I Reincarnated as a Prince Who Revolutionized the Kingdom-Chapter 68: Getting to Know One Another

October 17th, 1693.

Two days had passed since Prince Bruno’s last meeting with Lady Amélie de Vauclerc, and in that time, the thought of their conversation had not left his mind. She was unlike any noblewoman he had encountered—sharp, deliberate, and unshaken. He had made his case, but she had not fallen at his feet. Instead, she had demanded more.

And so, he had returned.

The ride to Château Vauclerc was quiet. Bruno, accompanied only by Antoine Leclerc and Captain Vallier, had left most of his guards behind. This was not an official visit. This was not a royal summons. This was something else entirely.

Leclerc, ever the tactician, smirked as they approached the estate. "You are persistent, Your Highness."

Bruno adjusted the gloves on his hands, eyes fixed ahead. "I am thorough."

Vallier scoffed. "That’s one way to put it."

Bruno ignored them both.

When they arrived, the château’s servants wasted no time in welcoming them. A footman led them to the receiving hall, where Lady Amélie was already waiting.

She was seated near the large arched windows, a book resting in her hands. The sunlight caught the strands of her soft pink hair, making it shimmer like silk. When she glanced up, those violet eyes—sharp and unwavering—met his without hesitation.

Bruno did not miss the flicker of amusement on her lips.

"Your Highness," she greeted, closing her book. "To what do I owe this second visit?"

Bruno stepped forward, removing his gloves with deliberate ease. "I have come to learn more about the woman who may one day be my queen."

Leclerc coughed lightly, masking what Bruno was sure was laughter. Vallier, for once, had the wisdom to keep quiet.

Amélie tilted her head slightly. "You surprise me, Your Highness. Most men in your position would simply declare a marriage and expect the bride to obey."

Bruno smirked. "I am not most men."

"No," she admitted, "you are not."

A silence stretched between them. It was not tense, nor was it awkward. It was the silence of two minds measuring each other.

Finally, Amélie gestured to the chairs near the fireplace. "Then let us speak, Your Highness. Let us see if we are suited for one another."

Bruno took a seat across from her, his posture relaxed yet commanding. Leclerc and Vallier, sensing this was not a discussion they needed to interfere with, stepped to the side, giving them space.

Amélie leaned slightly forward, resting her hands on the armrest. "Tell me, Your Highness—why do you truly wish to marry? Is it for duty, for strategy, or for something else?"

Bruno did not hesitate. "Duty, first and foremost. A stable ruler must have a successor, and a kingdom must have its queen. But strategy also plays its part."

She arched an eyebrow. "And the ’something else’?"

Bruno smirked slightly. "I suppose I would prefer a wife whose presence does not bore me."

Amélie chuckled, the sound light but deliberate. "A fair answer. And yet, you could find a hundred noblewomen who would be content to sit beside you and smile for courtly appearances."

Bruno leaned forward slightly. "But none of them would challenge me."

Her gaze flickered, something unreadable passing through it.

"And you wish to be challenged, Your Highness?"

Bruno nodded. "A ruler surrounded by sycophants grows complacent. I need a queen who can speak her mind, who understands the weight of the crown."

Amélie exhaled softly, her fingers tapping lightly against the wood of the chair. "You place much trust in me already."

Bruno studied her. "Do you doubt yourself?"

She smirked. "Not in the slightest. But I must question why you, a man known for seizing power with ruthless efficiency, would entrust a woman with such influence."

Bruno tilted his head slightly. "Because influence is inevitable. A queen will always have power, whether she wields it openly or in the shadows. I would rather have one who uses it with purpose."

Her violet eyes searched his, as if peeling back layers to see what lay beneath.

"Then let us speak plainly, Your Highness."

Bruno gestured for her to continue.

"What are your flaws?" she asked, her voice cool yet curious. "You present yourself as strong, as decisive. But I am not blind. No ruler is without weakness."

Bruno exhaled through his nose. "I am impatient. I expect results quickly, and when I do not see them, I take matters into my own hands."

Amélie nodded. "A dangerous trait in a ruler."

Bruno smirked. "And what of you? Are you flawless, Lady Vauclerc?"

She chuckled softly. "Far from it."

Bruno leaned back in his chair, intrigued. "Tell me."

Amélie folded her hands neatly in her lap. "I am prideful. I do not bow easily, nor do I accept being treated as an ornament. I will not stand silent when I believe something is wrong. And I do not tolerate incompetence."

Bruno’s eyes gleamed with something close to approval. "Then we are alike in more ways than I thought."

She smirked. "Perhaps."

The room fell into another silence, but this time, it was laced with understanding.

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Finally, Amélie rose from her seat. Bruno followed suit, standing tall before her.

"And?" he asked.

She took a slow breath, as if weighing the moment. Then, she met his gaze with quiet resolve.

"I will marry you, Your Highness."

Bruno allowed himself a small smile. "Then we have much to prepare for."

Amélie held out her hand, not in the delicate way noblewomen did, but as an equal—a gesture of partnership.

Bruno clasped it firmly.

Leclerc, still watching from the side, exhaled in amusement. "You truly have a way of choosing the most interesting people, Your Highness."

Vallier chuckled. "Let’s hope the wedding is less of a battle than the court politics will be."

Bruno and Amélie ignored them both.

For the first time in a long time, Bruno did not feel like he was simply securing a throne. He was building something greater.

And Amélie de Vauclerc would stand beside him, not as a trophy, but as a force of her own.