Chapter 438
“Eve, I literally just gave you to Miss Sofina, and you’re already turning against me?” Alex sighed, exasperated but half amused.
Eve’s holographic eyes glowed with firm conviction.
“Not betrayal, Master Alex. My loyalty and my life now belong to Miss Sofina. My duty is to protect her from any danger-including you p>
Sofina burst into laughter, hugging the floating robot tight. “I really love this one,” she said between laughs.
Alex smiled faintly and turned toward the door. “I’m glad you do. You’ve had a long day-get some rest p>
“Well, Alex,” Sofina said suddenly, her eyes glinting with mischief. “I’m already your wife, so I’m surrendering everything to you. You can do whatever you want with me p>
Alex froze mid-step, eyes widening in disbelief.
Before he could respond, Eve darted between them, hovering protectively with both metallic arms spread wide.
“No, Miss Sofina! You can’t give a man that kind of freedom,” she warned, her voice sharp and urgent.
“Master Alex may look kind, but he’s still a man. Give him an inch, and he’ll take ten. Never show your weakness to him p>
She turned toward Alex, eyes glowing a warning red. “My sensors are on you, Master Alex. Don’t even think about it p>
Alex groaned, rubbing his forehead with a mix of frustration and laughter.
“Eve, I don’t even know what you think I’m going to do… but whatever it is, I’m canceling it.” He shook his head, stepping back toward the door. “Goodnight, Sofina p>
“Thank you, Alex,” Sofina whispered with a soft yawn. Sleep tugged at her voice. Within minutes, she was half-asleep, curled around Eve like a child hugging a warm pillow.
“Goodnight, Eve p>
“Goodnight, Miss Sofina,” Eve replied gently. “Rest well. I will protect you p>
An hour later, her bracelet began to chime, waking her from her dreams. The soft hum of Eve’s systems filled the quiet room.
“Sofina,” came a deep male voice from the bracelet.
She blinked, still drowsy, as a hologram flickered to life above her wrist. “Hey, Father,” she murmured, rubbing her eyes.
The man in the projection-regal, stern, and cold as marble-frowned. “You promised to call me in ten minutes. I’ve been waiting for hours. When exactly were you planning to keep your word p>
“Oh, right… sorry. I must’ve fallen asleep,” Sofina said, holding Eve closer like a comfort blanket. “What’s wrong, Father p>
“Do you remember our agreement?” the man asked.
“Yes,” Sofina said softly. “If I could stay married to the man I chose out of love for three years, then you’d give your blessing and accept him as my husband p>
“Exactly.” The King’s tone was cold, his expression unreadable.
“But Heinrich-whatever that bastard’s name is-divorced you before the three years were over p>
Sofina’s brow furrowed. “We were married for three years, Father p>
The King’s eyes narrowed. “No. He filed for divorce eight hours before the deadline. Eight hours, Sofina. That means you lost the wager p>
“You know I had everything prepared,” the King said, his voice rising with restrained fury.
“A dukedom, an entire estate, the title, the land—all meant for your husband, my future son-in-law. I even commissioned the most expensive starship in the fleet for him to command. And now I find out you’re divorced p>
He leaned forward, his tone dropping to a cold, dangerous calm.
“You will return to the capital immediately, Sofina. You’ll marry the man your
mother has chosen for you. No more games. No more love stories p>
“Father,” Sofina began, her voice steady but her eyes defiant.
“I’m married now. I divorced Heinrich because I found someone who truly loves me—and, to be honest, I love him far more than I ever loved Heinrich p>
The King pressed a hand to his temple, exhaling sharply.
“Fina… love is nonsense,” the King said, his voice cold and tired. “It clouds the mind and makes people stupid. You weren’t raised to chase feelings you were raised to guard a legacy p>
He glared at her, his tone cutting deeper. “Look at what you did for that man. You pulled every string to make him one of Winchester’s top elites-and what did you get in return? He left you for someone better p>
Sofina’s eyes flashed. “No, Father. I’m the one who left him-for someone better p>
The King slammed his hand on the desk. “Enough, Sofina!” His voice thundered through the chamber. “As per our agreement-if you couldn’t stay married for three full years, you return home. No excuses p>
“But I am married right now,” Sofina argued, sitting up straighter.
“He divorced you,” the King snapped. “That so-called love of yours fell apart like a cheap lie p>
“But I didn’t give up on love,” Sofina insisted, her voice trembling but firm. “I married again because of love. And can’t you see, Father? After three years, I’m still married-still in love p>
The King’s eyes narrowed. “But it’s a different man-a different husband p>
“The reason,” Sofina said softly, meeting his gaze without hesitation, “is still love. The feeling hasn’t changed… if anything, it’s deeper this time p>
The King groaned, rubbing his forehead as a wave of irritation and reluctant affection hit him all at once.
He had thirty princes-he could replace them easily if one failed.
But Sofina was different-his only daughter. The only child born of the woman he could never forget. That made her special, irreplaceable, carved into the softest part of his heart.
And she knew it.
Sofina was clever too clever. She understood every loophole in their old agreement, and she used them all to avoid the arranged marriage her parents had prepared.
“Father,” she said softly but firmly, “let’s make one final deal. If this husband ever divorces me, I’ll stop choosing for myself. You can pick the next one. I’ll marry whoever you say p>
The King’s gaze sharpened like a blade. For a moment, he said nothing.
But behind that silence, his mind was already calculating a thousand ways to make her new husband walk away.
“Does he even know who you really are?” he asked finally.
Sofina shook her head. “No. He thinks I’m just a poor woman p>
The King leaned forward, voice low and dangerous. “Then tell me, who is this new husband of yours p>
Sofina looked straight at him, a faint smile playing at her lips. “You probably already know, Father. You always do p>
The King didn’t answer-but his expression told her everything. He already had men searching. He always did.
The King exhaled heavily, his expression hardening as he scrolled through the glowing holographic report before him.
“Alexander Saint-Claire,” he read aloud.
“Son of Logan Saint-Claire-the only survivor after the Saint-Claire family massacre. Records say he fled to Xia, married a woman there, and now his son, Alex, has returned… to reclaim what he believes belongs to him p>
The King’s brow furrowed as he continued reading, each line sharpening the tension in his face.
“But the Roseheim family already seized all Saint-Claire estates and assets. According to this-” he tapped the air, pulling up another document Alex married Katarina, Roseheim under a three-yea contract. The law states that after three years of marriage, both
husband and wife automatically
share all properties equally.” s
He paused, eyes narrowing. “And this report says Alex insisted on keeping the marriage until the end of that term because under Prussian law, only those with Prussian blood can become permanent citizens, and a half foreigner like him can qualify after being married to a Prussian woman for three years.” s
The King leaned back in his chair, his lips curling into a cold smirk.
“So, he divorced Katarina right before the third year ended. Clever move. He kept the Saint-Claire inheritance for himself and avoided letting Roseheim claim a single coin. But to maintain his citizenship, he needed another Prussian wife.” He turned his piercing gaze toward Sofina’s hologram.
“And that’s where you came in. Don’t you see it? He married you to keep his legal status—and to protect his fortune. You’re just his replacement bride, a loophole in his little scheme p>
The words landed like stones.
“All I see,” the King said, “he is a manipulator who found the perfect escape plan
—a desperate woman willing to save him. He’s buying time, Sofina. Once his citizenship is secured, he’ll do to you exactly what he did to her p>
His tone hardened. “You’re blind, Fina. He’s using you, and you’re too foolish to
see it p>
Sofina lifted her chin, defiance burning bright in her eyes. “Then let’s make it simple, Father. If he divorces me within a year, I’ll marry whoever you choose. But if he stays-if he truly loves me and lasts thato year-you’ll accept him and give him double what you prepared for my previous husband. No more arguments.” s