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While Frigga was busy calculating Loki's dowry, on the other side of the palace, Thor had already stormed out and was wandering aimlessly down the grand avenue, frustrated and sulking.
He still couldn't understand how his parents—and even his brother—could endure such humiliation for a woman from Midgard!
"Hey! He's over here!"
Just as he was drowning in his emotions, a loud voice echoed in the distance—it was Volstagg, one of the Warriors Three.
Soon, all three warriors and Sif appeared in Thor's line of sight and quickly surrounded him.
"What happened? You don't look happy," Sif asked, noticing Thor's dark expression.
Thor glanced at his friends, sighed, and then shared everything that had happened in the throne room.
What?! Loki was really going to give up everything in Asgard, and marry into Midgard as a common mortal?
After hearing the full story, the four of them looked at each other and… honestly felt a little pleased.
This was great news!
Sure, Thor deeply loved his younger brother, but the Warriors Three and Sif had never been fans of Loki—or his scheming antics.
They'd only tolerated him for Thor's sake. Even then, they were forced to treat him with respect because of his royal status.
But now that Loki was giving all that up and basically leaving for Midgard permanently?
They couldn't be happier—though they kept those feelings to themselves for now.
"Tell me," Thor said, still fuming and oblivious to their inner joy, "Isn't this a clear insult to Asgard's dignity?"
"Uh… I mean, maybe just a little rude," Sif said cautiously. "But it's really just something between Loki and the queen of Midgard, right? It's not like this needs to become a war between worlds."
"How could it not matter? Loki is a prince of Asgard—everything he does reflects on Asgard!" Thor snapped.
"Thor, we know you care about Loki and Asgard," Fandral said, stepping in to smooth things over. "But if this is really what Loki wants, then maybe we should respect his decision."
"Yeah," Hogun added, "didn't you always support and even push Loki to go after that Midgard queen? So why are you freaking out now?"
"That's totally different!" Thor said, full of righteous anger. "Back then, I supported him because I assumed she'd come to Asgard—not that he'd marry into her world!"
"…Thor, could it be that you just don't want Loki to leave Asgard?" Sif asked softly.
"Of course not!" Thor replied without hesitation.
"But Thor," said Volstagg as he casually pulled out a roast leg of lamb from… somewhere and started eating, "since the King, Queen, and Loki himself have all agreed, the only thing left for us to do is give him our blessing, right? It's not like we can change it just because you don't like it."
The moment those words came out, Thor's face froze.
And Sif and the others instantly realized—this was bad.
They all turned to glare at Volstagg at the same time.
"What? What did I say?" Volstagg asked, totally confused.
"No, you're right. I can't change Father, Mother, or Loki's decision…But I can change Josh Kahn's mind!" Thor said, clenching his fists and slamming them together.
"Oh no, Thor—you can't do that! You'll start a war! You'll ruin the whole marriage!"
Sif immediately tried to stop him.
Truthfully, none of them cared that much about Loki's marriage.
But after their last visit to Vienna, all of them had a good impression of the Kahn family and Austria.
Especially Sif—she had even gifted her dagger to Josh's youngest son, Ben.
They definitely didn't want Thor's recklessness to ruin that relationship.
"No, no… I just want to make them see the truth. You'll help me, won't you?" Thor asked, looking at his friends.
"But this is strictly forbidden!" Sif warned again.
"His Majesty won't allow this!"
"Haha! Come on, guys—have you forgotten all the things we've done together? We've broken a lot of rules, haven't we? But in the end, didn't I always lead us to victory and glory?" Thor simply brushed off her warning with a grin.
The three warriors exchanged glances, sighed, and reluctantly nodded.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go to Midgard! Sif—if you're scared, you don't have to come!" Thor burst out laughing, having made his final decision, and even threw a jab at Sif on the way.
Even Sif, who had always admired Thor, frowned at his attitude.
But watching the four of them walking away, she could only sigh… and follow.
Soon, the five of them arrived at the Bifrost.
"I don't think you should do this," Heimdall said flatly as he saw them approaching.
"But I believe I have to," Thor replied firmly.
"…I must obey the king, so I cannot open the gate," Heimdall said—and then silently stepped aside.
But the sword he left behind at the control panel made his stance very clear.
"Haha! Well done, Heimdall. Don't tell anyone we were here until we return!" Thor laughed heartily, stepped up to the console without hesitation, activated the Bifrost, and vanished into the portal with the Warriors Three.
Only Sif lingered a moment and said to Heimdall, "You're too easy on Thor."
"Aren't you as well?" Heimdall replied in his usual stoic tone.
Sif had no words. She let out a long sigh and stepped into the portal too.
——
In the next instant, the group found themselves standing in the courtyard of Schönbrunn Palace!
Because it wasn't their first time visiting, the palace guards didn't panic.
A few stationed soldiers just looked confused—why hadn't anyone given a heads-up this time?
They were about to ask when—
"Josh Kahn! CAROL Kahn! COME OUT HERE!"
Thor was already shouting at the top of his lungs.
Powered by godly strength, his voice echoed across the entire city of Vienna.
The people of Vienna were instantly outraged, looking around in all directions—Who was bold enough to shout the names of their queen and her father in public like that?
After all, Austria had grown strong and prosperous, and the citizens were enjoying some of the best times in their history.
Their respect and admiration for the new royal family—the Kahns—was sky-high.
As for the Habsburgs? Who even remembers them anymore?
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