2 Keeping his word

A defeaning silence fell over the main hall. The only sound was coming from Seo Jin himself as he stomped towards the Grand Duke with heavy steps.

He stopped on the other side of the marble table, staring daggers at the old man.

The Grand Duke took one final bite and threw the bone on the table. He looked up lazily, "It's your wedding day, congratulations."

"Says who?!" Seo Jin roared back.

No one knew what to do as they stared at each other unflinchingly. But Seo Man-Shik finally stepped forward and waved towards the 'guests'.

"Clear the hall!"

The servants rolled in like thunder and led all the guests away, including Mrs. Walsh and Linnie. Within seconds it was just three people remaining.

"I'm not getting married," Seo Jin clarified, "Stop this facade before it gets out of hand."

The Grand Duke shrugged, picked up a glass of wine, and started talking in a rather casual tone of voice.

"I gave you a chance, you had ample time to find a wife but look at you now, you look older than your uncle with no one to call your own. How much longer will you bring shame to the clan?"

Seo Jin let out a laugh, "Ha! Bring shame to the clan?! Need I remind you what I did for your precious clan??"

"That's in the past and this is the present, one has nothing to with the other. You are back now and this is happening regardless of whether you want it or not."

Blood vessels threatened to pop on Seo Jin's forehead as he tightened his fist. But before he could say or do something that could not be taken back, his uncle stepped in.

"Jin-ah, look at the bigger picture, you will be 30 in a few months. It's well and good to travel and have fun but this matter cannot be pushed back any further. You broke 4 different engagements and we didn't say anything but this time it's different. Your cousins are getting older and they cannot marry until you do, do it for them if not yourself."

Meanwhile Seo Jin did not look away from the Grand Duke. After a few seconds of hesitation, he spoke up.

"I'm already married."

"You're not," the Grand Duke rebuked without even looking up from the plate.

"Then I already have a woman."

"So marry her too, as long as this one is your first wife I don't care."

"What if I like men?"

"As long as it's not one of Baek's boys I don't care. Marry the girl and do whatever you want after."

Suddenly Seo Jin's lips curved into a knowing smile, "You really want me to marry this girl, huh? Why? What's so special about-"

"She's a Walsh."

Seo Jin's eyes widened, "No wonder, but that doesn't change anything. It was a stupid promise you people made before I was even born."

"It was a promise your grandmother, my wife, made when they saved her life. I gave her my word and I intend to keep it. A man is nothing without his word."

The Grand Duke finally raised his head to meet Jin's gaze, "It's happening whether you are here or not, boy."

"HAHAHA! SEO JIN!"

Before Jin could reply a blaring voice called out his name. He looked over his shoulder to see a heavy-set man almost the same height as him walking over with large strides.

He was clean-shaven with a well-kept appearance. He was wearing a loosely fitted suit and armed with a toothy grin which made him appear a little foolish and out of place. But no one would ever dare to say anything to his face.

"How is my second favorite nephew doing? Huh?"

He stopped right beside him, landing a powerful slap on Seo Jin's back. To the others it might seem just playful banter but Seo Jin could feel his blood flow almost reverse from the sudden injection of spiritual energy.

He gritted his teeth trying to keep the blood from crawling up his throat, "Second...uncle, I see some things never change."

"Hahaha, isn't that a good thing? Huh? Hahaha!"

Seo Chin-Hwa, second eldest son of the Grand Duke.

He walked around the table and sat on the other side of his father, picking up an apple from the table and biting into it savagely.

"So, when does the party start? I'm not too late am I?" he grinned at him before leaning towards his younger brother and whispering something into his ear.

Looking at both of his uncles taking such joy from his 'misfortune' Seo Jin decided to take advantage of the situation.

"Hey old man, how badly do you want this wedding to go through?"

"Just say what you want boy, don't drag this along for no reason. People are waiting."

"Sure then, give me some land and I'll do it."

All the laughter immediately stopped as both his uncles turned towards him.

The Grand Duke looked at him with a raised brow, "What land? How much?"

Seo Man-Shik intervened before he could answer.

"Jin-ah, aren't you going back to the capital? I'll buy you a few nice mansions there as a wedding present so don't stress Father over something so small-"

"The old grounds. I want all of the north-western region from the house on the hill to the far mountains and everything in between. Full ownership. Do that and we have a deal, I'll even treat the girl like a princess, my treat."

Seo Chin-Hwa's smile finally faded and there was even a hint of killing intent mixed into his gaze but he hid it relatively quickly.

"So? What do you say? I'll be the groom you need, even go along with this charade."

The Grand Duke took in a deep breath, taking a moment to mull it over.

"That's a lot of land."

"Land that is of no use to you," Seo Jin clarified, "Our family moved away when I was five and no one has looked back ever since. It's just a bunch of abandoned towns and mountains. We both know it's too far out of the way for you to exploit so just give it to me. I'll move out there and hopefully, we won't have to see each other again for a decade or two...unless your word means that little."

That last line hit a nerve with the aging patriarch, "Fine, it's yours."

"Father!" x2

Both his uncles spoke up simultaneously but were silenced with just a glance from the old man.

"I have spoken, make it happen."

Seo Jin finally laughed, looking at his 3rd uncle with a wide grin, "Today, please. I want to be in the old house by tomorrow."

"S-Sure, I'll make a few calls."

Having finished his business Seo Jin quickly turned to the right and walked out from one of the back doors.

"And shave that damn beard, you look like an animal!" the Grand Duke yelled before the door closed.