Chapter 948: Alternate Timeline: Arceus makes his choice

"However..."

Vann Silver’s expression, which had softened when he assured Arceus that no one would force him into an unwanted marriage, gradually turned stern again, like a calm lake gathering dark clouds upon its surface as the wind changed direction.

"Ark," he said slowly, "a bird may leave its nest because a storm shakes the branches, but if it remains too long in another tree, the forest begins to whisper."

Arceus lowered his gaze.

Vann continued, his tone firm.

"You ran away from your home and stayed under the roof of an unmarried woman for three days and three nights, with no parents of hers staying with her. Do you understand what will happen if the wrong tongues in the capital begin wagging? A single rumor is like a drop of ink in clear water. At first it seems small, but before long the whole vessel turns dark."

The room fell silent.

Even Noah, who normally cared little for human customs, stood motionless and listened.

Vann clasped his hands behind his back.

"If your father had not spread the story that you were abducted, then by now the noble houses would already be sharpening their words like knives. A person can survive a sword wound, but a stain on one’s honor is more stubborn than blood on white silk."

Arceus’s fingers tightened around the hem of his sleeve.

His throat moved, but no words came.

He knew that he had done what he believed was right.

He also knew that Vann’s words were not false.

That was the cruel part.

Truth and justice did not always walk hand in hand.

Sometimes they stood on opposite sides of the road and forced a person to choose.

"I..."

The single word escaped his lips, soft and uncertain.

He wanted to say that he had no regrets.

He wanted to say that he would make the same choice again.

But when he thought of the gossip, the shame that would fall upon House Silver, and the pressure his actions had placed upon Kiara, his confidence faltered.

Seeing the hesitation clouding Arceus’s face, Kiara stepped forward before the silence could harden into surrender.

"Smoke rises because there is fire, Lord Silver."

Vann turned his eyes toward her.

Kiara crossed her arms and met his gaze without wavering. "If a house catches fire and smoke fills the room, do we blame the smoke for choking the people inside, or do we blame the flame that started it?"

Her voice sharpened as she spoke further. "House Silver was already in trouble the moment Wester Silver decided to trade his own son’s happiness for his personal ambition. Young Lord Arceus staying here is not the cause. It is the consequence. As for my reputation, I gave him shelter at my home, fully aware of the consequences. So, we should talk about why he was forced to leave instead..."

The air in the room tightened as Kiara took another step.

"He was confined in his own home like a prisoner. He came here because he had nowhere else to turn. If he has done nothing wrong, then why should he apologize?"

Vann’s brows drew together.

"Miss Kiara," he said, his tone still measured but edged with warning, "I am grateful that you protected my great-grandson even while thinking of the costs of your own reputation in the process, but this is a matter of my family. You should not interfere."

Kiara’s expression became even more resolute as she replied. "At this moment, Young Lord Arceus is a guest of the Nexus Store, Mister Vann. As long as he remains under my roof, his concerns are my concerns. If anyone has the right to tell me not to interfere in his business, it is he. Not you or House Silver."

Vann studied her for a long moment.

Then the old swordsman nodded slightly, as though acknowledging a worthy opponent had entered the arena.

"Very well," he said.

His gaze sharpened.

"Then answer me this."

He gestured toward Arceus.

"You say he has done no wrong. You have done nothing wrong. But suppose that tomorrow the nobles and commoners alike learn that he spent three days in the home of an unmarried woman."

His eyes did not leave Kiara’s face.

"Words travel faster than arrows. By the time truth catches up, reputation has already been wounded. You don’t care about your reputation, and let’s assume we don’t care about House Silver’s reputation either. But what about my descendant? I didn’t know too much, but from what I have heard from Lucian and Wester, the last time his reputation was stained, you were involved in it. And now, if people hear about his stay in your own home... how would people think of him? Would people treat him as a gentleman ever again? There will be a huge stain on his character instead. Arceus didn’t have the strength or the shrewdness of a politician. What he has is his righteous character, and this incident might put a blemish on that character for eternity."

He paused, allowing the argument to settle like dust, and then continued.

"If you wished to help him, you could have placed him in an inn."

Then he took one step closer.

"Tell me, Kiara. Can you silence an entire society with strength alone?"

Kiara had already considered this question long ago.

She did not look away and replied straight to his face. "I will do nothing."

The answer was so simple that Lucian blinked.

Kiara continued. "Just as I am responsible for my life, Young Lord Arceus is responsible for his. I can support him. I can offer him shelter. I can stand beside him."

Her eyes shifted briefly to Arceus.

"But I cannot live his life for him."

Then she looked back at Vann.

"If society condemns him, then he must choose how to answer. If he decides to kneel before society, then I will leave him be. And if he decides to fight, then I will stand at his side. If he believes my weapons can help him seek justice, I will place them in his hands without hesitation."

The room became still.

Lucian felt a chill run through him. Arceus’s heart thudded against his ribs.

Vann Silver narrowed his eyes. He now understood that Kiara was not speaking out of impulse. She had thought through every consequence.

Yet there was one final question.

"What if," he asked quietly, "standing with him turns you into the enemy of a Supreme Realm expert and several powerful noble houses?"

His voice was gentle, but the meaning beneath it was sharp.

"If you encourage him, that may happen."

Kiara’s expression hardened. To her ears, the words sounded perilously close to a threat.

Her jaw tightened. Her eyes burned with fierce conviction.

"Lord Silver," she said, each syllable clear and steady, "you know nothing about me. I would rather set the world ablaze or perish in the attempt, than betray my conscience."

For a brief moment, the words hung in the air like thunder.

Vann’s eyes gleamed. He turned smoothly toward Arceus and asked, "Doesn’t that mean she would destroy House Silver as well?"

The question struck with the precision of a master swordsman.

Kiara’s confidence faltered for the first time. She had answered from emotion. And Vann had redirected her own words like a blade turned back upon its wielder.

For an instant, she felt as though she had stepped forward to attack, only to discover that she had been led exactly where her opponent wanted.

She remained silent.

That silence was answer enough.

Vann turned to Arceus. "Ark," he said softly, "now you understand. If you refuse to return and apologize, your father will escalate the matter. You know his nature better than I."

He folded his hands behind his back.

"Then not only will your name be dragged through the mud, but because of you, either your benefactor may suffer, or your family will be torn apart. If peace can be restored with a single apology, why choose the path of ruin? So, I will speak for the last time. If you don’t want that marriage, if you don’t want to end up as a matrilocal son-in-law of House Drake, it won’t happen. Keeping that in mind, will you peacefully come with me to your home and apologize to your father, letting this matter end right here and now? Say no, and I will leave right away and not be involved in this matter anymore."

Arceus felt his heart twist.

Every word landed where his doubts already lived.

He had achieved what he wanted.

The engagement was suspended.

Vann himself had promised that no one would force him again.

Was it worth continuing this conflict?

Was pride worth the risk to Kiara?

To House Silver?

To his own family?

Slowly, he lifted his head. "Great-Grandfather."

His voice trembled.

"I will return with you, and I will apologize to Father."

Kiara’s fingers curled at her sides, but she said nothing.

Arceus took a breath and continued. "But I ask one thing."