The heavy oak doors of the Forane mansion closed behind them with a definitive thud, sealing the new, fragile pact.

Ishtar stood at the top of the steps, a picture of grace, waving them off with a triumphant smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Killa, her masked knight, stood silently beside her, an unreadable statue.

Dorian, flanked by Maria and Seraphina, didn't look back.

The trio walked in silence toward the waiting carriage, the air between them thick with unspoken resentment.

The seating arrangement in the carriage was a silent battle in itself. Seraphina, ever proactive, immediately slid in to sit beside Dorian.

Maria, with a barely perceptible sigh, took the seat opposite them, her gaze immediately fixing on the passing scenery outside the window, pointedly ignoring everyone else.

Lili, in her bat form, was nestled quietly in Dorian's pocket, wisely staying out of the line of fire.

The carriage lurched forward, beginning the long journey back to the Aurelian barony.

The only sound was the rhythmic clatter of the horses' hooves and the creaking of the wheels. The silence was deafening.

'Well,' Dorian thought, staring at the tense set of Maria's jaw, 'this is going about as well as expected.'

He could practically feel the waves of fury rolling off of Maria. It wasn't the explosive rage of a berserker, but the cold, dense anger of a glacier.

She was furious, but her discipline as a knight kept it locked tight behind a mask of stoicism.

Seraphina, on the other hand, was pouting.

She kept adjusting her dress and fiddling with a loose thread on her sleeve, occasionally shooting a sharp, passive-aggressive glance at Maria.

He knew he had to address the situation. An angry, divided team was a liability he couldn't afford. As always, it was Seraphina who broke the silence first.

"So, 'First Wife'," she said, her voice deceptively sweet as she looked across at Maria. "Was that something you two discussed beforehand? Or was it a spontaneous demand?"

Maria's eyes didn't leave the window. "It was a necessary condition."

"A condition for what, exactly?" Seraphina pressed. "For your continued loyalty? I was under the impression that was already sworn."

"It was a condition to ensure the proper hierarchy of the household, I just said whatever on the spot." Maria replied, her voice as cold as ice.

Dorian decided to intervene before a full-blown conflict erupted. He cleared his throat, and both women immediately fell silent, their attention snapping to him.

"Let's be clear," he began, his tone calm and managerial, like a CEO addressing a hostile board meeting. "What happened back there was not romance, I definitely don't love her as much as i love both of you."

He looked at Seraphina. "That contract gives us access to a resource we need and ties the Monteli family's success directly to ours. It's a win."

Then, he looked at Maria.

"You know our military situation. A war with the Viscount, even one we could win with Ciel's help, would be devastatingly costly in both lives and resources. This marriage averts that war. It's a strategic victory."

He let the words sink in before continuing. "Ishtar is a close ally. She is an asset we have acquired. A dangerous one, yes, but a valuable one. My engagement to her is the price of that acquisition. It is a political necessity."

Seraphina sighed, her anger deflating slightly, replaced by a pragmatist's understanding. "So, she is just another part of the business plan."

"Exactly," Dorian confirmed.

He then turned his full attention to Maria, whose expression was still unreadable. "Maria. As my First Commander, you understand the cost of war better than anyone. Was this not the correct strategic move to protect the barony?"

Maria was silent for a long moment, her gaze still fixed on the passing forest. Finally, she spoke, her voice low. "The move was logical, my lord. That does not make it pleasant."

This was the first time he had seen her this jealous of anything, truthfully, he wanted to tease her a bit just for the sake of it, but that would most definitely not end well.

"I'm not asking you to like her," Dorian said softly. "I am asking you to tolerate her for the good of the barony. For the good of the family."

An uneasy truce settled over the carriage. The logic was sound, and they both knew it. But the emotional reality of the situation still simmered beneath the surface.

The rest of the journey passed in a heavy, contemplative silence.

Hours later, the carriage finally rolled through the newly fortified gates of the Aurelian barony. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the lands.

As they pulled up to the front of the refurbished mansion, Dorian felt a sense of relief.

The tense journey was over.

He stepped out of the carriage first, turning to help the girls down. But as he looked up at the mansion's entrance, he froze.

Waiting for them on the top step, her arms crossed and her face a mask of cold, quiet fury, was Yelena. And from the look in her eyes, she already knew everything.

…

Once he was home, and having somehow avoided a confrontation with his sister, he finally made his way to his parents to deliver the news.

He wasn't exactly expecting them to be excited about it, but he felt it was better that he be the one to tell them rather than anyone else.

He knew the news of his impending marriage to the man who had supposedly tormented his father for years was sure to sting James.

Then again, Dorian wouldn't truly know until he tried.

Surprisingly enough, everything unfolded in a positive light.

In fact, not only did Stella rejoice at the news, knowing her son was going to marry three beautiful women, but she was more than willing to start planning the wedding right away.

James was no different; he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride that his son was somewhat of a ladies' man.

...

[A/N]

And with that, I am done. Do look forward to where the story goes from here.

It's a new month, as such a reminder.

200 ps—2 extra chapters.

50 gt- 2 extra chapters.

Happy new month.

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