Novel Full Chapter 336: Arthur Thoughts
Chapter 336: Arthur Thoughts
“Are you… fine with this?” Arthur finally asked, his voice lower than before, careful, measured. He turned his head slightly to look at Razeal instead of the arena, studying him rather than the situation. “I mean… you weren’t aware of any of this, and now you’re suddenly going to be married.” He hesitated, searching for the right words. “Yeah, of course, no one would normally reject something like this. It’s… a good thing, objectively. But you’re not some ordinary person either.” Arthur exhaled softly. “You’re very capable person. You have your own path. Are you really ready for this? Marrying someone you don’t even know?” His brows furrowed. “There’s still time. You can stand up and reject the prize. Say you don’t want it. I’ll help you if you want.”
Arthur didn’t say it out loud, but the concern was layered beneath his words. A human marrying into Atlantean royalty was not something small. It wasn’t just unexpected it was dangerous, politically and socially. He was obviously worried about backlash. He worried about how his father would react if Razeal rejected it publicly. He worried about the scene it might cause if things went wrong. And beneath all of that, buried deeper than Arthur liked to admit, was a far more personal unease. This man.. this human was about to marry his sister.. She will face backlash too.. Whether he liked it or not, that fact alone made him uneasy. So he tried to offer Razeal a way out, framing it as concern, as reason or choice.
Razeal heard him but he also didn’t respond immediately.
For several seconds, he simply stood there, his gaze unfocused. The noise of the colosseum felt distant, muffled, as if the world itself had taken a step back to give him space to think. Marriage had never been part of his plan. Not now or ever, if he was being honest. He wasn’t interested. He had never built his life with the expectation of sharing it with someone else, much less binding himself to a royal family. Under normal circumstances, he would have rejected it without hesitation.
But this wasn’t a normal circumstance.
“System,” he asked silently, his tone calm but sharp, “if I reject this marriage… will I lose the title?”
The answer came immediately, devoid of emotion.
[Yes. The title will be revoked. Additionally, all changes and alterations applied to your fate and destiny trajectory through that title will be reversed. Restorative correction will occur.]
And yeah that was enough.
Razeal nodded slightly, the decision settling into place without much drama. There was no need for hesitation actually. Losing that title was not an option now. The percentage alteration he had gained small as it seemed was priceless. Who knew how many sacrifices, manipulations and how many disasters he would need to engineer to reclaim even that much again? This wasn’t something he could afford to throw away over discomfort or principle.
He would accept it.
Marriage, in the end, was not a big deal to him. Not emotionally or philosophically. It was just a marriage at last.. It cant be that bad right? And more than that now that he thought about it.. it solved another problem he had yet to fully address. If his destiny truly required someone who loved him to kill him, then controlling who that person was mattered. Binding himself to someone through marriage gave him leverage over that future too.. He now wouldn’t need to find someone so to make them fall in love for him.. He already found a wife.. All he needs to do is make her fall in love for him.. More then anything.. One stone, two birds thing.
And also there was something else too
From what he had realised, people needed to look at him favorably.. at least not with hostility if he wanted to continue eroding the chains of fate binding him. So yeah he needs to change himself.. Like yeah he didn’t need to become a hero or to become kind but atleast just need people to believe he was good.
Like obviously… are Selena or Riven good people? Obviously not. They are bad disgusting having committed unforgivable acts. And yet, one is respected and loved by most people, bearing the title of Holy Saintess. The other is a god worshipped, prayed to by countless people, even revered by other gods.
So, in simple terms, all he needs to do is manipulate people. And honestly, that is not difficult. It is not that he is incapable of doing that.. if he truly tried, he could pull it off. Its just back then he never really bothered about it.. Like why and what jt gonna change.. But now it will.. And Even if his name is stained with the title of rapist, all it would take is doing something grand something undeniable.
But it has to be done quickly.
He needs at least half of the world’s population to believe he is not a villain, not a monster.. and he needs that belief fast. To erase this filth clinging to his name, there is no time for hesitation.
And for that, he guessed, he would have to change his personality too… change the way he behaved and the image he showed to people.
So the first thing he needed to start with was getting married.. because losing this title was simply unacceptable to him. He could not let that happen.
Razeal thought, deep in contemplation, plans for the future already unfolding behind his calm eyes, even as he altered some of his long-held plans entirely.
While Razeal was lost in deep contemplation, he did not reply to Arthur’s earlier question. Arthur, however, was not impatient; he simply waited, watching Razeal as he thought through his answer.
As Arthur observed him, he suddenly noticed a change in Razeal’s expression. The cold, almost indifferent look on his face slowly faded, replaced by a warm and gentle smile one that belonged to someone kind and sincere.
The sight unsettled Arthur. He blinked in surprise, taken aback by what he was seeing. He had never expected such a smile from Razeal. Though it had been a long time since they first met, every interaction Arthur remembered had been marked by coldness, arrogance, and complete indifference. And on the rare occasions Razeal did smile, it was usually one of coldness, superiority, or just looking evil.
So seeing this expression soft, genuine, and warm.. felt entirely out of place making Arthur feel little weird.
But before he could react, Razeal moved. He stepped closer and, with an ease that felt strangely natural, draped an arm over Arthur’s shoulder. The gesture was casual, familiar.. almost affectionate like something shared between old friends who had known each other far longer than they actually had.
Arthur stiffened slightly, caught off guard by the sudden closeness.
“You asked me if I’m fine with marrying your sister,” Razeal said, his voice calm, warm, carrying none of the edge Arthur had expected. “Even though I didn’t know her. Even though I essentially… won her.” He glanced at Arthur briefly, the smile still there. “Right?”
Arthur didn’t answer immediately. He was still processing the tone more than the words.
“Well,” Razeal continued evenly, “it’s not that I’m greedy. Or impatient. Or someone who jumps at opportunities without thinking.” His arm remained comfortably around Arthur’s shoulder, grounding the moment. “I just think… this is where my fate led me.”
Arthur’s brows drew together almost imperceptibly.
“I believe in a greater cause,” Razeal went on.. As starting acting to be.. Nicest person around.. To get a sister one needs to get her brother in your favour first.. “I didn’t come here to win first place. I didn’t even know the prize was something like this.” He chuckled softly, as if amused by the absurdity of it all. “Honestly, I came here only aiming for second place. I needed a favor from your father, nothing more.” Razeal put a smile on his face and spoke warmly. It was obvious he could see what Arthur was trying to do.. most likely attempting to get him out of here since he was human. Razeal supposed he needed to play his part as well. If he was going to start acting like a good man from now on, he could not just shamelessly accept marrying a princess. Even if he won, he should at least give some reasonable justification.
“But it seems like my fate had other plans,” he said at last. “So I won’t run away from it. I’ll accept it. As a reasonable person.” He lied.. With straight face.
But the warmth in his voice never wavered. His smile remained steady, open, reassuring as he was worlds only honestly person.
Arthur felt… suspicious.
Arthur felt a little strange, but he still answered. The words felt like complete bullshit coming out of his mouth. Fate? Destiny? What kind of nonsense was that? Who actually believed in things like that anyways? He certainly did not and this man did not look like someone who would either.
And yet, somehow, it didn’t feel entirely fake.
“That’s not what I’m asking,” Arthur said slowly the explanation didn’t sit right with him. It felt… off. So he directly said.. Obviously it was also feeling as if Razeal was trying to spin his question..
Razeal looked at him, still smiling, unbothered.
“I know what you’re asking,” he said.
“You’re asking whether someone as strong as me someone with such superior power would really accept marrying a person I don’t even know when i can marry someone by myself.. And have every strength to find better person then.. Be like this. Whether I’ve lost my mind. Right?”
He gave a small, calm smile.
“Because it doesn’t make sense. That’s why I said this.. My answer was right and simple from beginning.. I simply believe… this must have happened for the greater good. Maybe this is what destiny decided for me. So I will accept it.”
Razeal, still wearing that gentle expression, continued inwardly, It can’t be that hard to at least make a good impression on a dumbass prince, right? Just make him believe I’m a good, nice guy.
Arthur’s lips twitched.
“So you’re really fine with marrying my sister, huh?” he said.
Guess Father will have to embarrass himself today, Arthur thought as he scratched the back of his head. What bad luck. I thought this guy would have a huge ego and reject it outright. Instead, I met a dumbass who actually believes in fate and destiny.. Sigh he sighed
Still, looking at Razeal’s face, it didn’t seem like he was lying.
“I know what you’re trying to do,” Razeal said again, his voice calm. “You want me to say no to marrying your sister. Just because I’m human and you people can’t accept that. Am I right?”
Arthur heard his words and grew awkward. His lips twitched again.
“Alright, I’ll be straight with you,” he said.
“Yeah. You guessed it right. Look, dude Father won’t accept this. Even if it means embarrassing himself today, he won’t let it happen. So just back down on your own. That way, our embarrassment will be… less.”
He glanced at Razeal from the corner of his eye.
“We’ll compensate you. You need a favor, right? I’ll get it for you. Just leave it at this.”
—-