As soon as he finished his sentence, the air turned cold as everyone present tensed with the atmosphere.

"What?"

His brother spoke, breaking the silence as his eyebrows creased into a frown.

A fake smile still plastered on his face, he continued.

"Don't get me wrong dear brother, I'm entirely excited at the thought of your engagement. However, that's just not for me. I fear if I ever got married, the mood would be far too sour. Besides, I'm saving myself for the rest of the world to enjoy. You understand?"

What a lie. He would sooner see the world burn than be for everyone.

"You bastard. Do you even have any idea what you are saying?"

His brother spat in a heated whisper.

"Of course I understand. I'm saving my precious life of luxury you piece of shit brother of mine."

"Of course! I am being considerate."

He uttered aloud, allowing a smirk corner the edge of his mouth.

"Considerate?"

The woman standing next to his father spoke, shaping her tone into a sharp accusatory question.

"How so?"

Pausing to stare at her for a bit, he responded with an even faker smile.

"My dear stepmother, I'm afraid I do not have the fortune of ever meeting a match worthy of myself, hence, it's best not to give any woman false hope. I am being quite considerate, don't you think? Besides, I simply do not wish for a match either. I enjoy being single and not tied down to a single woman. You understand."

"No, I can not say I do."

His stepmother sneered, a frown visible on her face.

It wasn't just her that bore that expression within the room. The faces of everyone who had the misfortune of hearing his arrogant and obnoxious spiel had now twisted into hardened glares.

"Brother in-law,"

A man with slicked back blonde hair and a charming smile started.

"I think you can only say that right now because you just haven't met the right woman."

"Here he goes."

Eilyan thought, sighing as he watched their pre-planned scheme unfold.

"Perhaps my younger sister may just be the woman to change your mind?"

Turning to Stella who had her arms wrapped around his older brother, Eilyan spoke wryly.

"I don't think she has any intention to leave her partner right now though? Maybe you should give it a few years?"

A silence hung for a moment before the man once again attempted to salvage the situation with an awkward laugh, gesturing to the woman in the corner.

"No no, I was not referring to my sister Stella. I meant my other sister, Elaine."

Of course he knew this. He'd just tried to make himself look shitty so they would reconsider this farce that was going on.

It was obvious they all hated him, so why were they trying to get one of their own to marry him against their will? Simple. While he was the second born, and a bastard child within the Verda Desinix family, his late mother came from a very affluent family that had a hand in all forms of commerce. The Averighn family.

With his mother gone, Eilyan was the only link tying them together, as the head of the Averighn family, Count Igzurd Averighn had never really liked Duke Desinix. The only solution was to proposition a marriage that would play to the Count's greed for power.

"Come Elaine. Introduce yourself to Eilyan."

He continued, waving over for his sister to come present herself favorably.

"Oh? I hadn't realized there were more of you. You're quite easy on the eyes, but you look quite different from your siblings. Are you a bastard child as well?"

His words cut through the chatter of the group with a guttural sharpness that caused both peak surprise, as well as irritation.

He was purposely pushing every button there was to not be pushed.

"How dare y-"

"You are not the first to bring that to my attention. I am glad you appreciate my appearance. I am told I bear a resemblance to my grandmother, so perhaps I have her to thank. My name is Elaine Angelyn Lyla Hardil. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Before count Hardil could finish his retort, Elaine pulled every shred of her composure together in order to recover the situation. She did not want to marry him, nor did she want to stand for the insult, however she had to see this engagement through to the end. Her family's future depended on it.

"I am already aware that this man is vile trash. This much is to be expected. He just says the first thing that pops into his head like an idiot without a filter. I just have to play to his ego from here on out and everything should work out fine."

She thought. Curtseying as she introduced herself.

"R-Right. My sisters are well known for their beauty. I'm sure you can come to appreciate it."

Her brother spoke, working in turn to resolve the souring atmosphere.

Of course he knew that she was his legitimate child, however he said those words as an attack against count Hardil who was a well known philanderer. He just didn't expect them to brush it under the table so quickly without demanding an apology.

"Damn. Why are you trying so hard to marry me if you don't even like me?"

[I advise that you not make any more attempts to avoid this situation User.]

"And I advise that you take your opinion and shove it at someone who gives a shit."

Taking a deep breath, he released it slowly, hardening his resolve.

He had already dedicated nine years of his life to becoming the best trash bastard he could be. He didn't spend those years just idling away for nothing. He had developed his most prized technique over those long years. A technique he tried not to use so often, but the situation called for it. His father, the man who currently had the most power to dictate whichever path his life would take was present, but he couldn't hold back out of fear at the moment. He was going to do whatever it took to save himself from that miserable ending Fate insisted was set in stone, and right now he had to rely on it... The art of shamelessness.

A technique that though he didn't like to admit, he was pretty good at.

"She's quite beautiful that's for sure..."

He started, steadying his breath and propping his arm on his hip.

"Right? So, what do you say? Would you like to court he-"

"However, dear future brother in-law of mine..."

"Uh, yes?"

He answered hesitantly.

"What now? What does he want now? Why does this idiot insist on making such a simple matter so difficult?"

The blonde man's mind raced, getting irked by the situation as it went on.

"Forgive me, but what was your name again?"

Eilyan's words caused him to flinch, almost tearing a whole through the mask he was wearing in order to stay in Eilyan's good graces.

"This drunk bastard!"

He grit his teeth, forcing himself to stay calm and regain his overly friendly façade. With an awkward laugh, he spoke.

"Ah that's right. The mistake is mine. We'd met briefly once before so I assumed you would remember me, but looking back on it now, it seems you were a bit tipsy then so it must have slipped your mind. My name is Ilgar Armen Hargin Hardil. First son of the Hardil family."

"So we've met before? Hopefully I remember our meeting this time."

"Not you will remember, but you hope you will? This fucking bastard is really getting on my nerves."

"Anyway brother in-law,"

Eilyan started, calling back Ilgar's attention from his frustrated thoughts.

"Your sister is pretty, and looking at her doesn't make my eyes bored..."

"Yes. That is only one of the things that is so special about her. Once you begin courting her, you'll get to learn even more t-"

"But..."

Eilyan stated with a small pause, once again cutting Ilgar off as he narrowed his gaze at Elaine.

"Y-yes?"

Ilgar asked nervously, following his gaze to the poised silhouette of his sister.

Eying her fully from top to bottom, Eilyan let out a small sigh as he gave a shrug.

"She's just not my type, you know?"

Silence once again overtook the atmosphere, everyone looking on in disbelief with faces that said, "On what grounds does he dare to say that?"

"P-Pardon?"

Ilgar stuttered, still overcome with shock from his statement.

"What is wrong with this buffoon? Who in their right mind says things like that, especially with the other person is standing in the same room?"

"What do you mean by type?"

"Hmm..."

Eilyan began, tapping his fingers on his chin in a ponder.

"If I had to say, then I like women who throw themselves at me, you understand?"

"What?!"

"Yeah. I like it when a woman can barely keep her hands off me. Like I'm her entire world. I need to know she just can't get enough of me. Someone who knows how to kiss ass."

"Isn't he describing a harlot right now?"

Was the thought on everyone's mind as he spoke.

"In that sense,"

He continued, now turning his attention to Ilgar.

"You are far more my type than your sister is, don't you think?"

"I beg your pardon?!"

Ilgar exclaimed, taking a few steps back as Eilyan took a few forward.

"What do you say? Are you not single young lord Ilgar?"

"This rake!"

Ilgar spat, unable to contain his immense disgust and frustration.

"Wow, a rake? Me? That's quite harsh of you to say my dear brother. I just like to fully devote myself to many people. I'm rather generous if anything."

"Eilyan."

His stepmother called sharply, a sour expression plastered on her face.

"There is a limit to which jokes a person can take."

"Jokes? Why stepmother, you heard him didn't you? I'm a rake. As long as there's some fun to be had, does it matter who I'm having it with?"

Eilyan said, a sly smirk lingering coyly on his lips.

"N-No, I just meant..."

"It's alright. I understand. I'm nothing if not open-minded, so I can surmise what this is about."

"What?"

Ilgar uttered, baffled at what the situation had devolved into.

"I get it. You are not ready to confront your own feelings yet. I can not say I am surprised. I am just that appealing I suppose. I'm not much interested, but I will keep you in mind. Though, from henceforth, do be mindful of the situation and learn to control your desires."

"Excuse me? You filthy rake! How could you even imply such a crass thought? Like I would stoop so low as to even be considered by a drunk piece of trash like yourself! Are you trying to mock me?"

Ilgar spat, anger fueling his every word as disgust painted and ugly picture across his face.

"Ilgar! That's enough!"

His father yelled, attempting to stop his rant before he said too much.

"It's bad enough I am to be related to you by my sister's marriage, but to tolerate this insult is an offense I will not stand for! You are not even fit to be in the same room as my sister, yet you say she is not your type? How dare you?!"

"Got him."

Eilyan thought happily as he shifted his expression to feign sorrow.

"Wow. Is that how you truly think brother in-law? You wound me. I am so deeply hurt, I cannot even stand to look at you. If I am so unfit to marry your sister, then why don't you marry her?"

The sleezy smile that punctuated his sentence was enough to snap Ilgar back to his senses. His frustrated outburst had just cost him the chance to have his sister wed Eilyan of his own will.

The only other way to make it happen now would be a direct order from the head of the Desinix family.

The setting realization traveled through each of their faces, every person in the room now turning to look at Duke Desinix who had stood stiff and unenthused the entire time.

"Don't bother~"

Eilyan mused to himself.

The reason Eilyan had free reign of the situation from the beginning, and the reason the Hardil family and his stepmother had to go through this strenuous process of getting him to accept the marriage on his own was because Duke Desinix had never really invested much of his time or effort into this. It was mostly a plan proposed and carried out by his wife, Aldetta.

To Duke Desinix, Eilyan was akin to tiny bits of water vapour in the air. Whether he was there or not, it didn't make much of a difference to him.

In the same way he felt about Eilyan, he felt about the Averighn count family. He possessed such power and wealth, that he didn't really need to be on such friendly terms with them, so to him, this entire farce was an unnecessary waste of time. 

In reality, he knew very well that Aldetta just needed a way to keep Eilyan out of her way, and what better method than marrying him into a family she had close ties with.

Whether Eilyan accepted or not, he had no plans to interfere, and since Eilyan refused, he didn't intend to waste his time any further.

Donning a bored expression, Duke Desinix glanced at his pocket watch, notifying everyone in the room that he was about to take his leave.

"Looks like it's just about time to wrap this up."

Eilyan thought to himself, watching as the Hardils' and his stepmother stood squirming about.

[User, are you positive you will not regret this action?]

"For the last time. You. are. giving. me. a. headache!"

If he was going to regret it, he would never have begun this journey in the first place. It is quite ironic...

"You have greatly offended me, so, may we never see each other again. If we should ever cross paths once more, walk the other way."

Eilyan stated, playing up the theatrics as he pretended to be deeply hurt by the words of someone whose name he could barely remember.

...He does all this in order to escape his arduous fate, but does he not realize that the very act of defying one's fate is arduous in itself. How very contradictory, but one supposes this is the essence of being human.

"I will be taking my leave now."

Eilyan finished, turning on his heel and marching out of the room as quickly as his rouse would allow him to.

[The future has changed once again User.]

[Current Fate Progression: 12%]

"I swear you're getting on my last nerve,"

He muttered, cupping his forehead as it throbbed with every word from the owner of the bluish grey window only he could see.

"Well, at least this time I managed to halt that damn progression meter."

Just as he heaved a sigh of relief, he tripped over himself, losing his footing and crashing into a semi ajar door, landing face first on the carpet floor.

"Ah goddammit!"

He spat, wincing as he forced his body upright, rubbing his throbbing nose as he cursed.

[Warning! Passive skill: Extreme Karmic Alignment has been activated]

"Fucking trashy automaton, isn't the warning supposed to occur before it happens?"

[You had instructed that notifications and warnings be turned off because it gave you a headache]

"Then why bother warning me at all? Trashy automaton."

[With the downgrade of your golden fate to trash comes the downgrade in help you receive, User]

The retort from the robotic sounding system had caused him to pause in shock. He was aware that the system would sometimes talk back at him, but it baffled him that now it was just insulting him. 

"Hah. This piece of shit a-"

Before he could finish cursing the irritant that had been stuck to him for the past month, he'd just noticed the three other people in the room he had burst into.

[Notification! Current Fate Progression: 15%]

"Oh for fuck's sake."