The air in the Duke's study felt heavy with tension as I waited for his response. His piercing eyes hadn't left my face—or rather, my mask—since I'd made my proposal. I forced myself to maintain eye contact, though every instinct urged me to look away from his intimidating gaze.
"Let me understand this clearly," Duke Alaric finally said, his deep voice carrying a hint of amusement. "You, the daughter of a nearly bankrupt baron, are proposing a marriage contract to me, one of the most powerful men in the kingdom."
I swallowed hard. "Yes, Your Grace."
"And you believe this arrangement would benefit me... how, exactly?" He leaned back in his chair, studying me with undisguised interest. "Beyond the inheritance you mentioned—which, as I've already stated, I have no need for."
