"No."
Reika refused with a stoic expression. Lord Halvark sighed.
"Reika, you're fifteen years old. You're old enough to get married."
It was rather late. The fact that Lord Halvark had not allowed suitors to come meet Reika, was already proof that he had cared deeply for Reika's wellbeing.
"…I don't want to get married yet."
"I know how you feel. That's why I turned down the other households' proposals to introduce their heirs."
But this time, Lord Halvark couldn't help it either.
"But, you know that. If you do, then what is the target of this political maneuver?"
"...."
Reika bit her lips without saying a word. Lord Halvark spoke in a sad but firm tone.
"Let's just meet him for now. Maybe he'll be a good guy. You're totally free to think however you want at least once you've met him."
"…I see."
Reika left the room. She left and went to the training area as she trudged along with a sulky expression. As she entered the vicinity of the training area, the sounds of a sword whistled.
"Hey, Asher."
"You're late today."
"You're still the same."
"You can't skip training or you'll become dull."
Asher shook off the sweat. Reika grabbed the sword with a melancholic look.
"I didn't like where my life would head, so I picked up the sword with you. But… in the end, it still ended up like this."
"Is it marriage?"
"That's right."
The whole village had been having a gloomy atmosphere recently as well. It was because of the suitor that had come to propose to Reika a few days ago. It also was coming from a place that not even the Halvark Estate could reject.
No matter how much she tried to resist it, the suitor who was proposing had been moving large weight in the political scenery, in terms of power. The Townspeople knew this and also had a very high appraisal of Reika's character, hence why the atmosphere was tense and melancholic.
"Is from a place that is higher in nobility?"
It was not yet known exactly where the suitor had come from. Lord Halvark was a decent sized household and it's name was rated highly enough to refuse someone of a slightly higher status. However, in front of the higher nobilities and crown themselves, the Halvarks did not have much of a chance without disgracing their name.
"Yes, you know of the Belturia Nobility?"
"…Belturia?"
Asher stopped swinging the sword.
"Really?"
"Then it's pretty much forced one-sidedly, isn't it?
Reika sat down with her hands clasped atop her head.
"Why would a hero want anything to do with our small little estate? There's nothing to gain from marrying into our family…."
Belturia was a place that Asher knew of.
Well more accurately, it was a person he knew, a hero from back in the day.
'Is he scheming something?'
Asher furrowed his brows. He thought of the Lord of the Belturia Territory, Balbaca Belturia.
He wasn't that great of a man. His frame was weaker than a farmer's and rather poor academics as well.
Nevertheless, the reason for being called a hero was no big deal. It was because Balbacca was a perfectly virtuous and righteous man for the Empire.
"Is he expecting the Lord to marry you?"
"No, it's the son. No matter how disgusting he may be, he can't marry someone at the age of fifty."
Reika shivered as if she felt like vomiting.
"I'd rather run away than marry him."
'That's weird.'
Balbaca and Asher used to talk all the time back in the day. He had boasted that he would let his son marry whomever he fell in love with and not force the marriage.
Balbaca was called a hero because he practiced righteous virtues, although it was difficult as he was born as an illegitimate child.
Suddenly the words of the lead assassin came to Asher's mind.
'Most of the heroes disappeared abruptly 20 years ago, was it?.'
"…the Lord of Belturia is Balbaca, right?"
"That's correct."
"Did he ever have a brief period of abrupt leave or a sudden disappearance?"
"Huh? he never did that. Oh wait. I think about twenty years ago, they said he was missing for about a week. The Lord disappeared without saying a word, and there was a little bit of commotion."
Asher closed his eyes. 20 years ago. Missing heroes. What did it all mean?
"So what are you going to do about the marriage?"
"What do you mean? I'll have to visit the Belturia territory in the near future, talk with him, and schedule a time to meet again. I have no other justifications to possibly refuse."
Reika was the daughter of a noble. It was her bitter fate that was damned to be met one day. Reika laughed bitterly.
"I can't help it."
Her laughter contained a sad acceptance. She was mature beyond words and her age. Asher respected her for that.
"I'm already going to see the suitor soon. Goodbye."
If she was to be used as a political chess piece, it was likely that the two of them would never see each other again after this. Reika bitterly smiles as she waved her hand.
"It's been fun."
"Then let's have a final spar before you go."
Asher lifted the sword. Reika stared blankly and burst into laughter.
"You're going to stay the same till the end?"
She grabbed the sword with a smile.
"Yeah. You won't even hold a sword anymore, so it's good to at least leave everything in the sword before you go."
She rushed at Asher with determined eyes.
***
After the duel, Lady Venecia appeared when Reika was sobbing and lying on the ground of the training area.
"My poor child."
She caressed Reika as she could see the tears in her eyes. Reika lifted her head and stopped sobbing. She noticed she should comfort her mother, since it seemed that her mother was even more disappointed and affected than she had thought.
"Don't worry. Mother, I'm sure he's a good person."
"But still…."
"He was an illegitimate child but, he's still a good person and does good deeds."
"I've heard of his father once. But, I haven't ever seen him in person."
"They're a family of heroes, what could possibly go wrong? If anything, this is the chance for us to establish a great relationship with another household like theirs."
It was only after Reika held on firmly that she would be alright, that Venicia regained her stability. Her eyes were on Asher this time.
"Asher, I have a favor to ask of you."
"Of course Miss, just ask."
"In a few days, Reika will have to go by there to meet the man. Could you go with her on the trip and make sure she stays safe?"
"…Myself, Miss?"
"That's right. Shouldn't there be someone else for Reika to go with her that she feels comfortable with? I don't think she's that lonely, but you're still the closest to Reika."
"Yes, ma'am."
Asher agreed because there was no justification to refuse.
'It's good that I might get the chance to meet him in this life.'
Balbaca Belturia.
The hero of the past.
And one of his closest friends.