…”

Before I could say anything, she lay down beside me on the bed.

She rested her head on one hand and looked at me with a radiant smile.

“Don’t you like me, my fiancé?”

“…Not at all.”

Who could reject such a beauty, such a heroine, who also loves me?

“Even so, acting before getting permission makes me feel a bit guilty.”

“Since you’re dumb and too upright, I thought you’d say you’d wait until you had permission.”

“That’s already settled. I’m going to marry all of them. Without leaving anyone behind.”

“My fiancé is very ambitious.”

“My life depends on it.”

Lunia knew about my vows, so she let out a soft laugh. With that lovely smile, while playing with her hair, I asked.

“But Lunia.”

“What is it?”

“The truth is that hardly any of this makes sense. What did you see in me? What made you fall in love?”

Lunia has always been charming. She doesn’t know, but I met her six years earlier. I know how warm, how wonderful she is.

But in this timeline, we’ve spent far less time together.

“You’re handsome.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re my type. Your face and your way of living.”

Well, that was true in the previous timeline too. What changed this time?

“More than anything…”

“More than anything?”

“Because my sister desired you.”

“…..”

These sisters are out of their minds what the hell?!

“Seriously?”

“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.”

Even if it was the man she loved, she added.

“You do know this isn’t normal?”

“I’m aware.”

To start her feelings by wanting to steal from her sister the man she liked?

What the hell is going on with this family?

Lady Sophia was perfectly normal—could this be some genetic distortion in the Arden lineage?

“Well, this time I also stole the turn before you, I’m very satisfied.”

“Hmm…”

Lunia slid across the bed, getting closer. Her wide hanbok loosened, and her enormous curves came into view.

Comparable to Marie’s, without exaggeration.

“Huff…”

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Thank you, God…”

In the end, my donations to the temple when I was a child really did pay off.

“What a fool. Technically, you’re also a god, aren’t you?”

“That topic is still up for debate.”

I needed to talk with Estelle and my master. I still hadn’t processed it.

“So to convince my mother, why don’t we ignite the flames of love?”

“Gulp.”

I swallowed and was about to touch her face when…

Knock, knock.

“Corin-ssi… are you awake?”

Midnight.

A second guest had arrived.