Chapter Ten: Marriage?!

"Alex, come with me." The Voice said

Alex turned his head and saw who was talking to him: Edward Blackwood, his father. Alex had to hide the look of disdain he had. He hated Edward for forcing Anna to marry him, and Alex also knew he was using Raven and himself as political bargaining tools. However, Alex hid his emotions well.

"What is it that you want, Father?" Alex put extra emphasis on "father," after all, in the public eye, Edward was biologically Alex's father, so he had to play into it.

"Just come with me; we have much to discuss." Edward said as he started to talk away.

Alex looked to his mother, who nodded her head for him to go; however, she had a very worried look on her face. Alex held his mother's hand and said

"Relax, I'll be fine. He can't do anything that would harm me; after all, I'm the son who has magic, which makes me valuable to him."

This made Anna relax a bit, but it didn't stop her worries.

Alex followed Edward to a room that looked like Edward's office. There were two fully stocked bookshelves and a fancy, custom-made wooden desk with paper stacks on top of it. There were also three leather chairs around the desk. One was obviously more fancy than the others, meaning it was more than likely Edward's seat.

Edward walked behind his desk and sat in the fancy chair. While he moved his arm and motioned for Alex to take a seat.

"Fancy office." Alex said to break the tension.

"Well, I spend most of my time here; I might as well make it enjoyable to look at." Edward responded with a slight smile.

"Now down to business. Do you know what the purpose of a daughter and second-born son is in a noble family?" Edward asked.

"To sell us off like objects to make you and your family richer?" Alex thought to himself, but actually answered normally. "No, what is it?"

"To be married to other nobles, making alliances, of course." Edward answered.

Yup, I knew it." Alex thought to himself.

"I have already organized a marriage for your sister Raven. She will be married to one of the top noble families in Lapis City, the Tarren Family. She will marry their firstborn son, Oliver Tarren."

"Oliver Tarren, the man who abuses Raven and forces her to bear his child... Alex had a lot of anger showing on his face but managed to calm down. "It's not like he'll live long enough to do so after all." Alex's thoughts started to plan how to kill Oliver. However, Edward continued talking.

"And you will be married into the Goldburn family, a family in the southern part of the western region."

"So you want to separate me from my mother and sister; this asshole really thinks he can do whatever he wants." Alex thought to himself.

Edward continued, "You will marry Sophia Goldburn; she is the second daughter of the Goldburn family. You will produce a heir with her and spread the Blackwood name in that territory."

"Sorry, not fucking happening. I don't know this Sophia Goldburn, but I don't plan on leaving my sister and mother anytime soon." Alex continued with his own thoughts.

" Sophia Goldburn is here, but only myself and her father know about this deal. After you leave my office, you will go talk to her and start a good relationship. That is all. Now go."

Alex left without saying a word.

As he started going back to the ballroom, he had an angry look on his face. "This bastard really thinks he can just marry me and Raven off and force us to have kids? Sorry, father, but that isn't happening. I would rather burn down the world than see that happen."

Alex finally got to the ballroom, and immediately he saw something that pissed him off. A Blonde Boy around the same age as Raven tried to stand close to her while she was looking annoyed. Alex sprinted to Raven, and as soon as he got to her, he grabbed the boy's wrist and twisted it.

Now, Blondie, what in the hell do you think you're doing?" Alex said this to the boy while twisting his wrist.

The boy was damn near screaming in pain, but he refused to lose face. Raven had a smirk while watching him writhe in pain.

"Would you please....let go?" The boy asked.

"I'll let go when you fuck off." Alex responded.

"What kind of kid talks like this?" the boy thought to himself. "Fine! Fine! I'll leave."

"Good." Alex let go of the boy's wrist, which quickly started to swell.

"You messed with the wrong man, little boy. My name is Oliver Tarren." The boy said he was trying his best to save face while also holding his swollen wrist.

"Oliver Tarren? Oh, this is too good of an opportunity." Alex thought to himself.

"And I should care why? Listen blondie I don't care who you are; you could be the damn crown prince of the Empire, and I'd still act exactly the same as I do now. You said you were going to leave, so leave before I make more than just your wrist turn black and blue."

Oliver clicked his tongue and left the ballroom. However, he didn't leave without some final parting words.

"You won't be around to protect her forever. Sooner or later, she will be mine."

Alex's lightning started to appear around his body. Everyone around Alex started to back away, with him obviously becoming more and more pissed off.

Raven, seeing this, hugged Alex from behind. Her soft embrace started to calm Alex down as his lightning started to disappear.

"Thank you, brother. I asked him to leave, but he refused and started to make me feel uncomfortable, but you saved me from having to deal with him." Raven said as she was still hugging Alex.

"I will always save you. Even if I have to go against the world, I'll always be by your side." Alex said as he started to share her embrace.

His words and his hug made Raven blush; however, sadly for both her and Alex, their sweet time together was interrupted.

"Uhm, Hello Alex, My name is Sophia Goldburn; it is a pleasure to meet you." A little girl said.

She looked only a little older than Alex. She had long blonde hair that was put in a ponytail with a white bow. She was wearing a white dress with golden accents that looked like it was made by the best tailors in the Empire. However, what Alex noticed were her piercingly beautiful red eyes.

"This is who I was supposed to marry? Honestly, if it wasn't for Edward trying to force me into this, I wouldn't be opposed to marrying her." Alex thought to himself.

Oh, nice to meet you too, Sophia; my name is Alex Blackwood, as you are aware. Alex said as he turned his attention to Sophia.

"Who the hell is this girl?" Raven said angrily, looking at Sophia. She had never seen Alex talk to a girl outside of their mother and the maids, and seeing him interact with Sophia made her chest feel tighter and made her angry.

"Ah, good to see you two have met." A man's voice called out.

The man was tall; if Alex had to guess, he was around 6 feet tall. He had stylized short brown hair and blue eyes and held a certain noble demeanor.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Henry Goldburn. I am Sophia's father. It's a pleasure to meet you, Alex."

"Sophia, dear, could you please talk to Raven while I discuss something with Alex?" Henry asked his daughter.

She agreed as Henry and Alex walked to a patio that was right outside the ballroom.

"Now I assume your father told you about your marriage?" Henry asked.

"Yes, I'm supposed to marry Sophia and move down to your territory with her when I turn 18. Is that correct?" Alex asked.

Yes, that is correct; however, I also want you to visit our household once a year at the very least and establish a good friendship with Sophia. I want what's best for her, and marrying someone with your capabilities is what I believe is best."

"If that is what you want, I'll do my best to do it; however, I have one request if you'd be willing to hear me out." Alex asked Henry, who had a surprised look on his face.

"Of course, ask away." Henry responded.

"I refuse to force Sophia into marriage. That's not the person I am or want to be. You said you want what's best for your daughter, correct? Well, let her choose if she marries me or not. When we both turn sixteen, we will revisit this discussion. If she agrees of her own free will, we will be wed. Deal?" Alex proposed.

"Are you sure you're only ten? That's a very adult proposal. Here, I thought it would be something minor. However, I will agree to your request. You are right; forcing her into a marriage she doesn't want isn't right. However, this deal is with you, not your father; he shall never know about this deal of ours, understand? Henry said this while raising his hand out for a handshake.

" Deal." Alex shook Henry's hand.

Sophia and Raven both looked at the two, confused.

All the two could think was

"What just happened?"

-------------------------Author's Note----------------------------

Well we've passed 75 collections which means Im making the discord server. Give me some time and I'll post a link eventually. Thank you guys for everything