"Keep her isolated for now. She’s evidence." Elara turned to the dead assassin. "And this one needs to be examined. Check for identifying marks, guild affiliations, anything that traces back to who hired them."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The physician left with the vial. Other servants entered to clean up the ss—glass, blood, the body. Elara watched them work with detached efficiency.
Two assassination attempts in one day.
The professional through the window—three thousand gold contract, direct attack.
The poison disguised as antidote—would have killed her if she’d trusted Fifth Princess.
Both tid for right before the succession dinner. Both designed to eliminate her before Duke Romian’s answer, before the Emperor’s final test.
Soone was getting desperate.
The fox knight returned, his ribs bandaged. "Your Highness, Fifth Princess is secured. She’s asking to speak with you."
"Later. First I need to understand who sent the assassin." Elara walked to the window, looking at the broken glass. "The attack ca from outside. They climbed up—which ans they knew which room I’d be in, what ti I’d be there. Inside information."
"Your Highness... Fifth Princess’s visit provided that information."
"Yes. But did she know she was providing it, or was she an unwitting tool?" Elara turned back. "Either way, First Princess Eleana orchestrated this. The question is whether she acted alone or if soone else is also involved."
A knock at the door. Another knight entered, bowing. "Your Highness, Duke Romian is here. He says it’s urgent."
Elara’s eyebrows rose slightly. "Show him in."
Duke Romian entered monts later, still in military dress uniform, looking around the study with sharp eyes. He took in the broken window, the bloodstains being scrubbed from the floor, the scattered glass.
"I received your letter about the dinner," he said without preamble. "Then I heard there was an incident at your residence. I ca imdiately."
"There was an assassination attempt. Approximately twenty minutes ago." Elara gestured at the window. "Professional. Three thousand gold contract. I survived."
Duke Romian’s jaw tightened. "You’re injured."
Elara looked at her bandaged arm. "Minor cut. The physician confird it’s not serious."
"You’re remarkably calm for soone who was nearly killed twenty minutes ago."
"Panic would be inefficient. The threat is neutralized." She walked to her desk. "Was there sothing specific you needed, Your Grace?"
Duke Romian stared at her. "Most people who survive assassination attempts are... shaken. Frightened. You’re discussing it like a failed business transaction."
"Functionally, that’s what it was. Soone paid for a service. The service provider failed to deliver. Transaction incomplete." Elara sat down. "If you ca to check on my wellbeing, I appreciate the concern, but it’s unnecessary."
"I didn’t co just for that." Duke Romian pulled a folded docunt from his coat. "I ca to give you my answer."
Elara went completely still.
The marriage proposal. His answer was supposed to co tomorrow—the sa day as the succession dinner. But he was here now, early, with a docunt in his hand.
"I see," she said carefully.
"I’ve spent three days investigating you." Duke Romian set the docunt on her desk. "Sent agents to Port Crestfall. Interviewed rchants, employees, forr enemies. Reviewed your business operations and your handling of local nobles."
"And?"
"And you’re exactly what you presented yourself as. Competent. Ruthless when necessary. Honest about your motivations. Profitable." He paused. "Also completely emotionless, which multiple people ntioned specifically."
"I told you I don’t experience emotions reliably."
"You did. I thought you might be exaggerating. You weren’t." Duke Romian sat down across from her. "I also learned that you keep your promises. Every single person I spoke to said the sa thing—when you commit to sothing, you deliver. That’s rare."
"It’s efficient. Breaking commitnts damages credibility."
"Most people aren’t that practical." He pushed the docunt toward her. "Read this."
Elara picked it up and unfolded it.
It was her original marriage contract—the one she’d drafted—with andnts written in Duke Romian’s precise handwriting:
ACCEPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS:
Clause 6 andnt: Dissolution requires 10 years minimum, not 5. If we commit to this arrangent, we commit properly.
Additional Clause 7: In the event of your death, all military protection agreents extend to your surviving household staff and beast knights for minimum 2 years.
Additional Clause 8: I retain final authority over military decisions. You retain final authority over comrcial operations. Neither interferes with the other’s domain without explicit consent.
Additional Clause 9: Monthly coordination etings to discuss overlapping interests and potential conflicts. Mandatory attendance, no exceptions.
Additional Clause 10:This contract can be renegotiated after 5 years if both parties agree circumstances have changed sufficiently to warrant revision.
At the bottom, Duke Romian had signed and dated it.
Elara read through the andnts twice. They were all reasonable. The ten-year minimum showed he was taking this seriously. The protection for her household showed he understood loyalty. The clear domain separation prevented future conflicts.
It was a good contract. Better than her original draft.
"You accept," she said.
"I accept." Duke Romian leaned back in his chair. "With the understanding that this is a strategic alliance, not a romantic relationship. We both benefit. We both maintain autonomy. We work together when our interests align."
"Agreed." Elara pulled out a pen. "I’ll sign imdiately."
"You don’t want ti to review the andnts?"
"They’re reasonable. Accepting them is efficient." She signed her na at the bottom, next to his signature. "This is now a binding contract."
"Witnessed by..." Duke Romian looked around. "We need a witness for full legal validity."
"Fox knight!" Elara called.
The fox knight entered imdiately. "Your Highness?"
"Witness this contract signature." She handed him the docunt. "Official marriage agreent between myself and Duke Romian Ashford."
The fox knight’s ears shot up. His eyes went wide. "Your Highness... he accepted?"
"Obviously. Sign as witness."
The fox knight signed with shaking hands, still looking shocked. "Congratulations, Your Highness. Your Grace."
"Thank you." Elara took back the docunt. "File this with the imperial administrative office imdiately. I want it officially recorded before tomorrow’s dinner."
"Yes, Your Highness." The fox knight bowed and left quickly.
Duke Romian watched this exchange with sothing that might have been amusent. "You’re not even slightly surprised I accepted?"
"I estimated probability at sixty-five percent based on our previous conversation. Acceptance was the most likely outco." Elara stood. "Though arriving early suggests additional motivation beyond the strategic benefits."
"You think I ca early because I was worried about you."
"The timing suggests it. You received my letter about the dinner threat, heard about the assassination attempt, and ca imdiately with your answer rather than waiting until tomorrow." She tilted her head slightly. "That indicates concern beyond contractual obligation."
Duke Romian stood as well. "You’re nineteen years old. You’ve survived multiple assassination attempts in the last six months. You were just attacked in your own study twenty minutes ago. And you’re standing here analyzing my motivations like this is a chess ga."
"It is a chess ga. The succession battle is strategic competition with lethal stakes." Elara walked to the window, looking out at the palace complex. "But you’re correct that I’m young and that surviving has been... difficult. Your acceptance improves my position significantly."
"That’s why I ca early. I wanted you to have this protection before tomorrow’s dinner." Duke Romian joined her at the window. "I also wanted to tell you sothing about that dinner."
"What?"
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