My Glitched World Throne System Came Ten Years Too Early!
Chapter 3: Dissolving The Engagement!

Chapter 3: 3: Dissolving The Engagement!

The walk to the reception hall was painfully quiet.

Edmund walked a few steps ahead, his polished shoes clicking softly against the marble floor.

Roderic followed behind with his hands tucked into his pockets.

The strange system window still floated quietly in front of his eyes.

[Recalibrating...]

Estimated completion time: 00:52:58

’I wonder what’ll happen next,’ he thought, brows furrowing. ’No matter how I look at it, this shitty system is broken, and not in a good way.’

Earlier, he’d tried swiping the window away as it floated annoyingly in front of him.

Unfortunately, no matter how many times he swiped, it never disappeared.

Roderic let out a deep sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose.

’’Young master,’’ Edmund suddenly called out. ’’Are you sure you don’t want to get washed up first?’’

Roderic glanced up, yet he could barely even see Edmund thanks to the system screen.

Then he looked down at himself.

His shirt and pants were still stained with dirt, and one of his sleeves had even ripped because of the incident at the training grounds.

’’I suppose I do look a little miserable...’’ he muttered.

Edmund smiled awkwardly.

’’A little?’’

Roderic let out a faint chuckle.

’’Fine, I look terrible.’’

Nodding in satisfaction, Edmund immediately opened his mouth.

"If Lady Catherina sees you like this, I’m afraid she won’t be very pleased."

Roderic fell silent for a moment.

His thoughts churned as he recalled as many memories about her as possible.

After a moment, his expression twisted even further.

’’Yeah, no, I think that ship has long sailed anyway.’’

He scratched his head for a moment.

’’Actually... maybe sunk is the better word.’’

As Roderic thought about it, Edmund couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

’’I’m relieved to see you’re in a better mood today, young master.’’

Edmund looked ahead once more.

’’And I’m sure everything will work out.’’

The two continued walking through the manor in silence.

Servants carrying trays immediately stepped aside as they passed, disgusted scowls on each of their faces.

’Huh,’ Roderic thought, nodding slowly. ’This doesn’t feel bad at all.’

Back on Earth, he would’ve been the one carrying the trays instead.

Before long, the corridor widened into an elegant entrance hall.

Towering marble pillars lined either side of the broad carpet, while portraits of former Barons of House Whitemane decorated the walls.

At the very end stood two enormous oak doors.

Four armored guards were stationed outside. Two wore the barony’s white horse crest, while the other two wore the viscountcy’s golden stags.

The moment Roderic approached, all four guards straightened their backs.

’’Young master,’’ the two wearing the white horse crest said, their voices clearly forced.

The two guards from the viscountcy only yawned, barely even acknowledging his presence.

Roderic noticed it immediately.

’The previous body really wasn’t liked, huh.’

Edmund came to a halt and bowed slightly before slowly pushing the door open.

Creak!!!

The massive oak doors slowly swung open.

A large room opened up behind the doors, filled with countless decorative items such as banners and animal skulls.

At the center of it all stood a broad oak desk, with the two figures that had shown up frequently in his memories already seated around it.

’So that’s her?’ Roderic thought, barely able to see through the system window. ’She’s quite pretty indeed.’

Long silver hair fell behind her back, while a pair of sapphire-blue eyes looked at him with obvious disdain.

That wasn’t even the best part about her!

It was her extremely slim, hourglass-like figure that spread rumors far and wide throughout the surrounding territories.

But that didn’t matter in the slightest to Roderic.

No matter how beautiful a venomous snake might be, if it bit him, he’d be dead!

As if on cue, the said snake spoke up.

’’Finally,’’ Catherina’s voice echoed through the room. ’’My good-for-nothing fiancé is here.’’

BAM!

A fist loudly slammed onto the wooden desk.

’’Enough!’’

Both Roderic and Catherina’s gazes snapped to the man sitting on the other side of the desk.

’So that’s my father,’ Roderic thought. ’Arthur Whitemane, the current Baron of House Whitemane.’

The man looked to be in his early forties, yet that didn’t make him look any weaker.

He was a muscular, brown-haired man with broad shoulders, dressed in extremely luxurious clothing. A short beard covered his jaw, and a long, curved scar ran down his right cheek.

Arthur Whitemane slowly lowered his hand, his sharp gaze settling on Catherina.

’’He is still my son. Whether he’s talented or talentless is for House Whitemane to judge, not an outsider.’’

The room immediately fell silent.

’Every bit the man I remember,’ Roderic thought, smiling faintly. ’And with such a strict temperament, it’s no wonder he’s reached the Three Aura Seals stage.’

In this world, knights were divided into six stages.

The first five were each marked by an Aura Seal, increasing the amount of aura one could wield exponentially.

As for the sixth stage...

Even the previous Roderic had no idea what it truly entailed.

Just then, Catherina’s voice rang out sweetly.

’’It was my mistake,’’ she said, forcing a smile. ’’I apologize for my rash behavior.’’

Arthur waved it off dismissively, his gaze locked on Roderic now.

’’What are you doing here in such filth?’’ he asked, his voice cold. ’’Have the manners I taught you gone completely to waste?’’

Before Roderic could even answer, Catherina folded her fan shut.

’’Lord Arthur. I mean no disrespect to House Whitemane.’’

She turned towards Roderic, clear disdain and disgust in her eyes.

"But surely... you cannot expect me to stay engaged to someone like him.’’

Arthur’s expression darkened.

’’Catherina Ironhart.’’

’’I have tolerated your earlier remarks out of respect for House Ironhart,’’ Arthur said, his voice hardening. ’’But do not mistake that for permission to insult my son inside my own manor.’’

Catherina didn’t seem intimidated in the slightest.

She simply met Arthur’s gaze before speaking in the same composed tone.

’’Then allow me to be honest, Lord Arthur.

I came here today out of respect for both you and House Whitemane.

House Ironhart has already found a far more suitable suitor for me, one we simply cannot refuse.’’

She slowly opened her fan before meeting Arthur’s gaze once more.

’’As such, I came here today to dissolve our engagement.’’

Arthur’s jaw clenched, the veins on his forehead becoming faintly visible.

’’You—’’

Roderic suddenly raised his hand.

’’That’s fine with me.’’

The room instantly fell silent.

Both Catherina and Arthur slowly turned toward Roderic.

’’...What?’’