Chapter 98: Chapter-98

“Most nineteen-year-old girls would be horrified at the thought of marrying someone my age.”

“I’m not most nineteen-year-old girls.” Elara’s expression didn’t change. “And you’re not looking for someone to bear children or provide emotional companionship. Your wife died forty years ago and you never remarried. That suggests you either don’t want those things or have accepted you won’t find them again.”

Duke Romian went very still. “You’re remarkably blunt.”

“Efficient communication requires clarity.”

“And you think I want… what? A business partner in the form of a wife?”

“I think you want someone who won’t complicate your military duties, who can manage your civilian affairs competently, and who understands the arrangement is strategic rather than romantic.” Elara pulled out a folded document. “I drafted preliminary terms.”

She handed it to him. He unfolded it, scanning the contents.

**Proposed Marriage Terms:**

1. Separate residences maintained (Duke’s military quarters + Princess’s palace)

2. Each party retains full authority over their respective operations

3. Financial assets remain separate except for agreed joint investments

4. Military protection provided to Princess; commercial revenue shared 60-40

5. No expectation of heirs or physical intimacy

6. Either party may request dissolution after 5 years with mutual consent

Duke Romian read through it twice. Then he set it down.

“This is the strangest marriage contract I’ve ever seen.”

“It’s practical.”

“It’s essentially a business partnership with a marriage certificate attached.”

“Yes.”

He leaned back again, studying her face. “Why me specifically? There are younger nobles who could provide similar benefits without the age gap.”

“Younger nobles would have succession ambitions. They’d try to control my operations or use the marriage to advance their own position.” Elara met his gaze. “You don’t need advancement. You’re already at the peak of your career. You have no heirs to complicate inheritance. And you’re trusted by the Emperor, which provides me legitimacy none of my sisters can easily attack.”

“You’ve thought this through carefully.”

“Obviously.”

“And you expect me to agree to this… arrangement… based solely on practical benefit?”

“Yes. Unless you have emotional objections that outweigh strategic value.”

Duke Romian was quiet for a long moment. His pale gray eyes studied her with an intensity that would have made most people uncomfortable.

Elara waited. Let him process.

Finally, he spoke. “I’m going to tell you something, Princess. And I want you to listen carefully.”

“I’m listening.”

“I loved my wife.” His voice was quiet but firm. “When she died forty years ago, I decided I would never remarry. Not because I couldn’t find another woman, but because it felt like a betrayal. Do you understand that?”

“I understand the logic, yes. Emotional attachment creating behavioral constraints.”

His eyes narrowed. “That’s a very clinical way to describe grief.”

“I don’t experience emotions the way most people do. But I recognize their effect on decision-making.”

“You don’t experience emotions.”

“Not reliably. I can identify them in others, but I don’t feel them myself.” Elara kept her tone even. “Which is why this arrangement makes sense. I won’t be hurt by lack of romantic affection. I won’t expect emotional intimacy you can’t or won’t provide. I need the practical benefits of marriage, not the emotional components.”

Duke Romian stared at her. “You’re serious. You genuinely don’t feel emotions.”

“Correct.”

“And you think that makes you a good marriage prospect.”

“For someone in your position? Yes. You don’t want emotional complications. I can’t provide them even if you did. It’s efficient matching.”

He shook his head slowly. “This is the most bizarre conversation I’ve had in decades.”

“Is that a refusal?”

“No.” He picked up the document again, reading through the terms more carefully. “I’m considering it.”

“What concerns you most?”

“Honestly? The age gap. Not because I’m personally bothered, but because the political optics are terrible. The court already thinks you’re desperate or insane for proposing this. If I accept, they’ll think I’m a predatory old man taking advantage of a naive girl.”

“Let them think that. Their opinion doesn’t affect operational effectiveness.”

“It affects my reputation.”

“Your reputation is that of a loyal military commander who’s served the empire for forty years. One questionable marriage won’t destroy that.” Elara leaned forward slightly. “And strategically, having people underestimate us is advantageous. If they think you’re a predatory old man and I’m a desperate child, they won’t see the actual alliance forming.”

Duke Romian’s mouth twitched. Almost a smile. “You really do think like a strategist.”

“I think like someone trying to survive.” She paused. “The succession battle is intensifying. First Princess Eleana and Third Princess Mingzhu have both tried to kill me multiple times. The Emperor favors no one, which means the competition will get more violent before a winner emerges. I need protection I can’t provide myself.”

“And you think marrying me provides that protection.”

“Yes. Your military authority makes direct assassination attempts riskier. Your political connections give me legitimacy. And your age means you won’t try to control my operations or use me as a pawn.” She met his eyes directly. “You’re the best strategic choice available.”

“Not exactly romantic.”

“Romance is irrelevant to survival.”

He studied her for another long moment. Then he folded the document and set it aside.

“I’ll consider your proposal,” he said. “But I want to make something clear, Princess. If I agree to this arrangement, it will be on one condition.”

“Which is?”

“You never lie to me.” His voice was hard. “I don’t care if you can’t feel emotions. I don’t care if you’re using me for protection. But I will not tolerate deception. If this is a strategic alliance, we treat each other as allies—which means honest communication, even when the truth is inconvenient.”

Elara nodded. “Agreed. Honest communication is more efficient than deception.”

“And one more thing.”

“Yes?”

“If we do this, if I agree to marry you, I will protect you from your sisters. That’s part of the arrangement. But I won’t fight your battles for you.” He leaned forward. “You’ll still need to prove yourself in the succession battle. I can provide resources and cover, but I won’t hand you the throne. Understood?”

“Understood. I don’t want the throne handed to me. I want to earn it.”

“Why?”

“Because anything handed to me can be taken away just as easily. Power I build myself is more stable.”

Duke Romian smiled—a real smile this time, showing teeth. “You know, Princess, I came here expecting to refuse your proposal immediately. Thought it was the most ridiculous thing I’d heard in years.”

“And now?”

“Now I’m thinking you might be the most interesting person in this palace.” He stood. “I need three days to consider your terms. On the fourth day, I’ll send you my answer.”

“Acceptable.” Elara stood as well. “Thank you for hearing me out, Your Grace.”

“Thank you for being honest about your motivations. It’s refreshing.” He walked toward the door, then paused. “One question, Princess.”

“Yes?”

“In the throne room, you said all those things about respecting me. About your mother’s admiration. About honor and loyalty. Was any of that true?”

Elara met his gaze without blinking. “I respect your strategic capabilities and your survival record. The rest was theater for the court. They needed an emotional narrative. You needed honest terms. I provided both.”

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