control

“Marriage?” Lord Blane spoke up after the prolonged silence. “You have barely been married for three months and you are considering the possibility of taking another bride?”

“I love my wife but do not get me wrong. This marriage is purely a transaction. There are no feelings attached. She offered herself as a price for her people's freedom, do you expect me to dash her hope?” Styles asked the council.

They shook their heads with disappointed expressions. It was unlike the emperor to make such rash decisions.

“You barely know her, your Majesty. What if she is not the angel you presume her to be? What if she's a woman of questionable character?” Lord Orio asked.

Styles gave a thought to the possibilities, “I don't think so. Princess Heli seemed like a very noble woman to me. She is only desperate to protect her people and retrieve the ones who were forcefully enslaved to another land. If anything, I think she is brave.”

“Brace? Do you call a marriage proposal brave? Why are we not lo