Chapter 88
***
He must have been in quite a hurry—because the moment Alex received Elisa’s reply, he came straight down to Ronfay.
It was well past midnight when Elisa and Ethan, though technically the hosts, found themselves sitting across from a most unwelcome guest. The visiting room, bright as day, was tense enough to make the air feel heavy.
“I’d like to speak with Lady Elisa Leslie alone.”
Alex’s tone was direct as his eyes flicked toward Ethan, clearly demanding he leave.
“I’m here in the same capacity as your aide, Your Highness. Please, pay me no mind.”
Ethan didn’t budge an inch from the sofa.
Alex’s expression twisted with irritation, but he bit back a retort. He didn’t have time to argue. He had come at this absurd hour not only because the train from the capital arrived late—but because he didn’t want anyone to know he was here.
If word got out that a royal prince had come all the way to Ronfay to negotiate personally, the royal family’s reputation would sink even lower.
He needed to finish the negotiation before dawn and get out.
Suppressing his irritation with a deep breath, Alex turned his gaze back to Elisa.
“First, I’ll apologize for my sister’s discourtesy.”
It wasn’t an apology—it was mockery. Elisa almost laughed out loud at the arrogant tone.
He even dares to speak down to me?
Even for a prince, addressing someone he barely knew so casually was rude. And in a negotiation, no less, courtesy was expected. His attitude was ridiculous. It made her realize, all over again, how truly gentlemanly and decent Prince Howard was by comparison.
“I’m sure Lady Elisa understands—women can be emotional. When they’re blinded by love, they tend to act without thinking.”
Did he just blame her gender?
Elisa’s disgust showed openly this time. But Alex went on as if oblivious.
“So, as a woman yourself, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive Camilla’s behavior. Of course, I don’t expect forgiveness for free. You’ll be compensated.”
At his signal, the aide stepped forward and placed a folder in front of her.
Elisa skimmed through the papers. Written on fine parchment were the terms—monetary compensation and a promise that Princess Camilla would never again approach Ethan.
“The compensation should be more than satisfactory…”
“It’s not,” Elisa interrupted flatly.
The prince’s eyes narrowed dangerously. Clearly offended, but she paid him no mind and slid the papers back across the table.
“Is the royal family’s honor worth so little, Your Highness?”
The air froze.
“Lady Leslie.”
The aide’s low warning carried a note of panic, as though begging her to watch her tongue. But Elisa simply looked at him, utterly unfazed.
“Have you forgotten that you’re speaking to His Highness, Prince Alex von Martinez?”
“Of course not,” she replied lightly.
Her calm defiance made the aide fidget nervously, glancing toward his master. Unsurprisingly, Alex’s expression had turned grim.
“…The Count Leslie must have done an excellent job raising his daughter.”
His words dripped with venom. Elisa, unfazed, smiled sweetly.
“Thank you. I’m sure Her Majesty must also be proud to see how splendidly you and Princess Camilla have grown.”
The jab landed perfectly. Alex’s face contorted in fury.
Elisa didn’t flinch. She simply took the document Ethan handed her and laid it neatly in front of the prince.
“This is what I want.”
If she allowed him to make all the offers, she’d only end up dragged along. So the moment she’d sent her letter, she and Ethan had drawn up a precise list of demands.
Alex’s eyes darkened. Whether it was because he resented being dictated to by a mere count’s daughter, or simply because it was her, he couldn’t say—but his glare was sharp enough to cut glass.
His aide, on the other hand, looked stricken.
“Your Highness… this…”
When Alex finally glanced down at the paper, his brows furrowed even deeper. He snatched it up and scanned the list, then barked a short, incredulous laugh.
“Is this a joke?”
He slammed the document down on the table. The sound cracked through the silence, but Elisa didn’t so much as blink.
“Of course not, Your Highness. How could I ever joke with you?”
Her posture straightened, her tone unwavering.
“Then you mean this seriously? You’re really demanding something this absurd?”
“Yes. If it’s to restore the dignity your family’s lost, I think this much is only fair.”
Elisa’s demands were threefold:
First — triple the compensation amount he had proposed.
Second — a 30% tax reduction for the territory of Karsten for the next five years.
Third — that Derek Grenville’s punishment be changed to exile instead of execution.
“Or…” She tilted her head slightly. “Does Your Highness believe the royal family’s honor isn’t even worth this much?”
Alex said nothing. His clenched jaw and burning glare spoke volumes. The aide looked helplessly between them, the air thickening with tension.
“It’s already four o’clock,” Ethan remarked casually, breaking the silence.
It sounded meaningless—but it wasn’t.
The nurses here began their rounds at five. If the prince didn’t want to be seen, he’d better leave soon.
Alex seemed to grasp that. He exhaled sharply, then said in a tight voice, “The second demand is beyond my authority.”
The first was excessive, yes—but at least defensible. The second, however, was impossible.
“Don’t worry,” Elisa replied with a faint smile. “That one isn’t for you—it’s for His Majesty. Ethan will make that request himself.”
“What?”
“As you know, this matter doesn’t concern only you and me. Ethan also suffered because of Princess Camilla. Naturally, he deserves compensation as well.”
The prince’s eyes flicked toward Ethan.
“Since the war, Karsten has been struggling. The land’s been without a proper lord for too long,” Ethan said evenly, meeting the prince’s gaze. “When I thought about how to help the territory recover, I realized tax relief would benefit everyone. It’s for Karsten’s sake… and, ultimately, for the kingdom’s.”
Alex sneered. “You haven’t even set foot in Karsten, and already you speak like its lord. How noble of you.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” Ethan replied smoothly.
The prince’s sarcasm slid right off him. Realizing further talk was useless, Alex’s brow furrowed again.
By the time he glanced at the clock, the hands pointed to four-thirty. He was out of time.
He had assumed that, as a noblewoman, Elisa Leslie would be easy to reason with. He’d been wrong.
Of course, if she were reasonable, she wouldn’t have chosen a man like Ethan in the first place.
Suppressing another sigh of irritation, Alex rose to his feet.
“This isn’t something I can decide alone. I’ll return for now and contact you soon.”
With that curt declaration, he turned and left the room with his aide trailing behind him.
Elisa and Ethan watched them go, the heavy door closing on the prince’s retreating back.
