David's usually soft and gentle amethyst eyes held a look of barely restrained hostility. The sky darkened with heavy clouds scarcely able to contain the rain threatening to fall from them at any minute, perfectly reflecting the storm raging in his heart. He knows the circumstances of their marriage, he's a duke, not a fool.
He has been aware of the tales about his daughter and her interest in this boy for quite some time. He's even aware of her unfair bargain to win Rei's hand but as a father he chose to turn a blind eye. He knows Rei did not marry his daughter out of love but to spare another. His heart feels torn, rationally knowing it's unfair to expect anything more from the boy, yet unable to calm his growing irritation at the sight of him.
"Come with me."
He doesn't stand on ceremony, quickly turning on his heels, and giving the other no chance to refuse. The castle's lively halls are unusually silent, disturbed only by the sound of his heavy armored boots stomping on the stone floors as he leads them to the knight's training grounds on the east side of the inner castle.
Over his shoulder he can see his disobedient daughter still trailing behind them with her personal maid. He wants to scold her, what's so good about this boy that she would welcome such danger into her otherwise comfortable life. All these years, he's sheltered her from all forms of danger like a fragile egg. Yet now, as soon as she is married to another, it seems all his efforts were thrown to the dogs.
Frowning his brows, he turns to face his opponent once he's standing at the center of the arena.
"Ready your weapon!" The elvan lord's voice echoes across the expansive field, amplified by the rafters of the colosseum. His demanding tone carries over the sound of crashing thunder as the overcast sky finally releases its load, pelting the ground with heavy rain.
Rei does not protest, with a straight face he does as commanded. Deep down David can't help but admire him for his steadfast nature. Lesser men would have tried to evade his wrath, placing blame on others or the situation. Only Rei seems to understand his need for an outlet, somewhere to pour his surging fury.
"I won't be polite." The duke crouches down close to the ground, his spear poised by his hip.
"Likewise, sir." Rei takes his stance, tightening the grip on his blades as he crosses them in front of him.
With a sudden burst of speed the heavy-set duke shouldn't have, he appears before Rei like a nightmare, baring down with his spear. Rei promptly deflects his strike, but the duke's momentum isn't lost. He chains his attack, spinning his heavy spear like it weighs next to nothing and attacks him again. The side swipe of his spear is ladened with so much force, it slings Rei to the other side of the training ground, planting him into the earth.
"Stop! What the heck are you doing!" Ariellia looks startled by the sudden turn of events. She tries to stop the fight but both combatants ignore her cry. There are just some things that can't be communicated without the clash of steel.
Rei gets back up, spitting out the blood in his mouth before repositioning himself for the next round of attacks. David doesn't disappoint, twisting at the waist and rapidly twirling his spear above his head, the shear force causes a vortex of wind to form around him, suppressing his opponent. Rei finds himself on the defensive, constantly trying to fend off David's rapid spear thrusts. It's a struggle trying to quickly predict his next target; head, heart, neck, or liver, his father-in-law isn't joking around, targeting all his vital spots. As a true expert of the spear, he's always changing its length and reach, making it harder to guess the appropriate distance to engage him.
Several times Rei tried to get closer to invade his space and land a strike only to be thwarted. Each time duke Garrod would slap away his swords with a loud twist or a flick of his spear. The constant ringing of metal clashing against metal can be heard throughout the field. The knights of the family solemnly stand by, preventing Ariellia from running onto the arena. It's been years since they've seen the duke this enraged. He's like a demon performing a lethal dance with his spear. A single mistake and Rei might lose his head.
"You may not love her, but I warned you several times to treat her honorably as your wife, did I not?" The enraged duke thrusts his spear at Rei's feet, neatly sweeping him off the ground with an arched spin of its spine.
"…"
Just when it seems like the duke is about to murder his new son-in-law in a one-sided battle the situation changes. His spear stops poised right between Rei's eyes, inches away from taking his life.
"Why did you not try to defend yourself?" The rage in the duke's eyes dissipates, replaced by confusion.
"You are not wrong sir. I did not pay close enough attention to my wife. You gave me her hand and trusted me to treat her as one of my own. I did not uphold that trust, this is my fault."
"You-" Duke Garrod finds it impossible to hold onto his anger in the face of such humility. He lowers his spear, offering his hand to his fallen son-in-law instead.
"Has everyone gone mad! What are you doing?" Ariellia rushing to Rei's side as soon as the knights stand down.
David instantly deflates at the sight. His expression turns ugly. The precious flower he's been tending to all these years has been stolen by a pig. With great difficulty he corrects his facial expression and tries to mollify his daughter's ire.
"It's okay my little moonshine, daddy didn't even graze him. Look, he's perfectly fine."
"How could you!" She evades his embrace, pouting with her arms crossed over her chest. The duke, no longer fueled by rage quickly folds, his image reverting back to his former pampering self again as he tries everything to get her to forgive him.
"I'll let it slide this time…but you can't do this again…he's my h-husband!" Her entire face is red as she stammers out the words. She's so mortified she can't even look anyone in the eye, grabs her personal maid, and flees the scene. David watches her run off with a smile, happy to see she's home and unharmed again.
"I meant what I said sir, from now on I intend to care for her as one of my own." Rei solemnly bowed his head, seeking his approval.
"As my daughter said, there will be no next time. Should my daughter fall in harm's way because of you, I won't hesitate to play the villain and separate you. Keep these words in mind the next time you try to shirk your duties as a husband."
The duke slowly follows his daughter into the main building, leaving Rei behind to reflect on his words. It's impossible to look at him the same way, glimpses of the battle-hardened warrior confined within are still evident in his confident stride, the majestic spear by his side, and his strong broad back. A gentle giant not easily awakened but a demon once provoked. This fight would leave a lingering impression on everyone present.