chapter 9

Her words left the room completely silent. For a moment, nobody seemed to know what to say.

The men from Firildia had clearly not expected this. In fact they expected that they only had to contact the king but now.....

Alera simply sat back in her chair, watching them with a satisfied smile. Did they really think they were going to get through this so easily?

In the book, they had still needed to convince the king even after the proposed marriage had been discussed for some time.

But now?

The king wouldn't even have to consider it, Alera had already given him a valid reason to refuse and the best part was that there had never actually been any rumor about Luke's relationship with Evelyn.

She had simply used what she knew from the book. Apparently, her knowledge of the story was going to be far more useful than she had initially imagined.

The silence was eventually broken by the count.

"Your Highness, I assure you that that is just a fling."

Alera turned her attention toward him.

"You know the life of a royal," Count Rowan continued. "The prince always knew he would have to marry outside of love. It is for the benefit of the kingdom."

His tone became more urgent.

"Please reconsider. He will leave that woman before you are even married."

Alera stared at him for a moment, then she shook her head.

"No offence, Count Rowan, but I will not do that."

The count fell silent.

"Do you know what happens to people who come between two lovers?"

Alera's expression became serious.

"They die. They are removed to make way for their love." She glanced toward Luke.

"I am not willing to come between two lovers, so I will not be marrying him. Simple."

Her words were calm and there was no room for negotiation in them.

Count Rowan looked as though he wanted to argue, but before he could, the duke spoke.

"But this is good for our kingdoms. Please put this aside and reconsider. This marriage brings benefits to both of us........"

Alera almost laughed.

There it was again, the kingdom, the alliance, the benefits. They kept speaking as if she were nothing more than a piece on a political board.

She sat up straighter.

"Oh, please."

The duke stopped as she interrupted him

"Do you think I am stupid? Or that I don't understand politics because I am a woman?"

Nobody answered.

Alera looked around the room.

"You have a lot to benefit from this arrangement. We are the powerful ones here."

Her gaze moved toward Luke.

"So what makes you think I will ruin my life for you, Prince?"

Luke's expression tightened. He had remained quiet through most of the discussion, because he knew there was nothing he could say that would change her mind.

The king watched his daughter carefully. It wasn't shocking that he allowed her to speak. He even looked satisfied that she spoke. After all, this was her life.

She was the one who would have to live with the consequences of the marriage. If she didn't want it, he wasn't going to force her into it simply to satisfy another kingdom or to gain anything. He never planned to use his daughter as a political tool. Never...... Alera knew that and she was grateful for it. He was truly a good father.

"If you want an alliance with us," she continued, "there has to be another option."

She paused.

"But the prince is out."

The room went quiet again.

Alera leaned back.

She already made herself clear, luke was no longer an option. If Firildia wanted an alliance badly enough, they would have to find another way.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then one of the attendants finally broke the silence.

"But there is only one person as powerful as the prince, one who could rival the prince in status...."

Alera turned toward him.

The man's expression was thoughtful.

"...and that is the Grand Duke."

Alera's heart skipped, she totally forgot that part.

The attendant continued.

"But he has no interest in marriage."

There was a pause before he continued

"And he is a bit older too, so I ........"

The rest of his words faded as Alera's mind worked.

The Grand Duke.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Ezra.

His name hadn't even been spoken, but she knew exactly who they were talking about. There was only one person who fit the description.

The Grand Duke Ezra Dalio.

The man she had been thinking about ever since she woke up, the man she had mourned in her old world. The man she had promised herself she would protect.

Her heart began beating faster.

It was so simple, it had been right in front of her all this time... She had been trying to figure out how she could get close enough to Ezra to protect him.

She had been wondering how she could meet him, how she could enter his life without raising suspicion.

And now...

The answer practically slapped her in the face...... Marriage.

Alera's lips slowly curved into a smile.

She knew Ezra, at least, she knew the version of him that existed in the novel. He was loyal, powerful, honorable and he was also the man she wanted to save more than anyone else. And now she had the perfect opportunity to do exactly that.

The room was still waiting for an answer when the count finished talking. she didn't even register the rest of his words. Sje had just come up with the perfect way to save herself and Ezra from death.......Alera looked toward her father, then toward the men from Firildia.

Her smile widened.

There was no hesitation left in her mind. If they wanted a marriage alliance If they needed this powerful nation to stand beside their's, there was only one option now, She already knew who she wanted.

"Then I'll marry the Grand Duke." The words fell into the silent room.