Guardian Of Midgard

Chapter 5 You can never be him

The Colosseum of Valoria was packed to capacity. Nobles, merchants, knights, and commoners filled every seat, their voices merging into a deafening roar of excitement.

Today, the next Lord of Valoria would be chosen.

Yet amidst the celebration stood a lone woman in a faded servant's uniform.

Lucy Belmont.

When her fiancé’s family was slaughtered, she risked everything to save him and preserve his bloodline. Yet instead of praise, she faced public scorn—all because she didn't know how to 'sensibly' break off the engagement and seek a more suitable match. To her family, this was, without a doubt, a monumental loss..

Her clothes were plain. Her figure had grown thinner over the years, and her complexion was pale but one could see that she was really a beauty.

Once, she had been the kingdom's brightest jewel, the daughter of House Belmont and the fiancée of the most talented heir in the realm.

Even now, she remains breathtaking.

Countless young nobles had pursued her and countless women had envied her.

She had once stood at the very peak of the kingdom.

Then everything changed. When her fiancé’s family was slaughtered, she risked everything to save him and preserve his bloodline. Yet instead of praise, she faced public scorn—all because she didn't know how to 'sensibly' break off the engagement and seek a more suitable match.

To her family, this was, without a doubt, a monumental loss.

A woman who had once been destined for greatness was reduced to little more than a servant in the very arena where nobles came to display their glory.

But people still recognized her.

As nobles walked by, mocking smiles appeared on their faces as they stared at her with ridicule.

She could hear them whisper and laugh. 

"Imagine wasting five years on a dead man."

But Lucy lowered her head and remained silent. She had far heard worse.

All these nobles had once groveled on the feet of her family but in the martial world power was everything and once you lost it the same people who had once curried favor with you enjoyed the sight. 

Footsteps approached.

A handsome young man dressed in luxurious white robes stopped before her.

It was Cedric Ravenhart. The supposed future lord of Hamshire, the country.

He was arguably the strongest martial artist in a hundred years. The only man who surpassed him was a name no one had heard in 12 years, Kael Fenrir.

He approached the large stage with an entourage following behind him. The maids and guards around bowed to him in respect.

But when he got to the foot of the arena, his gaze lingered on a particular maid. 

His lips curved into a sheepish smile as he stepped towards her. “Look at me, Lucy.” He said as he lifted her chin up with his fingers. 

But Lucy's eyes looked sideways. 

Cedric chuckled. 

"You know, things didn't have to end this way." He began, but Lucy didn't respond.

"Back then, when you were still Kael's fiancée, you could have stood by my side." His voice softened, but she still didn’t look at him. 

Cedric continued anyway. “If you had chosen to betray that deadweight years ago, you would have stood beside her as the next queen. You could have even revived the house, Belmont.”

He shook his head. “Look at me.” His hands gripped her jaw tighter, giving her no option but to look at him.

Lucy clenched her fists. All around she could hear whispers from onlookers. 

Cedric stepped closer and his voice became colder. "Tell me was it worth it?"

She didn't reply, she just looked at him with a blank expression on his face. 

"You lost your status and your family abandoned you but you chose to become a servant.” His fingers traced down her chin. “

Cedric smiled bitterly. "Even after Kael disappeared, it wasn't too late. You could have chosen me. I would still have accepted you.” 

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"But instead...you stayed loyal to a dead man and became a servant.”

His gaze drifted downward

"You even gave birth to his child, suffering all these years just to take care of her.” Cedric laughed. “Don't you ever regret it?” 

She fired him an icy stare. 

"If I had to choose again..."  Lucy gritted her teeth. "...I would still choose him."

For the first time, Cedric's smile faltered.

"At least Kael never betrayed the people he loved.” Lucy said, looking directly into his eyes with no fear. 

Cedric's expression darkened. 

The surrounding nobles exchanged nervous glances. Everyone knew what she was implying.

Cedric's smile vanished. "So stubborn even now.” His voice was ice cold.

Lucy stared 111him down without looking away. 

For some reason, that angered him even more. A vein bulged on Cedric's forehead.

SLAP! Cedric's hands shot forward and sound echoed throughout the arena.

Lucy staggered sideways.

A red mark instantly appeared across her cheek. The surrounding crowds gasped. 

"You should have learned your place by now.” Cedric slowly lowered his hand and his eyes were cold. 

His aura erupted and Lucy winced.

Instantly pain shot through Lucy's body. She felt the binding spell tightened.

Her knees buckled and before she could steady herself, Cedric stepped forward and planted a polished black boot in front of her.

A cruel smile spread across his face. "Since you're so determined to be a servant, act like one."

Lucy froze. Her head felt heavy and she staggered on her feet. Standing in front of Cedric 

The arena gradually fell silent and everyone unconsciously stepped back. 

Cedric deliberately loosened the laces on his boots and looked down at her.

"Tie them." He barked. 

A ripple spread through the crowd and he fully let out his aura. 

Lucy's fingers trembled and she fell on her knees. She couldn't resist in front of the full brunt of Cedric power. 

Her nails dug into her palms.

"What's wrong?" Cedric mocked. "Too proud?"

She tried everything to resist but agonizing pain shot through her body.

Lucy's face turned pale. Bound by magic she could only do it. 

Ever since Midgard had been overrun by magical creatures, living outside a faction had become almost impossible.

That was why she had endured humiliation just to remain under a faction's protection.

Once someone abandoned their faction, they were branded an exile. They could never return, and no other faction would accept them.

It wasn't cruelty. It was survival.

Factions had walls, formations, patrols, and powerful cultivators guarding them. Alone, even a small pack of magical beasts could wipe out an entire family overnight.

If Lucy had been alone, she would have left long ago. She would rather risk death than continue living in humiliation. But she wasn't alone anymore. She had Lily and couldn't gamble with her daughter's life.

So if enduring humiliation was the price of keeping Lily alive, then she would bear it.

Even if it meant sacrificing every last shred of her own dignity.

Slowly and painfully, she lowered herself back to her knees and picked his loose lace. She tried to drop it but she couldn’t.

Laughter erupted around the arena. She felt a mix of rage and humiliation. 

Cedric's smile widened. He loved the sight before him. The former fiancée of Kael Ravenhart.

The woman who had once been admired by countless nobles, who turned down his advances and seemed untouchable was now kneeling before him. 

Lucy bit her lip until she tasted blood.