Konrad's first hurdle was to explain his reasoning to Helena. And it was the easiest one.
Once the princess—no, the new queen—was over her shock, he had to actually ask for the woman's hand he intended to marry. Both of theirs, Gabrielle's being the real challenge.
"No," Lord Schwertburg's cold voice echoed. "Out of the question."
Sitting on his throne, his hulking presence reminded Konrad of their first meeting.
It wasn't a fond memory. He was a victim back then—both of an unjust beating and the schemes of Vargas—and now he was a victor. Still, it seemed like nothing had changed.
"B-but father," Gabby roleplayed the innocent, sweet duchess, faking a cough. "I love him."
Her acting was so convincing, Konrad almost forgot how ruthless the angel could be.
It still wasn't enough to convince her doting father, though.
"I know what this is about," the duke claimed. "And it's not love. I heard about the king. And the reports of the gathering nomads. A Halstadt won't fool me."
Well, it shouldn't have come as a surprise.
This was the man who worked Vargas to the bone after all.
Still, the death—or, let's say, disappearance—of the king wasn't common knowledge yet.
Given that Konrad was broadcasting everything to the masses in the arena, it was about to change. As the first of the gasps died, dead silence had fallen on the courtroom.
"I won't give my only daughter's hand to anyone but a duke—"
"My brother promised Lord Halstadt the title," Helena interjected. "It won't be a problem."
Konrad hadn't pressed that matter so far, but it was comforting to hear that response.
Lord Schwertburg only clicked his tongue.
"You didn't let me finish, Your Grace," he groaned. "What I was saying, I won't hand her off to anyone but a duke who can best me on the battlefield. In a fair fight, like the bouts of today."
The silence was gone, replaced by an excited murmur.
These people have gathered for the tournament, after all.
"This is not the time," the new queen protested, her voice shaking. "You said it yourself, that—"
"I know what I said," the duke yelled. "And I'm aware what hangs in the balance. But as the king did, so do I want proof before trusting this boy with something more important than my life."
The nobles cheered, and that put Konrad on the spot.
He expected to face the Aset Defenders in the tournament, but had no idea if he could defeat them. The king's disappearance and the cancellation of the event were a weight off his chest.
But life wasn't that easy.
"If you know what hangs in the balance, shouldn't you do everything in your power to defend the kingdom?" Helena demanded, her voice still trembling but no longer weak.
"Oh, but that's what I'm doing right now," Lord Schwertburg claimed, crossing his arms.
It felt like he was acting for the masses, and he was even better at it than his daughter.
"As I said, I know what his plan is. Take my Gabrielle to secure an alliance, then lead the armies against the invaders. But is it out of patriotism, or is it his glory hunt?"
So was that how it seemed to others?
He was born a nobody before his star began to rise, and he became a noble in only two months.
Of course, the aristocracy would be wary of him.
And even if this was a role he never wanted, he couldn't exactly explain his real motivation.
"I can assure you that Lord Konrad cares little about glory." At least Helena took his side. Again.
A nice feeling, but it could only serve as a drop in the ocean of the nobles' suspicion.
"You might, but what do we know about this child?" Lord Schwertburg asked. Gabrielle opened and closed her mouth, looking surprised by the turn of events. "Why stand behind him?"
A valid question, and Konrad kept asking himself the same thing. Why him?
Because an archangel decided so.
Because his guardian lied, botched his reincarnation, and severed him from some 'cycle'.
Because of things he couldn't even understand.
It wasn't a role he wanted. It was something assigned to him against his will.
How could he explain that to these people?
"I didn't ask for this title or the responsibility, yet everyone wants me to prove myself. I find it funny in a way," Konrad finally spoke up. "But you are right to question it, My Lord."
If there was one thing he hated with a passion, it was to be the centre of attention.
But he had a role to play here.
"The enemy is about a week away from reaching our borders. We must act, and we must be all united under one flag. Whether it is yours or mine, it does not matter to me."
The duke smirked.
"Then why not trust it to someone older, well-equipped, and more experienced than you?"
"Are you, though?" Helena challenged him, the rumble in the hall getting out of control. "I know you were a long-time rival of the Halstadts. My trust in Konrad must hurt your pride—"
"Those Halstadts are dead," Lord Schwertburg waved her off. "He's but a boy, sharing the name."
For whatever reason, Konrad felt no hostility or deceit from his words.
Was being around all those mind-reading demigods finally rubbing off on him?
He could see the duke's real concerns, and it wasn't a petty old rivalry.
But it didn't help him, either.
"If it's proof you want," he said. "Who do you think defeated the Church in Halaima?"
"Whose forces would come in handy right about now?" the man pointed out.
"We have the tribes in their stead," Konrad tried again. "Pacified and united under my banner."
"Mhm, and my spies told me you also intend to marry one of theirs to reinforce that alliance. I should feel insulted that you want a second wife next to my daughter, actually."
How the hell did he find that one out? Even if he was wrong about the order.
Gabrielle would've been his second wife, and Lily his first, and not because of the tribes.
Well, he'd rather not piss the duke off by explaining the power balance of his harem and his true love. He was already too well-informed, and it left him no other choice.
"Fine, I'll take your challenge," he said, speaking with more confidence than he felt.
The crowd met this with another round of cheers.
"We'll march on Halaima tomorrow, but since the fourth location was already prepared—"
"The swamps, am I right?" the duke asked before he could even finish his sentence.
This was becoming scary. He knew of secrets he didn't share with anyone.
"Bring your Rogue Rejects, and if you can take me in a battle, I'll give you Gabrielle."
From a doting father, this was quite an offer. He must have been confident—and since he had Vargas to command his men-at-arms, that was no surprise, either.
And still, Konrad had to raise the stakes.
"If I lose, I'll serve you with all my men and resources that Halaima can provide," he offered. The cheers turned into frantic yelling. "But if I win, I expect the same from you."