Chapter 80

Since he had said he would consider the engagement positively, it would be odd to refuse to meet the person he was to be engaged to.

So, Noein ended up meeting Arnold's youngest daughter as the conversation progressed.

Arnold left the room for a moment and soon returned with two women.

"Lord Alquvist, you have met my wife Eleonore before, haven't you?"

"Yes. I am delighted to see that you are well, Lady Eleonore."

"It has been a while, Sir Alquvist. It is good to see you looking well."

Noein exchanged greetings with Eleonore von Keinitz, Arnold's wife. Although she must be over forty, her beauty was such that she could pass for ten years younger without any sense of discrepancy.

He had met her two years ago when he first visited the Keinitz family to pay his respects. Since then, he had only met Arnold, the head of the family, for business purposes, so it had been a while since they had spoken.

"And this is our fourth daughter, Clara."

Arnold introduced a woman who was slightly taller than Noein but still retained a certain childish innocence.

Her gentle and kind demeanor was, as Arnold had said, indeed beautiful.

However, her expression was somewhat anxious and uncertain. One could say she exuded a reserved and graceful air, but her quietness seemed more a reflection of her lack of confidence.

"Pleased to meet you, Lady Clara. I am Noein Alquvist, who has been granted a fief to the west of the Keinitz territory by His Majesty. I am truly delighted to meet you today."

"…Pleased to meet you, I am Clara Keinitz. I have heard of your accomplishments from my father, Arnold. It is an honor to meet you."

As she spoke, Clara glanced at Noein and then at Matilda standing behind him, and her expression darkened slightly. Though she maintained a smile, she did not look particularly happy.

It was obvious what Clara was thinking when she saw Noein and Matilda. Noein inwardly cursed Arnold for not convincing her, but he also kept a smile on his face as he faced Clara.

"Oh, Clara, are you nervous? You must be blushing because of Lord Alquvist's charming presence."

"Such praise is unwarranted. I am still a young and inexperienced noble, lacking the dignity of a head of a noble family. I may have disappointed Lady Clara."

Lady Eleonore, sensing the tension, offered a helping hand, and Noein went along with it, finally lightening the atmosphere somewhat.

...

The tea party with Clara and the Keinitz couple ended without much excitement.

It was not originally planned, and the purpose was simply for Noein and Clara to meet, so it was not a problem that it was not particularly lively.

However, it was clear even in the short time it took to drink a cup of tea that Clara was not enthusiastic about the engagement with Noein, who already had a lover, Matilda.

Feeling a bit down about the future, Noein promised to have another meeting with Clara soon and left the Keinitz family's mansion.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Henrik. I'm sorry it took longer than expected."

"Ah, nobles must have a lot to talk about. There's no need to apologize to me."

As they approached the Alquvist family's private carriage parked in front of the mansion, Noein spoke to the young driver, Henrik.

He had hired Henrik this spring to take over the carriage driving from his squire, Bart. Henrik, a second son of a tenant farmer and skilled with horses, had moved to the Alquvist territory and now took care of Noein's horses and drove the carriage.

"Thank you. We have no business in Letvik today, so let's head straight to the capital, Noeina."

"Understood."

After instructing Henrik, Noein got into the carriage with Matilda and finally took a deep breath.

"Phew… That Clara girl was clearly not enthusiastic about this engagement."

"Yes, Lady Clara seemed to be concerned about me… I didn't feel any hostility, though."

"That's true. She seemed to have resigned herself to the engagement rather than disliking me and Matilda. It's as if she has accepted the political marriage in a negative way."

Clara did not seem to have any aversion to Matilda, who was a beast slave.

This meant that if Noein and Matilda could find a suitable distance with Clara, they could get along without disliking each other and spend a decent amount of time together.

However, the negative atmosphere she exuded made it heavy for those around her. The challenge would be how to break the ice and make her smile.

"Still, I made Matilda listen to such an unpleasant story about my engagement. I'm sorry."

"Lord Noein, there's no need for you to apologize. I understood that such a situation would eventually arise for you."

Seeing Matilda's smile, Noein's guilt only grew.

Noein was a noble lord. He had to take a wife of equal status and have an heir to ensure the peace and happiness of his territory and its people.

Matilda, a beast slave, could not bear children with a human like Noein and was not a suitable public partner for him due to the persistent social discrimination.

Still, the news of Noein taking a wife would not be pleasant for Matilda, who had been the sole recipient of Noein's affection for years.

"If only I hadn't been forced to take this title from that bastard father of mine."

"Please don't say such things. As a lord, you have saved and brought happiness to many people. Besides, I am more than content just to be by your side."

"…I'm sorry. I'll do my best to keep hearing you say that."

Despite Matilda's encouraging words, Noein's expression remained dark.

Matilda then realized that Noein was so worried about the engagement because he was afraid of marriage and the changes it would bring.

He was afraid that if Clara became his wife, it would change his relationship with Matilda. He was worried that one day Matilda's heart would drift away from him, and she would only follow him out of a sense of duty as a slave.

That was why Noein said he would "do his best to keep hearing you say that," with such a forlorn look on his face.

"…Lord Noein, may I humbly express my hope?"

"Hope… Yes, I would like to hear it."

Matilda moved from in front of Noein to sit next to him, leaning against him.

"Even after you take Lady Clara as your wife, please keep me as a special slave by your side. Promise to accept me as the one and only being who will dedicate my body and soul to you. I want a unique position that will never change, no matter what. With that, I can love you forever."

What Noein needed now was a conditional promise that "if I do this, Matilda will love me forever."

He was not seeking a passive relationship where Matilda would love him unconditionally without any effort on his part. Instead, he sought the reassurance that "if I keep this promise, Matilda will continue to love me."

Noein knew that Matilda would always dedicate everything to him, no matter what, but he still wanted a tangible assurance of her love, at least for now.

So, Matilda made a request, even though it was unnecessary, if it would make Noein feel more secure.

"…I understand. Matilda, you are a unique and special existence to me, different from my wife, subordinates, and subjects. This will never change. I will love you forever. So please stay by my side and continue to love me… I beg you."

"Of course, Lord Noein. This is a vow that will never change, a promise between us two."

Hugging Noein, who looked anxious and clung to her, Matilda said.