Engagement

Leonard casually sat down on the couch facing Yula, there was a servant behind her, one that didn't belong to the Marchen household. It's probably a servant meant to watch over Yula as she also found the servant annoying. 

"Hello, Young lady."

"That's way too formal, please just call me Yula."

"Alright, Miss Yula."

"Yula."

"MISS Yula."

Silence permeated the room for a moment before Leonard opened his mouth again. This time his tone is quite arrogant. 

"Miss Yula, why did you think this engagement is happening?"

"... To build a connection with the Hereon family and Marchen family."

"Right, do you know why?"

A servant poured tea for Leonard, He nodded as acknowledgment and thank you before looking back at Yula. Yula obviously knows why the connection was started in the first place. 

For the Hereon to build prestige and build a bit of political power and the exchange was the Marchen's exclusive martial arts would be passed to its successor. 

"Yes, both houses would have something in exchange, for the Hereon its political power, and for the Marchen, it would be a martial art."

"Correct, however. I, the Successor won't need it anymore."

"...?"

Yula's face blanked out for a second, the only leverage she needed to have this connection with the Marchen was gone. No, that's not possible, it shouldn't be! That is what she thought. 

"Your martial art involves stealth and movement, correct?"

"...!" Yula's face was lifted then nodded "Yes, that's correct."

The servant behind Yula flinched at her confirming Leonard's words, this didn't go unnoticed as Leonard's eyes shifted from the Servant then back to Yula. 

"Then there is no need to keep this Engagement, right?"

"..."

Yula took a deep breath before looking again at Leonard's eyes, seemingly unfazed by his provocation. She didn't waver one bit by the thought of the engagement being broken, although it would make her go back to that suffocating house. 

"Young master, I believe you're way hasty about your judgment—"

"My father completely left me with full authority over my engagement."

"Then, how about this? I'll teach you art that isn't within the Hereon vault."

"Oh?"

Leonard smirked, he made an interesting look as his eyes were glued on Yula, Yula just received this head-on without any wavering feelings. 

"twelve divine steps."

"..!!"

The servant and Leonard both had the same reaction to that information, utter disbelief. 12 divine steps is a martial art that was lost years ago, all of the practitioners who used this martial art just vanished from the mortal realm for some reason. 

"Hmm… 12 divine steps… isn't that the martial art that could make you fly?"

"Yes."

"I need a demonstration so I would know where I'm getting at."

Twelve divine steps, it's the upgraded version of 32 steps of swiftness, it makes you able to step on air completely as if it was a hard cold floor, to begin with. It makes your footsteps silent and it also gives you a perk of making your mana circulation in your lower body. 

Thirty-two steps of swiftness are just a copy and a run-down-the-mill version of the twelve divine steps, after all this original martial art was lost many recreation attempts were made and thirty-two steps of swiftness were the closest recreation of the martial art could get. 

If the original twelve divine steps were ever to be recovered, the value of this martial art would be enormous. It's the same if Leonard were to sell the technique on how to get the mana eye. 

Leonard led Yula to their garden to see if she was telling the truth or not. But one thing he also did, he instructed that no man was to disturb both Yula and Leonard. 

"Well then, Miss Yula. Please. Demonstrate the martial art."

"Well…" Yula acted a bit hesitant. 

Leonard sighed and looked at Yula with Impatience. 

"I have a little sister to be with, I don't want to keep spending time on meaningless things."

"Little sister?" 

Yula paused, clearly not knowing who the little sister is. But due to this question, Leonard knit his brows. 

"Well? What are you waiting for?"

Yula snapped back, coughed, and felt a bit embarrassed. She then stepped and then jumped up with one foot, what's next is the legitimate proof of twelve divine steps as she continued jumping upwards. 

She then stopped a few meters in the air suspended in place after she spread her feet. She looked down at Leonard who had a blank face, smirking as if she'd won. 

"That's good art."

Leonard nodded in acknowledgment, twelve divine steps are not easy to learn. For Yula to already learn it at age of 10. Leonard hummed to himself. 

"So… it's not only Lenneza."

Yula went down and looked at Leonard with a smirk, she was in the mood to taunt her soon-to-be fiancee. This was the time. 

"So? Do you believe me now?"

"Pretty much. However, I pretty much think that I don't need the divine steps."

"... Huh?"

Yula was taken aback, why wouldn't she? These steps aren't just ordinary steps, they are twelve divine steps! A martial art that's worth enough for clans in the Empire to covet. Why wouldn't you want it?

"I simply judged it to be incompatible with me. Well then, I hope Miss Yula has a safe trip home."

Leonard turned his body away, clearly stating his uninterested demeanor, this made Yula panic. 

"W-wait!"

Yula grabbed Leonard's arm. However, to her thoughts, Leonard snatched back his arm and the look on his face made Yula uneasy. Leonard's face contorted and he was blatantly showing his disgust and malice. 

"I-im sorry."

Yula apologized but Leonard was already breathing deeply. When he calmed himself again he looked at Yula with a gentle smile. 

"It's fine. I just don't like it when I'm touched arbitrarily."

"I-I see… but Young master. Please let me continue being your fiance!"

"As I said, this arranged marriage is for mutual benefit. If there is nothing to gain then there is nothing to talk about any longer." Leonard retorted, this time a bit aggressive. 

"I have an assassination art. It's called A hundred cherry petals… if you let me teach you…"

"..."

Leonard squinted his eyes, before he entered the room a popup appeared before him

「The Engagement: Act 1」

•The engagement between Leonard and Yula arrived way too early. This time the reasons for the engagements changed. Leonard didn't encounter Yula at the 5-year ducal party and instead, Yula reached out. 

Task: Made Yula miserable within the engagement. However, make sure that it won't break. 

Rewards: 2,000p

Difficulty: E+

That was the plot mission that popped up when he entered the room, he needed to have it done or else there would be a punishment, which is not receiving those points. 

The condition was easy enough, and since this is a plot point considering that the screen used a different style. 

It wouldn't hurt to play with Yula or what he thought, but when he was touched he was reminded of the years of torment. He showed his emotions easily and it made him anxious like before. 

He couldn't believe that it scarred him to this extent. He sighed as his gaze lifted towards Yula, He then opened his mouth, tone still passive as earlier. 

"Then, would Miss Yula use this art for the engagement to be kept?"

With a determined nod, Yula used the martial art as a final bargain, if this didn't move Leonard Yula's chance of escape from that household would be null. 

"Alright then. This might interest you."

She stood still, Breathing in and out deeply before something odd in her shadows moved. She then looked at a fully bloomed rose in the garden and carefully aimed. 

In a split second, her shadow made a small extension and moved like a whip, fully decapitating the rose from its stem. 

"How about this?"

"Isn't that shadow art?"

"Yes?"

Yula was surprised, she didn't expect Leonard to know about Shadow arts. It's her last and final bargain if he wasn't moved with this then the engagement could be null. 

"Well. I guess that Martial art is good enough." Leonard nodded "How many techniques of the shadow arts do you know?"

Yula was taken aback, well she was new to the arts, and that's why she only used shadow whip as a demonstration. But she cannot throw this chance away saying that she only knew shadow whip!

"I at least know 5 more techniques, including the shadow hop."

"I see. Let's go back."

Yula lit up, her expressions were full of delight, her engagement wasn't broken and she still had the chance to be with Leonard. 

Well, Leonard didn't really specify if he was willing to get engaged as of yet but then, having connections with the Marquis isn't bad at all. If he could scout some talents it would be great. 

Once they came back to the reception room, Yula and Leonard talked about the conditions of the engagement in a contract. They set their penalties and conditions before fully parting. 

Both parties are satisfied but the one who's most heartfelt happy was Yula. She could start anew with Leonard, and this time she was mature. 

But there was something that bothered her, where was Elizabeth? At this point in time, she would be in Lenneza and Leonard's tails. 

So how come she wasn't there?