Chapter 2

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 2

Chapter Title: The Aratus Candidate

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Agatha Noblesse remained the heiress to staggering wealth, a name known not only throughout the Roxiba Empire but in foreign lands as well.

Vast territories and merchant guilds, seven mines, five islands, fifteen ships, tax collection rights in areas outside her lands, port usage privileges, tax exemptions, succession rights to three titles, private soldiers guarding her estates, and more.

Did that mean her bloodline was somehow lacking?

She had an imperial princess for a grandmother. After the Noblesse Duke, his wife, and their two sons all perished in an accident, she gained the Emperor himself as her godfather and the Crown Prince as her childhood friend.

Because of this, she had lived a tumultuous life of six marriages and six divorces. Yet no one could deny that she was a continental power broker and the ultimate bridal prize.

From political betrothals starting at age five, right up to her twenty-three years now.

Having rocked the continent once more with yet another divorce, Agatha Noblesse had just wrapped up the formalities of her sixth and was hosting her first salon as a single woman in her own home.

Emerging from seclusion after so long, Agatha widened her eyes round.

"Enoch Aratus?"

"Yes. Surely Lady Agatha has heard of him too?"

"He's the young head of House Aratus who just had his triumphal procession."

Her friend, Marchioness Iris Domunia, along with the noble ladies seated around Agatha, all looked thrilled.

Enoch Aratus. Currently twenty years old.

Rumored to have been forced into campaign at age ten under pressure from his kin.

This young family head was known for both his striking looks and exceptional talent.

But what truly made him famous was the purge that swept through upon his return.

"He drove out every last relative, didn't he?"

"Ah, so you knew. Society's been buzzing about it."

The purge had ousted more than one or two families.

While the head was away, those kin had feasted freely on House Aratus's prestige and wealth. Now they were all banished to the provinces, and some betrothals had even been canceled as a result.

With all that chaos in just one month, it was no wonder the talk of Agatha's sixth divorce was starting to fade into the background.

Agatha smiled and tossed out a jest.

"Marquis Aratus provided just the right distraction. He cleaned up after my third ex-husband's failed war, and now he's diverting eyes from my sixth divorce too?"

"Oh my, Lady."

"Such a wicked tongue you have."

The noble ladies burst into laughter. Agatha had meant it lightly, but there was real truth to her words.

It must have been about seven years ago. Agatha's first marriage had expanded the borders, but it still hadn't sated the Emperor's ambitions.

This time, with his eye on a new port, the Emperor decided on war with a foreign power and pushed Agatha's third marriage.

The man he assigned was George Fortis, hailed as the empire's finest knight.

A man so ugly it was painful to look at him, with a personality as rotten as his renowned strength.

In the end, George botched his ambitious campaign. Their lightning marriage and divorce spared Agatha major damage.

Lucky break.

She still remembered the name of the commander who had salvaged that lost war.

Enoch Aratus.

A mere boy of thirteen at the time.

Seven years later, when he quelled all wars and earned the title of war hero, it felt like special news to Agatha too.

He probably hadn't intended it, but his cleanup had made her divorce smoother.

"Anyway, I hear House Aratus is in dire straits right now."

"I've heard. The war spoils won't hold them for long."

"After all the money those relatives blew. They couldn't touch the lands or mansions, but they scraped every coin and asset clean."

"True enough. Ten years is long enough to shake even a storied house like Aratus. Of course, Lady Agatha's House Noblesse is another story entirely. Hehehe."

Agatha just smiled silently, listening to the ladies. Then her close friend, Marchioness Iris Domunia, inclined her head toward her.

"Lady Agatha. You still haven't found an escort yet, have you?"

"No."

"What do you think of House Aratus? With only the marquis and his sister left in the direct line, and most retainers being knights from the war, they might be open to it."

"Hm."

Was that so?

Iris had a point. The young marquis had no elders in the family, so unlike old prestigious houses, he wouldn't be so rigid.

Traditionally, long-standing noble houses like Aratus lived and died by honor.

But these are special circumstances.

House Aratus's finances were in critical shape. The war rewards were mostly land, and the 10,000 gold carats wouldn't sustain such a large house for long.

A month at best?

"What do you think, Lady Agatha?"

The ladies and maidens, who had been pretending not to eavesdrop, perked up at her response. Agatha smiled brightly.

"Sounds promising. What do you all think?"

"Aratus would be fine. As war leaders, their knights are sure to be top-notch."

"Exactly. What's the best part of a storied knight order? Loyalty, of course."

"With the head just back, they'll have expenses piling up. Float the idea, Lady."

Opinions poured in agreement. They matched Agatha's own thinking perfectly.

She was already hitting limits relying on friendly houses or the guards for security.

With her husband's protection gone, until her next marriage, she needed a knight order to shield her from abduction and assassination.

The ladies fell silent, eyes sparkling with curiosity. Having made up her mind, Agatha fluttered her fan.

"Very well. Shall we look into it?"

"A wise choice, Lady."

That one remark was enough. Word spread through the ladies present, rippling out into high society.

—Lady Agatha Noblesse is considering House Aratus Marquis for her escort!

The rumor exploded, tying right into the fresh triumph of the capital's returning general.

Talk swirled of the gold she'd lavished on past escorts, listing prior knight orders and suitors.

It was the kind of uproar no noble could ignore.

Of course, Agatha had subtly signaled her intent through these whispers.

The news naturally reached House Aratus, barely clinging to the edges of society.

Early morning.

A man hurried through the Aratus mansion in the capital, antique and stately on the outside.

He was Konrad Lancel, a knight appointed administrative officer for House Aratus thanks to his logistical talents from the battlefield.

Fortunately, his target had just ordered the knights to stand down in the training grounds.

"My lord!"

The called man paused and looked up.

Beneath tousled blue hair still wild from battle.

The man had a strikingly handsome face.

Straight forehead. Deep gray eyes under thick lashes, a sharp nose, full red lips perfectly shaped.

Even his strong jawline was flawless. His battlefield-honed body was muscled to perfection, worthy of admiration.

If there was one flaw, it was the sword scar slashing from his right cheekbone across to the left.

Even that failed to mar his beauty.

In fact, the scar seemed to amplify his masculine appeal. Enoch Aratus, having dismissed the others, turned to Konrad.

"What is it, Konrad?"

"This isn't the time for that, my lord. Do you know what news I just heard?"

Gasping from his sprint, Konrad's eyes nearly bulged.

"That Agatha Noblesse says she'd like our house to serve as her escort!"

His near-screech carried clearly to the resting knights far off. The stern-faced Enoch let out a short breath.

"You ran here for that."

"What could be more important? We're down to maybe two weeks' worth of gold—maybe one, considering what those gluttons eat..."

Glancing at the knights subtly listening in, Konrad lowered his voice to a fervent whisper.

"Listen, my lord. Word is, all the past knight orders' operating funds came straight from Lady Noblesse herself. Escort fees on top of operations? We run the knights for free and fix our finances. It's perfect!"

And so on he went.

After his long spiel, the conclusion was simple.

"Go to the Noblesse estate right now and say yes, my lord!"