If you're looking for romance novel recs, I recently very much enjoyed Freya Marske's Swordcrossed, which is a m/m low-stakes secondary-world fantasy in which the main character is about to enter into an arranged marriage, and his fiancee has another suitor who is very upset about this and is planning on challenging him to a duel at the wedding, as is customary. The main character, like you do, hires a professional duelist to duel on his behalf at the wedding and also teach him to fight. And then they fall in love. :D
no subject
If you're looking for romance novel recs, I recently very much enjoyed Freya Marske's Swordcrossed, which is a m/m low-stakes secondary-world fantasy in which the main character is about to enter into an arranged marriage, and his fiancee has another suitor who is very upset about this and is planning on challenging him to a duel at the wedding, as is customary. The main character, like you do, hires a professional duelist to duel on his behalf at the wedding and also teach him to fight. And then they fall in love. :D