Chapter Text
Unsha began sifting through a small pile of files. The maids had put great effort into their notes, showcasing neat handwriting and thoughtful details throughout. It was evident that they took pride in their duties and genuinely enjoyed the time spent on their analytic conversations. He quickly skimmed the pages to grasp the overall content before reading aloud. "The heirs have officially had the opportunity to get to know one another, as requested by Shine. The maids even went so far as to provide detailed descriptions of the dynamics between them, including, but not limited to, who prefers whom."
Urak firmly sets down his wine, his frustration evident as he bares his teeth. “This entire affair has been a waste of time. You are far too kind to the Scions, giving them a choice. They should simply follow orders—nothing more, nothing less.”
“Urak, the partnership between you and Shine could become a valuable asset for both of our bloodlines. The heir to Shine’s wealth holds significant power, so I urge you to practice patience.”
Shine bowed her head thoughtfully, her ivory and pearlescent hair cascading around her features. The strands flowed past her shoulders, down to her hips, and gently brushed the floor. Her eyes were softly lowered, irises a delicate shade of rose, complementing her porcelain skin.
Urak scoffed and averted his gaze from the two of them. Practices that had been upheld for generations were being disregarded at Shine’s request. She spoke constantly about humility and respect for her scion, even going so far as to call her ‘daughter.’ Urak silently mocked the notion, convinced that her scion had no limitations to her freedom.
“Mizi and Sua’s relationship is strongly reciprocal. The two spend all their free time together and are inseparable, often holding hands as they explore the vast garden, lost in their own world.” Unsha paused, flipping to the next page. “Ivan and Till are quite similar. Ivan’s nature often encourages Till to reach out and engage with more people, while he silently admires Till’s drawings. The two are also inseparable. Occasionally, they engage in physical altercations, and Ivan is always the one to come out on top.” Urak scoffed quietly, muttering under his breath. Unsha turned to the next page. “Now, regarding the arrangement Urak requested… Till has developed a fondness for Mizi, often seen admiring her from a distance. It appears that Mizi does not return these feelings, although she demonstrates a thoughtful nature towards all the heirs she spends time with.”
Urak speaks up before anyone can respond. “Mizi is to have an arranged marriage with Till.”
Shine keeps her head down, her hair casting a pearlescent veil over her delicate features. “I will not force my daughter to engage with someone she does not wish to. If her heart is set on Sua, then that is where I will stand. If she decides, ten years from now, that she wants to provide surrogacy, then that will be her choice. Until then, only time will tell.”
Unsha nods, considering the idea for a moment. “It does seem that Ivan and Till are more compatible than Till and Mizi.” If Shine preferred Sua to be arranged with Mizi, then Unsha couldn’t care less. His company gets to spread out and develop bonds with Shine’s company and begin sharing assets and stocks- it was more than enough. Unsha couldn’t care less about surrogacy or bloodlines. Unsha worked solely for himself and his wife’s benefit.
Urak reveals his large front teeth, seething with frustration. “Why do we even offer them a choice in the matter? Why do you show them so much kindness? They are the heirs to the prestige, scions who should only do as they are told. If they cannot produce viable offspring, all of this is a meaningless waste of my time and resources.”
Unsha narrows his eyes at the glass below him, observing the deep crimson liquid. "Males exposed to certain magical elements have been known to provide offspring under the right conditions. Dark matter, however, is not one of those elements, although your heir may have that ability." Unsha regarded the matter at hand with indifference, his gaze drifting as he dismissed the trivialities of bloodlines and heritage as inconsequential. His thoughts were consumed by a singular ambition: the flourishing of his burgeoning business empire. He poured his energy into its growth, driven by a fervent desire for success. Yet, amid his aspirations, another priority tugged at his heart—a commitment to nurturing his wife’s happiness, ensuring that her life was filled with joy and contentment.
“You dare suggest such a pretentious and conceited concept? My scion is a man, and he will act as so. He will not be wed to another man.” Urak fought to contain himself. He understood very well the weight of Shine’s company but was completely unable to mask his disgust. Shine had put in so much care to set up tutoring lessons at her estate for the children, giving them time to grow and learn in a welcoming and warm atmosphere. Shine approached the arranged marriage plans with great care, extensive planning, and utmost thoughtfulness. Although none of that mattered now, Shine's company had only become a burden to Urak.
"This might be your only option, however, it seems viable. There is still a slight chance that surrogacy could work out for them."
Shine nods thoughtfully, offering a reassuring and warm smile. “They’re still young; they just need a little time to grow.”
Really? They were just going to let this woman change tradition and do her own thing? Was it all for the sake of humility and morality? Love, she would say, raving about how she admired her daughter . Scions were to be seen as tools for your wealth, upgrading yourself within the industry. They are to carry out the bloodline and do exactly as they are instructed. Urak spent night and day drilling the concept into Till’s head, though it still seemed so foreign and unfamiliar. He refused to relent to whatever this woman would rave about. He refused to accept that she would ever be right about anything, dare she ask him to lay off the punishments he would lay upon his scion. Shine always held herself as if she were in silent prayer, always so grateful for everything that she had. It was almost as if she didn’t truly crave anything for herself, never greedy, never envious. Holding herself as if she were some luminescent being, worthy of God’s grace. It disgusted him. Urak was only here for what would benefit him, no more and no less.
Unsha, ever the keen observer, watched intently as Urak’s jaw tightened, a clear indicator of the simmering frustration beneath his stoic exterior. Although Urak was unlikely to lash out in the carefully controlled environment of their meeting, Unsha couldn’t shake the feeling that a spark could ignite a fire elsewhere. Persuading Urak was a delicate endeavor, one that often felt like walking a tightrope. Urak was known for surrendering to his primal instincts, his simmering rage barely masked beneath a veneer of calm, and that tension hummed in the air around them.
Understanding the nuances of the moment, Unsha steeled himself, knowing he had to choose his words with the utmost precision. He had made it a habit to instill this lesson in Ivan, urging him to be mindful of the unspoken tensions that swirled around them. Unsha had attempted to share some fragments of this insight with Sua, but she seemed to drift in a different direction, her attention often captivated by Mizi. When left alone, she would float about the room or gaze vacantly into the distance, lost in her own thoughts. In truth, Ivan was not far removed from this behavior, often reflecting the same distracted nature.
With a measured tap of his glass, Unsha gathered his thoughts, striving to weave a tapestry of words before Urak’s patience wore thin. “Everything remains uncertain,” he began, his voice steady but firm. “Nothing has been decided yet. This uncertainty can certainly lead to stressful times, as we are all keenly aware that it could change the outlook for our futures and even for generations to come. Patience is key during such times, and we must remain composed. We need to set a proper example for the public.” His voice was laced with determination, though his expression portrayed a sense of ennui. The meeting felt like a tedious obligation, and as he spoke, his mind wandered to the plans he had laid out for the evening ahead, longing for a break from the weight of the discussion.
Shine slowly rises from her seat, bowing at the two across from her. “The meeting is adjourned. Thank you for having me.” She slowly makes her way out of the room, long flowy silk robes swaying behind her. She loved to flaunt her pink silk robes, that was the only thing in this life she could openly feel some sort of greed for.
Urak is merely silenced, a light simmer setting itself within him, threatening to boil over at the next convenience.
Unsha lets the atmosphere around them marinate for a moment, feeding time into the silence as he studies the layout of the bookcases around the room. Shine was a shallow woman, only caring for nature and the emotions of humans. She had a justice about her, one that she fought for in a resigned manner. One could guess how soft and feeling a person she was by merely glancing around at the books she would carry. “Perhaps she is right.” He finally exclaims, cutting through the silence. He couldn’t care less if she was right or not, none of it benefitted him in the long run.
What Urak didn’t know was that Unsha had planned out this very meeting and took great note of whatever information was within his grasp. Urak was a great business partner. He would love to expand his production and assets by marrying off their heirs, but Urak was a restless and lonely man. Unsha couldn’t put up with him any longer, he had to find a way to get exactly what he wanted out of the man. Urak was careless with his actions and his attitude, often seething at the consequences as if he wasn’t the very one who had caused them.
“I didn’t take you for a fool, Unsha.” Urak spits out, though he contradicts his statement by remaining seated.
He is willing to trust my judgment. This will make everything run more smoothly. Urak was a shallow man. Easily figured out, and seen for who he was. His emotions were always poorly masked. This may lead to his downfall.
“Say we entertain this idea of hers. She watches you demonstrate patience, establishing yourself standing firm. She may begin to consider a legal partnership between Mizi and Till, but allow Mizi to search for her affections elsewhere. This will not be to any of Till’s concern, as his duty will have no room for anything beyond business delegations.” Unsha had plenty of time to concern himself with his wife outside of his business delegations. Not that Urak would ever begin to understand that. It was miraculous that he had even found his heir, or that one even existed. Unsha half expected Urak’s bloodline to die out. Part of him had a hard time believing Till was even his real son, as they shared no physical characteristics. He did not doubt that Till had already begun to pick up on this notion, though it was pointless to fret over as of now.
Unsha settles into his seat, watching closely as Urak’s jaw unclenches. His words had surely gotten through to him, considering Unsha’s words carefully within his mind. Urak’s shoulders remained tense, his eyes narrowing to the space on the table in front of him. It was noted that Urak wouldn’t allow himself to relax to a certain degree, only partially.
“That scion better not even begin to think of disappointing me. He should be grateful that I’ve even entertained with my hospitality. He disobeys me at every opportunity. Perhaps I’ve been too lenient on him as of late. He is to learn in a more callous environment. That boy is intolerable. He will be molded to my vision.”