Chapter 129
The late afternoon sun filtered through the windows of Duke Owen's study.
Ledgers, reports, and letters covered the large oak desk.
For weeks they had become Owen's constant companions.
Each page seemed to carry another expense.
Another delay.
Another burden.
A knock sounded at the door, "Come in."
Philip entered first, "My Lord..."
His expression held a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.
"His Majesty has arrived."
Owen looked up from the ledgers, "The King?"
"Yes, My Lord..He requested a private audience."
Owen nodded once, "Show him in."
A moment later, Lucian stepped into the study.
He wore no ceremonial robes. No crown.
Only a simple dark coat befitting a man rather than a king.
Philip quietly withdrew, closing the door behind him.
For a long moment, neither man spoke.
Then Owen gestured toward the chair opposite him.
"Please."
Lucian inclined his head respectfully, "Thank you, Duke Owen."
Once they were seated, silence settled between them.
Owen studied the young king carefully.
He remembered the proud prince who had once dismissed Aurora without a second thought.
The man sitting before him now seemed older...Wearier.
"Hm," Owen said quietly, "You requested this meeting."
Lucian nodded, "I did."
"Then speak freely."
Lucian drew a slow breath, "There are... two matters I wish to discuss."
Owen leaned back, "I'm listening."
Lucian hesitated.
Then, to Owen's surprise, he stood.
He bowed deeply.
Far more deeply than royal etiquette required.
"Duke Owen...I owe you an apology."
Owen's eyes narrowed slightly.
Lucian continued, "For years I failed your daughter. I ignored her. I judged her unfairly. I allowed my own pride to blind me. I caused her pain."
His voice remained steady, but there was unmistakable regret behind every word.
"I cannot undo those mistakes. But I wanted you to hear me acknowledge them."
The room fell silent.
Owen remained unreadable.
After a long pause, he asked quietly, "Why now?"
Lucian lifted his gaze, "Because I finally understand what I should have understood years ago."
Owen folded his arms, "And what is that?"
Lucian smiled sadly, "That titles mean very little. Wealth means very little. Power means very little. If you have no one worth protecting."
Owen watched him carefully.
Lucian continued, "Watching Aurora risk her life for complete strangers...Watching her comfort grieving families...Watching her continue working even after being stabbed..."
He shook his head, "I realised something."
His voice softened, "Somewhere along the way......she became one of the most important people in my life."
Owen remained silent.
"I love her." The words echoed through the study.
Lucian did not look away, "I don't expect forgiveness. I don't expect trust. And I certainly don't expect her to return my feelings simply because I finally found the courage to confess mine."
He paused, "But I wanted you to hear it from me. I love your daughter. I wish to marry her."
Owen stared at him for several long moments.
Then he asked the question Lucian had expected.
"Does Aurora know?"
Lucian slowly shook his head, "No."
"Why not?"
"Because before I speak to her...I believed I should first speak to her father."
The Duke's expression softened ever so slightly.
Only slightly.
"You've changed."
Lucian smiled faintly, "I've had very good teachers."
A brief silence followed.
Then Owen asked, "What's the second matter?"
Lucian reached into his coat and carefully placed several aged documents on the desk.
"Theo and I have spent the last several nights searching through the royal archives."
Owen frowned, "What are these?"
"A collection of ancient royal statutes."
Owen picked up the first document.
The paper was yellowed with age.
The royal seal had faded but remained visible.
Lucian spoke quietly, "One law concerns the marriage of the Crown."
Owen continued reading.
Lucian explained,
"It states that when a reigning monarch marries the heir of a Grand Duchy..."
"...that duchy becomes permanently tied to the Royal Family through marriage."
Owen slowly looked up, "And?"
Lucian slid another document across the table.
"A second statute allows the Royal Family to invest personal wealth into any duchy directly connected to the Crown."
Owen's eyes widened slightly, "Personal wealth?"
Lucian nodded,
"My father's personal estates."
"My mother's inheritance."
"My own private income."
"None of it belongs to the Royal Treasury."
"Which means......the court cannot prevent us from using it."
Owen sat in stunned silence.
For weeks he had searched desperately for a solution.
He had found none.
Lucian continued, "My parents are prepared to provide Emberforge with a private loan."
Owen's fingers tightened around the documents, "A loan?"
"Interest free. Repayable only after the mines have fully recovered."
Silence.
Then Owen asked quietly, "The court agreed to this?"
Lucian smiled faintly, "They don't have the authority to refuse. But..."
He tapped the final document. "There is one condition."
Owen unfolded the last page.
His eyes moved slowly across the ancient writing.
Lucian spoke carefully, "The marriage must be genuine.It cannot exist solely for financial benefit. And..."
He hesitated.
"The succession laws require an heir."
Owen looked up.
Lucian met his gaze, "The royal council has requested that an heir be born within one year of the marriage."
Silence filled the room.
The weight of the revelation settled heavily between them.
Finally Owen leaned back in his chair.
"So. My daughter's marriage would save the duchy."
"It would."
"But it would also place expectations upon her."
Lucian nodded, "Yes."
Owen looked directly into his eyes.
"And if Aurora refuses?"
Lucian answered without hesitation.
"Then I will respect her decision. The law books return to the archives. And I will find another way."
Even if it bankrupts me.
Even if it takes years.
Even if I fail.
Those final words remained unspoken.
But Owen saw them written plainly across the young king's face.
For the first time...
He wasn't looking at the Crown Prince who had once ignored his daughter.
He was looking at a man willing to lose everything...
Rather than force the woman he loved into a marriage she did not want.
Owen slowly closed the law books, "You've given me much to think about."
Lucian stood.
"I wasn't asking for your answer today. I only wanted your honesty. And to offer you mine."
He bowed respectfully, "I will wait. As long as necessary."
Without another word, Lucian turned and walked toward the door.
Just before leaving, Owen spoke quietly.
"Lucian."
The King stopped.
Without turning around, he answered,
"Yes, Duke Owen?"
Owen's voice was calm, "If my daughter agrees......and if you ever make her cry the way you once did..."
He let the sentence hang for a moment, "...being king won't save you from me."
For the first time that afternoon, Lucian smiled, "I wouldn't expect it to."
Then he quietly left the study, leaving Owen alone with the law books...
...and a decision that would change the future of both the kingdom and his family forever.