17 Kather's Past

And Kather's just standing there with an expressionless face, not saying a word.

Gabriel is still laughing as he continues, "This is hilarious! How dare you speak so loudly and rudely to me! Do you know who I am?" Gabriel shouts at me while he still has tears rolling down his cheeks. "Because I certainly hope you know!"

He then points the finger at me and yells, "I am a noble son and the youngest son of Lord Alton of House Duchairn! You are nothing more than a nameless peasant and you've no right to talk back at me!"

At that point, I finally realized the gravity of the situation.

I'm not just some simple farmer boy… although I am indeed a lowborn citizen, which means little power or status among the nobility, I still have the right to talk back, as I am indeed Kather's future husband. Therefore, it is my duty to protect and support my future wife.

But instead, Gabriel was making me feel guilty for doing so. As if I should remain quiet as it wasn't my place to question his behavior and authority. But how could he say that I shouldn't speak up for Kather?

She is my future wife! And she is someone worth protecting. Someone who is far more important than any other person in this world. In short, my beloved bride-to-be.

So I reply with complete conviction, "Well… yes I am aware of that. But this is none of your concern! It is your responsibility to explain everything to me about this matter…" Then I pause for a moment and look at Kather as she stands behind Gabriel. She looks completely stunned… or perhaps she is trying hard to stay silent while keeping calm and collected in the face of this bizarre situation.

I mean I am quite surprised at least to see how Kather reacts right now. Because I always thought she was the type to say what was on her mind, not usually the silent type of girl that I once knew.

It's been 10 years, after all, something would change in a person. And I realize that I might not have grown that much in terms of my personality but I am still who I am before. With just a bit of maturity... though I think I am already mature as I am someone who has a past life being an adult bus driver in another world before.

However, despite all of that… it's still very surprising to see how Kather is acting now in this situation. Perhaps something or some event happen in her life that change how she was… or just maybe she just become a lady.

And it might be that she doesn't want to trouble her father by doing something stupid in front of someone who had status and influence in the capital. Because I do understand picking a fight with someone like that would surely bring more problems in the future. That's it's better to avoid it.

Though it's not for me, I don't care about any of that stuff. What matter is to make a stance in protecting someone I love from any harm. I do not care if I am going to suffer the consequences later…

"I am here to protect her," I declare firmly. "If you wish to speak with her about something important, then you're welcome to do so but if she doesn't want to, you shouldn't be forcing her."

After saying that, I place my hand over Kather's shoulder. As if telling her everything will be alright.

Gabriel looks at me in surprise before turning away from me. He then turns toward Kather with a glare on his face and mutters angrily as he spits out, "Do you know what you're saying? Who do you think you are? Do you even remember who I am? The heir to House Duchairn is speaking to you! And I am the only one worthy to become her husband."

"Really?" I asked with an arched eyebrow as I place my hand around Kather's waist and pull her gently toward me. "How come she's never mentioned that you exist?"

At that time, Gabriel looks confused and then slightly upset.

At that time, Gabriel looks confused and then slightly upset. "What? Of course, I exist! Everyone in this damn city knows me… or else they wouldn't call me Lord Duchairn's youngest son! But why the hell should that matter?" he snaps at me angrily before turning toward Kather once again.

"Look at you! Have you forgotten what happened to our relationship? Or do you simply choose to ignore it?"

Kather looks back at Gabriel with confusion written all over her face. Then she looks at Gabriel and says, "We broke up," she answers bluntly while she continues holding my hand.

Gabriel glares back at Kather for several seconds, but then he seems to soften a bit. Still angry, yet with less hostility, he answers Kather and asks with a stern voice, "And you're trying to get back at me by marrying this person here? You really are foolish!"

Kather stares at Gabriel blankly without saying anything for a couple of seconds. At this point, she finally responds with a firm tone. "I don't need your permission to marry whom I wish. It is none of your business either. Plus I do love Ceonre"

Gabriel glares back at Kather, but then quickly changes his expression and says calmly, "Yes, I can see that you're very stubborn, even when your father wants nothing more than to see you married off with the highest nobleman in town. But you have to break our relationship..."

For a moment, Kather doesn't respond to that. She is just looking straight ahead as if she is thinking things over carefully. Eventually, she answers with an expressionless face, "It was your fault."

I could only listen to what they are saying as I don't know anything about their past relationship. Like even Kather never mentioned this before. And it seems like Kather does keep this hidden from me until now that is…

As I learned about it in a very harsh way…