CH307 Voiding Betrothal Agreement
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"Indeed, I do," Alex said with a nod. "I want to dissolve the agreement made between your family and my father, in order to form a new contractâone between just the two of us."
The first half of his statement caught Eleanor completely off-guard. For a moment, her mind froze. It almost sounded like he was rejecting her. Her!
But before she could decide whether to feel insulted, offended, or simply shocked, the second half of his words landedâand she found herself thoroughly thrown off balance.
Alex went on, his tone steady and deliberate. "Since we are the two primary parties involved, Iâm of the opinion that we alone should decide the terms of our marriage contract. It should not be basedâor predicatedâon external influences beyond ourselves. Therefore, I wish to annul the previous contract agreed upon between your family and my father."
From his suitâs inner breast pocket, Alex withdrew an envelope and slid it across the table toward her.
"In that envelope is a letter of recommendation to a new academy being established by a patron of the Golden Palace," he explained. "That letter guarantees your brotherâs admission into the school."
He paused, watching her reaction before adding, "While the academy may seem insignificant for now, the Golden Palace is anything but. In a few weeks, its influence will reach heights where even royalty would offer it face. You can imagine the prestige an academy under its protection will gain."
He leaned back slightly, his voice calm but firm. "That letter is one of only a handful that guarantees full scholarship and patron protection. In our Empire, only the Imperial Sun himself could issue something of similar weight."
Alexâs smile softened just a little. "As long as your brother attends the academy, heâll be beyond the reach of the jackals circling him. You wonât have to worry about his safety anymore. And with that assurance... your deal with my father is no longer necessary."
Alex spoke quickly, giving Eleanor no chance to interrupt until he was finished.
Eleanor stared at the man across the table, confusion flashing through her eyes. If the letter and the academy were truly as he described, then he had just thrown away the greatest bargaining chip that secured this union in the first place.
Even without arrogance, she knew her worth. If she so wished, the number of men who would line up to ask for her hand could fill the road from the Enclave to the Imperial Capital!
And many among them possessed far greater status and power than the young man now sitting opposite her.
If not for his fatherâone of the few living Legends with both the deterrence and the will to protect her brotherâshe would never have agreed to such an arrangement. Not to someone she had never met... and certainly not to an Earlâs son who, at the time, was weaker than herself.
Now, that same person was willingly discarding the very leverage that tied her to him.
She couldnât understand.
"What are you after?" Eleanor finally asked, her tone sharp.
"If possible, marriage," Alex said plainly. "But at the very leastâfriendship. A true friendship. Not one born from having leverage over the other, but one forged through intertwined benefits and mutual respect."
"Intertwined benefits and mutual respect?" Eleanor repeated, disbelief colouring her tone. "You expect me to believe that youâa noble scionâwould give up the guaranteed privilege of taking the hand of a daughter of the Imperial Clan? The so-called Flower of the Empire?"
Alex chuckled. "I was told you hated that title."
"I do!" Eleanor snapped, her teeth lightly gnashing before she caught herself. "Itâs nothing but a shallow, demeaning label."
She straightened in her chair, her composure swiftly returning. "Donât evade my question."
"I didnât intend to," Alex replied calmly. "Daughter of the Imperial Clan, Flower of the Empire... what does that have to do with me?"
He shrugged.
âIâm already set to marry Lady Zora. If not for my familyâs shenanigans, we wouldnât even be here."
He met her gaze evenly. "You might be a daughter of the Imperial Clan, but you donât hold much weight within it. In truth, your prestige is lower than even Zoraâsâsheâs the daughter of the DragonHold Enclaveâs Tower Master, a peak Legend or beyond. Not to mention, sheâs the Enclaveâs majordomo in her own right.
"If prestige from marriage was what I wanted, marrying Zoraâa woman I already share mutual affection withâwould more than suffice."
His tone remained calm, almost detached as he continued, "And if I were here for your beauty... ask yourself honestly, can you truly claim to be more beautiful than Zora? Isnât that one of the reasons you reject that superficial titleâthe âFlower of the Empireâ?"
Though Alexâs words sounded antagonistic, the way he spoke made it clear he wasnât trying to belittle her. He was merely stating facts.
Still, it wasnât pleasant to hear.
"Then why are you here?!" Eleanorâs voice sharpened, her composure finally cracking.
"I am here for you, Eleanor Ludevicus," Alex said simply, pointing to her.
"Huh?" Eleanor blinked, stunned.
"I am here for you, Eleanor Ludevicus. Not for one of many Imperial Princesses. Not for a title-bearer adored by the masses. But for youâthe woman who studied and worked relentlessly to become a Tier III Healer. The woman who pored through compendium after compendium, brewed potion after potion to also reach Tier III as an alchemist.
"The one who, starting with a new name and little support, built one of the finest mid-level alchemy shops in the entire Enclave."
Alexâs tone softened. "That is the woman Iâm here for. The one I would consider it a privilege to take the hand of in marriageâor at the very least, to build a relationship of mutual respect with."
He leaned back slightly, his expression calm but sincere. "That is why Iâm here, Eleanor... Thatâs why we are here."
Eleanor was left speechless.
For most of her life, every conversation sheâd ever had followed a predictable scriptâpraise for her beauty and/or reverence for her lineage. Neither were things she was proud of. In truth, she loathed them both.
No one ever spoke of the things she had actually earned.
It was the first time someoneâsomeone who knew her true backgroundâhad looked beyond the surface and praised her for her effort, her achievements, and her strength.
And it shook her far more than she cared to admit.
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