The reception hall of the Pathsbender Grand Duchy.

Among the many reception rooms, this was the innermost chamber reserved only for the most intimate of guests. Not only because of its connection to Pathbender, but also because of its grandeur and refined decor, it was a place anyone would wish to set foot in at least once.

And today, that hall was unusually crowded—because everyone had gathered to celebrate Irynsis’s birthday.

“I never invited anyone.”

Standing in the doorway, Irynsis frowned as she looked at the bustling crowd.

“As if we’re the kind of people who wait for invitations.”

“Regardless of what we are, you’re still a king. Stop coming into other territories like you’re on some kind of vacation.”

Clicking her tongue, Irynsis glared at Tamir, sprawled out on the sofa with not a single attendant in sight.

“And why are you here?”

Even Cassion couldn’t help but laugh bitterly when he spotted King Germaine of Terra among the rabble. Tamir and Penna were one thing—they were always like this. But Germaine, who was usually so proper, sitting here among them, was unexpected.

Germaine clasped Cassion’s hand in a formal greeting, his expression calm but his eyes alight with determination.

“There’s a battle I absolutely cannot afford to lose.”

The words were heavy with meaning.

“What are you talking about?”

“To win, one must always keep a close watch on one’s rivals.”

“And again—what are you talking about?”

But Germaine’s gaze was fixed with burning intensity on Tamir and Penna. Cassion pressed for an answer, then sighed deeply when none came.

“Irynsis, can I just kill them all?”

“Do you want to start a world war?”

“If I win, it’s fine, isn’t it?”

“Cassion.”

Irynsis caught his hand, her touch soft but firm, urging him to calm down. The tension in Cassion’s face quickly melted.

And just then, the door to the reception hall opened once again, and another crowd came pouring in.

“And why are you here?”

Cassion’s eyes narrowed in disbelief as he looked over the loyal retainers who had just stepped in.

“Irynsis, didn’t we agree to spend your birthday together, just the two of us, at the villa?”

He had been giddy with happiness at the thought of finally having her to himself. In fact, it was Irynsis who had suggested it first—and he had been soaring ever since, despite the heavy workload. To see his plans crushed like this filled him with wounded betrayal.

Irynsis, equally flustered, protested.

“I truly didn’t invite anyone.”

She too had hoped for a quiet birthday with Cassion—there was something she had wanted to say. But now, the situation was completely out of her hands.

“Then why on earth are you all here?”

Cassion turned to Jubin, Escal, and Hugo.

They were no longer merely squad leaders. With the expansion of Pathbender, the number of knights had grown, and each of them now commanded an order of their own.

“And you even brought your wives?”

Hugo had long since married Helena, with whom he had three sons. Jubin had finally married Scarlett, the woman he had loved in silence through the long years of war. And Escal had wed Peony, building a family of his own.

Helena, Scarlett, and Peony all continued their work even after marriage, meaning that, gathered here, were not only Pathbender’s principal retainers—but also their equally formidable spouses.

And every single one of them wore an expression that was grave and… battle-ready.

“We too have come to fight a battle we cannot lose.”

Jubin’s declaration sounded more like a declaration of war than anything else. The other retainers standing with him grew even more fierce, while the foreign kings only clicked their tongues in annoyance.

“Irynsis, it seems a war I know nothing about has already begun.”

“Perhaps.”

Even Irynsis herself had no idea why all of them were acting this way.

At that moment, Penna darted forward, pulling a document from his coat and thrusting it into her hands.

“What is this…?”

“I’m first, got it?”

“An ambush attack, Mare? That’s low.”

Before she could even respond, Tamir rushed forward and handed her his own document, followed closely by Germaine, who did the same.

“I don’t believe the order matters in this case.”

“What on earth are you all doing?”

The papers in her hands were clearly formal documents—high-quality parchment stamped with official seals. With one glance, Irynsis recognized them as diplomatic letters.

“Honey, fetch my sword.”

Helena, clearly displeased, ordered her husband Hugo.

“This means war!”

Hugo, Juvin, and Escal all flared with fighting spirit, bristling with open hostility.

Finally unable to contain his curiosity, Cassion snatched the papers from Irynsis’s hands and began reading through them.

“…These bastards are insane.”

“Shall we prepare an official declaration of war, my lord?”

The retainers’ bloodlust only grew in response to Cassion’s dangerous aura. Even their master looked ready to lead them into battle, and Irynsis’s frown only deepened.

“What is it now?”

“No declaration needed. This is war.”

He made to march out immediately, but Irynsis seized his arm, pulling the documents from his grasp. She ignored his order to burn them without reading and carefully looked through the text. Then she let out a small laugh.

“So this is all it is.”

She exhaled a sigh of relief. For a moment she had truly wondered if some international conflict had erupted.

“Irynsis, this is not something to dismiss lightly.”

“She’s right, Your Grace! This is a savage and outrageous act of war!”

Irynsis clicked her tongue.

“Can none of you read? These are not declarations of war.”

She pointed word by word at the script and pushed the documents back at them.

“They’re marriage proposals for Nia.”

“How is that any different from a declaration of war?!”

Jubin’s fist tightened as he shouted, and the other retainers—and even Cassion—nodded furiously in agreement.

“Our daughter is only ten years old.”

“Well, it is the usual age for noble families to begin discussing marriage prospects.”

“My daughter doesn’t need marriage at all.”

“Cassion, that’s not for you to decide.”

“Irynsis.”

“And it certainly won’t be decided by these scraps of paper you’re all throwing at me.”

She turned her gaze firmly on the rival kings.

“Nia will decide her own path, in her own time.”

It was then the doors to the reception room burst open once more.

Everyone inside bristled—until the sight of the newcomer instantly softened every hardened face.

“There you all are.”

Nia Pathbender, now ten years old but already composed and graceful beyond her years, stepped into the room.

“My daughter.”

Irynsis stroked her hair affectionately.

“My daughter-in-law.”

“I’ll kill you.”

Cassion’s glare was murderous, but Tamir refused to back down, calling out to Nia.

“Nia, all these people are here because they want you as their daughter-in-law.”

“Don’t worry, Nia. I’ll kill every last one of them today.”

Cassion gripped her hand tightly, making his vow. But his daughter’s clear, steady voice struck back with unexpected force.

“My marriage is mine to decide, Father.”

“Y-you mean… you do intend to get married?”

Her unwavering tone left Cassion speechless, reeling in shock. Irynsis only laughed and drew her clever daughter into a warm embrace.

“Who do you want to marry, then?”

Nia had long since grown past the innocent fantasy of marrying her own father. But she was still a child, and her reasoning carried a child’s simplicity.

“The son of whoever gives me a younger sister.”

“…What?”

“Just look at the nursery, Mother. It’s nothing but boys.”

Her face was full of dissatisfaction. She wanted someone to host tea parties with, someone to play dolls with. But the nursery was overflowing with noisy boys swinging wooden swords around.

Of course, she adored her brothers. Especially the twin boys right below her—loud but unbearably cute. Still, this was unfair.

“How can all of them be younger brothers? Isn’t that too much?”

She looked around at the room full of adults, making her complaint. Apart from Cassion and Irynsis, none of them had daughters. That was, after all, the very reason this ridiculous ‘marriage war’ had broken out in the first place.

“Nia, that’s…”

“I will marry the son of whoever gives me a younger sister first. So, do your best.”

With that resolute declaration, Nia swept out of the room, leaving stunned silence in her wake.

But her ultimatum was rendered meaningless soon after—because during their birthday trip to the villa, Irynsis revealed to Cassion that she was expecting again.

Thus, the existence of the little sister Nia would one day cherish was first revealed—
and so dawned the Second War of Marriage.