The silence that fell over the private imperial council chamber after Prince Gillian’s sudden proposal was heavy enough to suffocate. The parchment bearing the Solaric Emperor’s crest rested in the center of the table like a declaration of war, threatening to completely overturn the fragile balance of power within Auzelian.

King Alderon did not move an inch, his expression remaining perfectly dignified and impossible to read. Yet his fingers curled ever so slightly against the carved armrests, the only visible crack in his composure.

"A marriage alliance," Duke Harrison spoke up first, breaking the heavy silence. He leaned forward, his sharp eyes darting from the sealed document to the Solaric prince. "A bold proposition, Prince Gillian. But a treaty of this magnitude already ensures economic and territorial stability. Forcing a blood bond feels less like an act of mutual peace and more like an attempt to tether the sovereignty of our kingdom directly to the Solaric crown."

"A sovereignty that would be mutually protected, Duke Harrison," Gillian replied smoothly, not losing an ounce of his confident smile as he rested his hands flat on the table. "History has taught us that borders shift and trade agreements fade. But a child born of both our lineages? That is a tie that cannot easily be severed. It ensures that neither empire can draw a blade against the other without cutting their own flesh."

Count Belmont wiped a fresh layer of nervous sweat from his brow, his fountain pen trembling against his fingers. "And... which lineage exactly does the Solaric Empire intend to bind itself to? Our kingdom has many noble houses, but a royal alliance requires a specific tier of blood."

"Naturally," Gillian chuckled, his gaze sweeping lazily across the table, purposely lingering on the vacant expressions of the regional lords before turning his eyes toward the head of the table. "My sister, Princess Iryna, is of the highest direct lineage. My father, would accept nothing less than a candidate of equal stature and legendary renown to stand beside her."

Yerel shifted slightly in his chair. His posture was rigid, his narrow eyes studying Gillian with quiet, unsettling focus while Karson, stood like a silent shadow a respectful step behind him. Yerel’s lips curled into a faint, serpentine smirk as he caught the subtle direction of Gillian’s gaze.

"If it is legendary renown and unmatched stature the Solaric Empire seeks," Yerel opened his mouth, his voice smooth but dripping with hidden malice as he turned his gaze toward the left side of the table, "then we need look no further than the very man who secured our borders in the first place. Since Duke Valtrane is our undisputed war hero, why not settle the alliance with him?"

The temperature in the room seemed to plummet instantly.

Zarius’s gaze narrowed to razor-sharp slits. The relaxed, pale composure he had meticulously maintained throughout the boring bureaucratic clauses vanished, replaced by an aura so intensely hostile that Count Belmont visibly flinched beside him. Directly behind Zarius’s chair, Elios and Flio stiffened, their hands instinctively dropping toward their sides as they glared at the Crown Prince.

Zarius abandoned his usual formal composure entirely, speaking in a cool, steady voice that immediately silenced the chamber. He looked at Yerel with a blank expression that somehow managed to radiate complete disgust.

Who does this sniveling lizard think he is offering up?

"Did you happen to slip in the bath this morning, Your Highness, and strike your head so severely that your brain has ceased to function?" Zarius asked coldly, his voice echoing off the walls. "Or have you simply forgotten that I am already with Cherion?"

A collective, sharp intake of breath rippled through the regional lords. Marquis Vance let out a faint, amused grunt from the corner, leaning back further in his chair to enjoy the impending disaster, while Duke Harrison simply adjusted his cuffs, watching the exchange with intense focus.

Yerel didn’t flinch. His smirk only widened, a soft, mocking chuckle escaping his throat as he met Zarius’s furious glare. "Come now, Duke Valtrane. Let us not let sentimentality cloud high-stakes diplomacy. You and your companion haven’t even officially, legally become mates yet. In the eyes of the empire’s strict laws, your bond still holds no legal standing. A grand marriage to a foreign princess is a small price to pay for eternal peace."

"My bond is not a bargaining chip for your political convenience, Prince Yerel," Zarius replied, his voice dropping into a dangerous, guttural pitch that sounded like a low growl. "If you are so eager to secure this peace through blood, I suggest you climb onto the table and offer yourself."

"Gentlemen, please," Prince Gillian interrupted, raising a hand with an expression of polished, thoroughly amused innocence. He looked between Yerel and Zarius, his eyes sparkling with a patronizing delight as he analyzed the visible rift between the Auzelian crown and its most powerful Duke. "While I deeply admire the passion of the North, I must clarify the parameters of our proposal."

Gillian leaned back slightly, his smile sharpening into something deeply predatory. "My sister is an Imperial Princess of the Solaric Empire. There is absolutely no universe in which I would ever allow my sister to become a mere consort, a secondary spouse, or a hidden mistress in a duke’s estate. The Solaric crown demands absolute devotion and undivided rank for its bloodline."

Gillian’s eyes locked onto Zarius, his gaze scanning the Duke’s pale features, still entirely ignorant of the curse but fully aware of the social weapon he was wielding. "If Duke Valtrane is already bound to another, regardless of the legal technicalities, it would be a grave insult to suggest our Princess share his attention. No, the Solaric Empire requires a union that sits at the absolute pinnacle of authority."

King Alderon finally spoke, his resonant, firm voice instantly silencing the bickering table. "The proposal for a marriage alliance is a matter of grand state strategy. It cannot be decided over a single desk of trade clauses. We shall take the Solaric Emperor’s request under advisement."

The King stood up, signaling the absolute end of the session. "This council is adjourned. We shall resume our discussions after the party."

Gillian stood smoothly, bowing his head with a brilliant, totally unbothered grin as his Imperial Knight and Scholar gathered the gold-embossed scrolls. "A wise decision, Your Majesty. I look forward to raising a glass with you all. Let us hope the celebratory atmosphere brings us closer toward greater harmony."