“Though I am not quite sure why you want this.” A scowl formed on his lips. “You ask me to marry you, and now you want what, a divorce?”
“It can be done, Your Majesty.”
Chrichton would have paid Arundell a great lump of money to take back their princess. But the moment Igor spoke of a national marriage, another issue arose. Should he choose to give up on the princess and accept Chrichton’s compensation, the public would call him despicable – that he only married the princess for her wealth. He’d be condemned.
So, Rihannan would intervene. She’d bring her assets. That and she needed to finish this solution as soon as possible without worries. She’ll only be married to him for a year-long anyways.
“You need a marriage partner that can bring you and Arundell great benefits. It won’t be a great loss but a gain. Even after you divorce me, you’ll be left with masses of fortune.”
Though Rihannan could not say this proposal was to save her cousin in prison – the same cousin who sought to save her from her tragic fate. Igor would not understand. How could he? He locked his wife in prison to gain the power he sought for.
Rihannan subconsciously lowered her head.
“Any reason for the divorce is fine… that I could not bear you a child, that I was infertile… if you could divorce me in a year, I’ll accept anything.”
This was all Rihannan could do, so she waited for his decision. But as his silence grew longer, cold sweat formed on her back. She held her knees to prevent the jitters. It bothered her that Igor showed no reaction, but she did not try to show it. She thought… she thought he’d be surprised and his mind shaken from the temptation and enormous wealth offered to him.
After a long time, no response came from Igor and Rihannan fell into a sense of despair.
‘…..Was the proposal a failure…?’
“Alright.”
Just as she gave up, Igor’s voice suddenly rang, and Rihannan looked up in surprise.
“…..Yes?”
“I accept your offer.” His voice was sharp, almost as if he had no interest in the terms and proposal she laid out, but still, he accepted.
Rihannan looked at him in disbelief. She could not believe what she had heard.
Noticing her expression, Igor said, “If you changed your mind somehow, then I’ll take back what I said.”
Rihannan shook her head in reply. Right… she needed to push the matter ahead quickly before he changes his decision.
“Could you write out the agreements in a contract?” Rihannan asked.
“You want me to fill out a marriage contract document?” Igor growled lowly; he sounded displeased.
“Yes. It’s not because I do not trust you, but it’s to prevent anything unsavory from occurring in the future.”
As she said this, Igor smiled while his eyes remained despondent. “It seems like you’ve not forgotten your Arundell roots, after all. Alright, let’s do it right now.”
Igor called for Basil who came running in right away. When asked to bring in a set of papers, pens, and seals, Basil grew curious but regardless, he brought them in quickly and without problems.
There, in that room where the windows overlooked the blue sea, the documents were written and laid out. More than five pages were scribbled down to the gritty details. Among them, the most important clause was as follows: Rihannan and Igor would marry within a month of the contract date and divorce exactly one year after their marriage. In the event of a divorce, all ownership of the Nordaji Mines within Rihannan Alessin’s estate would transfer from Rihannan Alessin to Igor Cesca. Their marriage-related contract will remain a secret, and if broken, the other party had the right to ask for compensation.
Rihannan read through the document’s wording over and over again. She found nothing strange. This was enough… a victory she could say. But just as she signed the paper, Igor interjected and said, “I think we need to add one more clause here.”
Rihannan looked at him with a somewhat nervous look. “What clause do you want to add?”
“Even though it’s a contract marriage, it comes with it the formalities and the proceeding relationship. What if you end up bearing a successor within this short year of our marriage? I’d like to add a clause that I’ll have the right to keep the child even after separation.”
Painful memories of the past struck her wounded chest. A child… she’d forgotten about this because she knew she had difficulties bearing Igor a child.
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There was little to no chance for her to bear the successor he wished for. And even if she did, it was proper for the child to grow up inside the royal palace. There are no cases in history where the female brings the child home long after a royal marriage is put in place.
“That’s a given. Though I don’t think it necessary, but if it lessens the burdens in your mind, you are free to add the clause.”
“You mean… it doesn’t matter?”
Rihannan nodded. “Yes.”
He muttered something similar to a curse and immediately wrote down the clause. Rihannan did the same. She knew Igor longed for a successor… but she knows she won’t be able to provide him one in this lifetime and in their short marriage. It had taken her years to bear one, after all. And when she finally did, she had lost her unborn child…