I Died and Became a Noble's Heir

Chapter 345: Challenge issued

”Of course,” Jack gestured toward the manor’s entrance. ”My study would be appropriate. We can...”

His hand moved almost without conscious thought, finding the curve of her waist and guiding her gently but firmly toward the door.

The contact sent electricity through his system, and the blessing amplified every sensation until it was nearly overwhelming.

Lady Starfell’s heart skipped a beat. Her amber eyes widened fractionally, and color rose in her cheeks, a delicate flush that made her even more striking.

”Lord Kaiser,” she said bashfully. ”I didn’t know you were so assertive.”

She melted into his grip, her petite frame fitting perfectly against his side. His fingers stretched across the pale blue silk, drawing the attention of every noble close by. She batted her eyelashes seductively as she bit her lip.

Jack’s grin widened despite his attempts at control. The demon blood flowing through his veins responded to her reaction, feeding off the excitement and challenge. His grip on her waist tightened possessively.

Jack whispered into her ear. ”We have important matters to discuss, and I’d rather not waste the evening on unnecessary formality. Why don’t we go somewhere more private?”

Starfell’s smile deepened as her face flushed. ”I do appreciate a man who knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to pursue it.”

They were perhaps five steps from the manor’s entrance when a voice cut across the garden with deliberate provocation.

”Kaiser!”

Jack stopped, his hand still resting on Starfell’s waist. He turned slowly, his red eyes tracking toward the source of the interruption with irritation that was rapidly getting worse.

Rhys Luffiel stood perhaps twenty paces away, his expensive, dark blue coat perfectly tailored. His bodyguard flanked him, his hand resting near a concealed weapon.

”Luffiel,” Jack acknowledged, his tone flat. ”Something you need?”

”A moment of your time,” Rhys replied, his voice carrying across the gardens and drawing attention from nearby nobles. ”I have a proposition for you.”

”I’m busy,” Jack said, turning back toward the manor.

”Too busy to defend your honor?” Rhys’s voice sharpened, carrying a challenge that couldn’t be ignored without appearing weak. ”Or has your famous courage fled now that you’re surrounded by admirers?”

The insult hung in the air like a thrown gauntlet. Conversation died around them as nobles turned to watch this new confrontation. Even the musicians stopped playing, sensing drama unfolding.

Jack’s grin widened, but there was nothing friendly in the expression. His demon blood surged with anticipation, feeding off the challenge and promise of violence. Red lightning crackled faintly around his fingers, responding to emotion he wasn’t bothering to suppress.

”Careful, Luffiel,” Jack’s voice carried warning mixed with dark amusement. ”You’re about to say something you’ll regret.”

”I challenge you to a duel,” Rhys declared, his voice ringing across the gardens with theatrical confidence. ”Here and now, in front of witnesses. Let’s see if your victory over me before was skill or simply luck augmented by your patron god’s borrowed power.”

The accusation drew gasps from assembled nobles. Suggesting that a chosen one’s power was merely borrowed rather than earned was a profound insult, one that demanded a response.

Jack released Lady Starfell’s waist softly. His whole attention now focused on Rhys with intensity that made several nearby nobles step back instinctively.

”You think I got lucky?” Jack snarled. ”You think my patron god did the heavy lifting while I just stood there looking impressive?”

”I think,” Rhys replied with false confidence, ”that without divine intervention, you’re just another talented noble playing at being powerful. I think our last duel would have ended very differently if we’d fought on equal terms.”

Red lightning exploded around Jack’s body, crackling across his skin violently, lighting the evening darkness with crimson light. His eyes blazed with power as a menacing grin crept on his face.

But beneath the anger, beneath the instinctive response to challenge, Jack felt something else stirring. Excitement. Anticipation.

Ever since Jack’s transformation into a demon, the demonic essence slowly integrated into his soul. Making him act more like a demon.

His grin widened further, showing teeth that gleamed in the electrical discharge.

”Alright, Luffiel,” Jack said, his voice thick with sinister intent. ”You want a duel? You’ll get one. But not here.”

He gestured broadly at the gardens, at the assembled nobles, at his family’s estate. ”I don’t want to destroy my own home when I let loose. We’ll do this properly.”

Jack’s eyes tracked toward the garrison visible beyond the estate walls, the massive structure that had been raised through the demon’s earth magic, designed to house five thousand troops.

”The garrison,” Jack declared, his voice carrying absolute certainty. ”We’ll settle this there. Open ground, reinforced walls, plenty of space for you to run when you realize exactly how badly you’ve miscalculated.”

Rhys’s expression wavered, his pride and jealousy clouded by a sudden indecision. Around him, his supporters watched with expressions ranging from excitement to concern. This was escalating faster than anyone had anticipated.

”The garrison,” Rhys agreed, his voice carrying false confidence. ”One hour. That gives us time to prepare and gather witnesses.”

”One hour,” Jack confirmed, the red lightning beginning to fade as he consciously pulled it back under control. ”Don’t be late. I’d hate to think you lost your courage between now and then.”

He turned back toward Lady Starfell, who was watching this exchange with amber eyes that sparkled at the man before her. She smiled, as if Jack’s willingness to fight had elevated him in her estimation.

”My apologies, Lady Starfell,” Jack said, offering his arm as a courtesy.

”No apology necessary,” Starfell replied, taking his offered arm with a gentle smile as she hugged closer to him. Her ample breasts pressed against him as she got closer. ”I find watching you work far more exciting than mere discussion anyway.”

They moved toward the manor’s entrance together, leaving Rhys standing in the gardens surrounded by nobles who were already placing bets on the outcome.

Behind them, Chiron and Alaric watched from their position near the fountain, both men wearing expressions of resigned amusement.

”Your son just accepted a duel challenge at his own celebration,” Chiron observed.

Alaric sipped his wine. ”Though I suspect Rhys Luffiel is about to regret doing this twice.”

”Should we stop this before someone dies?” Chiron asked, though his tone suggested he already knew the answer.

”And deprive Jack of the opportunity to make his point?” Alaric’s smile carried dark humor. ”It’s time these nobles saw exactly how catastrophic Rhys’s arrogance truly is. There is no creature more insufferable than an Elf who thinks his lineage makes him untouchable.”

Near the estate entrance, King Eric watched the unfolding. Beside him, Aurelius stood with an expression carefully neutral, but his amber eyes tracked Jack’s every movement intensely.

”Your thoughts?” Eric asked quietly.

”He’s baiting them,” Aurelius replied. ”Accepting challenges, making demonstrations, and establishing dominance through direct confrontation rather than political maneuvering. It’s crude but effective.”

”And dangerous,” Eric added. ”Every display of power draws more attention, more challengers, and more people who’ll test his limits until they find the breaking point.”

”Assuming he has a breaking point,” Aurelius said quietly. ”After tonight, I’m not entirely certain he does.”