Episode 40: Diverging Dreams (1)
It wasn’t until his father spoke that the memories came flooding back.
Sophia Russell.
The eldest daughter of the Russell Viscountcy and Damien’s former fiancée.
She was renowned throughout the West for her beauty.
“She was far too good for me.”
Damien Haxen, known as nothing more than a scoundrel, had no right to even think about her.
Yet, their engagement had been possible due to a promise made between their grandfathers.
The previous Viscount Haxen and Viscount Russell had agreed to marry their children if they had any. However, both had sons, so the promise was passed down to their grandchildren.
Thanks to this, Damien Haxen could claim the coveted flower without much effort.
“Unlike me, Sophia Russell despised the arrangement.”
Sophia Russell was not pleased with the engagement. Damien Haxen had no redeeming qualities and was notorious for his disgraceful behavior.
Thus, despite being engaged, the two never grew close.
“Then, when the previous Viscount Russell passed away… they called off the engagement.”
After the death of the previous Viscount Russell, the Russell family unilaterally announced the annulment.
Upon hearing the news, Damien stormed over to the Russell estate in a rage.
And there he saw it.
Sophia Russell, acting warmly beside a stranger.
“Sophia, who is that man, and why is he yelling at us?”
“He’s the fiancé I mentioned before.”
“Oh, that scoundrel?”
In a fit of anger, Damien lunged at the man.
And was beaten to a pulp, nearly to the point of death.
“A fool who can’t even match a scarecrow dares to challenge me?”
“I was going to let you leave quietly for Sophia’s sake, but I guess that’s not possible.”
“I’ll make sure you never show your face in front of Sophia and me again.”
The man, despite his youth, was a skilled fighter of the lower class. Damien Haxen, who couldn’t even hold his own against ordinary people, stood no chance.
“Damien! What happened to you?”
“Louise! Fetch a potion, quickly!”
His father confronted the Russell family about the assault, but was met with mockery.
“This is all because you failed to raise him properly.”
“Even insects know to choose their battles. What made Damien think he could take on someone like that?”
“Just the thought of almost sending our Sophia to such a family makes my blood boil.”
Viscount Haxen was so furious he wanted to confront the Russell family himself.
But his family stopped him, fearing Sophia’s new lover.
The Haxen family couldn’t afford to challenge the formidable lower-class fighter.
“If there’s a jousting tournament, both Sophia Russell and her new lover will be there. What if you can’t control your anger when you see them?” his father said seriously.
It wasn’t that he feared Damien would get hurt again.
With Damien’s skills, he could easily dispatch the knight.
That was the problem.
Killing someone at an event hosted by the Copperhead Count?
The Copperhead family wouldn’t stand for it.
“Father, I have no lingering feelings for Sophia.”
In truth, Damien barely remembered Sophia Russell’s face, let alone harbored any feelings.
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. Please believe me.”
This much was true.
“Are you certain you won’t cause any trouble?”
“Yes.”
But this was a lie.
“How dare they lay a hand on me?”
Even Damien knew he wasn’t a good match for an engagement. He could see that from any perspective.
But that was one thing, and this was another.
“And how dare they insult our family?”
What he couldn’t tolerate was the Russell family’s insult to his father and their family.
He could endure insults directed at himself.
But insults to his family were unforgivable.
For these reasons, Damien planned to bury those two at the upcoming event.
“Even if I see them, the situation you fear will never happen, Father.”
Regardless of his true intentions, he had to lie for now.
He needed his father’s permission to attend the Copperhead event.
“Honey, Damien says so. Can’t you trust him?”
“Yes, has Damien disappointed you recently?”
With his mother and sister chiming in, Viscount Haxen had no choice but to relent.
“Very well. You have my permission to participate.”
Damien’s face lit up with his father’s approval.
He slung an arm around Abel’s neck and said, “Abel, did you hear that? We can go together. Isn’t that great?”
“What’s so great about it? I don’t care if you don’t come, brother!”
“Come on, don’t say things you don’t mean.”
Viscount Haxen watched his sons with a worried expression.
His wife nudged him and said, “Really, do you not trust Damien?”
“That’s not it.”
“Then what is it?”
With a serious face, Viscount Haxen replied, “Damien… he’s become quite famous lately, hasn’t he?”
“That’s true. Whenever I attend gatherings, everyone asks about Damien.”
Viscountess Haxen often socialized with other noblewomen and knew how much of a hot topic Damien had become.
“But he’s become famous so quickly, and he’s never attended a social event before, has he?”
“That’s right.”
“Then this will be his debut, won’t it?”
“Well… yes, I suppose.”
“Do you think the other nobles will just sit back and watch?”
“Oh.”
Viscountess Haxen finally understood what her husband was worried about.
Viscount Haxen promptly sent a letter to the Copperhead family.
The letter expressed sincere congratulations on Lady Olivia’s birthday and a desire to participate in the upcoming jousting tournament.
A few days later, the Copperhead family responded, welcoming their participation.
Damien Haxen’s participation in the Copperhead family’s jousting tournament!
The news spread like wildfire across the West.
Who spread it didn’t matter. All eyes in the West were on Damien Haxen.
These days, whenever Western nobles gathered, they couldn’t stop talking about Damien Haxen.
“Have you heard? Sir Damien Haxen is participating in the Copperhead family’s jousting tournament!”
Whenever two or more noblewomen gathered, the topic inevitably turned to Damien Haxen.
“Isn’t he the knight who supposedly defeated the heir of the Lionbloom Marquisate without even drawing his sword?”
“The heir is known as a genius among geniuses. And he defeated him?”
“That’s what makes it even more impressive. Isn’t he amazing?”
There was nothing more intriguing to noblewomen than a young, capable knight.
“I’ve heard he’s quite handsome too.”
“Oh my, oh my.”
And being handsome only fueled their excitement as they gossiped about Damien Haxen.
“With such talent, why didn’t he stay with the Goldpixie Duchy?”
“Maybe he hasn’t found a lady worthy of his loyalty yet. So he’s wandering the world.”
“Oh my, oh my.”
It was a baseless fantasy, but that didn’t matter.
In their imaginations, Damien Haxen became a skilled yet lonely and solitary wolf.
“Could his participation in the tournament be to propose to Lady Olivia?”
“It must be. He’s going to court Lady Olivia.”
At the mention of Lady Olivia, the noblewomen’s spirits dampened.
Olivia Copperhead was known as the flower of the West, a woman of unparalleled beauty.
With the powerful backing of the Copperhead family, she was the envy of every knight.
“There’s no guarantee they’ll become a couple. We might still have a chance, right?”
At this, the women’s eyes sparkled.
“That’s right. You never know how fate will play out.”
“Lady Olivia may be beautiful, but she might not be Sir Damien’s type.”
The women eagerly discussed ways to win over Damien Haxen.
Of course, not everyone was thrilled about Damien Haxen.
“Damien Haxen is entering the tournament!”
“That scoundrel is coming?”
Among the Western nobles, many had dug into Damien’s past.
“Wasn’t he recently thrown out of a tavern after getting beaten up?”
“He’s so hopeless that his fiancée’s family called off the engagement.”
“How could someone like that defeat the heir of the Lionbloom Marquisate?”
Those who knew of Damien’s past couldn’t help but doubt.
Was Damien Haxen truly as remarkable as they said?
“This is our chance to uncover the truth!”
“If he’s a fraud, we won’t let him get away with it!”
And so, the Western nobles flocked to the jousting tournament.
All because of Damien Haxen.
In the small town of Rivercross.
At an upscale tavern.
“Jackson, say ‘ah.’”
A young woman held out a fork with a piece of fruit.
A man with sharp features opened his mouth to accept it.
“Mmm, sweet and refreshing. It tastes even better because you’re feeding me, Sophia.”
“Oh, do you think I’ll be pleased with such obvious flattery?”
The woman, Sophia Russell, laughed as she sat on the man’s lap.
“What would you like next? Grapes? An apple? Just say the word.”
“Sophia, have you heard the news?”
“What news?”
“The Copperhead family is hosting a jousting tournament.”
At Jackson Carter’s words, Sophia Russell tried to recall. She vaguely remembered overhearing the city women talking about it.
“Oh, right. I think I heard something about that. They’re holding it to celebrate the eldest daughter’s birthday, aren’t they?”
“Some say it’s to find her a suitor.”
“Ah, that explains why so many nobles have been flocking to the blacksmith and tailor shops.”
Olivia Copperhead.
The eldest daughter of the Copperhead family was renowned for her beauty, often called the flower of the West. Coupled with the prestigious Copperhead lineage, she was a prize any man would covet.
“But why bring this up? Why talk about another woman in front of me?” Sophia Russell asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
Jackson Carter waved his hands defensively. “No, it’s not that. I heard Damian Haxen is entering the tournament.”
Sophia Russell frowned at the mention of the name. There was only one Damian Haxen she knew.
“Wait… that scoundrel is entering the tournament?”
Sophia’s disbelief was palpable. She had almost forgotten about Damian Haxen, or rather, she had tried to forget. He was that insignificant.
“That con artist in a jousting tournament? That’s ridiculous.”
Recently, rumors about Damian Haxen had started circulating. Tales of him vanquishing a dark sorcerer, dismantling a major organization in Landwalk City, and even subduing the heir of the Lionbloom Marquisate.
Sophia didn’t believe a word of it. The rumors were too far-fetched, and she knew Damian Haxen too well.
The Damian Haxen she remembered was a nobody, lacking any redeeming qualities. She was convinced he had spread those false rumors himself.
“You think so too, right? I couldn’t believe it when I heard,” Jackson said with a chuckle.
Just then, a groan came from the floor. Jackson looked down to see more than five men sprawled out. Judging by the calluses on their hands and the swords at their waists, they weren’t ordinary men. They were knights.
“You… you bastard…” one of the knights glared up at Jackson.
“What the hell is this? Why did you attack us?”
“Why? Because you made a pass at Sophia first,” Jackson said, pulling Sophia closer. She didn’t resist his touch.
“A pass? A pass, you say?” the knight gritted his teeth.
“All I did was apologize after bumping into her and glanced at her face. How is that making a pass?”
“Sophia, did you hear that? He bumped into you on purpose and now he’s making excuses.”
“Hmph, a useless man like him lying is just pathetic,” Sophia retorted.
The knight was too dumbfounded to respond.
“How dare you insult me like this? Do you know who I am? I’m from the Dolphin Viscountcy…”
“Save it. Why would I remember someone as weak as you?”
“Weak? How dare you… ugh,” the knight groaned as Jackson pressed his foot harder on the knight’s hand.
“You’re a low-class knight, right? The rest are squires? You should be ashamed for losing to one man when there were five of you. Why are you making a fuss?”
Jackson increased the pressure with his foot, and the knight’s groans grew louder.
“Let me ask you one thing. Do you know who I am?”
“How would I know who you are?”
“Take a good look. Maybe then you’ll recognize me.”
Jackson grabbed the knight’s hair, forcing him to look up at his face.
“Let go of me! You wretch, I’ll tear you apart!”
But the knight only spat curses, unable to recognize Jackson.
Jackson sighed and released the knight’s hair.
“Sophia, can you believe this? No one recognizes me.”
“Jackson… it’s not you. That guy’s just an idiot,” Sophia said sympathetically.
Jackson Carter wasn’t entirely unknown. He had a title of his own: Ogre Slayer.
He had earned it by single-handedly hunting an ogre, a creature known as the king of the forest. It was a remarkable feat, but the title of Ogre Slayer wasn’t widely recognized. Monster hunting didn’t capture people’s interest.
“Look at Damian Haxen. Unlike me, everyone knows him. They’re all talking about him without knowing the truth.”
Like Sophia, Jackson didn’t believe the rumors about Damian Haxen. He had met him in person. More than that, he had fought him.
“I can’t let this go. I need to tell my master.”
“Tell him what?”
“I’m entering the tournament. I’ll show everyone what a real knight is capable of. And…”
A determined look filled Jackson’s eyes.
“I’ll expose Damian Haxen for the fraud he is.”