[Samuel Velathrone's POV]
Within the meeting room, a man with brown hair and green eyes sat gracefully.
He was Samuel Von Valenthrone. One of the Chief Elders of the family.
His face was as composed as steel but his mind was burning with rage.
This foolish child.
He couldn't help but think as he looked at his granddaughter sitting just beside him.
Seles Valenthrone.
He had returned from his expedition yesterday, only to discover that his precious treasure had vanished.
Very few people knew the password to his safe. So it hadn't taken long to find the culprit.
The hidden surveillance footage in his safe clearly showed her taking the treasure.
He was enraged.
She confessed everything soon after a bit of discipline.
Her plan was simple… and foolish.
She had given away the Crimson's Tear. A treasure so rare even ducal families rarely possessed one.
The treasure wasn't just a powerful potion to him.
No.
It was a symbol of pride for him.
It was awarded to him when he became the Chief Elder
It was a mark of his struggle as he rose from a nameless branch family member to Chief Elder.
And yet, his own granddaughter had stolen it.
The thought made his blood boil but he swallowed the anger.
Seles had said she made a Soul Contract with the Ashborn boy—Rael.
According to her, he would cancel the engagement on his own… and return the treasure.
It was idiotic.
But Samuel knew if he played his cards correctly, this incident could still work in his favor.
If Ashborn cancelled the engagement, he could demand compensation and gain valuable credit within his family.
As much as he wanted to strangle her, he loved his granddaughter just as much.
She was the reason he had a face in the main family. The one who somehow managed to capture the attention of the Ashborn heir.
Most heirs of the Ducal family rarely even glanced at the branch family's way.
Even the Patriarch of the Valenthrone Family had been surprised when Ashborn extended a marriage proposal to a minor branch on their own.
That moment had been one of the key turning points that solidified Samuel's rise to Chief Elder.
But when the Ashborn heir ended up on Duke Astravore's radar, the Patriarch of the Valenthrone Family had instructed Samuel to end the engagement without staining the family's reputation.
He had already been thinking of how to do it… but then his granddaughter handed him the perfect solution.
As long as he got the annulment and his treasure back, he was willing to forgive her with only light punishment.
He didn't think for a moment that the Ashborn Heir would betray his granddaughter.
He had seen the boy before—pathetically in love with his granddaughter. There was no way someone like that would ever do anything to harm her.
Moreover Seles had assured him that she signed a soul contract with Ashborn Heir.
Samuel might not trust his granddaughter for a moment but he would never doubt Soul Contract.
Just then—
The door to the meeting room opened and Samuel looked up to see the Ashborn heir step inside.
Black hair. Crimson eyes.
And behind him followed a young woman with short brown hair and cold grey eyes.
She looked like she was in her early twenties, but her power was on par with Samuel's own.
Without hesitation, Samuel rose to his feet and bowed slightly.
Chief Elder or not, his position was still beneath that of a direct heir from a Ducal family.
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[Rael's POV]
As soon as I entered the meeting room, I saw a man with neat brown hair and sharp green eyes bowing towards me.
I knew the man. Well I had met him a few times.
And I have to say… the guy gave off serious snake vibes. A political variant, at that.
I had met enough of those in my past life to know they held a lot more poison than they showed.
Behind him, on the couch Seles bowed. She wasn't one to do that… but she still did, probably because of her grandfather.
A smirk appeared on my face as I dismissed Samuel's bow with a casual wave.
Old Rael wouldn't have dared.
Heck, he would've bowed instead and greeted with all the respect in the world.
But me?
I had zero interest in playing nice with a snake and a bitch. Especially since my business with her was done and dusted.
And let's be honest, Samuel was just a Chief Elder.
If he'd been a Grand Elder or a Supreme Elder, sure, maybe I would have bowed.
But a Chief Elder? Not even worth a glance, considering my position as the direct heir of House Ashborn.
I was already pissed off due to my training a few moments ago and just wanted to get this little drama over with.
Which is why I brought Aeon along, just in case things got messy. She followed silently behind me, her face as unreadable as always.
I walked in like I owned the place because technically, I did.
"Let's make this quick," I said as I took a seat on the couch opposite to him. "I assume you're here for the annulment?"
I didn't even bother glancing at Seles. Her part was done and she was useless to me now.
And who really likes to keep useless things around, right?
I could see Samuel's lips twitch at my words. He was clearly surprised. Probably due to my slightly changed behaviour.
But he didn't say that out loud.
"Yes, Young Master Rael. That would be appreciated." Samuel was still polite.
Of course it would.
I pulled out a sealed envelope from my cloak and tossed it onto the table between us.
"The envelope has the annulment letter."
My father had given me the annulment letter on the same day as when I asked him for one.
As for that whole "discussion with the council of elders" crap I told Seles?
Yeah it was a lie. I mean, seriously, why would a bunch of old geezers even decide anything about my life?
Samuel picked up the envelope and scanned it for a moment.
I got up from my seat. "If that was all, I'll take my leave now. I have some important appointments."
Important appointments like learning my martial arts and sleeping so I don't die.
"Wait a minute Young Master." Samuel's voice stopped me just as I turned to leave.
Tch. So much for walking out peacefully.