Max’s heart nearly burst out of his chest. For a second, he even pinched himself, just to make sure this was real and not some absurd dream.

"What did you say?"

The expression on Max’s face made Henry smile like a man who had already won without ever needing to dirty his hands. He had prepared for this. He had spent a long time thinking about what to do, how to keep Max here, and how to make sure the Thunder Dragon Clan would never dare return so easily. If Max stayed, then one day they might even grind the Fire Dragon Clan beneath their feet. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"You heard me right. I want you to marry my daughter." Henry sat straighter, his expression hardening into seriousness. "You may call this marriage a political one. Feelings have nothing to do with it. I simply need a powerful successor from the two of you, and I will even allow you to stand as second in command of the clan."

Max opened his mouth, then closed it again. Something dark passed through his eyes as a plan formed in his mind, a plan so ridiculous that part of him almost wanted to laugh and thank Henry for handing it to him. But he let none of it show. Not wanting the old fox to sniff out what was really in his head, he forced his expression smooth again.

"What about Rosalia? Does she even want this?"

"Does that matter?" Henry laughed. "She has no choice anyway. As her father, I can sell her off to whoever I please. How do you think empires are built, Max? What kind of watered-down place did you crawl out of?"

Then he stood.

"Well, if you do not want to, I will not blame you. But I also cannot promise that I will not marry her to William instead."

He gave Max a sideways look, and the moment Max’s face dropped at that name, Henry’s smile darkened with satisfaction. He knew it. There was no way Max could refuse now.

What Henry did not realize, however, was that this was exactly what the other fox wanted. Max wanted to look desperate, vulnerable, and stupid. After marrying Rosalia and obtaining her bloodline power, he would strip Henry of his position as chief and build his own empire without that old nuisance anywhere near his side.

"I agree, but I want to hear her answer as well, from her own lips," Max said, his eyes burning with carefully measured passion.

"Good. I like that you have great taste in women, Max."

What an idiot.

They both thought it at the exact same time. Two foxes standing before each other, each already imagining the day he would slit the other’s throat for power.

Later that day, after Max had recovered a little more, Rosalia was summoned before her father. She had no idea Max would be there as well, so she entered wearing only her sleeping gown, her legs left bare, the thin cloth clinging just enough to make her chest look especially full.

"Father, did you call—? Max!?" Her voice sliced through the Chief’s hut, making Henry laugh. She wanted to turn around and flee, but his roar nailed her in place.

"Stop, Rosalia! There is something we must discuss with you."

She turned slowly, meeting Henry’s and Max’s eyes. "Father, I don’t think I’m dressed for the occasion..." If she could have buried her burning face straight into the ground, she would have.

"You do not need to worry about that anymore." Henry laughed loudly, his voice shaking the hut.

"What do you mean?" Rosalia could already feel that something was wrong. Not only was Max here instead of resting in bed, without her ever being told, but he was standing beside her father with lowered eyes, unable to meet her gaze directly.

"I have thought about it since the battle. The way you led the people. The way I acted like a coward in that moment, convincing myself I was right while ignoring what everyone else wanted. And if not for you, Rosalia, Max might not be standing here with us today."

Henry rose and walked toward his daughter with heavy steps. He took her hand and led her back toward Max. She resisted at once. She knew, she knew this was what she had feared, but surely her father would not hand her over to an outsider... right?

Then Henry took Max’s hand as well and joined theirs together, his own hand pressing down over both.

"To bind our clan together and strengthen it from within, I bless my daughter and the brave warrior Max as a couple blessed by the heavens. Tomorrow, by the time dawn comes, the two of you will become husband and wife before the whole clan."

Henry’s words cut into Rosalia like a blade. She was truly not ready for that. Her pale face blushed deep crimson as she tried to pull away, but Max’s grip held her firmly.

"Rosalia," Max said gently. "If that is okay with you, I would be the happiest man in the world if you allowed me to take you as my wife."

Her body froze. Her eyes met his, and for a single moment the entire world seemed to stop around them.

"Do you truly mean that?" Her fingers trembled, but not from fear. Deep inside, she was happy, as if this was something she had secretly wanted all along. Her feelings for Max had not fully reached that point yet, but she knew one thing with painful certainty. If she married him, it would not take long before she fell for him completely.

"In that case... I..." She lowered her burning face. "I accept the marriage proposal."

"Hahaha! Very good, you two!" Henry roared, happier for his own victory over Max than for his daughter’s future. Max only scoffed inwardly. He could not believe it. It was finally time to set his plan in motion. All that suffering, all that time spent acting like a slave, had finally paid off, and Henry had walked straight into his trap.

"Meet your bride tomorrow at dawn in the square, Max. I will have someone bring you ceremonial clothes in the morning." Henry patted his shoulder, and all three of them knew that by tomorrow, the clan would no longer be the same.