Chapter 7: The Daughter of a Surrendered Noble Marries a Former Foot Soldier? — A Proposal Born from the Aftermath of War
“Valzen Ducal Calendar Year 10, Early August — Glennfilt”
[Perspective of Glenn, a Former Foot Soldier Turned Baron]
At last, the rampage of the Black Death had passed, and in my town, Glennfilt, the sounds of reconstruction had begun to return, little by little.
Stones were being piled onto the hastily built earthen walls, and the houses were being rebuilt into brick structures.
Half a month had passed since the Duke of Valzen’s army withdrew—
From atop the temporary walls, I gazed over my land, still bearing the scars of war.
(…Even if the war ends, hell doesn’t, huh?)
The plague had reduced both soldiers and civilians, leaving everyone utterly exhausted.
As for me, I had been so busy dealing with the aftermath and rebuilding the town that I hadn’t had a proper night’s sleep.
At that moment, Leo the merchant approached, holding a ledger under one arm, wearing his usual calm expression.
“Baron, it’s fine to indulge in sentiment, but finances won’t wait. If you were to marry into a wealthy family, reconstruction would proceed much faster.”
“…Don’t joke about that.”
At that time, I had no way of knowing that his offhand remark would soon become reality.
A few days later, a visitor arrived at my modest residence.
The visitor was a young noble lady.
Her name was Elena von Stein, the daughter of a minor lord who had recently surrendered to the Duke of Valzen.
She explained that her father, Lord Stein, had fallen ill, and so she had come in his place as the representative of their house.
Her eyes were strong and clear—far too resolute for a fallen noble’s daughter.
“Baron Glenn, I sincerely apologize that House Stein once raised its sword against you.”
Her manners were impeccable.
Yet there was no trace of servility in her voice.
“My father has lost all hope of recovery… However, I cannot stand by and watch our house name vanish. At the very least, I wish to preserve it myself.”
I couldn’t quite grasp the true meaning behind her words.
But Leo, standing beside me, whispered quietly yet clearly into my ear.
“…Baron, I believe this is a marriage proposal.”
[Perspective of Lady Elena]
Ever since the day Father surrendered to the Duke of Valzen, he had lost his will and taken to his sickbed.
Our lands were devastated by the plague, and our retainers had scattered.
The noble world was cruel.
No one would even spare a glance for the daughter of a fallen house.
Amid that despair, the only ray of hope I heard was the rumor of Baron Glenn—
A man who, despite being a former foot soldier, had earned great merit and gained the trust of the Duke of Valzen.
(A former foot soldier… yet the strength he possesses felt dazzling to me now.)
I had nothing left to lose.
All that remained was the fragile name of House Stein.
I resolved to cast aside my final pride as a noble and went to him.
[Glenn’s Perspective]
A few days later, a formal tea gathering was held.
Having no knowledge of noble etiquette, I was so nervous that I nearly dropped the expensive-looking teacup in front of me.
I couldn’t keep up formal speech, and sweat beaded on my forehead.
“Ah…”
At my clumsy behavior, Elena let out a small, involuntary laugh.
However, there was no mockery in her smile.
If anything, it seemed to soften the tension she had been carrying.
“You are someone who cannot tell lies, aren’t you?”
“…I’m sorry. I’m not worthy of someone like you.”
“Isn’t one’s worth something to be built together from now on?”
Those words reached my heart with a strange, direct clarity.
After the tea gathering, Leo leaned in and whispered to me.
“…Baron, the other surrendered nobles are watching this proposal closely. A marriage between a rising noble under the Duke of Valzen’s protection and an old house—this will serve as a powerful deterrent against the remaining Caledon factions and Count Gerhart. However… it could also become the spark for new conflict.”
This marriage was not merely a union between two families.
It marked the beginning of a new balance of power along the eastern border of the Valzen Duchy.
That evening, I placed Elena on horseback with me and looked down upon the town under construction from atop a hill.
Even upon land still littered with remnants of rubble, small lights from newly built homes were beginning to flicker on here and there.
“…Your town looks very beautiful from here.”
“It’s not even half finished yet. But it will be.”
At my words, Elena smiled softly.
From a distant chapel, the bell signaling the end of the day echoed across the land.
To me, it sounded like a bell announcing a small rebirth—and the beginning of a new life—within the corner of a war-torn age.