Chapter 439
The King looked at Sofina and exhaled heavily. “You know this already, Fina. I’ve tried to give you three years. But even if I agree, your mother won’t p>
“Father,” Sofina said softly. “If you agree, nothing else matters p>
Before the King could answer, another voice cut through the line-sharp, commanding.
“I don’t agree!” Felicia said. Her mother had joined the call. “Sofina, you will marry
the man I choose p>
“Mother,” Sofina shot back, her tone trembling but fierce.
“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will p>
“You’re my daughter,” Felicia snapped, her tone sharp with authority. “You will do as I say p>
Sofina met her gaze. “Father already agreed. I’m marrying Alex-and if he doesn’t divorce me within a year, he’ll become my permanent husband p>
Felicia turned toward the King and knelt, her posture dripping with false respect. “My Lord, have you already accepted Sofina’s request p>
Sofina quickly stepped in. “Father, please. This is for your daughter’s happiness. After this, I’ll never ask for anything again. If he divorces me, I’ll marry any man you or Mother choose-even an old one p>
The King of Prussia-ruler of billions, master of an empire-could command armies with a word.
But in front of his daughter, his heart softened.
Felicia was never his lover-just a vessel chosen to bear his child through artificial insemination. It was duty, not love.
The King had ordered it himself. His advisors secretly selected women to carry his bloodline and preserve his legacy. Out of nearly a hundred, only a few succeeded.
Felicia was one of them-kept hidden, bound to silence. The only one he truly cared about was Sofina-his blood, his weakness.
Felicia knew that too well. Her tone shifted-calculated, venom hidden under courtesy.
“My Lord, if Sofina insists on marrying this man of her choice, then I have one condition. She must live with my family for one year and she cannot reveal her connection to you. Not a word p>
The King’s eyes darkened. He was the sharpest mind in Prussia, and he understood exactly what she was plotting.
Felicia would use that year to tear the marriage apart from within. She wanted her daughter married to a marquis or a count-someone with power and title. A nobody like Alex was never part of her plan.
After a long pause, his voice came low and measured. “Alright, Felicia. I accept your condition p>
He turned to Sofina, his gaze heavy. “You’ll stay with your mother’s family for one year. Only then will I agree to your terms p>
“Father!” Sofina’s voice cracked. “They’ll try everything to tear him away from me. They’ll humiliate him p>
The King gave a faint, knowing smile. “If he truly loves you, as you say, nothing will break him. And remember, we tolerated your rebellion for three years already. This is the last year I will tolerate you p>
Felicia’s smile was sharp with victory. “In three days your grandmother’s anniversary is here. You’ll come, celebrate, and stay with me and your stepfather p>
Sofina felt the trap close. Her voice was small. “I’ll go p>
The King cut across the room like a blade. “I’ll end this now, Felicia p>
He pinned her with a cold, unblinking stare. “You swore an oath. You will not tell anyone who Sofina’s real father is understand? Not even your own family p>
Felicia dipped into a practiced curtsy, her voice honeyed and precise. “Of course, my lord. They know nothing. They think Sofina’s father was merely a wealthy benefactor p>
Her smile never reached her eyes. She wasn’t stupid-she knew what silence cost. If she blurted the truth, her whole family could be ruined, erased. She had signed the contract; blood had already sealed her tongue.
“Good.” The King’s voice was final, like a judge passing sentence. “Then she stays with you until she’s ready to reveal the truth-if she ever is.” He turned
away.
The call ended.
Sofina lay on the bed in the dark, heartbeat loud in the quiet. The room smelled faintly of lemon and old books.
“Eve p>
“Yes, Miss Sofina p>
“Did you hear everything p>
“I recorded it, Miss Sofina. Every word p>
Sofina hugged Eve. “Promise me you won’t tell anyone p>
“Not a soul. Not a machine,” Eve said. “But I can sense things: your father’s genuine love for you, and your mother’s cold, surgical disdain. There’s a ninety percent chance she’ll harm you. Are you sure you can live there p>
Sofina let out a brittle laugh. “I’m not sure. I don’t have a choice p>
Eve’s voice dropped, blunt and unreadable. “Miss Sofina, may I shoot your mother if she harms you p>
Sofina blinked, a ghost of a smile crossing her face. “I’ll tell you when the time comes p>
The next morning, sunlight spilled across the breakfast table. Sofina sat quietly for
a moment, watching Alex gave her plate before she finally spoke.
“Alex,” she said softly, “will you come with me to my mother’s family estate? It’s important to me, and to us. You have to p>
Alex looked up, his eyes warm. “Then I will,” he said simply, smiling as he lifted a spoon to feed her a bite.
She hesitated, voice tightening. “But they might try to hurt you. You know how much they despise our marriage p>
Alex’s expression didn’t falter. Instead, his smile deepened, slow and certain. “Let them try,” he said.
“Till mountains crumble and rivers dry, I shall not part from thee p>
Three days later, the Wolfsbane mansion blazed like a jewel against the night. Rows of flying lanterns lined the gates, luxury chandeliers blinding from every window. The entire estate shimmered, a cathedral of wealth and vanity.
Inside, the great hall pulsed with life-laughter, clinking glasses, the rustle of silk gowns.
Baroness Wolfsbane’s eighty-fifth birthday had drawn the entire bloodline home. Children, grandchildren, and their polished spouses swarmed the marble floors, each carrying gifts wrapped in silver paper and quiet ambition.
The air itself seemed perfumed with pride and pretense.
“Grandma,” a grandson announced with the smooth precision of a practiced speaker, “I present a regenerative nanocapsule therapy set. It restores cellular elasticity. It’s rare-hard to secure without pulling strings p>
He set the gleaming box down with ceremony. Cameras caught the Baroness’s smile like a prize.
“Grandma, I’ve brought you a Gene-Coded Vitamin Reactor,” the young man announced proudly. “It produces customized micronutrient crystals every day. It’ll keep you healthy long past a hundred p>
Gasps rippled through the hall.
“Wait-did he say Gene-Coded Reactor Crystals?” someone whispered. “That’s
the limited edition! Even royal families can’t get those easily p>
A chorus of awe followed. Heads turned, eyes wide, voices buzzing with admiration. The Baroness Wolfsbane, surrounded by her elegant guests and mountains of gleaming gifts, laughed heartily.
Her diamond earrings caught the chandelier light as she waved off their praises. The atmosphere shimmered with wealth and celebration-until her sharp voice sliced through it.
“Sofina Scheinwald p>
The name dropped like a blade.
“How dare you come back here,” the Baroness spat, her tone venomous. “You shame this family! Divorced by Heinrich Schiller like a fool-and you couldnt even keep him told you to bring that man into our family, and you failed at the simplest task.” s
The room fell silent for a breath, then filled with murmurs and cruel smirks. Sofina
stood still, every eye burning into her.
Many of them had always envied her-her beauty, her intelligence, the effortless way she once carried herself. But envy curdled easily into mockery. “Grandmother,” a woman said sweetly, her smile edged like glass. “Honestly, what did you expect from Sofina? It’s humiliating enough that Heinrich dumped her. And then she married a half-Prussian? That’s disgusting p>
Laughter spread like wildfire. Heads nodded, voices joined in agreement. Sofina had always been the black sheep, but now they treated her like a stain on silk.
Another relative sneered. “So, Sofina-did you even bring a gift for Grandmother’s birthday, or did you just come to beg for attention p>
Sofina clenched her fists. She hated being there. Every inch of that mansion-her mother’s house-reeked of false smiles and polished cruelty.
“I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “Heinrich took everything. I don’t have money left to buy anything for Grandma p>
That only fed their delight.
“Of course he did!” a man jeered. “Everyone knows he took your last coin—after
you begged him for one more second with him p>
Laughter exploded around the room.
Sofina stood still, her jaw tight, her eyes glinting like glass under the chandeliers. Inside, she burned-but outside, she didn’t move. Because that’s what they wanted: to see her break.
“By the way,” someone called across the table, voice dripping with mockery.
“Your new husband-what’s his name again? Alex Saint-Claire? Does he even have anything left from his family? I heard the Rosenheim seized all his assets. So tell us, what did he bring for Grandma p>
A hush fell over the table. All eyes turned toward Alex.
Then he spoke-calmly, clearly.
“Grandma,” Alex said, his tone firm but respectful. “I was married to Katarina for two years, eleven months, and twenty-nine days-and I’ve now been married to Sofina for three days. Together, that completes the full three wears required by Prussian law. I’m asking for your approval, Baroness, to recognize me as a full Prussian citizen.” s
The room froze.
In Prussia, half-Prussians weren’t allowed to own property, open bank accounts, or hold anything under
O`
their name. But if a man remained married to a Prussian woman for three years and received acknowledgment from at least one noble house-usually a Baroness-he could finally gain full
citizenship. s
That was what Alex was asking for.
He had endured those three years quietly, bound by law, waiting for this day. The Rosheim family had taken everything-his title, his inheritance, his land. Now he stood before the Wolfsbanes, asking for the one thing that would make him free
again.
The reaction was instant and violent.
Every head in the hall turned toward him. Eyes widened, jaws dropped. The murmurs built like a storm.
“This man’s insane,” someone muttered. “Does he realize what he’s saying p>
“Alex the Dunce,” another sneered. “That’s what they used to call him, right? Fits
perfectly. Half Prussian, half slave-no brains, no blood, no worth. He’s a walking error p>
Laughter rippled through the hall-cruel, sharp, echoing off the marble walls.
The Baroness’s hand trembled as she reached for a bottle of wine. Then, with a
roar, she hurled it straight at Alex. The glass exploded against his head, red liquid splattering across his collar like blood.
“You dog of Saint-Claire!” she screamed, her voice shaking with fury. “You dare speak of citizenship here? You don’t even know your place!” “What do you think people will say? What will the other baronesses call me if they find out I approved a half-slave?” the Baroness roared, her voice echoing through the hall.
“Never! Even on my deathbed, I will never give you that approval! Go-divorce my granddaughter and crawl back to the Rosenheim family. Return to your masters where you belong! Don’t you dare stand here again p>