Divorce.
At that word, Count Lawrence clenched his eyes shut.
There was no room for compromise.
Even if the arranged marriage partner stubbornly insisted, Roman truly wished for the divorce.
'It's over.'
Dizziness swept over him.
The arranged marriage had been Lawrence's last resort.
After exhausting every possible method and concluding that he couldn't stop Barca, he had sought external help, even if it meant using his precious daughter.
As the head of the family, he had a duty to protect the family.
Even if it meant ruining his daughter's life—a daughter so dear that even a speck of dust in her eye would pain him—he believed it was better than the reality of a declining family.
And now.
The stigma of divorce had been stamped.
No matter how beautiful Flora's appearance was, no family would bear losses for a woman with a tarnished reputation.
It meant the same method couldn't be used again.
From now on, the Lawrence family would have to resolve the crisis on their own.
Moreover.
'We must appease Dmitry's heart.
If they join hands with Barca as a means of revenge, even desperate resistance won't work.'
Dmitry.
Baron Romero's anger was immense.
If Baron Romero, who seemed ready to devour him at any moment, switched sides to Barca after annulling this marriage, it wouldn't be surprising.
That would mean the downfall of Lawrence.
If Barca, the powerhouse of the northeast, and Dmitry joined forces, there would be no way to withstand their offensive.
It was devastating.
In his heart, he wanted to tell his daughter it would be okay.
Though he had always made choices for his daughter's sake, when the family's future was at stake, he was no different from the father of the Joel family.
Just as he had bowed his head to a teacher despite being a noble, Count Lawrence bowed his head without a hint of shame before the reality of divorce.
"... This matter is entirely Lawrence's fault. Therefore, Lawrence will take full responsibility for the divorce. As a gesture of apology, we will waive the tolls and taxes for the Dmitry merchant group passing through Lawrence for the time being. Of course, such a paltry sum means little to a magnate like you, but please consider it a sincere apology from the Lawrence family for handling such a significant matter carelessly."
"No, there's no need to go that far. Dmitry has no intention of profiting from an issue concerning the future of our heir. Let's conclude this matter by announcing to the public that the divorce was due to Flora Lawrence's personal issues. If that's done, Dmitry won't side with Barca."
"Thank you. Truly, thank you."
Baron Romero's reaction.
Though Lawrence bowed his head in gratitude, his heart ached.
'Perhaps the marriage with Dmitry was the best choice we could have made.'
A father who loves his son.
And Dmitry's heir, who was different from the rumors.
The more he saw, the more he regretted it.
He didn't understand why people called Roman the fool of Dmitry, but the Roman he had personally experienced was no ordinary man.
The martial prowess that had subdued Blood Fang.
The boldness to stand firm and express his convictions even before him.
Especially in the face of divorce, his choice for the family's sake made Lawrence genuinely fall for him.
Roman was a hidden dragon.
If he revealed his true worth in the future, Flora would forever be the subject of ridicule.
That's what divorce meant.
In Flora's life, Roman had become an inseparable label.
'What part of Roman didn't appeal to our daughter? If only I had recognized Roman's true worth sooner, I could have prevented Flora from making such a hasty decision.
This is also my great mistake.'
He swallowed his regret.
What was done was done.
Count Lawrence repeatedly offered his apologies, and only when Baron Romero's expression softened did he finally leave.
Only the Dmitry father and son remained.
Baron Romero's gaze turned to Roman.
Throughout the conversation, he couldn't focus on the matter at hand, plagued by a nagging question.
"My son. What exactly happened in the past week?"
Roman's appearance.
That was a question that needed explanation.
During his closed-door training, Roman had entered the Human Stage.
The Human Stage was the foundation for unleashing the Heavenly Demon Art, though by martial world standards, it wasn't particularly remarkable.
But in this world, it was different.
The natural mana was abundant, and Roman's body was severely polluted, making the foundation-building process dramatically effective.
One step forward.
The Heavenly Demon Art coiled within Roman's dantian.
The change in his appearance due to his transformation was proof that he had become a completely different person.
Roman spoke.
"During my solitary training, I had a minor epiphany. I don't remember exactly, but it seemed like mana circulation occurred within my body."
"... Did you just say mana circulation?"
"Yes."
"Huh."
Baron Romero was astonished.
Mana circulation.
A rare phenomenon among those who wielded mana, where natural mana circulates within the body, refining it to an ideal state.
A blessing granted to only a select few.
Though Roman had given the best possible answer, Baron Romero felt a complex mix of emotions at his son's words.
'Mana circulation, you say.'
Recently, Roman's changes had been nothing short of shocking.
The so-called fool of Dmitry had suddenly declared a divorce, and starting with Blood Fang, he had accomplished feats that were previously unimaginable.
Especially his victory over Chris in a spar and now mentioning mana circulation—these were things that defied common sense.
A father knows his son.
He knew how his son had grown up, what he was capable of.
Simply labeling him a genius wouldn't suffice, as the changes in Roman clearly surpassed common understanding.
However.
'But he is still my son.'
His son's face.
His son's gaze.
And the voice that called him father.
He buried his doubts.
Whatever changes Roman had undergone, to Baron Romero, the only thing that mattered was that Roman was the heir of Dmitry.
Baron Romero spoke.
"From now on, remember this one thing. I am your father. No matter what difficulties you face, I, as Roman Dmitry's father, will not turn a blind eye to your struggles. And I will also be the one to rejoice in your progress. So never forget that your name is Roman Dmitry. I, Romero Dmitry, will always stand behind you, supporting you."
A father's words.
They were profound.
And unfamiliar.
The father Roman remembered—no, the father Baek Joong-hyuk remembered—was cruel, cold, and had driven his son to the brink of death.
But this father was different.
'Not bad.'
Is this what paternal love is like? Roman smiled.
"Thank you, Father."
When he left the office, Roman was met with a familiar scene.
The woman who had once looked at him in panic, saying, "Are you out of your mind?" now bowed her head with a different expression.
"... I'm truly sorry. For judging you hastily, and for making such a significant family decision on my own."
It was Flora.
Amidst the series of events, she couldn't bring herself to look directly at Roman.
"Apologies are unnecessary."
Roman's response was cold.
Revenge? It wasn't that kind of emotion.
Roman genuinely believed no apology was needed.
'Everything is just a matter of results.
Flora's choice wasn't entirely wrong.'
If.
If Baek Joong-hyuk hadn't possessed Roman's body.
Roman would have been the fool of Dmitry, as the rumors said, and with just a little pressure, he might have chosen suicide, showing how weak his will was.
Marrying Dmitry could have solved the immediate problem.
But for a woman, promising a lifetime with a man like Roman would have been cruel.
Thus.
He understood Flora.
Moreover, there was no reason to express anger toward a woman who had decided to shoulder all the responsibility.
But Flora interpreted Roman's reaction differently.
"I understand why you're angry. You have every right to be. Even though arranged marriages aren't about the will of the individuals, breaking the promise unilaterally is still a betrayal. But I want to tell you one thing. There was a special reason behind my decision to divorce."
"..."
No reaction.
Standing still.
Under Roman's piercing gaze, Flora spoke in a trembling voice.
"Actually, now I think it was just a baseless rumor. It doesn't suit a man who personally subdued Blood Fang and always maintains his composure. But I thought you needed to know. The rumor originated from a social gathering hosted by nobles in the northeast. When the rumor of my arranged marriage with Dmitry spread, some nobles I knew told me that Roman Dmitry was fond of drugs. The kind that, if addicted, would cause one to lose their sanity. I couldn't just ignore that."
Drugs.
It was the first time Roman had heard of this.
Yet, he remained calm.
Roman didn't panic, nor did he show any special reaction.
Roman spoke.
"The reason you gave for divorcing me is unimportant. Flora. You didn't want to marry me, and the result is divorce."
From the beginning.
And now.
Roman didn't allow her to close the distance between them.
"So, please don't interfere in my life anymore."
With those cold words, Roman walked away.
That was the end.
Flora had no place within Roman's boundaries.
On his way back to his room, Roman fell into thought.
Flora and Lawrence.
Though he had settled the troublesome relationships, Flora had left him with an issue he couldn't ignore.
'...
Drugs.'
His eyebrow twitched.
Drugs.
It was a problem that couldn't be overlooked.
In his past life as Baek Joong-hyuk, Roman had seen the fate of those who lived addicted to drugs.
They didn't just drag their own lives into the abyss of evil—they infected everyone around them like a disease.
To think Roman had dabbled in such dangerous substances.
If so, Roman's suicide, which marked the beginning of his new life, might need to be interpreted differently.
'Perhaps Roman didn't commit suicide just to avoid military service.
In fact, there were many puzzling aspects from the start.
He must have known that marrying into the Lawrence family would solve the military service issue, yet he made such an extreme choice too early.
There might be another reason.'
A smirk appeared.
Roman had recently undergone a transformation.
Thus, no matter what Flora said, he knew there was no trace of drug addiction in his body.
Except for one thing—a faint, impure energy that seemed to have been consumed during his suicide, which had been completely eradicated during his transformation.
In other words.
The rumor Flora had heard was evidence of slander.
"This just got interesting."
People often misunderstood.
Just as Roman had taken Hans under his wing.
Some said that the way the Heavenly Demon ruled people might make him a saintly ruler.
That was a huge misconception.
If an enemy dared to encroach on his territory.
Roman would crush them, no matter how insignificant, and deliver judgment.
Far from being fair and just.
In a world of survival of the fittest.
It was natural for the strong to oppress the weak, and the terror etched into their bones became the foundation for conquering the martial world.
"It seems I need to verify the facts."
Ding-dong.
He immediately rang the bell.
"Did you call, young master?"
The first person in this world to enter his boundaries.
Hans cautiously opened the door.