CHAPTER 11: Broken Engagement
---
The doors opened.
---
Creak—
---
A vast hall revealed itself.
---
Tall pillars stretched toward the ceiling, carved with ancient patterns of the Venus lineage. Sunlight poured in through high windows, casting long shadows across the polished floor.
---
At the center—
---
The Patriarch of the Venus Family sat.
---
Still.
---
Silent.
---
Watching.
---
Lucius stepped inside.
---
His posture—
Straight.
---
Controlled.
---
Every step measured.
---
But the moment his eyes lifted—
---
He froze.
---
Because she was there.
---
Standing beside his father.
---
Blue hair.
---
Flowing like calm waves beneath moonlight.
---
Eyes—
Deep.
---
Endless.
---
Ariana Brett.
---
And the moment their eyes met—
---
—FLASH—
---
A grand hall.
---
Brighter.
---
Filled with voices.
---
A younger Lucius stood there.
---
Weaker.
---
Smaller.
---
His body frail.
---
His presence—
Insignificant.
---
Across from him—
---
Ariana Brett.
---
Elegant.
---
Untouchable.
---
Even then—
---
She didn't look at him as an equal.
---
Just… a formality.
---
—FLASH—
---
The Brett Family crest.
---
A roaring beast etched in gold.
---
A symbol of dominance.
---
Power.
---
Control over monsters.
---
One of the most influential noble houses.
---
A family that rose rapidly—
Through strength.
Through strategy.
Through opportunity.
---
Especially—
During the monster outbreak years ago.
---
—FLASH—
---
Chaos.
---
Monsters flooding lands.
---
Dungeons appearing.
---
Cities falling.
---
Screams.
---
Blood.
---
Fire.
---
That was the era—
When the world nearly broke.
---
And during that time—
---
The Brett Family—
Made a mistake.
---
A miscalculation.
---
A failure in command.
---
One dungeon—
Left unchecked.
---
One outbreak—
Poorly managed.
---
And the result—
---
The Venus Patriarch—
Gravely injured.
---
A wound that never fully healed.
---
—FLASH—
---
Two families.
---
Facing each other.
---
Tension thick.
---
Negotiation.
---
Compensation.
---
A solution.
---
"…Marriage."
---
A political binding.
---
Ariana Brett—
---
And Lucius van Venus.
---
The youngest of both families.
---
A way to settle the past.
---
A way to stabilize power.
---
—FLASH—
---
Whispers.
---
"…Him?"
"…That weak one?"
"…He can't even stand properly…"
---
Laughter.
---
Quiet.
---
But sharp.
---
Lucius stood there.
---
Silent.
---
Enduring.
---
—FLASH—
---
"…Divine Tier Talent…"
---
The announcement echoed.
---
Shock spread.
---
Ariana Brett—
---
Had awakened.
---
Beast Tamer.
---
Divine Tier.
---
A talent that placed her above countless others.
---
A talent that guaranteed power.
---
A future.
---
—FLASH—
---
"…And Lucius?"
"…Unique Tier…"
"…Teleportation…"
"…Slow…"
"…High strain…"
---
"…Useless."
---
The word echoed.
---
—FLASH—
---
A letter.
---
Cold.
---
Short.
---
The engagement—
---
Cancelled.
---
Just like that.
---
—FLASH END—
---
Lucius's eyes sharpened.
---
The present returned.
---
Ariana Brett stood before him—
---
Real.
---
Unchanged—
---
Yet different.
---
"…Lucius."
---
The Patriarch's voice cut through the silence.
---
Lucius stepped forward.
---
Then bowed.
---
"…Father."
---
Respectful.
---
Proper.
---
Silence lingered.
---
Then—
---
"…The Brett Family has come."
---
A pause.
---
"…To formally break off the engagement."
---
The air grew heavier.
---
Lucius didn't react immediately.
---
Instead—
---
He looked at Ariana.
---
Directly.
---
"…Do you agree?"
---
His father's voice was calm.
---
But it carried weight.
---
Expectation.
---
Testing.
---
Lucius didn't hesitate.
---
"…I agree."
---
Silence.
---
Sharp.
---
Unexpected.
---
Ariana's eyes widened—
---
Just slightly.
---
Not because of the decision—
---
But because of how easily it came.
---
No resistance.
---
No hesitation.
---
No emotion.
---
Lucius walked forward.
---
Step by step.
---
Toward the table.
---
A document rested there.
---
The engagement contract.
---
He picked it up.
---
Looked at it once.
---
Then—
---
RIP—
---
The sound echoed through the hall.
---
Clean.
---
Final.
---
He dropped the torn pieces.
---
Then looked at Ariana.
---
Calm.
---
"…Now there is nothing between us."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
---
"…You fool."
---
Her voice cut through the air.
---
Sharp.
---
Cold.
---
Angry.
---
"…Do you think I care?"
---
A step forward.
---
Her eyes burned.
---
"…Because of our family's mismanagement…"
---
"…your father got injured."
---
A pause.
---
"…And to atone for that…"
---
"…I was to marry into your family."
---
Her voice hardened.
---
"…But you…"
---
Her gaze swept over him.
---
From head to toe.
---
"…are nothing."
---
A step closer.
---
"…A weak, useless noble…"
---
"…who can't even lift a sword properly."
---
A pause.
---
Then—
---
A cruel smile.
---
"…The only thing good about you…"
---
"…is that face of yours."
---
Silence.
---
Heavy.
---
Then—
---
She turned slightly.
---
"…We brought compensation."
---
A gesture.
---
Her guards stepped forward.
---
A chest was placed on the ground.
---
"…One thousand D-rank monster cores."
---
A pause.
---
"…That should settle the grudge."
---
Lucius moved.
---
Without hesitation.
---
He walked toward the chest.
---
Opened it.
---
Inside—
---
Cores.
---
Glowing faintly.
---
Mana contained within.
---
Valuable.
---
Useful.
---
A fortune.
---
Lucius nodded slightly.
---
"…Thanks."
---
A pause.
---
Then—
---
His eyes met hers again.
---
Cold.
---
Sharp.
---
"…But I'll make you regret it."
---
Silence.
---
"…For the humiliation your family brought upon us."
---
Ariana's expression twisted.
---
Anger.
---
Real.
---
Immediate.
---
She stepped forward.
---
Her hand raised—
---
To slap him.
---
But—
---
Before it could land—
---
SLAP—
---
The sound echoed.
---
Louder.
---
Sharper.
---
Lucius's hand struck first.
---
Ariana froze.
---
Her head turned slightly from the impact.
---
Silence filled the hall.
---
Absolute.
---
The guards reacted instantly.
---
Swords drawn—
---
But—
---
"ENOUGH."
---
A roar exploded through the room.
---
The Patriarch stood.
---
Killing intent erupted.
---
Heavy.
---
Crushing.
---
The air itself trembled.
---
The guards staggered.
---
Their knees buckled.
---
Even those outside the hall—
---
Felt it.
---
Nearly collapsing.
---
"…Take your miss."
---
His voice dropped.
---
Cold.
---
"…And leave."
---
No argument.
---
No negotiation.
---
A command.
---
Absolute.
---
The guards lowered their heads.
---
"…Yes…"
---
They helped Ariana.
---
Her eyes burned with fury.
---
But she didn't resist.
---
As she turned—
---
She looked back.
---
At Lucius.
---
"…I hope…"
---
A pause.
---
"…I don't see you at the Academy."
---
Then—
---
She left.
---
The doors closed.
---
Silence.
---
Heavy.
---
Then—
---
A long sigh.
---
"…I nearly snapped her neck."
---
The Patriarch muttered.
---
Lucius remained silent.
---
"…What do you want to do now?"
---
The question hung in the air.
---
Seconds passed.
---
Lucius thought.
---
Then—
---
"I want to become stronger."
---
A pause.
---
"…And elevate this family."
---
His gaze hardened.
---
"…So that not even the Brett Family…"
---
"…can stand before you."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
---
A faint smile.
---
"…Are you planning to enter the Academy?"
---
Lucius looked up.
---
The Academy.
---
Eclipse Academy.
---
A place known across the kingdom.
---
Established after the great monster outbreaks.
---
A place built—
---
To train.
---
To prepare.
---
To create warriors.
---
Those who could fight monsters.
---
Clear dungeons.
---
Protect humanity.
---
It housed—
---
Countless dungeons.
---
Controlled.
---
Managed.
---
Preventing outbreaks.
---
Students—
---
Were admitted at eighteen.
---
Those who awakened.
---
Those with potential.
---
This year—
---
Six months away.
---
Lucius spoke.
---
"…Before that…"
---
A pause.
---
"…I need to become stronger."
---
His gaze sharpened.
---
"…Allow me to enter the family's dungeons."
---
Silence.
---
"…I won't exceed my limits."
---
A long pause.
---
Then—
---
"…Promise me."
---
Lucius didn't hesitate.
---
"…I promise."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
---
"…Alright."
---
A simple answer.
---
But heavy.
---
Lucius bowed.
---
"…Thank you."
---
Then—
---
"I'll take my leave."
---
He turned.
---
Walking out.
---
The doors closed behind him.
---
Inside—
---
The Patriarch sat back.
---
"…Frey."
---
A shadow moved.
---
"…Watch over my son."
---
Silence.
---
"…Yes."
---
—
---
Lucius walked through the halls.
---
Calm.
---
Quiet.
---
Until—
---
He reached his room.
---
The door closed.
---
Silence.
---
Then—
---
His expression changed.
---
Cold.
---
Sharp.
---
"…I'll make the Brett Family pay."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
---
A voice echoed.
---
[Quest Activated]
---
Lucius's eyes narrowed.
---
A translucent screen appeared.
---
[Reach Level 50]
[Condition: Required to enter the Unknown Dungeon within the Venus Territory]
---
A pause.
---
[Reward: ???]
---
Silence.
---
Lucius stared at the screen.
His eyes didn't move.
But his mind—
Began to turn.
---
Level 50…
---
And an unknown dungeon…
---
A faint pause.
---
Then—
A memory surfaced.
---
…Father tried to enter it.
---
His eyes narrowed slightly.
---
But he couldn't.
---
The image was clear.
The tension.
The hesitation.
The unspoken caution.
---
So even he… couldn't step inside…
---
Lucius exhaled slowly.
---
Question mark dungeons… unknown dungeons…
---
They're never taken seriously.
---
His gaze remained fixed on the system screen.
---
Because they rarely appear…
---
And when they do…
---
They don't cause immediate disasters like ranked dungeons.
---
A pause.
---
No monster outbreaks.
No mass destruction.
No urgency.
---
Which meant—
---
People ignore them.
---
His eyes darkened slightly.
---
I remember reading about one…
---
A faint shift in his expression.
---
A faint smile formed.
---
"…Good."
---
His eyes turned cold.
---
"…Let's begin."
---
To be continued.