Above ground, far from the chaos brewing beneath, the road stretched endlessly toward the horizon. The afternoon sun hung low, casting long shadows over the fields. A carriage rolled steadily along the dirt path, drawn by a team of powerful horses. At the front, a man sat on the driver’s bench, holding the reins with one hand, his posture loose but his eyes sharp on the road ahead. The horses snorted and let out sharp cries, their breath steaming in the cool air. Flanking the carriage were three A-ranked warriors riding with steady focus, scanning the surrounding countryside for danger. Their armor caught the sunlight, gleaming like a warning to any would-be attackers. Behind them, riding at a slower pace, Gare, Barret, and Chris kept their positions beside the carriage. Each one cast a glance at the man holding the reins, their expressions mixed with exasperation and resignation. Once again, he had been thrown out of the carriage. And once again, he found himself forced to ride outside when he could have been sitting comfortably inside. The steady jolting of the driver’s seat was far from pleasant. Kael’s lips pressed into a thin line. Who would choose this over a cushioned seat? His thoughts shifted toward the one responsible. His eyes flicked toward the carriage door. "Jess. Just wait... I’ll repay this treatment in full." Chris noticed the look on Kael’s face and sighed quietly before speaking. "Lord, you really have a habit of stirring up dangerous groups. You’ve already destroyed three of them." "Two of them already had bounties on him," Barret added, his tone matter-of-fact. Gare’s gaze lingered on Kael, his expression unreadable. But there was something in his eyes that Kael didn’t miss—a silent message, as if saying, Lord, you’re a magnet for trouble. Kael’s temper flared. "What the hell?" His voice rose, sharp with frustration. "You’re all looking at me like I’m going out of my way to find these people," Kael said, his eyes narrowing. "It’s them who come to me. It’s them who try to harm us. And when that happens, I’m not going to sit around and let it happen." The road continued to stretch ahead, dust until, a voice called from outside. "We have reached the capital." "Capital... finally," Kael muttered, feeling a rush of excitement at the thought of a new place. He lifted his head to look ahead, but his expression quickly changed. His eyes widened, his body grew hot, and a faint tremble ran through him. Barret noticed and chuckled to Chris. "Haha, look at that. Even the Lord is excited like a child." Kael ignored them. His gaze passed over the towering city wall, several meters high, but his eyes didn’t stay there. They locked instead on four massive, gleaming statues. His heart gave a violent jolt. "Why are there statues of these dickheads?" Those four bastards... He clenched his jaw. If not for the gods and goddesses using them as vessels, he could have crushed them. But in the end, after they defeated him, those same gods used these four to finish the job and kill him. The memory left a heavy, bitter taste. Chris glanced his way. "Who are they?" Without much thought, Gare answered. "Those are statues of the Four Warriors. They saved the world from destruction. Chosen by the gods, they defeated the Heretic Leonard." The words struck Kael like a blade. ’I fought for the safety of the world. I bled for it. And yet you killed me...’’ He can understand that his existence might have been a threat to them but did they really have to smear his name and erase his honor?’ He stayed silent, his expression turning somber. The carriage rolled forward, passing through the capital’s gates. Capital guards of A ranks and B ranks stood on stood watch, but the Veydrin carriage entered inside without any obstruction. No one dared to block their way. Inside the city, a vibrant scene unfolded. Streets bustled with life. Merchants shouted prices, food stalls sizzled with fragrant smoke, and laughter drifted from all directions. The air felt warm and full of energy. As soon as the entourage entered, people began to murmur and point. "Look at that blonde lady... Her figure is flawless." "Are you blind? The one with purple hair is even more beautiful." "I’ve never seen women like them in the capital before. They don’t look like they belong here." Then whispers shifted toward Kael, who sat at the front of the carriage. "Who is that man driving?" "He’s handsome... a bit rugged. Do you think the Grand Duke would sell this servant if I offered enough?" "You’re crazy. That’s probably a knight. And if he’s with the Veydrin family, you’d better keep your mouth shut." "Tch. A shame. I would have bought him." Thankfully Kael hadn’t heard the discussion of the woman who mistook him as slave lest he might start coughing blood. The carriage moved on toward the Grand Duke’s mansion. It loomed ahead like a fortress, its towering gates and sprawling grounds rivaling any castle. The sight was enough to draw stares even from those used to wealth. But then a sudden scream tore the place. He quickened as his eyes fell on a figure ahead,cold, expressionless, and radiating a deadly stillness. The air around him seemed to drop in temperature. People in the crowd reacted instantly. "That’s the Grand Duke..." "Look at that presence. Even standing still, he’s terrifying." "No wonder they say no one dares to cross him." Seraphina, seeing Ruth for the first time, felt a shiver run through her. What the hell? Is he even human? Or just a block of ice? She glanced away quickly. As they approached, Kael suddenly jumped down from the carriage with a sharp cry. ’If he finds out I came all the way here sitting in the carriage, he might start lecturing me about pride and virtue.’ "What happened?" Emilia asked from inside,seeing Kael’s sudden reaction. But before Kael could answer, a voice from inside the mansion called out, having heard his shout. He froze for a moment, a sudden thought making his chest tighten. "Mother won’t have a panic attack, will she?" Forcing a smile, Kael stepped closer and greeted the man. "Yo... old man. How did you get here?" Ruth didn’t acknowledge him. His cold gaze shifted toward the carriage. There was a flicker in his eyes, almost uncertain, as he walked forward. The door opened. Ruth’s throat moved slightly as he looked inside. His eyes passed over everyone until they rested on a woman with bluish-purple hair, her face calm and unreadable. Emilia’s gaze met his. She studied him quietly, wondering what he was doing. Since entering Veydrin, she had not stepped outside. It wasn’t because Ruth forbade her,she simply spent her days watching him from a distance. In her heart, she had once hoped for love from him, but she had long accepted that such a thing might never come. Yet she couldn’t deny the truth...Ruth had never failed to fulfill his role as her husband in every other way. To her surprise, Ruth stepped forward. His tall frame bent slightly as he extended his hand toward her. Emilia’s heart gave a small, involuntary jolt.