A thousand years ago, during the reign of the first emperor who pacified the chaotic continent and established an empire, four individuals made the greatest contributions under his command: Estel, Tournigen, Decaraznan, and Crusel.
Not only did they become the founders of the four great ducal houses of the empire, but they also established dominion over their respective regions—Estel in the north, Tournigen in the west, Crusel in the south, and Decaraznan in the east.
Over the course of a thousand years, they ruled over their territories without challenge.
However, there was one exception—the Duke of Estel.
Unlike the other dukes, whose lands flourished with wealth and prosperity, Estel suffered repeated downfalls and decline. With no fertile lands for farming and only abandoned mines dotting its territory, the duchy struggled financially while the other noble houses thrived.
A glance at Lucian alone was enough to see the vast disparity in wealth. From head to toe, everything he wore was a luxury, a stark contrast to the frugality that had become my way of life at the Duke of Estel’s estate. The money he provided me each month for his stay was a sum so large it could leave anyone speechless.
Among the four great ducal houses, the wealthiest in the empire was our current destination—the Duke of Decaraznan. Their lands boasted the most fertile grain belt on the continent, and the coastal regions contained rock salt mines that generated an immense fortune from salt production.
In other words, while the Duke of Estel held only an empty title without the means to display its prestige, the Duke of Decaraznan embodied the true dignity of one of the empire’s four great houses.
And that wasn’t all.
The direct bloodline of the Duke of Decaraznan, widely regarded as the finest in the continent, was equally exceptional. Although he held the same noble rank, Perzel von Decaraznan, the heir to the house, was someone I had encountered several times at public events.
First and foremost, the man’s face was breathtaking. No, to call him merely handsome would be an understatement.
Perzel von Decaraznan’s beauty was so striking that, upon first seeing him, I had mistaken him for a woman. In short, he was the kind of man who looked almost irritatingly perfect.
Lucian himself had the kind of face that captivated onlookers, leaving the female servants at the Duke of Estel’s estate in awe. Even so, Perzel von Decaraznan’s beauty surpassed his, making me wonder what it must be like to go through life with such an unfair advantage.
Rumors painted him as a prodigy.
It was said that he had mastered various disciplines, including imperial studies and business administration, and as a descendant of a military lineage, his swordsmanship had reached an exceptional level.
He was, in every sense, born to rule—a man who seemed to have been gifted with every talent from the moment he entered the world.
“Well, I think those rumors are exaggerated,” Aria said. “The maids always make such a fuss over Lord Lucian’s looks, but to be honest, Young Lord Cain is more handsome in my eyes. So, isn’t it possible that Perzel von Decaraznan is actually nowhere near as impressive as Young Lord Cain?”
“…That’s right. Thank you for the compliment, Aria.”
“It’s nothing. And above all, it’s not just flattery—it’s the truth.”
Despite Aria’s attempt to comfort me with such warm words, her efforts were in vain. If anything, her reassurance only made me feel more miserable.
‘This feels like a mother telling her son he’s the most handsome in the world…’
After a long and tiresome carriage journey filled with countless trivial conversations, Aria and I finally arrived at the Duke of Decaraznan’s estate.
‘…I’m nervous.’
To be honest, I felt a bit anxious. Technically, both houses were of ducal rank, but in reality, the status gap between us was as vast as the difference between heaven and earth.
Would the Duke of Decaraznan truly welcome the impoverished Duke of Estel from the northern province?
Would they even consider us equals?
“The Blade of the North, bearing the dragon that soars through the heavens, the Duke of Estel’s heir and his companions have taken a long journey to grace our halls. My name is Gordon, and I oversee the internal affairs of the Duke of Decaraznan. It is an honor to meet the esteemed Heir to Estel in person.”
In the end, my worries proved to be largely unfounded.
As I stepped down from the carriage, I was greeted by a sight that caught me off guard—beyond the massive gates, rows of knights stood in perfect formation, seemingly assembled to welcome Aria and me to the estate.
I had received similar hospitality when visiting the Castana Marquis family, but that had been as Bianca’s prospective fiancé.
This time, however, I was merely a guest at the Decaraznan estate, making it all the more baffling that they would extend such an extravagant welcome.
I couldn’t comprehend why they were treating us with such reverence.
“Yes, because the Heir to Estel has such qualifications,” a deep voice remarked.
“My qualifications?” I echoed.
“Yes, that’s right.”
As Aria and I walked among the knights, the general accompanying us spoke in a quiet tone.
“We of the Decaraznan house have never forgotten our greatest ally, Estel, who stood by our side under His Majesty the First Emperor a thousand years ago. His Excellency, the Duke, has given strict orders to ensure that there is not the slightest lapse in our treatment of the Heir to Estel.”
Hearing his words, I couldn’t help but nod in admiration.
Indeed, the families vying for dominance on the continent carried a certain grandeur.
And the Duke of Decaraznan, it seemed, was no exception.
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