One evening, Duke Decaraznan and his daughter, Noel, were leisurely sipping tea after dinner.
Heir Decaraznan, Perzel had excused himself earlier, saying he had something to attend to, leaving Duke Decaraznan to enjoy a rare moment alone with his daughter.
Noel was pleased to spend time with her father, but she was also well aware that he had called her here for a reason. She had a vague idea of the questions he was about to ask.
“Noel.”
“Yes, Father.”
After a brief exchange of casual conversation, the duke finally got to the point.
Seeing her father’s serious demeanor, Noel set down her teacup and straightened her posture, preparing to listen attentively.
“I heard that you recently had a sparring match with Heir Estel at the training ground. Tell me, what kind of person did you perceive him to be?”
The duke did not inquire about the outcome of the match. He already knew that, even if only half the rumors were true, Noel stood no chance of defeating him. What he truly wished to understand was how his daughter perceived Heir Estel as a person.
Duke Decaraznan had spoken with Heir Estel a few times himself.
From those encounters, he had formed the impression that the young heir was quite an exceptional individual. His military prowess was indisputable, and his lineage was on par with that of the Decaraznan family.
The only remaining concern was how Noel, who would ultimately be most affected by this, felt about him.
“…Are you asking me what kind of person Heir Estel is?”
At her father’s sudden question, Noel involuntarily recalled his face.
From her perspective, Heir Estel embodied the ideal warrior she had always envisioned—strong, dignified, and possessing a personality that complemented his strength. Compared to him, she was undeniably the lacking one.
Though they had never spoken seriously face-to-face, Noel, who held a somewhat traditional mindset, believed that one could gauge a person’s character through the way they wielded a sword. And from her perspective, Heir Estel was, quite simply, a good person.
“…He was a better man than I expected, Father.”
Maintaining the composure befitting a noblewoman, Noel answered with measured dignity. Yet, despite her efforts, the subtle excitement in her expression did not go unnoticed.
The usual coldness in her demeanor had softened, revealing something different—something telling.
It was then that Duke Decaraznan solidified his decision.
“Then, what do you think about marrying him?”
“…M-Marriage? Are you referring to a marriage between me and Heir Estel?”
“To be precise, I am speaking of an arranged marriage with Heir Estel.”
The moment her father uttered those words, Noel froze.
It was not just the abruptness of the proposal that stunned her. It was the way his words seemed to expose a desire she hadn’t fully acknowledged herself.
But the shock was brief. Weighing the situation carefully, she gave a slight nod.
‘It doesn’t seem like a bad idea…’
First of all, Heir Estel’s appearance wasn’t bad.
No, if anything, he was quite handsome. Even by the high standards Noel held, shaped by growing up alongside her strikingly good-looking brother, Perzel, she could admit that Heir Estel was easy on the eyes.
More importantly, he was different from the arrogant young nobles she often encountered. Behind his seemingly unreadable behavior lay a quiet thoughtfulness, a sense of consideration that was rare among men of his standing.
And above all else, he was strong—far stronger than she was.
Noel von Decaraznan was, at her core, a warrior. To her, a warrior’s worth was defined by the martial prowess they accumulated over a lifetime.
By that logic, Heir Estel was more than qualified to claim her.
Since ancient times, the victor had the right to take everything from the defeated. And in their match, he had won, while she had lost. That fact alone granted him every right to claim her.
There was only one concern—his reputation with women.
‘Well… does it really matter?’
Noel thought back to Estel’s face and shrugged, as though she had come to a realization.
Yes, the rumors about him and women were excessive, bordering on scandalous. But wasn’t it only natural for a man of his caliber to attract admirers?
Besides, at present, there didn’t seem to be many women around him. His engagement with Sarah Cernard had been broken off. As for that arrogant, white-haired woman—at most, she was a concubine.
There had been talks of an engagement with Bianca del Castana, but that had fallen apart due to an unforeseen incident.
Some rumors claimed that even the princess had taken an interest in him, visiting his estate.
But Noel highly doubted that was anything beyond mere curiosity.
After all, how could one man possibly seduce so many women in such a short period?
Most importantly, Noel was confident in herself. She had spent her entire life being told she was beautiful. The idea of being overshadowed by another woman simply didn’t cross her mind.
‘If I must marry, then Heir Estel wouldn’t be a bad choice.’
Having come to a conclusion, Noel nodded toward Duke Decaraznan—a silent but obvious agreement.
***
Meanwhile…
“…I heard you were looking for me, Duke.”
In the office of Duke Decaraznan, Sarah entered after being summoned.
The duke greeted her with a smile.
“Welcome, Lady Cernard. I must apologize for calling you here so suddenly without prior notice.”
“No, please don’t trouble yourself over it. If it’s a request from you, Duke, I am always willing to comply. You need not worry.”
The truth was, she had been growing weary of her uncle’s constant nagging.
His relentless inquiries about her whereabouts and activities were becoming insufferable, so in a way, this summons was a welcome reprieve.