Chapter 60: The Earnest Duke


    Jurgen von Reinfeld. 26 years old.


    The young head of the Duchy of Reinfeld located between the eastern and southern parts of the Empire. In other words, hes a duke.


    The territory of the Reinfeld house isnt that big. It is a rtively new ducal house in the first ce.


    Nevertheless, it has flourished in trading its specialty products and minerals. In that respect, he has enough prestige to marry my elder sister.


    That being said, his status is not the problem here in the first ce.


    I muttered while reading his file.


    The bottleneck here is the word [Bad at martial arts] written in the document Sebas has gathered for me.


    My sister is a soldier through and through, she judges things by determining whether it will be useful on the battlefield or not. If she wanted a husband, she would probably prefer a strong man. Whether being a good martial artist or a goodmander is fine. For the time being, I need to find something that rtes to battle to appeal to my sister.


    Now what to do.


    Arnold-sama. I have something to report.


    What is it? Sebas.


    It seems that the Duke of Reinfeld who proposed to Her Imperial Highness has sneaked into the Imperial Capital.


    Haa!? Sneaked in!? Hes a duke you know!?


    It seems that he has quite a light footwork. He sneaked in to informally express his gratitude to His Majesty.


    Gratitude? The matter about him assisting his marriage proposal?


    That is.Apparently, the Duke of Reinfeld has applied for marriage to Her Highness the First Princess many times since over ten years ago.


    ..more than ten years ago?


    What the heck.


    Did he keep getting denied and repeatedly pushed forward all this time?


    The fact that such a story did not spread means that he was refused every time. And its that father of mine after all, theres no way that he wouldnt talk to my sister about this. So in other words.


    For more than ten years, my sister personally has been declining the Dukes proposal!?


    That seems to be the case.


    That seems to be the case!?.theres already no chance for him isnt it!?


    Perhaps there were quite a few Ducal houses who approached Her Highness with the marriage proposal. I think that His Majesty was impressed by his perseverance and decided to move for him.


    He just throws it at me because he kept getting refused over and over. Dont make this into some moving tales.


    This task has be unexpectedly impossibly difficult.


    Just what kind of person is this guy? This Duke of Reinfeld.


    He is probably far from my sisters preference.


    Theres no other way. I will meet him.


    Perhaps that is the only way. That is probably what His Majesty is thinking as well.


    After I said so, my door was knocked.


    Perhaps, Father is calling for me.


    Alright, I guess its time to meet my brother-inw candidate then.


    Whoa, Hes intense.


    That was my first impression of Jurgen von Reinfeld.


    After he had an incognito meeting with Father, I visited the room where Jurgen was staying.


    Pleased to meet you, Your Highness Arnold. I am Jurgen von Reinfeld. I took over my father as the Duke of Reinfeld a short while ago.


    Saying so, Jurgen shows me a good-natured smile. His height is a little shorter than me.


    Since he is around my height, he should be considered short for an average adult man.


    The problem is the width. He surely weighs more than me.


    The impression he gives off is that of a plump bear cub. Seeing the good-natured smile on his face, I can feel that he is a gentle person but unfortunately, my sisters preference is the exact opposite.


    His face isnt ugly or anything but he is not particrly handsome either. Moreover, his overall appearance is quite unfortunate.


    Nice to meet you, I am Arnold Lakes Adler, the Seventh Prince. It is a pleasure to meet you as well.


    Jurgens good-natured feeling made me naturally make me more polite than usual.


    It is kind of impossible for me to be harsh on this man.


    He is probably a super good person like his appearance suggested after all.


    Still.


    I heard from His Majesty that Your Highness Arnold will act as a mediator between myself and Her Highness Lizelotte, is that true?


    That damn Father, he said something unnecessary again.


    Lizelotte Lakes Adler.


    The Empires First Princess and its Marshal.


    The Strongest General of the Imperial family.


    Acting as a mediator for someone like that is quite an impossible task for me, does he understand that?


    Yes. WellHis Majesty did say that but..


    Then I am reassured. I heard that among the imperial family members, Her Highness Lizelotte only fully open up to Her Highness Christa and Your Highness after all.


    ..Sorry for my rudeness but who did you hear that from?


    I heard it from the person herself though?


    Have you been in contact with Lize-aneue?


    Somehow I got a bad feeling about this.


    Its true that among the imperial family members, Lize-aneue only opens up me and Christa.


    Its rare for Lize-aneue to be inside the imperial capital since she is always at the frontline. Thats why she often writes letters to us.


    She used to send one each to me, Christa and Leo but around three years ago Leo hasnt received any letter from her.


    I asked Leo if something happened but he never gave me an answer. Aneue herself doesnt exin it either.


    Only a few people know of this.


    If he said that he heard it directly from my sister then just what kind of rtionship do they have between them?


    Yes. I have sent many letters to Her Highness in the past. At first, I thought that we could be pen pals but it surprisingly doesnt go that well. If I send three letters, I would get around one reply you see.


    I, I see.


    Th, that is indeed surprising.


    To be able to keep on attacking my sister to such extent, in a certain sense, this man is quite fearless.


    I surely cant imitate him. Moreover, he got one letter for every three letters he sent? Wasnt she just ignoring the first two then? I wont be able to endure that.


    Have Your Highness heard of how I first met Her Highness Lizelotte from His Majesty?


    No, my father didnt say anything


    It was twenty years ago.


    Twenty years!?


    Its been twenty years since they met..


    This person knew Aneue since she was six years old!?


    Yes. When I first visit the imperial capital there was a swordsman tournament for noble children but my opponent was bothrger and older than me. When I cried my eyes out at the unfairness, there was this little girl who came up to me and said this, [its bad to try to win without putting in any effort. Age and physique dont matter, your opponent was simply one of those who have worked hard for it]. When that small girl jumped in and participated in the tournament, she splendidly won. Thats when I know that the girl was actually the five-year-old princess Lizelotte. I was one-sidedly ashamed of how I cried at my own immatureness and I fell in love with Lizelotte-sama at that time. I remember her figure well. She was very beautiful. Even now I still think that she is the most beautiful person in the world.


    ..In other words, love at first sight?


    Yes. Thats right. I fell in love the moment I saw her.


    Jurgen said without being embarrassed about it.


    This personisnt he surprisingly aggressive?


    So after the tournament, I immediately proposed to her.


    Nn? Eh? Ehh? Right on the spot?


    Yes, I thought that she was the only person for me so I nervously did it. I was mercilessly rejected at that time. Then she told me this, [I will consider it if you have be a man worthy of me]. Thats why I have decided to be a suitable man for her. I started doing that by expanding my house. I am no good with martial arts at all so I learned how to conduct business and enriched my territory. It was around when I turned fifteen that it started to show results so I went to propose to her again. This time I applied it through His Majesty but her answer was still no. After that, I have been repeatedly redoing this process for all this time.


    Jurgen is making a bitter smile but I definitely cant do the same.


    So he has been longing for my sister for thest twenty years huh.


    I am impressed with his effort. So theres such a splendid person like this too huh.


    Unfortunately, if it is still not enough after all he did then I think theres already no chance left. My sister is someone who doesnt change her mind after all.


    Personally, I have been sending her letters and precious swords but it seems like it wasnt very effective. I tried to join the army but I was immediately kicked out too. It seems that it had reached the ear of Lizelotte-sama somehow. Since then, I couldnt approach any of the armys sites anymore.


    .why did you go that far? Was it just because my sister is an attractive woman?


    Lets see. That might be the case at first. That person is extremely beautiful after all. I guess it is because she is my ideal of a woman that I came to like her. However, right now that doesnt matter, I only do it simply because I like Lizelotte-sama. I love her. Please lend me your help, Your Highness. I can not love anyone else besides that person.


    S, so intense.


    Just how intense can he be.


    If you have an unrequited love for twenty years then you would normally give up right.


    My sister who keeps refusing him is one thing but there is surely something wrong with this person too.


    The only duke who is seeking marriage with my sister is probably this person. If he gives up, my sisters marriage will be ridiculously difficult. This might be why my father hurriedly bring this to me so that I can help finalize this marriage.


    He is a good person.


    I understand that much. Im happy that he held such a feeling for my sister for twenty years and what he did to be suitable for her is simply amazing.


    If he has eyes on other women besides my sister then his wife will never have to worry about a thing in her life.


    Still, this person doesnt have eyes for anyone besides my sister.


    Because when he said, I love you, he waspletely sincere.


    Haathis is difficult.


    I cant leave such a hardworking person like this alone.


    Being earnest might just be in his nature after all.


    Understood. I will do what I can. But please dont get your hope too high.


    Please! Your help is very encouraging! Usually, the letters that I received a reply from her are the ones where I wrote that I will visit the imperial capital. She said that I dont have to personally get in touch but she wants me to check how Your Highness and Her Highness Christa are doing for her. I know from what she wrote. She is definitely worried about Her Highness Christa and you, Your Highness.


    Isthat somy sister was.


    In the past, Leo was included in that.


    If I earnestly help him with this, I might be able to get her to exin that to me.


    I take a deep breath and make my determination.


    Even if I fail, Father will not be angry but since he said that he wants to see my sister bing a bride, I want to do this for him.


    I want to help this earnest duke as well.


    Duke Reinfeld. I will use everything I can to help you appeal to my sister. And in return,


    My cooperation in the session war isnt it. I understand. At first, when I heard that His Highness is now participating in the session war, I thought that Your Highness might be a part of it as well, I have been intending to help you from the start. Although my help is limited, the Duchy of Reinfeld will support you. This will not change even if you dont seed.


    If thats the case then lets get straight to the point. Lets start with a strategy meeting then. My sister is quite a strong opponent after all.


    With that said, I smiled and started a strategic meeting with Jurgen.