Chapter 79 - Episode 78: Your Daughter to Me? ①
After the bandit commotion and the Northwest faction's banquet, the relationship between Noein and Viscount Arnold Koenitz had changed significantly.
Until then, the two had maintained a certain distance while joining hands to align their interests, but now they were rapidly closing that gap and deepening their ties as noble houses.
The one making the approach was primarily Arnold. Having judged that building a close relationship with the Arqvist Baronetcy was the best course of action for the benefit of his own territory, Arnold was attempting to appease and win over Noein, who was lower in both noble rank and age.
"...This tea is very delicious."
"Is that so? I am glad you like it. It is a rare tea known as a specialty of the kingdom's southwest. I shall let you take some with you as a souvenir when you leave."
Since the end of winter, Noein had been regularly invited by Arnold for tea or meals. Today, he had been invited to the Viscount's manor upon receiving an invitation saying, "I've acquired some rare tea, so please join me."
For Noein's part, he felt Arnold was being suspiciously opportunistic by suddenly becoming so kind, but the man was, for all intents and purposes, a heavyweight of the kingdom's northwest. Deepening the relationship offered great merits for his side as well, so Noein responded to every invitation, considering it part of his work as a territorial noble.
"Speaking of which, how is the mass production of the Crossbows I sold you progressing?"
"That, is it? It is proceeding smoothly in my territory. After all, I simply had craftsmen analyze the finished product and imitate it. While there are parts where the precision does not reach the level of the products made in the Arqvist territory, for the time being, we are able to mass-produce items capable of withstanding actual combat."
"I see... that is for the best."
"I hear that mass production is also progressing on His Excellency Bechtolsheim's end. The same goes for other noble territories. At this rate, the Northwest faction may even be able to step ahead of other factions in terms of military power."
Regional factions throughout the kingdom often clashed over territories and interests. Military robustness was something that did no harm, especially for the sake of "not being looked down upon."
"Furthermore, the effect of the potatoes cannot be underestimated. They are more efficient to cultivate than wheat, and they say they grow even in somewhat rough land. If this is true, the food situation in the Northwest will improve greatly starting this year."
"Since the price of wheat is gradually soaring due to the conflicts... being able to increase crops that can serve as a staple food will be a major advantage."
"Indeed. I am truly glad that you were granted a territory in a place close to this Northwest faction rather than another."
To strengthen his own position, Noein was currently ignoring other factions and spreading the Crossbows and potatoes only within the Northwest faction.
As a member of that faction, Arnold could improve the state of his territory ahead of other factions thanks to this, so he had no choice but to thank God for the luck of becoming Noein's neighbor.
"I, too, am glad that a kind person like Your Excellency Koenitz is the lord of the neighboring territory."
When Arnold invited Noein for tea or meals, it was customary to speak calmly while exchanging information on recent developments like this. Noein thought that he could simply interact harmlessly today and take his leave at an appropriate time.
However, it did not end with that on this day.
"By the way, Lord Arqvist. How old do you become this year?"
"Eh... I was granted my territory exactly in my year of adulthood, so in this third year, I will be seventeen."
Having been hit by a surprise question, Noein answered while looking blankly.
"I see. As the head of a noble house, it is an age where it would not be strange to welcome a wife soon."
Ah, this conversation finally comes, Noein thought.
Having become known as a promising young noble in the kingdom's northwest, Noein had expected that invitations saying "Please take my daughter as your wife" would soon start flying his way.
There are two things that create bonds between nobles in this world. Profit and blood kinship. Blood relations, unlike profits which change depending on the situation, are considered bonds that strongly tie house to house. There were likely many noble houses in the current Northwest faction who wished to become relatives of the Arqvist Baronetcy if possible.
It was not surprising at all that the first to make such an invitation was the House of Viscount Koenitz, the noble closest to Noein.
"Therefore, as I believe I have mentioned before, my youngest daughter... my fourth daughter is still unmarried and has no partner decided. Since she is also seventeen, the same age as you, I thought it would be a perfect match. How about it? Starting as fiancés, for now."
Arnold had made a proposal that did not deviate by a single millimeter from Noein's prediction. Even being asked "How about it?", Noein had no way to respond yet.
"Your Excellency Koenitz, um, are you aware of my circumstances?"
Noein spoke while glancing at Matilda, who stood diagonally behind him. Matilda maintained an expressionless face and did not budge.
"Yes, I know. That you "dote very much" on that beastman slave you always bring along. However, you are a noble who possesses a territory."
"Of course, I believe I understand my role as the head of a noble house. To welcome a woman of a position suitable as a noble's wife, to produce children, and to protect the peace of the territory for the next generation. I believe that is a noble's duty... conversely, it means that I consider marriage a duty, in other words, work."
Noein indicated that he would welcome a wife strictly as a noble's duty.
"The only woman I can welcome as a wife is one who understands and accepts this way of thinking of mine. And, she must also accept this Matilda. I ask that you understand at least that point."
"Yes, I could imagine that even without being told... Of course, I made the proposal with that in mind. I have spoken to my daughter about Lord Arqvist's character and have made her understand."
Noein frowned at Arnold's phrasing of "made her understand." While being a daughter of a noble, there were likely few women who would gladly wish to marry a man who already loved a beastman slave.
"That is... if I may be so bold as to say, is Your Excellency's daughter not somewhat pitiful? While I consider marriage to be part of my work, it is not my desire to enter into a marriage that goes so strongly against the other party's intentions."
"There is no need to worry about that. Because of her position as the fourth daughter, she has had few opportunities to appear in social settings and has not been dyed by noble society. She does not have a temperament that harbors particular hatred toward slaves or beastmen. Rather, she should be tolerant of differences in status and race to a degree that is rare for a noble's daughter."
When Noein asked indirectly if he was viewing his daughter too much as a tool for a political marriage, Arnold responded thus.
In the first place, in the Northwest where people are tolerant of beastmen, if Arnold—who showed no disgust toward Noein for always bringing Matilda—said so, then the youngest daughter likely was indeed that way.
"Besides, I also find my daughter lovely, and I want her to spend her life happily and without hardship. I believe that Lord Arqvist would treat the woman who becomes his wife as kindly as possible, and I have told my daughter so to reassure her. May I expect that to be the case?"
"That is, of course, correct, but..."
Noein had a twisted personality, but he was soft on his subordinates and people. Even from the perspective of Arnold, who evaluated him as a lord who cared for his people to a reasonable extent, he felt Noein was almost too soft.
Such a Noein would not despise the person who became his wife, even if it were the result of a political marriage. For Arnold, Noein—whose territory was adjacent, who had potential as a noble, and whose character was reliable—was the best possible choice as a marriage partner for his lovely youngest daughter.
"...You have likely guessed that I wish to build as intimate a relationship as possible with the Arqvist Baronetcy, yes? I want you to consider this the maximum sincerity shown from my side."
Arnold continued to speak, looking straight at Noein.
"If you marry my daughter, from then on, I will become a total ally of the Arqvist house. Furthermore, I will tolerate all of your un-noble behavior. And, I shall act as a political shield so that trouble does not head toward the Arqvist territory. I want the place my daughter marries into to be peaceful."
"..."
Noein thought. Certainly, Arnold's proposal was attractive.
The Viscount Koenitz territory was, in terms of position, an existence that could be called the final wall from the perspective of the Arqvist Baronetcy, and it was encouraging to have the territorial noble there become a total ally under the great pretext of being "relatives."
Additionally, the guarantee that he would not receive complaints from the "wife's family" regarding the fact that he always kept the beastman slave Matilda by his side was a happy point.
"As a side note, even putting aside a parent's bias, my daughter is a beauty, you know?"
That doesn't really matter, he thought, but he did not say it aloud.
"...I understand. I cannot make a promise without meeting the young lady once, but I would like to consider this positively with the intention of forming an engagement."
He couldn't remain a bachelor noble forever anyway. This was probably the right time.
Thinking so, Noein accepted Arnold's offer.
"I see, that is good... Well then, shall you meet my daughter now?"
"Eh? N-now?"
Having been hit by another surprise, a strange sound leaked from Noein's mouth.