Levon was furious when he found out about Dorian's visit to Rashet Manor. He strode toward Paragon Hall, and found Nyasia reading a book at the courtyard. Her eyes lifted with a faint surprise.
"Did he visit you here?"
"No."
He took a sharp breath.
"Are you saying he came, spoke with Father, and didn't tell you a single thing about it?"
Nyasia's gaze returned to her book.
"This isn't a conspiracy, Brother. I truly don't know why he suddenly came to visit—"
"Oh? You truly don't know he just made a marriage proposal?" Levon frowned, cursing under his breath. "Marrying you openly, when the emperor has made it clear he intends to marry him off to the Second Princess? What the hell is he doing? And with this damn iron mine—"
He breathed.
It was baffling. Dorian had kept his intentions hidden for years. Why this sudden, open demand? Did he really think that marriage decree would ever be effective? The emperor had granted it only to save face. But the Kissells' downfall was brutal proof that he was willing to destroy his own finance minister just to prevent a marriage alliance between the Varyns and the Kissells.
"Hell knows, Brother," Nyasia said, lifting her eyes to meet his. "Don't worry too much."
But she might.
She had already made a bargain with Dorian. And now that he had so easily used his influence to manipulate her father into hastening her brother's legitimacy, she had to remember: she had made a deal with a devil. Part of that deal meant accepting that nothing about this would ever be predictable.
"Sia, are you listening?"
Her thoughts snapped back.
"You must persuade Father to break our special inheritance agreement now. He'll be convinced—now that the Varyn Duchy is interested in me."
He sniffed.
"I don't like it."
Nyasia looked at him.
"Brother, don't be stubborn."
"Sia—"
He stopped, with a sharp sigh.
Now she was afraid—afraid of what her brother might do. But could he truly win against Dorian? In their past life, he had been thoroughly defeated. And once again, she was the reason.
"I don't understand men at all," she said, her eyes back to the book. "You trust Dorian with all your heart. Yet you're angry about this proposal."
He scoffed.
"As a man, I admire him. But as my sister's husband?" He shook his head. "He brings danger. The Grand Duchy has always been tangled in imperial politics. There's a reason Dorian tried to escape all of that before. And there's a reason he still has to stay and play these games."
She said nothing.
But sometimes she wondered what secrets Dorian carried. Even in her past life, there were so few memories and she couldn't tell if he had always been like this. Or if that was what led him to become emperor.
...
NYASIA FOUND herself in her father's study. Levon had to cut off his tirade when a maid arrived to inform them that the marquis had requested Lady Rashet. Now, as Nyasia stepped inside, she could see visible signs of panic on her father's pale face.
"Nyasia, do you still want to manage our iron ore business?" Ezekias asked, his expression worried.
"Yes. Until Levon takes over," she said calmly. "Father, I've already cut off every potential buyer for the ores."
She had always known—if she wanted a secret enemy to reveal themselves, the only way was to ignore every contract.
"It's just that it has caused unnecessary attention from a few powerful people. This is too dangerous," Ezekias said.
"You mean... families are interested in the iron mine?" She chuckled. "That's quite natural, Father. I may even be funding a rebellion, for all I know."
He creased his brows further. He didn't like that his daughter was treating this so lightly. Her innocence made her blind to the dangerous waters between the imperial family and the powerful lords.
"Father, the Rashets are only prohibited from selling weapons. Not even steel. Isn't that why we only sell ores, to remain neutral among the factions?"
Ezekias sighed.
His daughter was smart, indeed.
"Yes. But agreements made decades ago don't hold the same weight now. Times have changed. Back then, the emperors trusted us enough to let us keep the iron mines. But now?" He shook his head. "It's not the same."
It was only natural that the current emperor, a man who had risen to power from nowhere, would view the mines with suspicion, even if the Rashets remained neutral and abided by his rule.
"Also, the elders are corrupt. They may have been tricked—or willingly consented—to questionable shipments of iron ore," he added.
Nyasia simply smiled.
"That's why we control the amount of ores purchased by each client. The elders allowed a monopoly. We shouldn't."
Ezekias sighed again.
That was exactly what he had been thinking. But such a move would only bring chaos.
"Father, if it's true that being neutral isn't effective anymore because of these changing, turbulent times... then let it be."
"What do you mean?"
She gave a slight smirk.
"Let's just take sides."
*