The Grand Duke's Son Is A Heretic

Chapter 543 543: 543

A group squatted down on the ground with heavy expressions, as if the entire world had fallen over their heads.

No.

The world had truly crashed over them.

The courtyard felt unusually quiet despite the distant sound of rain still falling beyond the estate walls. No one had the energy to move or even argue properly.

Chris dragged his fingers through his hair and let out a long breath.

"What are we gonna do now?" he asked, his voice tired and hollow.

He looked up at the sky for a moment and then laughed weakly.

"I thought I would be following someone big and grow big, but even that we underestimated it."

Vic sat beside him with his elbows resting on his knees. He stared blankly ahead.

"Yes, big…" he muttered. "We seemed to have quite a big shot of God level, while we are not anything better than insects."

The words came out bluntly.

Gare and Handel immediately turned and glared at him.

"What happened to you?" Gare snapped.

"At least look at people before you speak."

Vic paused and frowned slightly. Then he followed their gaze.

Ariana and Martina sat a little apart from them.

Both had their heads lowered.

Neither of them said anything.

The weight of Vic's words settled heavily around them.

Beside Martina stood Seraphina, who, unlike the others, did not look depressed at all.

Instead, she looked excited.

"I can't believe it…" she muttered with a strange smile. "I literally met the legend… hehe… so he was really the savior and protector… kekeke…"

Her soft laughter echoed awkwardly in the quiet space.

The others clicked their tongues in irritation.

"She's really a gone case," Chris muttered under his breath.

At that moment, Ariana slowly turned her head and looked at Martina.

"Your Highness," she said gently, "didn't you come to meet him? So why don't you go in?"

Martina's fingers tightened slightly over her dress.

"I…" she tried to speak but stopped.

Her throat felt dry.

It was one thing if your fiancé was stronger than you.

It was another thing entirely when he stood so far above you that even comparing felt meaningless.

That scene… the way he stood in the sky, the way he moved, the way he controlled power that could tear apart the world…

It had been etched deeply into her heart.

She swallowed slightly.

She had come here to meet him.

But now…

She could not even take a step forward.

Chris sighed and leaned back slightly.

"Haa… it seems everyone is under great pressure after Lord's identity is revealed," he said while shaking his head.

"It seems this is the end…"

"Yes… this is the end."

A sudden familiar voice came from behind them.

Chris and Vic stiffened instantly.

Before they could react, they felt a hand land casually on their shoulders.

Both of them turned sharply.

A figure had appeared between them without anyone noticing.

"Yeah… this is the end," the man said calmly, "but the end is for others, not us."

"What—!"

Chris's eyes widened.

"Lord—!"

Vic stood up abruptly.

The others also turned at once.

Shock spread across every face.

Kael stood there casually with his hands resting on their shoulders. His expression was relaxed, as if nothing in the world had changed.

For a moment no one spoke.

Martina and Ariana froze completely.

Their hearts began pounding loudly in their chests.

Seeing him up close again felt completely different from watching him in the sky.

The pressure.

The presence.

Even though he was suppressing it, it still felt overwhelming.

Kael looked around at their stunned faces and then gave a small wave.

"Yo…"

He smiled slightly.

"Long time no see."

Seraphina immediately jumped to her feet.

"It's really the God—"

"Stop with this nonsense or I am gonna beat you," Kael said flatly.

She froze instantly and shut her mouth.

Kael then turned his gaze toward Martina and Ariana.

For a brief moment, his expression softened.

Then he looked back at everyone and sighed.

"Guys, please stop this shit."

His tone was calm but firm.

"I have always been your one and only Lord… Kael the Great."

He casually brushed his hair back with his fingers.

"The name might be different, but I have always behaved the same."

He looked at them one by one.

"As for those titles…" he waved his hand dismissively, "throw them away."

The group remained silent, still trying to process everything.

Kael then paused.

His eyes shifted toward Martina.

A small cheeky smile appeared on his face.

"And I am your Lord Kael…"

He tilted his head slightly.

"And your lovely dear fiancé… Kael Veydrin."

For a moment, time seemed to stop.

Martina's eyes widened.

Her face flushed instantly.

"Whattttt?" she shrieked loudly, completely unable to process what she had just heard.

Seeing her flustered reaction, Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.

There was a sharp glint in them, but it was not anger. It was something firm and unyielding.

"You…" he said, his voice turning serious.

"Now don't tell me you want to break this engagement."

He stepped a little closer, his gaze fixed on her.

"Let me tell you this. I have never been cheated in terms of love."

His tone was calm, but there was a weight behind every word.

"Since you have been betrothed to me, you are mine. You can't escape it."

Martina's mind completely stopped working.

Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

Her thoughts were in chaos. She could not even tell if she was dreaming or if this was reality.

"You… aren't kidding me, right?" she finally managed to say.

Her voice trembled slightly.

"I am just a helpless woman, while you…"

Kael cut her off mid-sentence.

"Didn't I tell you?"

His voice softened a little.

"I am always the same."

He looked at her steadily.

Then he slowly turned his gaze toward the others.

"As for you all…"

He straightened his posture and folded his arms.

"We still have eternity ahead of us, and you can become stronger."

His voice carried a calm confidence.

"Demi-Gods already live long lives, and once I become a God, I will become infinite."

He paused for a moment.

"We have eons to go before we fade, so don't waste time thinking useless things."

The group listened silently.

The heaviness in their hearts slowly began to loosen.

Kael then stepped forward and looked at each of them.

"At present, you might be nobody. Tomorrow might be the same, and the day after tomorrow too."

He raised his hand slightly.

"But years and years later, things will surely change."

His eyes were steady.

"And you all will be standing at a place you haven't even dreamed of standing."

He let out a faint breath.

"So believe…"

His voice hardened slightly.

"And keep fucking grinding."

The words landed heavily, but instead of pressure, they brought a strange sense of clarity.

For the first time since everything had been revealed, the group felt something different.

Not fear.

But direction.