Chapter 113: The Heiress of the Eastern Duke Family, Rafine Austin

On the balcony of the main hall, Nolan stood beside a young woman in a red gown.

She was tall, with flawless proportions—her bust, waist, and hips harmoniously balanced, as if sculpted by the hands of goddesses.

Her golden-yellow hair was styled in a half-up, half-down fashion, enhancing her graceful and serene appearance.

Her light green eyes radiated innocence, yet hidden within was a sharpness—like a wolf disguised in sheep’s clothing.

Unfortunately, her perfect beauty was partially concealed by the half-mask she wore.

She stood around 1.7 meters tall—considered quite tall for a woman—but even so, the top of her head barely reached Nolan’s chin.

"So," Nolan said, leaning his arm on the balcony railing before turning to her with a curious look. "Who are you? And why did you call me here?"

The woman smiled faintly and said, "I just wanted to talk to you, Prince. My sister says you’re kind, strong, and caring. So naturally, I became curious."

"After all, my sister is a proud and mischievous girl, yet she speaks so highly of you. That alone was enough to pique my interest."

She paused, glanced at Nolan with a teasing smile, then continued, "But it turns out you’re even more impressive than she described. You’re handsome, tall, and capable too."

"The way you handled Allen earlier—so calm and confident, as if everything were under your control—was truly impressive. I’ve never seen another young man quite like you, Prince. I genuinely admire you."

If it had been an ordinary young man—especially one hot-blooded—praise from such a beautiful and elegant woman would have surely inflated his pride.

But Nolan was different. He remained calm and indifferent, as if her compliment meant nothing to him.

And it was the truth—he never needed praise like that.

For Nolan, who lived to relax and protect the people he loved, humiliating or pressuring others was never an achievement. It was simply the easiest way to resolve a problem without unnecessary hassle.

From the beginning, he had no intention of offending Allen or provoking the young nobles behind him.

But since they were the ones who started it, Nolan chose to respond firmly—making it clear that they shouldn’t dare to cause trouble again.

The same applied to the battle for the throne. If he could have stayed out of it without dragging Elina into the mess, he would’ve gladly stepped aside.

Instead, he would’ve pursued his dream: traveling the world and enjoying life.

Power, strength, and prestige no longer held any appeal for him. He’d already had enough of that in his previous life.

That said, he had to admit one thing—the young woman beside him was exceptionally intelligent... and sharp.

She had assessed the situation quickly and accurately, which meant she likely came from a high-ranking noble family.

As for her true identity, Nolan had already begun to form a few guesses.

On the other hand, the woman appeared surprised by the calm, indifferent expression Nolan wore.

This man is truly extraordinary,

she thought.

If it had been any other young man, he would’ve already grown arrogant or boastful. But Nolan showed none of that.

The calmness he displayed wasn’t an act—it was genuine, born from a nature shaped long ago.

How interesting... I’d like to get to know him better,

she murmured, licking her lips with a gaze full of anticipation.

"By the way, you mentioned your sister told you about me," Nolan said, breaking the silence. "Was it Masha? In that case, you must be Rafine Austin—the eldest daughter of the Austin family and heiress to the Eastern Duke’s house. Am I right, Young Lady Rafine?"

His previously impassive face now held a faint, charming smile. His purple eyes, shimmering under the moonlight, locked onto hers with an intensity that seemed to pierce straight into her soul.

Rafine’s heart skipped a beat. For the first time, a wave of shyness swept over her—warm, unfamiliar, and difficult to suppress.

But she quickly composed herself and responded with a bright smile.

"You truly are remarkable, Prince," she said as she removed her mask.

In an instant, an astonishingly beautiful face was revealed to Nolan. Her oval face and gracefully symmetrical jawline drew the eye with effortless elegance.

Her nose was well-defined but not overly sharp, perfectly complementing the rest of her features.

Even Nolan paused for a moment, briefly dazed, before regaining his composure and smiling casually.

"So I was right," he chuckled.

In this empire, who hadn’t heard of Rafine Austin?

Even the commoners, Nolan believed, would recognize her name. And it was no wonder—she consistently ranked at the very top of the Empire’s list of most beautiful women.

Moreover, she was the only daughter and sole heir of the Eastern Duke, destined to inherit his title.

With her flawless beauty and noble lineage, Rafine was admired by the young nobles—even the princes took interest in her.

But Nolan was not among them.

Countless suitors pursued her, not only for her beauty but also for the prestige that came with marrying the future Duchess.

Well, Nolan had no issue with those who entertained such dreams.

But to him, it was distasteful—something he would never pursue in his life.

It might seem old-fashioned, but among the Imperial aristocracy, marriage customs required the man to come from a higher-ranking family.

For example, an heir from a Viscount’s house would typically marry a Baron’s daughter—not the other way around.

If the roles were reversed, it could lead to disaster for both sides.

The man would be shunned by the woman’s family, while the woman would be looked down upon by her peers and other nobles.

A husband was expected to protect his wife. But if he lacked the strength or position to do so, how could he possibly fulfill that role?

So, to Nolan, such ambitions were nothing more than foolish daydreams.

Rafine was once again taken aback by Nolan’s calm demeanor.

What’s with this guy? I know he has incredible self-control, but isn’t this a bit much?

She thought, puzzled.

She didn’t mean to sound arrogant, but whenever she showed her true face, young nobles were usually captivated—and many even tried to get close to her.

But Nolan? He remained completely unfazed. Calm, as if her appearance meant absolutely nothing to him.

For the first time, Rafine began to question her own attractiveness.

"So, you came to see me just to confirm what Masha said? Or is there another reason?" Nolan asked casually, letting out a lazy yawn. "If not, I’ll head in and enjoy the food."

He turned and walked into the hall without waiting for a response.

Rafine: "..."

The corner of her lips twitched. She quickly grabbed Nolan’s arm, stopping him.

"Wait! I still want to talk to you!" she said, her voice firm with determination.

Nolan stopped. He slowly turned his head and glanced at the hand holding his arm.

"Alright—but my time is valuable. So make it quick."

Rafine froze. Frustration bubbled up inside her. She wanted to say,

"What’s with your attitude? Do I really seem that repulsive to you?"

But the words never left her mouth. She forced herself to stay quiet.

Just as she was about to speak, the booming voice of the main gate guard shattered the tension.

"The representative of the Holy Empire of Valtanir—the Singularity of Light—offers long life to His Majesty the Emperor!"