I turned my focus onto Noelle once again.
Her injuries don't appear to be worse at first glance. Can I use healing magic too? Let me try.
Heal.
I cast the magic of elves, the healing on her. Miraculously, it worked. I made it very subtle, so no one else will notice it. But her injuries were healing slowly, and she might wake up in a few minutes.
***End of Noah's P.O.V ***
At the same, moment, Eleanor spoke beside the duke.
"Let's not start it again. Not before all the soldiers here. Noah has won the duel with his own ability. Are you going to announce it, or should I?"
Drever sat back, and closed his eyes, after a second, he opened his mouth and said,
"Have you known about it?"
He was asking about Noah having multiple elements.
Naturally, Eleanor had no idea about it even when she was the only one who was the closest to her son.
"Yes, I have."
"And yet, you never thought about mentioning it to me?"
"Have you ever cared about your children?"
Their conversations weren't heard by anyone present; if someone did, they would have known... Duke and the duchess never had a good relationship at all.
Their marriage has always been political, only to strengthen their family. And after Eleanor found out about Drever cheating on her, they have never properly spoken with each other.
"Wind, earth and space, three elements, I never thought he possessed them at all. I always thought he was trash and rebellious." He paused for a second, snorted coldly and continued,
"I wonder if he is even my child at all."
That statement instantly angered Eleanor and she retorted,
"Don't place me in the same position as you. Never think that I am the same as the whores you sleep with. Don't forget, just for your statement there, I can kill you and even destroy your entire region. Not even the king himself will dare to come in my way."
It did not matter if the duke controlled thousands of soldiers, Eleanor also had a huge backing.
She is the prodigy of the house Aetherborne, one of the major pillars of the empire. If they decided to wage a war on the dukedom, nobody would dare to come before them.
It would have been a different matter if the previous duke and duchess were still alive, but they had already perished in the battle against the Netherkins.
Not going to stay with him a single second more, Eleanor got up from her place and walked away.
In the arena, Noelle's face twitched, and pain still lingered on her body. She slowly opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was her 'beloved' brother.
She quickly examined her position and asked herself a question,
'I lost?'
"Yes, you did." It wasn't a mysterious voice that answered her, but it was Noah. He read her like a book.
She was about to back off when she heard his voice, but he stopped her.
"Don't move. You are still hurt. Am I that scary to you? Sigh~ well, it's over now, but you did great, you have grown into a strong woman, Noelle."
He gently patted her head before he got up from his place and faced the duke, leaving Noelle dazed on the floor.
Drever knew what Noah was waiting for, he gritted his teeth. Even though Noah was his son, he had always hated him, especially after that incident and for his behaviour towards him.
"The duel between Noelle and Noah is over. The victor among those two is... Noah Von Asthor. Thus, he will be the new heir to this dukedom."
Noah smirked when he finally got to hear that.
'He must be fuming inside right now.'
Drever did not wait long and also moved away from there. He knew if he stayed longer, his obedient son would surely give him more respect.
'Oh my, it actually happened, huh? Will it be awkward if I just go away too? I should give them some motivation right? As their future leader?'
All the soldiers present here weren't the main unit of the dukedom but they were all trainees.
The main unit is on the battlefield against the Netherkins. Though, there were still some guarding the borders of the dukedom and a few involved in training the new soldiers.
Noah stepped forward, analysing every soldier before him who was now looking at him with no admiration yet, but with fear. He then began his speech, with his cold and firm voice.
"No need for you all to tense up. I am not a monster, you see. To be honest, you all are a bunch of trash, not a single good soldier at all. I know most of you still do not or will not take me as your leader and I am fine with it. I need no respect from you. A respect or insult from a weak person will never matter to me.
"You all have always hated me and even called me trash before, but in truth, you are the ones who are trash. There is a difference between being weak and pretending to be weak and now I am tired of holding back and having my reputation ruined. I don't care if they call me cruel or a demon, but weak... that shouldn't be the word associated with me anymore and neither should that be associated with you, who are the soldiers of my kingdom.
"So be strong and be useful to me. I will soon bring the changes to this place. No weak shall stay here. I will reform this place and choose my soldiers myself. If you still have doubts about me even after this duel, then you can quit right now before I throw you out. There is no need for dumb savages to be around me. Do you understand?"
Everyone remained silent for a moment, before they all shouted in unison.
"... Yes, young lord!!!"
"Young lord? Are you all dumb? Did you already forget what the duke said? From now on, I am no longer the young lord of this place, refer to me as Young Duke."
"Yes, young duke!!!"
"Good. Spread this news to the entire world, I will no longer hold back. The name of me and my kingdom shall not be disgraced ever. Follow my lead from now on and I will make this kingdom the strongest in the whole world."
"Yes, young duke."
Noah smiled with satisfaction, even when he knew this was just for now, they were all still hesitant to follow him wholeheartedly.
'Well, not that I will have to wait long before they all become my army. The duke will not be here for long anyway.'
"Someone, take my sister to heal her injuries and Rose, come to meet me soon. We have a lot to discuss."