"Thank you so much Mr. Moongrave," said an old man as he received his farming tools, "I don't know what I would have done if these weren't fixed by today."

Derek smiles at the old man, "You're welcome old man Bob."

"How much for the fix?" said old man Bob as he takes out his wallet.

Derek shakes his head as he tells him to put it back.

"It's on the house, and if your tools are worn out or breaks again, just bring it back for me to fix," said Derek.

Old man Bob's eyes widen at his words, "Really?"

Derek nods his head. Old man Bob smiles at him. He looks around and notices something.

"Mr. Moongrave, where is the young lady that was with you and always helping you with your work?" Old man Bob asked

"You mean Scarlet?"

"Oh, so that beautiful young lady's name is Scarlet," said old man Bob as he nodded his head.

"She's taking a few days off," Derek answered, "Why?"

Old man Bob touches his bear, "Well, there was some gossip going around that a woman with crimson hair was going to annul her engagement by following the tradition. I thought that it might have been the young Lady with you because she's the only one I know with crimson hair."

This was the first time Derek heard about the engagement annulment. He did think that it was strange when she left. She had a more serious expression than usual, and didn't talk much during the time they ate. He didn't think much about it at first. There's a high possibility that the woman old man Bob mentioned was her.

"Where is the duel taking place?" Derek asked.

"Hmm... If I remember correctly, it's being held at the Polarmis Household arena," answered Old man Bob.

"Polarmis Household..."

The people that gathered at the arena gossip among each other. They were shocked when they heard that Ian had ignored James for half a day.

"Half a day late? What is she talking about?"

"You don't know? Yesterday, Old Master Polarmis asked Young Master Ian to come to the main hall to discuss the duel with Miss Scarlet, but he made them wait more than half of the day," someone answered.

"What?! Isn't that just shameful!?"

As the gossiping about Ian grew, his ear started to turn red from anger. He glares at Scarlet only to be captivated by her beauty. He shakes his head clear of thoughts and gets ready to fight her.

"Don't go spout out nonsense, Scarlet!"

Scarlet smirks at him, "Alright. I won't."

She stood very still before him with her eyes close. Ian gets into position as he glares at her. Scarlet slowly opens her eyes as another person walks up to the arena. It was James. He raises up his left hand.

"As per tradition, Scarlet Ashegrey asked to annul the engagement between the Ashegrey Household and the Polarmis Household. Should she win, the engagement shall be annulled. Ian Polarmis will be fighting against her wish. Per Tradition, should he win, Scarlet will no longer have any say in the engagement or to Polarmis Household and him. So both agree?"

"Yes," they both answered.

"Very well," said James, "There shall be no support from either side or it shall be deemed as instant forfeit. There shall be no interference before, during, and after the duel. Is this clear?"

"Yes."

"If either side yells out surrender then the duel shall end. If either side loses their life, then the duel shall end. Only then will there be a victor and loser. Is that clear!"

"Yes!"

James closes his eyes as the sun rises to the very height of the sky. As he swung his hand down he yelled out, "BEGIN!"

Ian charges at Scarlet and disappears instantly before her. He appears right behind her as he takes out his sword and swings down hard with the intent to kill. His eyes flashes with bloodthirst.

Scarlet dodges to her right as his blade nearly hits her. Scarlet jumps back with shock written all over her face. Ian smirks at her as he sees her expression. He charges on as he swings his sword at her with deadly movement. It took everything for Scarlet to dodge his attack.

Ian chuckles at her actions. What he had witnessed when she killed the Twins of Huns was nothing but luck. Someone must have helped her and gave her the spoils of victory. There was no way a lower2 like her could kill two upper3 like that.

As confidence grew inside of him, Ian pressed on even harder. Scarlet didn't have a weapon with her so she could either dodge or hit his sword with her bare hand. Seeing how she was so good at dodging and parrying his attack, he stabs her arm ruthlessly.

"Ah!" Scarlet cried out.

Blood oozes out from her left arm. Scarlet kicks the hilt of his sword, sending it flying in the air. Her breath was short as her whole body shook in fatigue. Ian smirks at her. He walks over to pick up his sword. He points his sword at her, "Give up. If you do it right now, I might just spare you."

Scarlet snarls at him, "Never! I will have this engagement annul and live my life as my own!"

Everyone who heard her cry laughed at her. It was ridiculous of her to even fight against her fate that was chosen since birth even against an upper4 cultivator. However, there were few who admire her bravery. Those who admired her were women. Women in this world were not seen as equal to the men. They were much weaker and easy to fall in tears. Those who were not were deemed to be less of a woman.

A woman had to be obedient, quiet, graceful, kind, and elegant. Though Scarlet possesses most of them, for her to go up against someone she shouldn't have, who wouldn't laugh at her except for those who know that pain.

"Hmph," Ian grins at her, "A woman should just act like a woman. Be ready to be embraced by men, and keep their mouth shut."

Scarlet twitches at his words. The image of the dead woman and her lover holding her while crying and their family around them rings inside of her head. She growls at him, "Are you saying that it is right for them to be embraced even by those they do not love!"

Ian chuckles at her. He opens out his arm with a wicked smile, "Of course not. But if that ever happens, then it's the woman's fault is it not?"

Blood surges up to her head. Scarlet rushed towards him as she was ready to punch his guts. Ian shakes his head and kicks her hard against her chest. Scarlet flew a few feet away. She coughs out blood as she holds her chest.

"Why are you suddenly charging at me like a mad bull?" Ian asked as he wiped his leg off, "Could it be... You saw that dead woman outside here?"

Scarlet's eyes twitch at his words. He smirks at her with a quiet voice as he crosses his arm, "Just so you know, I definitely had nothing to do with her death."

Her eyes widened at his words. The original's memories of Ian flashes inside of her mind. Whenever Ian lied, he would always cross his arm like that and speak in a quiet voice. Scarlet tightens her fist in rage.

"What's going on? Who is the young master talking about?"

"You don't know? Yesterday, a maid from here suicide by hanging herself. She wrote a letter saying that she couldn't live with herself anymore and apologized to her loved ones for having a soiled body."

"Soiled body? Did she get rape?"

"Or maybe she slept with someone willing and realized her mistake?"

"Pfff, what a laugh."

"What does that even have to do with the young master?"

Scarlet holds her injured arm and stares at the ground. Ian taps his blood covered sword against his back, "So do you give up, Scarlet? You should do it while I'm still being nice."

"Was it you...?" She mumbled.

"Hmmm?"

She looks at him straight in the eyes, "Was it you?"

He smirks at her with a shrug, "Didn't I just say that it wasn't me?"

Spiritual energy surges around Scarlet, "You have a particular habit when lying, Ian. You would cross your arm together and talk in a very quiet voice."

One of his eyebrows raises as he looks at her, "You think I am lying just because I crossed my arms?"

The spiritual energy gathers to her first as she raises it towards him, "I can forgive you for cheating, for taking my fame, for causing me harm, but I will not forgive you for harming innocent people!"

Ian glares at her, "I told you to stop accusing me, woman!"

Scarlet dashes at him like lightning and swings her spiritual fist hard, aiming at his neck. Ian uses his sword to take the attack. The move Scarlet just used was her one hit kill move. Aura Fist.

Though it was a lower2 skill, it was not to be underestimated. Aura Fist aimed for the nerve system in a person's body. Once it comes in contact, a person could become a vegetable.

Ian grits his teeth down and twists his sword. He slices her palm causing Scarlet to take a few steps back. He charges at her, "If you really think I caused her to die then try and beat it out of me! But I didn't do it!"

Ian threw in brutal and deadly strikes at Scarlet. Her arm and hand was already injured and bleeding. Anyone could see that it was taking everything to just avoid them.

Scarlet slips on her blood and trips. Ian's eyes flashes with bloodthirst. He charges at her with his sword aiming for her neck. An instant kill. His eyes were blood crazy for instant victory. Inches away, his thoughts ran wild. Scarlet gets up quickly with exhaustion. As she got up, what she was met with was the tip of Ian's sword.

She jumps back but Ian wasn't going to let her off. This was an opportunity for him to finish her off for good.

<You're finishes!>

BAM

[...Listen, Scarlet. If you do this, you will win, indefinitely...]

To Be Continue