The Boundaries of Possession - Chapter 14
The Brillen family, being a hereditary noble household, could pass down their title. Kian had always thought that Elysia was ambitious about inheriting the title, which had caused a rift between the siblings over time.
The Viscount placed his hand on his forehead. If it were up to him, he would have preferred passing the title to his daughter, who was far more capable than his son, who struggled to fulfill the role of an heir.
Only by considering public opinion could the Viscount justify giving the family’s heirship to his omega daughter instead of his alpha son. Even now, he felt like he had further widened the rift between the two, and the thought made him dizzy. Faced with Elysia’s resolute light-blue eyes, he let out a series of sighs.
“It won’t be easy.”
He exhaled through his nose and looked her over. Even without makeup, his daughter was still strikingly beautiful. Thin strands of golden hair gently framed her cheeks, which were as soft and flushed as ripening peaches.
He worried constantly that she might become a target. Any man could easily fall for her charms.
“Always be careful.”
“Yes, Father.”
In his heart, he didn’t want to give his precious daughter to anyone.
“And Elysia…”
The Viscount held back the words that felt stuck in his chest.
“I wish you could love someone, not for the family, but for yourself.”
***
The flames atop the chandelier flickered dangerously. Andreas kept his gaze fixed on objects rather than people. The mouths around him never stopped moving, spewing the same tiresome, empty words.
He had long grown tired of their pretenses and foolishness. But when he finally saw the doors open, a picture-perfect smile formed on his lips.
“At last.”
At his single word, all the nobles turned their heads. Elysia had just entered. Andreas stretched the arm holding his glass toward her. The nobles exchanged awkward glances, uneasy about how amicably Andreas was acting toward her today.
Elysia sensed the strange atmosphere as soon as she entered the ballroom. Normally, people greeted her with hostile gazes or cutting remarks.
But today, none of the nobles who noticed her presence said a word. Feeling uneasy, Elysia glanced around with a frown. Something was definitely off, but there was no one she could ask.
As an omega, she had no real connections in high society. With no other choice, Elysia made her way toward Andreas, who was surprisingly approachable today.
“The Empire has greatly benefited from the cooperation of the Brillen Viscountcy recently,” Andreas said, his tone softer than usual, which made Elysia’s face turn pale.
Before she could question him, someone else responded.
“What cooperation are you referring to?”
“Well…”
Andreas’s lips curved into a smooth arc. Elysia narrowed her eyes at him, sensing trouble. He seemed pleased with her reaction as he kept his gaze fixed on her.
“House Brillen proposed that the minerals they previously monopolized be redirected for public use, in collaboration with the imperial family.”
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd. The nobles struggled to hide their reactions, using fans or clasped hands to cover their gaping mouths. The fact that an omega like Elysia could frequent high society without being scorned was largely thanks to the Brillen family’s exclusive rights to the Astrite mines.
The room quickly became a hub of whispers.
“And on top of that,” Andreas continued, “the family promised full military support for the reorganization of troubled maritime trade routes, allowing us to focus more on the security of the palace.”
“The Brillen family never made such a promise,” Elysia interjected firmly.
Her rebuttal silenced the room like a bucket of cold water.
Andreas, however, seemed completely prepared for this response. He smiled faintly, clearly enjoying her reaction.
“How modest of you. You should take pride in your family’s dedication and sacrifice.”
Elysia pressed her lips together tightly. He had seized the initiative, and there was no way she could undo the impression he had already made. People rarely forgot the first thing they heard, and they wouldn’t believe her over him.
After all, Andreas was soon to become part of the imperial family. His words carried the weight of inevitability—he was pushing her to make them come true.
Was this what he meant by establishing things firmly?
“What is the purpose of all this, if I may ask?” someone spoke up.
Andreas set his glass down and smiled darkly. Elysia struggled to come up with a response but found herself at a loss for words. All she could do was silently wish he would stop speaking.
“Thanks to Miss Elysia,” Andreas said smoothly, calling her by her first name as if they were close. Elysia fought the urge to leave, clenching her fists to stay composed. “She has managed to sway the Viscount’s support through our engagement.”
Gasps and murmurs gave way to applause as someone clapped, and soon, a round of cheers filled the room.
He had successfully turned their engagement into his victory.
He had manipulated the situation so perfectly that non-cooperation would be seen as an insult to the Viscount. Andreas had complete control of the narrative—just as Elysia had once done to others.
