In a bright room illuminated by the flickering flames of torches mounted on the walls, Liam White, with his long white hair and pale skin, sat deep in thought. He was an ideal figure of beauty, almost like someone plucked straight from a K-pop fan's dream.
As Jared entered the room, he noticed Liam lost in his thoughts, his gaze distant. Jared waited patiently for an hour, but when Liam didn't speak, he finally asked, "Sir Liam White, what are you thinking about?"
Liam, snapped out of his reverie by Jared's words, realized he had been ignoring his loyal companion. "I was thinking about my youngest daughter," he replied.
"You mean Miss Willow White?" Jared inquired.
Liam glanced at Jared and said, "Yes, that's her. And stop using honorifics when you're talking to me or my family. You're like family to us."
"But sir, I am your loyal dog," Jared insisted.
"Whatever the outsiders may call you, it doesn't matter to me or my family. You've been with me since the beginning. You're more like a friend to me. We're the same age, after all," Liam said kindly.
Jared sighed, remembering their shared past. Liam and Jared had been best friends since their youth. Jared had been kicked out of his family because he was considered weak compared to his brother. In the Abyss, where strength was everything, he had no place in his family. To survive, he joined hunting parties, helping to lure monsters for others to kill. He was given leftovers as payment, just enough to keep him alive.
It was a harsh life—sometimes he'd have enough food to last a week, but other times, he would starve for days. Despite the hardship, Jared became an expert at navigating the dangers of the Abyss. He knew the places where monsters lived, their weaknesses, and the best ways to hunt them. But his life was a relentless struggle.
One day, while leading a group to lure monsters, Jared heard the sound of battle nearby. Rushing over, he saw Liam and his people fighting an Abyss Serpent, one of the most dangerous creatures in the region. Jared realized that Liam and his group must have believed in their strength to challenge such a beast, but they were clearly not from this area.
Liam, a white-haired boy at the forefront, was leading the charge, with his companions supporting him. However, as the battle dragged on, they began to tire. They decided to make one last desperate move, but when they did, Liam's comrades abandoned him, leaving him alone to face the serpent.
In that critical moment, Jared sprang into action. Using his extensive experience, he saved Liam and helped him defeat the monster. Grateful for saving his life, Liam took Jared back to his home, where Liam's grandfather took Jared under his wing and trained him to become a master swordsman.
Since then, Jared had been by Liam's side, aiding him in his journey to become a lord. Their friendship became well-known in the region, and Jared earned the nickname "The Dog of the City Lord," not out of disrespect, but as a testament to his loyalty and ferocity in battle.
"Jared, a bride for Miss Willow isn't the problem. If I announce it, there will be plenty of men lining up," Liam said, pulling Jared back to the present.
"But that's the problem," Liam continued with a sigh. "Whenever I announce it, fights break out among the competitors, and even old, ugly men try to enter the competition. My other sons-in-law are powerful, but not to my liking. This time, I want a young man, even if he's a young god. It doesn't matter—we'll make him strong," Liam said, excitement returning to his voice.
Seeing the spark in Liam's eyes, Jared couldn't help but share in his excitement. "So, my lord, you want me to find a handsome man for our little miss, right?"
Liam nodded eagerly. "Yes, I want you to find someone who is both handsome and worthy of my daughter."
After their conversation, Jared set out to find a suitable match for Miss Willow. He searched high and low, encountering many men—some were handsome but weak, others were strong but unattractive, and some were perfect in every way except their family backgrounds were too powerful to consider kidnapping them for Willow. Disappointed, Jared returned to the city and resumed his post on the castle fort.
That was when he overheard two guards talking about a young god who had entered the Abyss. Intrigued, Jared went to investigate and found Ajax. To his amazement, Ajax met every condition Liam had set. Not only was he handsome, but he was also powerful. Jared knew immediately that he had found the perfect candidate for Miss Willow.
As the battle between them ensued, Jared's excitement grew. Ajax was everything Liam wanted for his daughter, and Jared was determined to bring him back, no matter what. When Ajax continued to resist, Jared made a final decision. He had to knock Ajax unconscious and bring him back to become Willow's bride—even if it meant using force.