"I won't allow you to marry anyone else," Alex quickly replied. "I can do much more than he can, and I vow to support you throughout your life."
"Alex, you dislike politics," Seraphina attempted to argue. "If you join me, then—"
"It doesn't matter," he interrupted, his gaze softening as he met her eyes. "I love you more than I dislike politics. We'll figure it out, I promise."
Tyson glanced at the elders. Their faces displayed knowing smiles, as if they had all anticipated this. Even now, it seemed Seraphina had caught onto their plan.
"Do you really?" she asked, looking for any sign of doubt on his face.
"Yes, I do," Alex replied, extending his hand toward her.
Seraphina closed the gap between them, wrapping her arms around him tightly. "I have always loved you,"
President Edmund shot Tyson a sidelong glance, winking before clearing his throat. "You can't fool us. I know you two are just bluffing."
They both turned toward him, and Alex glared at the elders. Seraphina spoke hushedly, "What must we do for you to believe our feelings for one another are genuine?"
Liora slid two stunning rings across the table, her eyes sparkling with intent. "Get engaged, right here," she said matter-of-factly. "We need something solid to believe in."
Edward nodded with approval, saying, "Yes, you're my son, but you must show me that you truly care for her, Alex."
Tyson was speechless. The cunning older generation had orchestrated this moment, tricking Alex and Seraphina into confessing their feelings for one another. They even managed to present the rings at the perfect moment. They had been planning this from the very beginning.
Without hesitation, Alex took the ring and extended his hand. With a shy smile, Seraphina let him slip the ring onto her finger. Then, she returned the gesture, placing the other ring on his finger. As the three elders began to clap, Tyson could not help but feel like he had just witnessed an intricate chess move unfold before his eyes.
----
Tyson peeked around the corner and caught sight of his brother sitting alone in his room. Alex's eyes were wide, and sweat trickled down his horse-like face.
He processed what had just happened as the realization began to sink in. He was still stunned by the events that had unfolded so quickly, as if it were destiny.
Tyson pulled out his phone and dialed Nancy's number. He felt he needed to share the latest news with someone. He waited through several rings before she finally answered.
Nancy lay on her bed, half-heartedly trying to drift back to sleep, but her mind kept circling back to Tyson and his conversation about the president's daughter. She had attempted to push it out of her mind, but it was like an itch she couldn't scratch. Why did it bother her so much?
It wasn't as if she had any claim on Tyson—not officially. They had just started dating, but the more he talked about Seraphina, the more she felt a shadow creeping into the space between them.
She had always been the one Tyson turned to, the one he depended on. But now, it felt like Seraphina was getting too close, too quickly, and jealousy hit her hard.
"She's so perfect," Nancy thought bitterly, tossing and turning beneath her covers. "Why would he ever want to be with me when he could be with her?"
The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth. She didn't want to feel this way—she didn't want to be one of those people who let jealousy take control of their minds, but it gnawed at her every time Tyson spoke Seraphina's name.
The phone rang before she could collect her thoughts, pulling her from her spiraling mind. She hesitated, staring at it for a moment. She shouldn't answer. But then again… it's Tyson.
Nancy groaned as she grabbed the phone, her heart racing slightly despite herself.
"Hey, Nancy! You won't believe what just happened! Seraphina and—"
"I swear I'll kill you, Tyson, if you ever mention her name again!" Nancy's voice was sharp and filled with fury, and without waiting for a response, she hung up.
She flung the pillow across the room, her breath coming in heavy bursts. Why does he keep talking about her like that? She seethed internally, frustration bubbling within her. Why does it feel like he's drifting away from me?
Her heart ached, and the harder she tried to ignore it, the more she understood how much she cared.
Tyson stared at his phone screen, speechless and completely baffled. What just happened?
He scratched his head, pondering what had prompted such a strong reaction from Nancy. "What's going on with her?" he murmured to himself.
Alex wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling the coolness of his shirt sleeve as he glanced down at the diamond ring on his finger.
It served as a quiet reminder of his recent actions. He couldn't help but gaze at it, feeling the burden of the choice he had just made.
Did he really mean it? he wondered. Did he love Seraphina enough to jump into this whirlwind?
All his life, Alex took pride in doing things independently. He never relied on anyone. Whether it was confronting the world or even his father or pursuing his ambitions, he always believed he was better off going solo.
He flourished in his independence, convinced that no one could sway him in any direction other than his own.
But now, with the cold ring pressed against his skin, the thought of doing anything for someone else felt strange, even frightening.
He thought I'm not ready for this, feeling his chest tighten. I can't just throw away everything I've built for this… this political circus.
Yet, beneath the doubt, a part of him couldn't ignore the truth—he cared for Seraphina—more than he had ever allowed himself to admit, far more than he had expected. But even as he stood there, watching her smile and observing their elders stage this tangled net of affection and duty, part of him wanted all this to happen.
I've always been the one who can move, adapt, and survive independently. And now… now I have to be responsible for someone else? Another thought crept into my mind.
His thoughts spiraled until a noise at the door interrupted them. Tyson. Of course. The one person who never left him alone. Alex glanced up at the ceiling, a wave of frustration washing over him.
Without hesitation, he grabbed his shoe, the leather cool in his hand, and threw it at the door. The shoe hit the doorframe with a loud *thwack*, narrowly missing Tyson, who scrambled away like a thief caught red-handed.
"Wonderful," Alex thought bitterly, sighing as he watched his brother dash down the hall. Just wonderful.
----
"At what moment did you catch on to our plan?" Liora inquired, a playful spark in her eye, while Seraphina sat alongside her father and Edward, both reveling in the triumph of their meticulously crafted scheme.
"You know, I had a feeling when Father unexpectedly mentioned my marriage," Seraphina remarked, a gentle smile playing on her lips as she brushed her new ring shyly. "I got the hint when I noticed Uncle Ed sitting quietly, even with everyone urging me towards something I wasn't ready for."
She realized what was happening the moment things started to feel unusually suspicious. As the daughter of the President of Elria, if she hadn't sensed the sudden shift in the atmosphere, she would have learned nothing over the years. Her instincts had been honed by a lifetime of watching and listening, and this wasn't the first time the elders had schemed behind closed doors.
The group chuckled, and Tyson, casually leaning against the doorframe, couldn't help but glance down the hallway at Alex, still sitting alone and lost in thought, his mind a million miles away.
"You all are a bunch of weirdoes," he muttered quietly.
"We simply did what's best for our daughter," the President said proudly. "There's no better match for her than Alex."
"Yeah, those two have been friends since childhood," Edward said with a grin, lifting his glass to offer one to Tyson. "A bond like that doesn't come around every day."
Tyson raised an eyebrow, taking the glass but looking skeptical. "Poor guy," he remarked.
"Oh, by the way, Tyson," Seraphina said playfully, her tone full of mischief. "I heard some chatter about Nancy from Uncle. What's the scoop on you two?"
Tyson quickly downed the wine, altogether avoiding the question.
"I suppose he could use a gentle nudge," President Edmund shared, a hint of a smile lighting up his face.
"No!" Tyson nearly shouted, prompting everyone to erupt in laughter. "I'm fine. I want to take things slow."
"Goodness, look at his face, Edward," Liora said, amused. "He's blushing!"
"I'm not," Tyson attempted to defend himself, but his words stumbled. "I should go get some fresh air."
"Tyson!" Edward called after him, his tone turning serious. "Let Nancy know I've invited her to a family dinner when we return."
Tyson paused, a genuine smile tugging at his lips. "I'll let her know."