CHAPTER 208: MARRIAGE PROPOSAL [2]

The afternoon sun slanted through the tall windows of Aurelia’s office. Casting long golden rectangles across the polished wooden floor.

The air smelled faintly of ink, parchment, and the soft lavender scent from the candle Aurelia had lit earlier. She didn’t really need it. It was just habit at this point.

Aurelia sat behind her desk, fingers tapping lightly against the wood as she stared at the stack of papers in front of her.

None of it was urgent. Honestly, it wasn’t even that important.

But it gave her something to do.

Across from her. Sprawled in one of the cushioned chairs, Seraphina let out a loud, dramatic sigh. She stretched her arms over her head, then flopped back into the seat even further.

Aurelia didn’t look up.

"You’re still here."

Seraphina grinned and kicked her boots up onto the edge of the desk.

"Of course I am. We’re besties, aren’t we? Can’t I just exist in your presence?"

Aurelia’s eye twitched. Without a word, she leaned forward and flicked Seraphina’s boot off the desk.

"You can exist somewhere else. I have work to do."

Seraphina snorted.

"Work? Really?" She pointed at the stack of papers.

"You’ve been staring at the same page for ten minutes. And we both know you’re just waiting for an excuse to open that poker game on your PC."

Aurelia’s fingers froze mid-tap.

"...I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"Liar," Seraphina said with a smirk.

Aurelia exhaled sharply through her nose, finally lifting her gaze to meet Seraphina’s.

Seraphina was watching her with that usual smug look, pink eyes full of amusement.

Aurelia sighed.

"Fine. Maybe I was thinking about a quick game."

"I knew it." Seraphina beamed.

Aurelia rolled her eyes but didn’t bother denying it. She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms.

"Okay. Why are you actually here? You’re never this clingy unless you want something"

Seraphina placed a hand over her heart.

"Wow. So rude. Can’t I just want to spend time with my favorite person?"

Aurelia stared at her in silence.

Seraphina groaned and gave up the act.

"Alright, alright. I’m bored. And you seem... I don’t know, weirdly happy today. So? What’s going on?"

"I’m not happy."

"You are. You have been smiling to yourself for the past five minutes. Like you’re proud of something."

Aurelia paused. Then, slowly, a small smirk tugged at her lips.

"...Kyle got marriage proposals."

Seraphina blinked. Once. Twice.

Then—

"WHAT."

Aurelia blinked at the sudden intensity in Seraphina’s voice. Seraphina sat upright, eyes suddenly sharp.

"You heard me. Noble families are sending letters. For him."

Seraphina cleared her throat. "And you agreed to them?"

Aurelia waved a hand.

"Of course not. I’m not setting up his marriage."

Seraphina’s grip on the chair loosened slightly, but her shoulders were still tense.

"Then... what are you doing?"

The smirk on Aurelia’s face grew.

"Well, I had to sit through those awful meetings when I was his age. So now it’s his turn."

Seraphina blinked. "Huh?"

Aurelia leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand.

"He has to meet them. All of them. And reject them politely."

Seraphina’s face shifted, caught somewhere between relief and pure horror.

"You—you’re really making him go through with the meetings?"

Aurelia chuckled.

"Oh, you should’ve seen his face. Priceless."

Seraphina swallowed hard.

This was bad.

Kyle, meeting noble daughters? Kyle, being courted? Kyle possibly—possibly—liking one of them?

Nope.

’Absolutely not.’

She needed to shut this down.

Casually. She flicked a strand of hair over her shoulder.

"You really think that’s a good idea?"

Aurelia raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn’t it be?"

Seraphina tilted her head. "What if one of them actually falls for him?"

Aurelia snorted.

"Please. It’s Kyle. He’s always scowling or saying something dumb. No noble girl’s going to fall for that."

Seraphina’s hands twitched. "Are you kidding me?"

Aurelia blinked. "What?"

Seraphina leaned forward, her voice suddenly serious. "Aurelia. Look at him. I mean really look at him."

Aurelia frowned. "I have looked at him. He’s my brother."

Seraphina gestured wildly. "Did you look at his face? He’s—he’s—" She floundered for a second before blurting out..

"He’s tall. He’s got that face—the sharp jaw, the stupidly perfect cheekbones. His hair’s always just messy enough to look intentional. And have you seen the way his eyes catch the light? It’s unfair."

Aurelia stared at her like she’d grown another head.

"...What are you even talking about?"

Seraphina barely stopped herself from facepalming.

Of course Aurelia didn’t see it.

She took a deep breathe

"I’m saying he’s objectively attractive. And now you’re throwing him into a room full of trained noblewomen who live for political marriages? This is a terrible idea."

Aurelia waved her off. "Come on. He’s Kyle. He trips over flat ground."

Seraphina crossed her arms and muttered, "Still doesn’t change the fact he’s... you know. Hot."

Aurelia rolled her eyes. "Only if you’re into the ’quiet, moody sword guy’ thing."

Seraphina mumbled something under her breath. It sounded a lot like, "Who isn’t?"

Aurelia didn’t catch it. She leaned back with a sigh.

"Relax. He’s not going to actually marry anyone. He’ll go, be awkward, and they’ll run away on their own."

Seraphina bit her lip. "But... what if they don’t?"

Aurelia shrugged. "Then he’ll keep rejecting them until they do."

Seraphina’s nails dug into her palms. "...Or—and hear me out—you could just reject them now. Skip the whole thing."

Aurelia blinked. "Huh?"

Seraphina kept her tone light. "Why bother with meetings at all? Just send a polite refusal and be done with it."

Aurelia smirked. "And miss all the fun? Not a chance."

Seraphina’s eye twitched.

Aurelia, completely unbothered, glanced at the wall clock.

"If you’re that worried, you can chaperone."

Seraphina nearly choked. "W-what?"

Aurelia grinned. "Yeah. Make sure he doesn’t crash and burn too hard."

Seraphina opened her mouth. Closed it again.

"...That’s a terrible idea."

Aurelia laughed. "Probably. But it’ll be hilarious."

Seraphina slumped back into the chair with a groan.

This was going to be a disaster.

——————