What shines is not diamond, what is beautiful is not beauty, and what is smooth is not just silk.
Home is the perfect combination for that but can also be a pain if the occupants don't have love.
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Breakfast at Erlangga's residence is always as usual, quiet and peaceful. Very rarely is there a conversation at the dinner table. They sat and ate in silence, only the soft clatter of forks and knives rubbing against each other's plates.
Nothing has changed, this big table is in fact only inhabited by three lives. Erlang, his mother and also his father.
Erlangga is the only child, he is also the only heir of the straight line of the Lorenzo family, a noble family who upholds the purity of his blood.
Royal blood...
He has no cousins or other close relatives. Because each of his parents is also the only child in his family.
His father, mister Edward Lorenzo was a powerful man who had strong claws in government. He is the head of the ministry and also an ambitious man who justifies various means to achieve his goals.
Men are cold and have no love at all. Even for his own wife, Amanda Lorenzo.
Even though their marriage wasn't based on love, just an arranged marriage from generation to generation, but the graceful woman who was very intelligent knew how to act like a noble's wife.
Cold and tend to follow her husband's temperament in acting, cunning and ambitious.
Soft sighs filled the silence until they finished their breakfast.
"So how was your school, Son?"
Erlang looked up, his irises staring at the middle-aged man who still had a strong aura.
The gaze of an eagle looking for its prey. Cold and flat face. He is Edward Lorenzo, Erlangga is father.
"Okay, as usual," said Erlang flatly.
"The highest marks are still in my name, Father," he continued.
"Good, don't let trivial things distract you. Remember Erlang, your goal is good grades and graduation so that in the future you can be like a father." Edward told.
Since the first the position of head of the ministry has never been separated from the family line of Lorenzo, his father, grandfather and previous descendants.
Erlang nodded.
"No dating or other boarding relations Erlang."
Deg..
Erlang stopped his movement and put the spoon beside his plate.
"What do you mean Dad?"
Mr. Edward raised an eyebrow, "I heard you are dating someone? Can you explain?" he demanded.
"Is that true, Son?" this time it was Amanda who asked. His gaze was fixed on his son.
Erlang sighed, he shifted his seat slightly away from his mother.
"Nothing, it was just a joke. You don't have to worry about it," he exclaimed.
Mr. Edward was silent, he did not show any expression.
"So it's true? About the lowly girl from the Libra dorm?" asked Mr. Edward.
While Amanda reacted immediately, her expression turned tense as if she had just discovered something rare had happened.
"What?" Amanda finally found her voice. "Explain what your father means Erlang! You don't really date lowly girls do you?"
"Amanda shut up! Let Erlang talk." Edward snapped at his wife, then turned his gaze back to the figure of his only son.
"Sons!"
"Nothing will happen, it's just a joke between us. A few days ago I lost a bet and Bintang suggested this joke. Don't worry Dad, nothing will taint our royal blood."
Amanda breathed a sigh of relief. She was almost heartbroken by her husband's statement earlier.
Dating a girl from the Libra dorm? Seriously. Even his entire family had never done such a lowly thing. Amanda is sure that her late grandfather will rise from the grave if he finds out his only grandson is dating a lowly girl.
"Soon you graduate Son. Don't play anymore, don't let Ethan Pradipta's son beat you later."
Erlang was silent as he nodded. That won't happen, because his best friend's abilities are far below him, even though Bintang is smart.
Bintang wouldn't want to deal with troublesome things like the ministry.
"Son, he's a tough opponent for you. I heard that Ethan is planning an arranged marriage with the youngest daughter Jhonathan, what's his name? Sella Amzella? He's your roommate, isn't he?"
Deg..
Erlang jacked up again. This time his eyes were fixed on the man. The statement his father had just announced was like a boulder hitting his body.
"What do you mean Dad?" he asked curiously.
Erlang tried not to get emotional, by pressing the edge of the dining table with his fingers.
"You don't know? I heard they're getting engaged soon."
Erlang gripped the edge of the table more violently. What is this? Why did he just find out?
Did his friend really stab him in the back?
Erlang frowned harshly, that couldn't be happening. Bintang is not only his friend, but he already considers him more than his own brother. The man couldn't lie to him.
"I think you misunderstood. Bintang never said he was getting engaged."
I hope it's true..
"Bintang Pradipta? I know him, from the first they had planned to match their son and daughter together, it's no longer surprising." Amanda added.
"Well, they will form a coalition later. By the way Son, you can take it easy. Your father and mother have already chosen the right candidate for you, more than the woman your friend betrothed to."
Erlang didn't really pay attention to what his parents said. The man was trying to contain his anger, how could Bintang and Sella betray him?
"Your father is right Erlang, she is the eldest daughter of and directly related to the royal family. You will love it, Mother has checked her background which is amazing. She will be the perfect wife for you later."
"Would you like to meet him directly Erlang? I can invite his family to have dinner together later."
"NO!!" Erlang exclaimed sternly and stood up from his chair.
The man clenched his fists in anger, his lips pressed together with an unusual look.
Enough talk about Bintang and Sella. He didn't want to hear about the classic arranged marriage arranged by his parents.
"ERLANG!! WHY SHOUT IN FRONT OF YOUR PARENTS!!" Amanda snapped.
"Enough Ma'am!! There is no setting about when and who will become my wife in the future. Father, you have forced me to follow your wishes and orders all this time, I entered the school you wanted, the hostel you wanted and the position and values you wanted. I can't even experience childhood like normal people do. Neither do you, Mother. You also left me speechless other than following your will. But please let me decide what I want to do this time." Eagle exploded.
The young man wasn't angry with arranged marriages, was he. He was more upset with his father's statement about Bintang and Sella's relationship.
"Are you yelling at us Son?" Mr. Edward spoke up.
Erlang took a deep breath, he immediately looked down. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way, it's just that I'm upset. Sorry Dad."
Erlang immediately turned around and left the dining table with big steps, he didn't pay attention to his mother's screams who had been calling him in annoyance.
Dimly he heard his father winning his mother.
'He's just about to graduate, there's still plenty of time to arrange the engagement.'
Erlang clenched his fists again, was he just a puppet who didn't have his own way of life?
Did he have to make a mess first to make his parents aware?
Continued…