6.10 

“I refuse.”

Bernard’s eyes widened, as if he hadn’t expected Leon to decline. Perhaps Bernard assumed Leon would simply step aside.  

Can’t this clueless man just keep his mouth shut? 

Ellen approached Bernard, grabbing his arm to signal him to stop.  

But Bernard, looking puzzled by her actions, opened his mouth once more.  

“Did I not explain myself properly? I’m asking you to step aside for a moment….”  

“I said no. It’s you, clueless heir of Viscount Goat, who should step aside.”  

Leon’s voice began to rise. Unable to hold back any longer, he directed his full killing intent toward Bernard.  

“Pardon?”  

Finally noticing the hostility emanating from Leon, Bernard’s gaze darted between Ellen and Leon.  

“I said, step aside.”  

Leon’s icy voice rang low, and the air between the three of them grew tense and cold.  

“What on earth….”  

Bernard still looked confused as he glanced back and forth between the two. Leon’s sheer presence made Bernard shrink back slightly.  

Leon didn’t want to believe what he had just heard.  

Marriage? 

He had only come to meet Lady Rhoda briefly, but then he saw Ellen leading Bernard to a secluded spot where no one else was around.  

At first, he thought it might be a private conversation and considered waiting until they were done. But Ellen’s behavior struck him as odd.  

She seemed to be checking her surroundings, ensuring no one was watching, before leading Bernard to an isolated area.  

It was suspicious—too suspicious.  

Call it a knight’s instinct, but anxiety crept into Leon’s heart. He had a gut feeling that Ellen and Bernard were about to discuss something he didn’t want to hear.  

Surely not…  

Driven by unease, Leon decided to follow them, telling himself he would leave immediately if it turned out to be nothing important.  

He couldn’t hear their conversation clearly at first.  

But when he heard the word “marriage” escape Bernard’s lips, his eyes lit up.  

Who’s marrying whom?  

In that instant, Leon’s heart felt like it had dropped to the floor.  

He didn’t want to believe it. He thought he had been winning Ellen’s heart, but now, out of nowhere, this man was talking about marriage?  

How dare he!  

Leon clenched his fists tightly, his body trembling with rage. He was so furious that he couldn’t contain himself. That’s why he had no choice but to intervene in their conversation.  

Leon could have forced a marriage with Ellen if he wanted to. He had heard that Viscount Novary welcomed any wealthy noble family. As a member of the prestigious Guilford family, Leon knew Viscount Novary would eagerly accept him.  

But Leon didn’t want to do that. Ellen hadn’t fully forgiven him yet, and he feared that if he pressured her into marriage, she would leave him forever. He couldn’t bear to lose her.  

So, he had been carefully working to win her heart. He was so close—so close to succeeding. And now, out of nowhere, this ridiculous man was trying to take her away.  

That bastard.  

Leon had already disliked how close Ellen and Bernard were. But now, Bernard was pushing his already frayed nerves to the limit.  

“I challenge you to a duel for Lady Novary.”  

Unable to hold back any longer, Leon shouted at Bernard.  

“What?”  

Bernard’s unfocused gaze turned toward Leon.  

“I said, I challenge you to a duel. If you don’t want to lose Lady Novary, then accept my challenge.”  

“I, I…”  

Bernard stammered, unable to respond, and looked at Ellen with a pleading expression.  

Ellen, equally stunned by the unexpected situation, found herself at a loss for words. She had never imagined Leon would challenge Bernard to a duel.  

“Sir Guilford, there’s no need to go as far as a duel. Let’s calm down and talk this through.”  

Finally regaining her composure, Ellen tried to reason with Leon. She was the only one who could defuse the situation.  

“You must have noticed by now. Every time the two of you are together, it eats away at me. I’ve wanted to separate you two countless times, but I held back because I thought you wouldn’t like it, Lady Novary. But now, marriage? Are you marrying this man to drive me mad? Is that why you’ve resisted all my advances? Because you’d rather choose this feeble man over me?”  

But Leon’s eyes were filled with jealousy and fury. It seemed he couldn’t hear Ellen’s words at all.  

His gaze was fixed solely on Bernard.  

“I’m not marrying Bernard yet.”  

“Then are you saying his talk of marriage was a lie?”  

“Well, no, it’s true.”  

Ellen’s attempt to reason with Leon was shattered by Bernard’s thoughtless comment. Once again, his cluelessness provoked Leon.  

“So, it’s true that the two of you are getting married.”  

Losing all restraint, Leon drew the sword at his waist.  

As a knight, Leon always carried a sword, but he had never drawn it before. Even in Alber Village, Ellen had never seen him use his sword.  

She had assumed he avoided drawing it because its size and weight were too intimidating for ordinary people.  

But now, Leon was aiming that heavy, sharp blade at Bernard. And Bernard wasn’t even armed.  

“Eek!”  

Before Ellen could stop him, the tip of Leon’s blade was already pointed at Bernard.  

Overwhelmed by Leon’s menacing aura and cold presence, Bernard turned pale with fear. Always timid by nature, he now looked on the verge of fainting.  

“Let’s begin the duel immediately.”  

“What are you talking about? Bernard is nothing like you. He doesn’t know how to use a sword and isn’t even carrying one. How can you call this a duel? Stop this right now. The outcome is obvious—how can you even suggest a duel?”  

Ellen pushed Bernard behind her, shielding him.  

Bernard, whose legs had given out beneath him, collapsed to the ground. But Ellen had no time to worry about him. She had to stop the man in front of her.  

Leon wasn’t himself. His eyes were filled with murderous intent. He looked as though he might actually kill Bernard.  

“When it comes to fighting for the woman you love, skill doesn’t matter. If he truly loves you, he should be willing to risk his life. Does that man not feel that way about you? And yet, you’re still choosing him over me?”  

“I never said I was marrying Bernard. I was shocked when my father suddenly announced the marriage. That’s why I came to talk to Bernard—to figure out what’s going on. I don’t even fully understand the situation myself. So please, put the sword away. Bernard is struggling. He’s not strong enough to handle this.”  

“Didn’t you hear what he said? He’s willing to marry you. And now you’re asking me to put my sword away for the sake of that weakling? Is he so precious to you that you’d defend him like this?”  

The more they talked, the more agitated Leon became.  

“I’m not taking his side. I just think you are too worked up right now, Sir Guilford. I’d like us to calm down and talk things through. From the look in your eyes, I’m afraid you might actually kill Bernard.”  

“I don’t intend to kill him, but if he dies during the duel, so be it.”  

Leon’s tone was chillingly cold. He seemed genuinely indifferent to Bernard’s fate.  

No, I can’t let this happen.