The Matter of How Only a Political Rival Duke, Not My Own Family, Recognized My Worth After I Was Disowned ~When I Turned a Remote Frontier Territory Into the World’s Greatest City, the Noble Lady Assigned to Supervise Me Became the Best Fiancée~ - Episode 13: The Baptism of the Royal Capital and the First Move

Episode 13: The Baptism of the Royal Capital and the First Move

After passing through the massive gates of the royal capital Asteria, the ones waiting for us were envoys from House Valenstein.

Thanks to Isabella’s arrangements, our place of residence in the capital had already been decided—a magnificent secondary mansion owned by her family. This was our first, silent warning to the nobles of the capital: that I was under the protection of the Valenstein Duke.

“…It’s like a castle,” 

Duncan muttered blankly. He was staring up at the grand mansion before us.

No surprise there—my residence in Grindel would look like a horse stable in comparison.

The royal summons gave me “one month” of grace before my formal audience with the king. I intended to use that time to the fullest—for gathering information and establishing a foundation.

As the first step, I requested an audience with the master of this mansion—Duke Valenstein himself, Isabella’s father.

“—So, you’re the rustic frontier noble who managed to capture my daughter’s heart,” 

The duke said. He was seated heavily upon an ornate chair. His sharp, hawk-like eyes scanned me from head to toe. They were assessing me.

“Father!” 

Isabella’s voice rose reproachfully from beside me. But I remained calm.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Grace. I am Noah von Silford. I can’t thank you enough for the immense support you’ve granted me.”

I bowed deeply. I then took the ingot from my coat and quietly placed it on the table before him.

“This is a small gift from my land of Grindel. You might say… it represents the very future of my territory.”

The duke’s eyes widened slightly. He picked up the ingot, tapped it with his finger, weighed it, and then let out a low hum.

“…Hmm. Such purity of steel—from that barren wasteland… I see now. No wonder my daughter became so captivated.”

Then, the hawk’s eyes softened into those of a man intrigued and amused. He said:

“You’re an interesting lad. I like you. While you’re in the capital, House Valenstein will give you its full backing. Go—make as much noise as you please.”

A firm endorsement from my greatest patron. The perfect start.

◇

The next day. 

I went out incognito with only a few guards. It was to conduct a personal inspection of the royal capital.

I paid particular attention to the markets dealing in weapons and farming tools. As well as the district where the craftsmen gathered.

(…I see. The quality’s even worse than I expected.)

The swords and plows displayed at the storefronts were full of impurities—heavy yet brittle. Compared to the products made with Grindel steel, the difference was like that between an adult and a child.

We could win. My conviction only deepened.

In one corner of the craftsmen’s district, I found a forge echoing with the loudest hammering.

“Damn it, this scrap metal! You can’t make anything decent out of this junk iron!”

Inside, a dwarf master with an impressive beard cursed at a glowing red ingot as he struck it skillfully with his hammer.

I stepped into the workshop. I took out a small fragment of Grindel iron from my pocket.

“Master, I’d like you to take a look at something.”

“Huh? If you’re just here to browse, get lost, kid!”

The dwarf—who later introduced himself as Gran—glared at my noble attire and tried to shoo me away. But the moment his eyes fell on the piece of iron I offered, his expression changed completely.

He snatched it from my hand, held it up to the light, tapped it with a small hammer, listened to the sound—then began trembling.

“T-This steel…! No way…! It’s like the legendary Orichalcum steel from the age of the gods!”

Gran grabbed my arm. His eyes were bloodshot.

“Sir! Where in the world did you get this steel!?”

That was the moment I found my new—and perhaps greatest—business partner.

◇

When I returned to the Valenstein residence, satisfied with the inspection, the butler met me with a grave expression.

“Lord Noah, you have a visitor.”

Waiting for me in the reception room was a knight bearing the crest of House Silford.

He presented me with an envelope.

“From my lord, Alphonse von Silford, to Lord Noah. In celebration of his younger brother’s return to the capital, he wishes to host a small dinner party tomorrow night at the main mansion.”

At those words, the air beside me froze—Isabella’s face turned tense.

“…It’s a trap. You should refuse.”

Oh, of course it was.

They were inviting me into the Silford main estate—the heart of enemy territory—to humiliate me. Or perhaps to destroy my social standing entirely.

However—

“No. I’ll go,” 

I said quietly. I accepted the invitation with a smile.

“They went to the trouble of setting the stage. It’d be rude for the star not to show up, don’t you think?”

Only by stepping into the enemy’s home ground alone could I deliver the ultimate presentation.

And the most powerful declaration of war.

My battle had already begun.