rin
, visibly forcing his anger down, and shifted his features into a ma
with practiced emotion. "But we have been married for three years.
us? He had built his reputation on my blood and sweat
bows on the table. He played his final, desperate card. He looked deeply into my e
we were. In fact... I am willing to finally consummate our marriage. We could have a child. A child wi
ing his body to a Dragonless woman. He actually thought that the promise of sleepi
ed my throat. I couldn't hol
terated mockery. "Jace, we have been married for three
ret of our marriage. For three years, under the guise of "waiting for the right astrological
ce pitching higher in defense. "I wanted our firs
ethal whisper. "Or were you just keeping yourself pure for your precious Elianna Rivers
d from his face, leaving him pale and wide-eyed. He never exp
re talking about!" he hissed, hi
who had been watching the exchange with narrowed, calculating eyes. "My lady, let's sto
ungrateful and stubborn," she said, pulling a thick stack of parchment from a
eavy parchment and scanned the text. The first few clauses were
clause made
the Davidson family, and for the severe reputational damage inflicted upon Lord Jace David
thousand G
rn that much in three lifetimes. They knew I was an "orphan" with
t was blatant extortion. It
to pay, they would drag me to the magistrates. To avoid debtor's prison, I would be forced to sign a lifetime
at's wrong, Corrin? Can't afford it? If you can't, then be a good girl, tear up your little agreement, and g
achment, fully supporting his mother's blackmail. He wante
now was that they were dealing with the Valedictorian of the Royal War Academy. My mind, my strategic
By demanding this money, they were offering me a fast-track out. One hundred thousand Gold Dragons
is own. When I pulled the rug out from under him, his territory's defenses would collapse, and the D
on the table. I looked ri
I said, my voice
rrectly. He slowly picked up a quill, dipped it in the in
age of the agreement and signed my name: Corrin Nolan.
he terms," I
ant smile vanished. She immediately snatched the parchment awa
confusion and sudden unease. She couldn't figure out where my confidence was
smoothed the wrinkles from my skirt. "Just make
lor, leaving them sitting in bewil
my face. I was carrying a crushing debt on paper, but
knowledge I had buried for years. I walked straight to the
a fiercely loyal knight. I told her I was finally free, and I need
capital remember exactl
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