"If I'm busy protecting yesterday, will I be able to fight for tomorrow?" Noel muttered in a low voice as he fell into deep thought.
The meaning was profound. Luke must want to tell her that if what she had done in the past kept plaguing her, there was no way she could shift her attention to the future… the better future that could come from her own hand.
But for Noel, there seemed to be another meaning. His family had been reduced to ruin. He always wanted to use his power to rebuild the Ardagan Family.
Yet, this question made him doubt whether it was the correct path or not. It seemed that he had missed something in his goal.
"Wait a minute…" Noel covered his mouth as if he had just realized something unbelievable.
He turned around and asked out loud, "Dimitri. I have a question."
"What is it, Young Master?"
"In your perspective, was the Ardagan Family prosperous?" Noel asked.
Dimitri fell silent for a moment. It wasn't that he was thinking about the answer but because he was shocked that Noel asked this question. He answered without hesitation, "Yes. The Ardagan Family was prosperous."
"In that case, do you think the prosperity can last for another thousand years? No, even a hundred years is fine…" Noel gasped. He suddenly recalled all the lessons his father had given him.
Those lessons just looked like a life lesson that his father had experienced. But as a noble, he should have imparted some knowledge about management and other things. Even if Noel refused to learn it, someone as smart as Luke could easily make an example about such a thing in his life lesson, causing Noel to learn some of them.
Yet, Luke didn't do it. Instead, he seemed to want Noel to learn only those basic lessons so that he didn't make a choice like his father. He wanted Noel's thoughts to be independent of any influence.
That was why Noel felt something was missing. It was connected to the question Luke threw to Milfa. It seemed Luke didn't want Noel to be fixated on the old Ardagan Family. Instead, he wanted him to focus on building the new Ardagan Family. He would then set the rules, the course, and of course, the goal of the family himself. This was what he meant by fighting for tomorrow.
When Dimitri heard this question, he suddenly came out of his hiding spot. He kneeled on one knee and answered Noel, "I am nothing but a servant. However, if you truly desire that answer, I shall bear this sin and tell you… The Ardagan Family will only last for thirty more years before we will begin our decline."
"!!!" Noel gasped. In that instant, he realized that his father had foreseen this situation. Instead of letting him bear the burden, he chose to destroy the family himself. The goal, which was to take care of all the problems Laufey Ardagan had made, was also aligned. So, Luke chose the weirdest and most extreme decision, which was to end the Ardagan Family.
This way, Noel would be able to build the new Ardagan Family. It might be related to the old family, but this time, they would create something new, stronger, and more suited to the current era.
The Ardagan Family was a noble family with a thousand years long history. However, in those one thousand years, the kingdom had changed. That was why to keep up with the current change, the old Ardagan Family had to be destroyed.
Noel asked, "In that case, do you think I am fit to be the head of the Ardagan Family… no, the new Ardagan Family?"
The moment Dimitri heard it, he immediately lowered his head and stated with a clear but longing tone.
"I, Dimitri, solemnly swear. I shall become your sharpest sword and kill all the enemies in your path. Whether it's the humans, the demons, or even the Gods… as long as this body has yet to fall to the ground, I shall fulfill my duty."
Noel's body trembled. He didn't know about the secret requirement that Luke had placed upon Dimitri. But he could feel that Dimitri had let go of the past and finally swore his loyalty to him.
Noel closed his eyes for a moment. It was an achievement, and he should be happy. But they did all this in front of Milfa.
He couldn't help but glance at Milfa and said, "I apologize, Captain Milfa, for showing all this to you."
Milfa shook her head helplessly. "You don't need to worry about me. Though, I am surprised to see my mentor acting that way. But I guess I should be happy for him since it seems that my mentor has already gotten a place to return."
Noel smiled while Dimitri looked away. He was swept away at the moment and forgot that he had shown something embarrassing to his protege. However, he didn't have any regret in his heart.
His loyalty had been in the Ardagan Family for decades. Now that Noel had recognized his true purpose, he could finally swear his loyalty once again.
Noel glanced at Milfa and asked, "I have changed my question."
Milfa's eyebrows twitched when she saw that smile. She immediately raised her hands and said, "No… Don't ask that question!"
Noel smiled. Despite her plea, Noel still asked as he had to do his job as the lord of the Ardagan Family. "Will you join the Ardagan Family?"
The veins on her forehead bulged a little bit. She had a hard time maintaining her smile since Noel had just asked the one question he shouldn't have asked her.
Even Noel had already known the answer to that question. After all, it was an obvious 'no' from her.
However, because they had the same personalities, both of them knew that Noel might make some schemes to somehow force her to join the Ardagan Family.
And with his brilliance, of course, he would make her join willingly.
She knew that fact so well that she had already envisioned such a situation.
It seemed that instead of Milfa annoying Noel, it was the other way around.
Both of them had a smile on their faces. But there was already a battle of wits between them.
