The next day, before the sun had even risen over the mountains, Ron was already awake. Christie, exhausted from the previous night's frenzy, was still sound asleep. He quietly got out of bed, careful not to disturb her, and dressed himself. He preferred his original swordsman attire over the cumbersome and bulky noble robes. After donning his clothes, he grabbed the signed duel challenge from the desk, picked up his sword, and silently left the room.
As Ron made his way across the lawn to the front gate, various servants greeted him along the way. He could sense the insincerity in their smiles, which he disliked, but since they were at least putting on a friendly face, he responded with a similarly fake smile. He kept up this façade until he finally reached the fountain, where he was alone and could drop the pretense.
"I really don't fit into this environment. Living like this is exhausting," Ron muttered to himself. "After today, their fake smiles will turn into fear, because I, Ron, am willing to kill even a Guardian Knight. Let's see if they still dare to bully my fiancée after this."
He sighed, "But it's a pity. We'll be leaving soon anyway."
As Ron waited for Enke to arrive, he couldn't stop his mind from wandering. But time passed, and there was still no sign of Enke.
Meanwhile, Christie woke up and realized Ron was gone. "Damn it! How could I forget something so important?" She remembered that Ron had arranged a duel with Enke in the garden that morning. Hastily dressing, she hurried downstairs, her footsteps echoing as she raced to find Ron. But when she arrived, she found him sitting alone by the fountain, looking bored.
"Ron! Is the duel over?" Christie asked as she approached.
Ron shrugged, "That Enke knight talks a big game, but he's too scared to show up."
"In my memory, he wasn't like that," Christie said as she sat beside Ron, keeping him company while they waited.
But the result was the same. Time passed, and Enke still did not appear. It was nearly lunchtime when Ron sighed in frustration, "This bastard made me waste an entire morning. I haven't even had breakfast!"
"I don't think he's coming. Let's go have lunch. Afterward, I'll personally deliver the duel challenge to his house and bring back his head. Today, he has to die!"
"What!" Christie was shocked. "He's already surrendered. There's no need for this!"
"What does his surrender have to do with me?" Ron replied innocently. "All I want is for him to die. Come on, let's eat!"
Christie was at a loss for words, silently following Ron to the dining room.
As they were eating lunch, Feli arrived, sitting directly across from them with a somewhat grim expression.
"I heard you're planning to visit Enke Knight's home?"
Hearing this, Ron, who was busy eating, looked up, scanning the room coldly. He wanted to see which servant had eavesdropped on his conversation with Christie and then went to tattle.
The maids in the dining room trembled under Ron's icy gaze, especially one petite maid whose lips began to quiver.
Having identified his target, Ron said nothing more and went back to his meal.
Feli frowned slightly, "They're all servants of the Moore family. It's normal for them to inform me if they overhear something."
Ron, having nearly finished his meal, calmly wiped his mouth with a napkin before tossing it onto the table. "That's perfectly fine. In fact, I deliberately spoke in front of them. I wanted them to tell you. I just wanted to see who was so perceptive. To be honest, I don't like having people around me who can't keep their mouths shut."
As he said this, the petite maid began trembling even more.
Feli glanced at the maid, signaling her to leave, before continuing slowly, "You have a talent for leadership. With just a look, a gesture, or a word, you establish authority. But threats are the weakest form of leadership."
"As long as they're not my subordinates, it's fine. And I believe threats are the most direct method, don't you agree?" Ron smiled. "Especially with those self-important servants. If you show them kindness, they'll take advantage of it, just like that Enke knight."
"I don't understand why you're trying to stop a duel between men. You made me waste a valuable morning for nothing, and I'm really upset about that."
"You and Knight Enke are both valuable assets to the family," Feli replied, leaning back in her chair, twirling a strand of hair around her finger with a hint of frustration. "I don't want either of you to get hurt. I was willing to break knightly honor to prevent this duel. And you should know, I was favoring you. But if you already understood why, then why did you make things difficult for me?"
Ron sneered, "When we spoke yesterday, I could tell you were not only ambitious and highly controlling but also incredibly self-righteous."
"You need to understand that your discomfort, your desire to control others, is your issue, not mine. What gives you the right to interfere in a duel between men?"
"And as for you favoring me? No! You simply find me harder to persuade, and for now, you think I'm more valuable than Enke. Everything you've done is just a reflection of your self-righteous nature."
"If this made you uncomfortable, it's because you brought it on yourself."
"Fine!" Feli's tone turned icy. "I had high hopes for you and didn't want to interfere in your personal affairs, but if you're intent on getting yourself killed, I won't stop you. Go ahead!"
With that, Feli stood up quickly, gave Christie a cold look, and left.
Christie felt a chill run through her body as her sister's gaze lingered on her, making her lower her head like a child caught misbehaving. Only after Feli had left did Christie dare to look up again. After hesitating for a moment, she said to Ron, "Ron, let it go. My sister is right. Both of you are important assets to the family. If anything happens to either of you, it would be bad for the family."
Ron gently patted Christie on the head, comforting her. "The more you say that, the more I need to take down that Enke knight. I'll show you that submission only leads to more bullying. Only by fighting back will they stop daring to pick on you!"
"Don't worry about your sister's current attitude. After I bring back Enke's head, just watch how her attitude changes. I bet it will open your eyes."
Christie didn't fully understand what Ron was saying, but seeing his determination, she reluctantly nodded in agreement.
After lunch, Ron took a carriage to Enke's house. He didn't bring Christie along, telling her to wait at home. Christie obediently stayed behind but was worried about Ron's safety. She stood at the manor's entrance, waiting for Ron to return.
She waited from noon until dusk, standing motionless like a statue, her concern growing with each passing moment.
As the sky turned red with the setting sun, Christie's heart filled with dread. Tears began to stream down her face uncontrollably. "Enke's house isn't far from here. It shouldn't have taken this long. If Ron still hasn't returned, then maybe..."
Just as Christie was losing hope, a carriage appeared on the horizon, bathed in the crimson light of the sunset, slowly approaching the manor.
When the carriage stopped at the manor's gate, Ron stepped out, holding a severed head, the blood long dried. Upon seeing Christie standing there, crying, Ron frowned and asked, "Who bullied you?"