Something to behold? Oh, yes. Yes, it would be. Renar had long envisioned exactly how such a duel would play out, and now it was almost within reach. He just needed to hold on just that tiny bit more. Maintain all he'd built until then. Which meant shaking off the pleasant dream and returning to the situation at hand.

At least the little chit had the right idea in a tourney such as this. For likely the wrong reasons, but still. Though that did beg the question...was she of age for that irritating little hundi ritual? As far as Renar recalled from cultural education and talks with Lein on the matter, the talk of a marriage duel had to be consensual on both ends. And while it would be both utterly hilarious and entirely necessary to see some people (Gerard) get shackled with a good noble marriage at last, the fact remained that Dame Lizaelea was foreign nobility. A possible wrinkle, despite the potential advantages.

"Allow me to hazard a guess then, Dame. Is this a step upon your obligatory rite of marriage? If so, allow me to stop something at the pass: should we duel, I do not consent to it being one of potential marriage. Take solace in that this is hardly a slight against you so much as that I've obligations that I'm expected to meet." He inclined his head in brief apology, catching Rolan's eye to implore him to not audibly wonder what Renar was talking about with that last bit.

Because it was worded exactly vague enough to be truthful, while obfuscating the fact that he didn't have a good excuse. He just wanted a more advantageous match for Thalnan politics.

---

With what he had seen of the other Roses fighting against threats as a united force, and assisting in such battles where he could, Rolan considered something to behold an understatement. He held no disillusionment about his own place among the Captain's retinue, hence his consideration to not participate before being asked, but there was no shame in being bested by another Iron Rose. The declaration from Lady Beaux on the idea of being lucky to witness such a thing got a brief nod.

"With how contests like these can go, I would be surprised if two of the Roses did not cross blades at some point."

Rolan expected it, the only question was who would end up facing who. Most of the Captain's retinue paired against the other should prove to be enlightening, as far as contests go, though he excluded himself from those particular matches. Should he cross steel with another of the Roses, he would not hold back but also not hold his breath. Ser Renar, in response to Lady Beaux mentioning facing one of the Roses in battle, already voiced his stance on it not being for potential marriage. Ah, right, that Hundi tradition. He mentioned it was hardly a slight but instead a matter of obligation, and Rolan recognized the look he had when glancing his way.

"With how seriously Ser Renar takes his obligations, I would consider it high praise that the thought even arose as a possibility."

No audible questioning, simply a reinforcement with the subtle mention of praise in that Lady Beaux would conduct herself well enough to find herself facing off against Ser Renar in one of the tournament duels. If Rolan were to hazard a guess, Ser Renar was holding out for a more valuable union, for whatever reason that may be, as political maneuvering and marriages for the sake of stronger positions were not unknown to him. His own father, curse his grave, had considered such as viable options to impart as a tool to consider. Fortunately Rolan did not have to consider that implication nearly as much as others might.