Behind them, the minotaurs were all filled with confusion. They had all heard of Torun’s engagement before and always thought things were going smoothly. They had no idea that Nidalee was wholly unwilling to marry Torun, and so they didn’t know what to do.
And Charles—why was he standing up now? What was he even talking about?
The minotaurs’ rather primitive minds couldn’t process such a knotty problem; for the moment, they simply froze where they were, spectators to all the drama playing out before them.
Farther back, the priest Samit watched the scene, worry written all over his eyes.
He knew Torun’s character. With that strong, proud nature, Torun would never let this go unchallenged.
On the other side, Bruno scratched his head and suddenly muttered, "I heard the Church of the Goddess of Life is the only church that doesn’t restrict nuns from marriage... Ugh—"
He realized the brass Dragonborn beside him was staring at him icily. The dwarf only just then realized it was his second time saying the wrong thing: "Ah, sorry—um—I don’t really know. My apologies!"
He quickly ducked behind the brass Dragonborn, trying to shrink his presence, not knowing that, at that very instant, the woman’s gaze had grown only more disdainful.
Whatever little drama was unfolding there, Torun on the other side fixed his bull’s eyes on Charles, his breathing growing ever heavier. "So what?"
His voice was an octave higher, trembling with rage: "I don’t give a damn about your Liberl Port’s idiotic rules! Mountain People don’t bother with such nonsense! Her father already promised her to me—she’s my woman, always my woman!"
"You have no right to stand in my way—get out of my sight!"
His last words were nearly a roar, but Charles did not budge. "Sorry. I’m the priest of her church now—I cannot look the other way."
"Mr. Torun, I understand you’re feeling disappointed..."
"Understand my ass!" Torun howled with rage. "One last time, Charles, don’t make me hurt you—get out of my way!"
Charles held his ground and held Torun’s gaze, a bit of his own temper rising. "And if I refuse?"
He’d realized by now things wouldn’t end peacefully. They were likely going to have to fight it out, and the only question was...
Who would make the first move?
After all, just a moment ago, in front of the third party—Bruno, the dwarf—they’d both put on that friendly, peaceful face. Whoever struck first would be the one to shatter that mask.
The air seemed utterly still; everyone was waiting for Torun’s next action. Nidalee swallowed, her chest full of emotion. She had originally thought this whole expedition would be about Charles pursuing Anno, and she was only going to be a background character.
But then, Torun had shown up as well. Now it was Anno who was the background character, and she herself had become the center of everything—the very focus of the whole affair, with the leaders of two sides fighting over her!
Looking at Charles’s slender build, Nidalee felt deeply moved. He was so thin compared to Torun—who was twice his size—yet he stood up and faced that minotaur’s pressure, just to protect her...
Nidalee closed her eyes, hands over her heart, as if to calm her racing heart.
And in that moment, everyone but her gripped their weapons, on edge for the moment violence would break out.
But Torun was not quite so impulsive. Though he looked wild with rage, he hadn’t forgotten his goal here.
He wanted to make Charles strike first.
So, the minotaur took a deep breath, and suddenly laughed angrily. "What right do you have to decide her marriage, instead of her father?"
He stepped back, wearing a taunting smile, and glanced about for support. "Mr. Bruno, Henry, Uncle Samit—come on, everyone here, say something—who’s more qualified to decide her marriage: the father who raised her, or some white-haired human from the outside? Hah! You people are always babbling about religious rules, fake goddesses, as if that gives you the right to make her decisions!"
"Frauds like you—I’ve seen plenty. Just tell me: do you Liberl Port people not have fathers or mothers? Letting outsiders interfere in your marriages—that’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard all year! Is that all you are—a bunch raised without any real family?"
With every insult and cutting word, Torun tried to claim the moral high ground and incite Charles to strike first.
And there was no denying that the minotaur’s words were foul enough. In a few sentences he’d truly stoked Charles’s anger.
Blue light flared in Charles’s eyes as he realized something: this minotaur truly couldn’t understand a word he was saying.
He was a mountain tribesman—he didn’t know religion, and so he wouldn’t respect any argument rooted in faith.
Charles would have to strike in a language Torun would understand, finish this, and end his stubborn clinging. He had no more time to waste on pointless arguments; there were more important things to do.
With that, a cruel smile curled the corner of Charles’s mouth.
"This has nothing to do with outsiders," he said with a smile. "This is our own business."
Torun paused, not understanding, then saw Charles take a step back and call out, "Nidalee, come here!"
Nidalee, bewildered but obedient, hopped down from her giant spider and walked up to his side.
Then, Charles grabbed her shoulders, drawing her into his arms.
In an instant, Anno was stunned, not understanding what was happening.
Nidalee was stunned as well, wondering if this was the right thing to do with Anno right there.
But no one was more stunned than Torun—his fiancée, now in another man’s arms...
"In fact, we’re already together." Charles’s smile grew a little shy, but his words landed like hammers. "And she’s already carrying my child."
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