The silence in the car stretched again, only broken by the occasional hum of the engine and the faint murmur of city life outside. Seren shifted in her seat, her fiery energy clearly at odds with Kael's calm, impenetrable demeanor.
"So," she said, her voice cutting through the stillness, "is this how you spend all your evenings? Silent car rides and dishing out icy death stares to people you deem unworthy?"
Kael didn't take the bait. "I prefer efficiency. Meaningless chatter doesn't interest me."
She smirked. "Oh, I gathered. But you're stuck with me now, so maybe you should reconsider."
His gaze flicked toward her, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his expression before he looked away again. "Noted," he said dryly.
Eric, sensing the tension, kept his focus on the road but couldn't help the faintest curve of his lips. "Destination, Young Master Velyne?" he asked, breaking the quiet.
Kael's attention snapped forward. "Main mansion," he said curtly.
Seren arched a brow. "Mansion? Are you going home to some castle or something?"
"No," he replied, his tone as cool as ever. "It's a family meeting."
"Ah," Seren said with a knowing nod. "Sounds riveting."
Kael didn't bother responding.
The car pulled to a smooth stop in front of Seren's residence. Eric stepped out and opened the door for her. Seren hesitated for a moment, glancing back at Kael.
"Thanks for the ride, I guess," she said, her tone lightly sarcastic.
Kael inclined his head slightly, a move that might have been polite if not for his detached air.
"Goodnight, Young Master Velyne," she added with a teasing lilt before stepping out.
Eric closed the door behind her, returning to the driver's seat.
"Main mansion," Kael repeated, his voice steady.
"Yes, sir," Eric said, and the car smoothly pulled away, leaving Seren standing on the curb, her arms crossed as she watched the vehicle disappear into the night.
As the car moved through the quiet streets, Kael's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, noting his grandfather's name. He answered with a curt, "Yes?"
"Kael," the elder Velyne's voice was firm yet warm. "I need to see you tonight. It's important."
"I'm on my way," Kael replied, his tone clipped.
Eric glanced in the rearview mirror. "Shall I inform the staff to prepare, sir?"
"No need. Just get me there," Kael said, leaning back against the seat.
Eric nodded, and the drive continued in silence, the city lights casting fleeting patterns across Kael's sharp features.
As they approached the Velyne estate, Kael's gaze hardened. The night wasn't over yet, and he had a feeling it was only going to get more complicated.
The silence in the car stretched, only broken by the faint hum of the engine and the occasional murmur of the city life outside. Seren shifted in her seat, her fiery energy clashing with Kael's calm, impenetrable demeanor.
"So," she said, her voice slicing through the stillness, "is this how you spend all your evenings? Silent car rides and dishing out icy death stares to people you deem unworthy?"
Kael didn't take the bait, his voice steady and devoid of emotion. "I prefer efficiency. Meaningless chatter is a waste of time."
She smirked, her tone playfully mocking. "Oh, I gathered. But you're stuck with me now, so maybe you should reconsider."
Kael turned his head slightly, his icy blue eyes flicking to her for the briefest moment before shifting back to the road ahead. "Noted," he replied curtly.
From the driver's seat, Eric, the family's long-serving chauffeur, suppressed a smile. "Destination, Young Master Velyne?" he asked, breaking the tension.
"Main mansion," Kael said, his tone clipped.
Seren arched a brow. "Mansion? Are you going home to some castle or something?"
"No," Kael replied coolly. "It's a family meeting."
"Ah," she said, her voice tinged with amusement. "Sounds riveting."
Kael didn't respond.
When the car finally pulled to a stop in front of Seren's residence, Eric stepped out and opened her door. Seren hesitated, glancing back at Kael.
"Thanks for the ride, I guess," she said, sarcasm lacing her words.
Kael inclined his head slightly, though his expression remained detached.
"Goodnight, Young Master Velyne," she added with a teasing lilt, stepping out onto the curb.
Eric closed the door behind her and returned to the driver's seat.
"Main mansion," Kael repeated.
"Yes, sir," Eric replied, and the car smoothly pulled away, leaving Seren standing in the soft glow of her porch light, arms crossed as she watched the vehicle disappear into the night.
The ride to the Velyne estate continued in silence until Kael's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his expression hardening as he saw the name. He answered with his usual clipped tone. "Yes?"
"Kael," his grandfather's voice carried both warmth and authority. "I need to see you tonight. It's important."
"I'm already on my way," Kael said.
Eric glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "Should I inform the staff to prepare, sir?"
"No need," Kael replied, his tone unyielding. "Just get me there."
The Velyne estate came into view, its sprawling grounds illuminated by soft lights. As the car rolled to a stop, Kael stepped out, his sharp gaze scanning the familiar grandeur of his family's home.
Kael arrived at the estate to find his grandfather, Eldon Velyne, waiting in the grand drawing room. The elder Velyne, sharp-eyed and commanding, stood by the ornate fireplace, his hands clasped behind his back. He turned as Kael entered, his presence as formidable as ever.
"Kael," Eldon began without preamble, his tone firm. "The marriage contract has been finalized."
Kael's expression remained cold, his stance relaxed but guarded. "What does it entail?" His voice was calm, but the edge in it was unmistakable.
Eldon gestured toward the leather armchair opposite him. "Sit."
Kael didn't move immediately, letting the silence hang heavy before lowering himself into the chair. Eldon took a seat as well, his gaze scrutinizing.
"The terms are straightforward," Eldon said. "You and Seren will share living quarters in the main mansion. This ensures the image of unity the public expects from this alliance."
Kael's jaw tightened imperceptibly, but his voice was like frost. "And what else?"
"The contract grants both of you total freedom in your personal lives, provided that appearances are maintained," Eldon continued. "No interference in each other's daily activities. However—" his tone grew sharper, brooking no argument, "—in public, you must portray a loving, devoted marriage. Any deviation could harm both families' reputations."
Kael's cold gaze didn't waver. He leaned back slightly, his posture radiating defiance. "And if I refuse?"
Eldon's eyes narrowed, his age-weathered face hardening. "This is not optional, Kael. You have a duty to this family. To me."
Kael's jaw tightened, his hands clenched at his sides. "And my opinion holds no weight in this?"
"You have a duty, Kael," Eldon said, his voice heavy with finality. "You will comply."
For a moment, silence stretched between them, the tension palpable.
For a moment, the room seemed to hold its breath. Kael's silence was sharp, a weapon of its own. Finally, he inclined his head, his voice clipped. "Understood."
Eldon exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing. But instead of moving on, he surprised Kael by leaning forward, his tone softening. "You might think I'm doing this out of convenience, boy. But there's more to it."
Kael's icy exterior cracked, just slightly, his brows furrowing. "Go on."
"I've made mistakes," Eldon admitted, his voice low but steady. "Raising you as I did, molding you into this unyielding weapon for the family—I see now the cost of that. You've become a man of strength, but at what price? There's no warmth left in you, Kael."
Kael's eyes narrowed, the faintest flicker of emotion surfacing before he masked it again. "And you think this marriage will fix that?"
Eldon allowed a faint smile, one tinged with regret. "Not fix. Perhaps temper. Seren Delyth is a firebrand, a force to be reckoned with. I've watched her. She's not someone who will be cowed by your frost or your silence. She's as stubborn as you are."
Kael's lips curved in a humorless smirk. "You're throwing me into a cage with a wildcat, then."
"If that's how you see it," Eldon replied, his gaze steady. "But I see it as a chance. For you. For her. You're both powerful in your own right, but power without balance is dangerous. She might challenge you, Kael, but perhaps she'll also teach you that strength isn't just about control."
Kael stared at his grandfather, his thoughts a storm behind his cold eyes. He didn't believe in sentimentality, not after years of being hardened by Eldon's ruthless tutelage. Yet, for a moment, he wondered if there was a sliver of truth in the old man's words.
"And if she doesn't?" Kael asked finally, his tone skeptical.
Eldon chuckled dryly. "Then you'll both learn the hard way. But at least you'll be learning something."
Kael rose, his movements deliberate. "If this is about absolving your guilt, don't expect me to play along out of gratitude."