"Of course," Irina nodded, "it is terribly unpredictable, things just... collapse sotis, out of nowhere... right"
Oh she was very much enjoying this. They couldn’t let frowns grace their faces since it wouldn’t be a good look on them, so they had to maintain that smile.
"Though," she continued casually, "with how fast things happened, one would say you two are pretty bad at this business thing."
Everyone watching around them sensed the tension and began to quietly step back, forming a subtle circle around the Romanova siblings.
This was in no way small talk and as much as they wanted to curry favors, getting in between would just cause them to lose their heads.... literally.
"Still," Irina said, tilting her head with a sympathetic expression that held not one drop of sincere sympathy, "I’m sure you’ll recover, eventually."
Both their gazes hardened and their smiles hardened.
"Irina," Vladimir said softly, "whatever ga you’re playing, "
"Ga?" Irina interrupted with a bright smile. "Why would I play gas with family?"
She stepped closer, her heels clicking on the marble floors, stopping just an inch away from the two n who towered over her.
She looked up at them, violet-purple eyes bright with amusent.
"You both have been very... busy," she whispered. "Trying to box in and get out of the succession line, maybe even get married to, what was it again? Ah. So pathetic little oligarch’s son in Saint Petersburg. The one who still lives with his mother."
She got a bit closer.
"So I thought..." she placed a finger against her cheek, pretending to think, "why not return the favor?"
"This brat.." Damian, the youngest, muttered but before he could continue his words, a voice was heard from above.
"Enough," the person said, pulling all attention towards the top of the stairs.
Everyone imdiately recognized the voice, because only one man in this house could make the entire Romanova clan freeze with a single word.
Alexis Romanova.
Irina’s father.
The Patriarch.
He stood at the top of the staircase overlooking the foyer, tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in an impeccably tailored black suit.
His graying hair was slicked back, his sharp jawline half-shadowed by the chandelier above, and his violet-purple eyes, the sa color as Irina’s, swept across the room until they landed on his children.
"Father," Vladimir greeted, imdiately adopting a respectful posture.
"Отец," Damian echoed, inclining his head.
Irina offered a soft smile to him.
"Father," she said sweetly.
Alexis descended the stairs slowly, each step heavy with an aura that dominated the hall.
He approached the three siblings, stopping right in front of them. His gaze flicked to the gathered onlookers behind them.
"Leave."
The single word scattered the crowd instantly. Not even the bravest dared linger. The foyer emptied in seconds, leaving the Romanovas alone.
Only when the last servant vanished did Alexis finally speak again.
His voice was controlled and completely cold, mixed with the kind of calm that always preceded danger.
"I return from Geneva," he said, "to find my sons’ enterprises in ruins."
Vladimir and Damian stiffened, but stayed silent.
"And," Alexis continued, "I am told Irina flies across the world without informing ."
Irina lifted a brow.
"You called here," she said calmly, "so I ca. Would you prefer I ignored you?"
Internally, Alexis smiled, there was a reason Irina was her favorite and it wasn’t because she was his only daughter....well, not entirely anyway.
But he wouldn’t let his fondness show, after all, that’ll just allow his daughter to relax and it would invite more hate towards her.
Besides, his fondness towards her didn’t an that she was the heir, that was a position to be earned.
And right now, his favorite child seem to have the upper hand over her brothers.
He turned to his sons.
"And you two," he said quietly. "You allowed your holdings to be compromised this easily?"
Vladimir swallowed.
"There were... unforeseen—"
"Do not insult ," Alexis interrupted sharply.
The air imdiately turned heavy.
"You disappoint ."
The two brothers bowed their heads slightly, absorbing the blow.
Irina was the only one who didn’t flinch.
Alexis finally shifted his gaze to her.
"Irina," he said, "your brothers’ failures happened while you were abroad."
There was accusation behind his words and everyone could hear it.
Irina just smiled faintly.
"Yes," she said. "An unfortunate coincidence."
Both Vladimir and Damian looked at her with venomous gazes, but remained silent in their father’s presence.
Alexis’s gaze stayed on his daughter for a short while before he said,
"You three," he said, stepping past them and walking toward the dining hall, "will follow."
It wasn’t a request, it was an order, one which the three couldn’t not follow.
Irina simply smoothed a stray strand of hair behind her ear and followed, heels echoing confidently across the marble.
The three walked behind their father, two stiff with tension, one relaxed enough to hum under her breath as they continued forward.
As they approached the dining hall, Alexis spoke again without looking back.
"Before we begin the annual eting, we must address sothing," his tone gave nothing away.
The three imdiately stood straighter
Alexis stopped right before he entered the dining room with his back still to them.
"It’s about the Romanova family influence," with that bot of information, he walked into the hall.
Irina had a small frown on her face.
Romanova family influence?
That usually ant one of three things: territory, alliances, or... marriage.
And considering her brothers’ recent attempts?
She had a very bad feeling which one it was.
Their father walked in first and they followed soon after.
The hall was vast, cathedral-like, with a long mahogany table stretching nearly the full length of it. Crystal chandeliers cast light over the room, and portraits of past patriarchs hung on the walls around them.
It felt like they were in so kind of dieval setting.
Every mber of the Romanova family was present, uncles, aunts, cousins, distant relatives with questionable blood ties, and even business partners who were close enough to be considered family.
But none sat.
Not until the Patriarch did.
Alexis Romanova walked calmly to the head of the table.
Only when he lowered himself into the ornate, high-backed chair did the rest of the room finally take their seats.
"Today," he began the mont he sat down, "the Romanova family must discuss a matter of... alliance."
Irina’s fingers tapped lightly on the table.
She already knew what was going to be said, and she didn’t like it, not one bit.
"This morning," Alexis continued, "a proposal arrived."
"A marriage proposal," Alexis clarified.
Irina’s expression didn’t change, but she felt both her brothers stiffen beside her.
"And," Alexis added, violet eyes moving toward Irina, "it concerns my daughter."
Reviews
All reviews (0)