"What? She's here already?" said Ian as he eats grapes out of a woman's hand.

The servant kneeling before him nods, "Old Master asks you to come to the main hall immediately."

Ian kisses the woman next to him feverishly as he dismisses the servant. The woman giggled as she said, "Are you not going, my lord?"

"Shh... Let me refresh my plate first. Having that maid yesterday wasn't as tasty as I thought," said Ian as he kissed her neck.

The woman giggles again, "Then, how do I taste it?"

He licks her grape juice soaked, "Like this very fruit."

"Oh, my lord."

The servant came back to report to James. Though he was angry that Ian did not accompany the servant, he did not show it in front of Scarlet. He dismisses the servant.

"He must be fooling around again," James said with a disappointing voice.

"Does he do it often?" Scarlet asked.

"Yes," said James, "I've reprimanded him so many times as well, but he never listens."

"You can't control a person's every movement all the time," said Scarlet as she drinks tea.

"Haa... leaving Polarmis in his hand worries me," said James as he sighs out.

Scarlet chuckles at him, "Is there no one beside him to take over the family?"

James thinks to himself for a while before answering her. Just as he was about to answer her, he pauses.

<Why am I talking about this with her? Moreover, why does she seem so different from her usual self?>

"Old Master?"

"Oh... Well, there is his half-brother," he finally answered, "But the family will never accept him."

"Half-brother?"

James nodded, "Adam Polarmis. Ian's father, my son had him before Ian was born."

<Then that would make him the older brother. The first son of Polarmis... What did he mean the family won't accept him?>

"Then, if he is the first son of the Polarmis Household, why won't the family accept him?" She asked.

James looks off into the distance. His mouth trembles as he was about to tell Scarlet but held back. He shakes his head, "That will be told in another time..."

It wasn't her business so Scarlet didn't push any further. As they continued to wait until it was late noon, Ian finally came. He cups his hands together to greet his grandfather.

"Greeting," he said as he glanced at Scarlet.

James had a deadly expression on him as he stared at his grandson. But what Scarlet said was true, he can't control his every movement. Moreover, now was not the time to reprimand him.

"Miss Scarlet is here for the duel, any later and you would lose by default, Ian" said James.

"Forgive my lateness Grandfather, I just had a few things to take care of," said Ian.

"What could be more important than this?" said James in a threatening tone.

"Father?" said a voice, "Was Ian telling us the truth then?"

James' eyes flash up. It was his daughter-in-law Jaqueline, Ian and Ann's mother. James tightens his fist as Ian smirks secretly under his breath. James tried to keep this dual as secretive as possible. It was not because he didn't want people to know that Scarlet was going to end the engagement, but to save his grandson's face. If he was to lose, how was he going to face the consequences later?

How foolish he was to worry about his grandson that was digging his own grave. James sighs out, "Yes. Miss Scarlet wishes to annul the engagement."

Jaqueline looks at her in disbelief, "Scarlet, but why?"

In the owner's past memories, Ian's mother Jaqueline was a fragile woman. She became fragile after giving birth to Ian. She was also a quiet person who didn't speak much. Just like the original when she was still alive. The only time she ever saw her get angry was during the chopstick incident.

Scarlet cups her hand together, "Madam Polarmis, I do not believe that Ian and I fit well together. As per Old Master's request, I am just following tradition."

Jaqueline wanted to say more but said nothing. She was a woman of tradition. If Scarlet said that she was willing to follow it then she too must obey. Jaqueline was disappointed in the decision Scarlet was making but didn't say anything further.

"If you are willing to follow the tradition then I have nothing more to say."

Scarlet thanks for not making things hard on her. Ann came along with more people to witness the duel. James starts to feel a headache coming in. All of his effort to make sure this was a sacred duel per the tradition was getting tarnish by his two idiotic grandchild.

Everyone that came with Ann was part of the Polarmis Household. They were in charge of important roles that helped with the riches of the Household as well. Ann smirks at Scarlet, thinking that this will put pressure on her to not annul the engagement. If she does, she would be offending more than half of the business in the capital.

Scarlet got up from her chair and cups her hands together. She bows to all of the Polarmis relatives.

"If all of you were told as to the reason why I am here, then yes, it is true," said Scarlet as she hears them all gasped, "I wish to annul the engagement."

One of the old men of the family came up, "Miss Scarlet, have you considered good and long about this? Once you annul the engagement, you can no longer come back to it."

<Hmph, who would want to marry a man like him.>

Scarlet bows to the old man, "I am sure."

"How could you not send a letter and notify any of us before making such a decision?"

"Does your family know of this?"

"This is not something a child like you can decide."

"How outrageous!"

<Hmm... To think they were this greedy for power and fame. I don't know how well known the original's father's name is, but it seems to be more than just a name...>

Scarlet glances at James. He nods at her, giving her the sign to do what she wants. He wanted to make this as secretive as he could to save face and to not make things difficult for each other in the future. But his grandchildren were not looking into the future nor the bigger picture like him. Scarlet felt his pain and pity him.

"Forgive my rudeness, but this engagement was agreed by my parents and old master James," said Scarlet,"And per the tradition, and requested by the old master, I am merely following it. If you folks are not satisfied by it, then take it up with the ones who made this as a rule, instead of me."

They all shut up. Everyone in ancient China was very strict in following the tradition. It was like the law to them. All of the words that Scarlet spoke out were very true to the core. They came to pressure her not to annul the engagement, instead she became the one to pressure them.

"Hmph," one of them spoke out, "Then a duel it shall be. However, if you lose, you must follow the tradition of the loser as well."

<You mean not talking back to the winner and do their bidding? What a joke.>

Scarlet cups her hand together, "Very well."

The whole time when they kept talking about tradition this or tradition that was about the process which everyone had followed since ancient times. For the engagement, if one wants to annul the engagement that was formed by their elders, they must duel one another. The winner can choose to annul the engagement or have the loser follow their every wish while keeping the engagement. The loser has no right to complain. Moreover, this can also be the fight to death. Death was another way to annul the engagement as well. This tradition has been followed through since ancient times. Therefore, no one talked back when the tradition was involved

It was already the next day. The sun was hanging up high in the clear blue sky. People were invited to witness the duel. The duel to embarrass Scarlet in front of all of these people, and to leave no room for her to bark back to Ian. A perfect trap that used the tradition well.

Ian walks up to the arena as people cheer for him. His merits for fighting in the war was well known. Even his charm was popular around the girls. As he walks up with an elegance in the air, he looks around for Scarlet. She was nowhere to be found. He smirks thinking to himself that Scarlet ran away from the fear of embarrassing herself in front of everyone and losing to him.

"I heard that young master Polarmis is a lower4 cultivator," said someone in the crowd.

"Really? I heard he was reached to upper5 after defeating the Twins of Huns," said another.

"So he was the one who defeated them, as expected of the Young Master of the Polarmis Household," someone laughs.

As Ian listens to the complements of the citizens, his ego grew stronger. The only ones who witnessed Scarlet defeating the Twins of Huns were still dispatched at the board. Therefore, another rumor went around that Ian was one who defeated them.

"Hmm?" someone notices, "Where is that infamous Ashegrey lady?"

"You mean that useless Miss of the Ashegrey Household? Maybe she ran away."

"Obviously, does she think she is the only one who dislikes the engagement? Hmph, it was dumb of her to use the tradition as a way to annul the engagement"

"Right, right! How would you dare fight an upper4 cultivator?"

<Do you see now, bitch. Now you know you bit off more than you can chew.>

Ian turns around and faces the people who had gathered at the arena sideline. He cups his hand together as he said with a sincere voice, "I apologize on behalf of my fiance. I cannot tell you how ashamed I am of her action."

Everyone there who heard his words pity him. He's such a good man, how could Scarlet cancel the engagement like this and even run off before even starting the duel. Shame on her.

"So Ian can come more than half a day late when Old Master calls him to the main, but I can't even come a few minutes late for the duel?" said a voice above, "Indeed, you tell them how ashamed you are."

Everyone looks up and sees Scarlet descending from the rooftop and lands on the floor of the arena. The color of her battle dress was a pale shade of forest green. Her crimson hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and her very demeanor was intimidating.

"Please don't hesitate nor forget to tell them all the details, Ian."

To Be Continue