NOVGO.NET Chapter 257 : Chapter 257
Chapter 257. I Will Become Independent (4)
Patrick Schneider’s marriage.
The independence of the Schneider fiefdom.
These two pieces of news greatly shook the people of the fiefdom.
“What, the Young Master is getting married?”
“Really? For real? Not a joke?”
“My sister works at the lord’s mansion, you know? I heard it’s definite.”
“Woooow…. Our Young Master is getting married too.”
“The princess’ resolve must be extraordinary.”
“She’s an amazing person.”
“Honestly, if it were me, I couldn’t do it.”
“I guess not just anyone can be a princess.”
“That’s right. Indeed.”
Let me correct that.
One piece of news greatly shook the people of the fiefdom.
Let’s not misunderstand.
The people of the Schneider fiefdom sincerely respected and loved Patrick.
“Where in the world is there a son of a noble family like our Young Master?”
“That’s what I’m saying. Born a noble, a genius of the sword with personal skill, yet he doesn’t put on airs. He doesn’t bully commoners. There’s no one else like him.”
“He drinks a bit, but have you ever heard of the Young Master hitting someone while drunk? Have you?”
“No. I’ve heard plenty about him hitting people without being drunk, though….”
“……”
“……”
“……”
“Ahem, anyway, our Young Master is a good person.”
“That’s right. Indeed.”
“We’re able to live and eat like this thanks to the Young Master. Aren’t we?”
“Indeed.”
They respected him very much like this. However.
Apart from their respect, if you were to ask if they could give their daughter to Patrick, the answer would change.
“Hahahaha….”
“Hohohoho….”
“Heeheehee….”
They would laugh foolishly like this and quietly slip away.
How could they not know?
What kind of woman could possibly handle that Patrick Schneider?
Of course, they knew of Princess Isabella’s existence.
But whether they would actually succeed in getting married was still a question.
Patrick Schneider’s wife.
Could a person who would challenge such an ultra-extreme profession really exist on this continent?
That was their honest feeling. But….
“Don’t be surprised. They say two more people are marrying the Young Master besides the princess.”
“What, three at once?”
“Keeeuh…. I’m so jealous.”
“As expected of the Young Master. He’s in a different class.”
“But who are the others? Ah! I know one. It’s Vice-Captain April, right?”
There was no one in the Schneider fiefdom who didn’t know that April adored Patrick.
The reason no young man dared to offer a single flower to a woman of such insane beauty was because everyone knew her heart.
“That’s right. That’s right. And the princess of the Elf tribe… what was her name again?”
“You mean Lady Elione.”
“That’s right. He said he’s marrying her.”
The Elves were already neighbors who had blended in well with the Schneider fiefdom.
Harmony with them was a very important matter for the fiefdom, and the people of the fiefdom didn’t think it was bad that the representative of their clan was marrying Patrick.
No, it was a very good thing.
“But honestly, this goes beyond jealousy, it seems a bit too much.”
“That’s what I’m saying. I saw all three of them once before….”
“Really? When and where?”
“I saw them while delivering food supplies to the lord’s mansion. But their beauty was really… wow… I really can’t describe it with words.”
“Keeeuh…. How nice.”
“I’m jealous. Honestly, I’m really jealous.”
The people of the fiefdom were amazed and envious of Patrick’s marriage, but they also congratulated him.
On the day of the wedding.
Count Schneider rushed the wedding preparations.
Normally, he would have spent at least half a year sending out invitations and preparing slowly, but he wanted to get things done quickly before his son could change his mind.
And his wife, Ava, also actively supported her husband’s decision, saying it was a wise one.
Moreover, she had already made some preparations on her own.
She had even had the three brides’ wedding dresses made in advance, and she pulled them out as soon as her husband brought it up.
And so, the wedding proceeded much faster than Patrick had thought.
‘Tsk, at this rate, not many guests will be able to come. Haaaah…. What a waste of wedding gift money.’
Contrary to Patrick’s thoughts….
“Marquis Graham Rowensky is here.”
“Ah, it is an honor to have you here.”
“My son mentioned he had a connection with Patrick during his Academy days, so I came. If it’s alright, may I greet him before the ceremony?”
“Yes. Of course.”
Starting with Marquis Graham Rowensky, a powerful noble of the kingdom….
“I am Count Justin Leyte, the Head Professor of the Academy’s Knight Faculty.”
“Ah, it is an honor to meet you. Please come this way.”
“Then I shall intrude.”
A significant number of influential nobles of the kingdom with prominent names gathered.
That wasn’t all.
“I am sending a congratulatory envoy in the name of the Pope of the Holy Theocracy.”
“The Imperial Sword Saint has personally sent a representative to congratulate the Double Dragon.”
Even the bigwigs of the warring Holy Theocracy and the Empire sent representatives to congratulate Patrick’s marriage.
Even though he hadn’t even sent letters to the Empire and the Holy Theocracy, they had taken it upon themselves to send representatives to congratulate him.
“Thank you for attending. Please make yourselves comfortable and enjoy your time here.”
Count Schneider broke out in a cold sweat as he continuously dealt with the visits of these influential figures.
Influential figures whom he might see once in his lifetime, if at all, appeared one after another, making him sweat.
On the one hand, he was proud, but it was also a burden.
Thinking about it again, he was a son who was excellent to the point of being more than he deserved.
The influential figures were taking their seats one by one, and soon his son would enter through that space.
And the beautiful daughters-in-law would enter with shy smiles, make a sacred vow, and become family.
Just thinking about it made his heart well up….
Kwaaang!
Just as it was about to happen, a noise echoed from a place slightly away from the ceremony.
‘That direction is…?’
As Count Schneider was sweating, Sanson rushed over and said.
“My lord, we have a big problem.”
“What is it? What has he done now?”
There was no need to ask who.
There was only one person who would cause trouble there.
“The Young Master is suddenly trying to escape.”
“Keooook….”
It was a statement that threw a bomb on Count Schneider’s heartwarming sentimentality.
***
“Hey, Patrick, calm down first.”
“I am calm. I’ve just come to my senses.”
“My friend. Then let’s put down the sword first. Okay?”
“No! I won’t be fooled. You’re trying to push me into the grave of life called marriage again, aren’t you?”
“…Isn’t this your first marriage?”
“Anyway!”
Right now, Patrick was in a sharp confrontation, surrounded by friends, seniors, professors, his Orc sworn brother, and Elf warriors who had come to celebrate his wedding.
In the midst of it all, Patrick was desperately rolling his eyes, trying to figure out how to escape this crisis. So then….
Let’s find out why this crazy man is doing this crazy thing.
About 15 minutes ago….
***
“Hooo…. It’s okay. Everyone does it. It’s okay. It’s okay. At least they won’t be putting poison in my breakfast, calling it a hangover cure. It’s okay. I’m okay. Everything is okay.”
The man pacing back and forth in the groom’s waiting room, brainwashing himself, was the Double Dragon whose fame resounded throughout the continent.
Patrick Schneider.
Looking at Patrick, Matthew spoke with a bored expression.
“Why are you so anxious? Isn’t this a marriage you brought upon yourself?”
“That’s true. Well, it’s about time, and it’s a bit hard to choose just one, so I decided to just do all three. Why did I do that? Hahaha….”
Patrick’s anxious eyes darted around.
Just then, Patrick’s seniors came in.
“Hey, new groom!”
“How are you? Are you okay?”
They were Alex, Gerard, Kalin, and others.
They were seniors who had formed a bond with Patrick while competing in the Arcana together.
They were currently serving as official knights, but they had even taken leave from their knightly order to come and congratulate Patrick.
Of course, their main purpose was to tease Patrick, who was now getting married.
“Hehehe, your good days are over now.”
As Gerard came over and put a hand on his shoulder, Patrick flinched, which was rare.
And he spoke with an anxious voice.
“Is that so? Is that really so? It really is, isn’t it?”
“Kekeke. From now on, when you go home after drinking until dawn, you’ll have to sneak in because you’ll feel guilty.”
“……”
The emotion of ‘Gasp’ appeared on Patrick’s face. At that, the other seniors joined in to tease Patrick.
“The honeymoon phase will be nice for a while. But when you have a kid, you know? You get pushed to the back.”
“That’s….”
“You just become a machine that brings home the paycheck.”
“It’s better to enjoy it to the fullest before that. Though it will be a short time.”
“Keuuuung….”
Patrick clutched his head and agonized.
And the kind seniors genuinely enjoyed their junior’s suffering.
“Hehehe. Even the great Patrick Schneider is finally getting a leash.”
“That’s right. Kuhahaha.”
“Serves him right. I hope he gets nagged by the princess every day.”
“With three brides, he’ll be nagged threefold.”
“Kuhahahaha.”
The seniors had a great time teasing Patrick.
Who knew when another opportunity to tease the great Patrick Schneider would come in their lifetime, so they were enjoying it to the fullest now.
And Patrick….
‘This is not good. What nerve did I have to act up, saying I’d get married again? Why did I? Am I crazy?’
He was genuinely anxious.
If he were a normal new groom, he would have just laughed off his seniors’ words, running a happy circuit in his head like, ‘Oh, my wife won’t be like that. I just need to do well.’ But….
‘Come to think of it, didn’t I really start drinking while being mindful of others after getting married?’
When he came back from the brothel at night, he would sneak in with cat-like steps.
Then he would get caught and get an earful of nagging, and the hangover cure she made the next day would contain poison made from Seven Steps Soul-Severing Poison.
Various other memories like that came flooding back, and Patrick came to one conclusion.
“Thank you, seniors.”
“Kuhaha… Huh? For what?”
“Thanks to you seniors, my eyes have been opened.”
“…So what is it?”
It was unsettling. It felt strange.
Just as the expressions of the three seniors hardened, Patrick grabbed the two swords on one side and spoke resolutely.
“Marriage is not something a person should do.”
“……”
“I will leave in search of freedom.”
“…Hahaha. You’re joking…. Kuweeeek!”
The word ‘joking’ was cut short as Patrick sent Kalin flying with a Flashing Dragon Strike.
And as Patrick tried to escape….
“Stop him! Stop him!”
“Uwaaa! Reinforcements, we need reinforcements. Quick!”
“Don’t block me. You bastards!”
A full-scale clash between those trying to stop him and those trying to escape began.
And so, at this very moment….
“Everyone, get out of the way! Don’t block my freedom!”
This is what happened.
Patrick was resolutely resisting while surrounded by the knightly order, the elf warrior group, the orc warrior group, and oh, now even the magic swordsmen had joined.
“Get out of the way while I’m asking nicely. If you block my path now, there will be no holding back.”
At the sight of Patrick, who was burning with fighting spirit, Riman, who had joined late, asked.
“It’s a bit sudden, but let’s just ask. Why is that man acting like that again?”
At that, Matthew ground his teeth and said….
“What’s the problem with that crazy man? The problem is the seniors who provoked the crazy man.”
At that, the gazes of the people around them focused on the three seniors, including Alex.
The three, with their swollen faces, flinched and said.
“No, we were just joking….”
“It was a joke to tease the groom at the wedding….”
“Actually, I didn’t say anything wrong.”
Even in this situation, Kalin showed no sign of remorse, but he quietly lowered his gaze as everyone’s glares poured down on him.
And Matthew gently placated his friend.
“Patrick, let’s calm down a bit. Not just the kingdom, but people from foreign countries have gathered to celebrate your wedding.”
“Tell them to go home. Don’t they have anything better to do?”
And that was the groom’s sincere remark to the guests who had come to the wedding.
Matthew clutched his throbbing head and said.
“The seniors said some harsh things, but think about it carefully. Marriage is good, isn’t it? It’s a happy thing, isn’t it?”
“Marriage is good?”
“Of course. You’re marrying three beauties as beautiful as goddesses. Others are dying of envy. Aren’t they?”
At Matthew’s words, the surroundings responded with intense agreement.
“Of course.”
“The luckiest man on the continent is the Double Dragon.”
“An elf, a princess, and a beautiful knightess…. Wow, he’s a hero novel protagonist right there.”
At their active praise, Patrick….
“You’re a stew. A stew. That’s what you are. Not even a beef stew, but a bucket of stew with just a bunch of mushrooms.”
“……”
That bastard.
Matthew’s expression soured, and Patrick spoke to him.
“Listen carefully. Matthew. Marriage is an act where people who love each other cherish, love, devote themselves to, and respect each other for the rest of their lives.”
“…So?”
“Is that something a person can do?”
“……”
Ah, I see.
I shouldn’t have vaguely expected this bastard to be able to do what everyone else does.
Well, it might be unreasonable to ask a great demon who has crawled up from the abyss of hell to live the life of an ordinary human.
Matthew, who was almost persuaded by that thought….
“None of that matters. If you run away here now, more than one or two things will be ruined, starting with the construction of the duchy.”
“So? You’re going to stop me by force?”
“……”
“Kekekeke. You dare, to me.”
Patrick, who was spreading his killing intent while licking his twin swords… was, wow, scary.
“All of you….”
“Hey, hey, calm down. Calm down.”
“Please, you crazy bastard! Think before you act!”
Even desperate pleas were useless.
“Get out of the waaaaay!”
Patrick, full of the wind of freedom, charged forward splendidly.
“Uwaaaaaa!”
“Damn it, stop him!”
“Big brother. Calm down…. Kuweeeek!”
Cracking, breaking, shattering.
The internationally watched wedding was plunged into chaos.
And by none other than the groom himself.
Patrick’s rampage, which no one seemed to be able to stop, was halted by….
“Son.”
“Kuhahaha. Who dares… Huh? Mother?”
It was Ava.
She looked at Patrick and let out a deep sigh. And she said….
“What on earth do you think you’re doing?”
At Ava’s scolding, Patrick’s heart almost weakened. But he soon hardened his heart and spoke.
“Mother, don’t stop me.”
“Stop what?”
How would she know if he didn’t say it. My son.
“Your son will leave far away in search of freedom.”
“……”
Ava sighed, touching her forehead with her beautiful hand as if her head ached. Then….
“If my son wishes to do so, then he must.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Of course. Who in the world would stop my son from doing what he wants?”
“Mother….”
Patrick was deeply moved.
As expected, the only one on my side in this world is my mom.
I don’t need anyone else. Just having my mom is enough.
To the moved Patrick, Ava smiled brightly, opened her arms, and said.
“Come here. Son.”
“Mother.”
Patrick, trembling with emotion, was about to be embraced by Ava’s arms….
Click.
Huh? I feel like I’ve been through this once before.
Patrick, who was about to be embraced by his beloved mother, was dumbfounded to see the handcuffs on his wrist.
And this time, that wasn’t the end of it.
Click.
Ava wrapped the other end of the handcuffs around her own wrist, restrained Patrick by hugging his arm, and spoke with a stern look she had never shown before.
“Go ahead, keep rampaging if you want to see your mother die.”
“Mother….”
Patrick Schneider, successfully apprehended.