Chapter 246: A Generous Offer
Chapter 246: A Generous Offer
As Rhain and Seris stepped into the lavishly decorated private study, Patriarch Thorian let out a hearty, booming laugh that carried a subtle trace of apology.
"Hahaha! Young master Rhain, Lady Seris, please come in," Thorian greeted, gesturing toward the luxurious leather sofas. His gaze briefly shifted toward the imperial figure lounging comfortably across from him. "Please excuse the sudden addition to our arrangement. His Royal Highness also wished to stay behind for a casual chat. I hope you do not mind the sudden addition to our meeting."
Sitting comfortably opposite the Patriarch, Crown Prince Lucius swirled a glass of spiritual wine.
"I hope I am not intruding," Lucius spoke, his voice a smooth, velvety melody. "I simply could not pass up the opportunity to converse with the greatest prodigy of our generation in a more relaxed setting."
Rhain’s dark grey eyes swept over the room, briefly landing on the Crown Prince.
"Not at all, Patriarch Thorian, Crown Prince. To have an audience with His Royal Highness is naturally my fortune." Rhain replied, his expression perfectly placid.
He led Seris to one of the plush sofas, taking a seat opposite the heavy hitters of the Thunderwood Noble Family and the Crown Prince himself.
Elara and Godfrey took their places behind their father, and attendants swiftly poured spiritual wine for everyone before silently withdrawing from the room.
For the next while, the conversation flowed with all the polished cordiality of a formal court session.
"Stormveil City is entering an era of unprecedented change," Thorian rumbled, stroking his thick beard. "With the rise of the Celestial Elixir Pavilion, and now your own earth-shattering emergence, the old balance of power is fracturing. The future belongs to the young."
Godfrey added with a respectful tone, "Indeed. Your performance, Young Master Rhain, redefined what we consider possible. The Thunderwood Family deeply values strength and honor. We have always believed that forging strong alliances with true prodigies is the key to lasting prosperity."
Elara, sitting elegantly beside her brother, offered a serene smile.
"My brother speaks the truth," Elara added gracefully. "True power requires limitless resources. As you already know, our Thunderwood Family has recently secured a historic partnership with the Celestial Elixir Pavilion. The wealth and resources flowing through our hands right now are simply staggering. Anyone who walks alongside our family will naturally share in the boundless benefits of this golden era."
The implication was crystal clear.
Elara was subtly reminding him of their partnership with Celestial Elixir Pavilion, and that Rhain would have a huge advantage if he maintains a good relationship with Thunderwood Noble family.
The Thunderwood Family’s vision is indeed broad," Rhain replied with a measured, indifferent politeness, taking a slow sip of his wine.
He neither accepted the bait nor rejected it, leaving Godfrey and Elara exchanging uncertain glances.
Lucius, who had been lazily swirling his wine, finally spoke.
"Forgive me for interrupting the Patriarch’s excellent hospitality," Lucius said, "But I find myself unable to contain my admiration any longer."
His amber eyes locked onto Rhain, and his handsome features broke into a warm smile.
"Rhain. You are a dragon among men, truly," Lucius praised, "To shatter a Domain at the Spirit Manifestation Realm... it is a feat that even my royal father would find hard to believe without witnessing it himself."
Then, Lucius’s gaze drifted to the side, landing squarely on Seris.
"And of course, behind every peerless hero stands a fairy blessed by the heavens," Lucius continued with a silky tone.
"Lady Seris, the legends of the True Heavenly Physique do not do you justice. Your otherworldly beauty makes the moon itself hide in shame. I have walked the halls of the Imperial Palace and seen the greatest beauties of the realm, yet none possess even a fraction of your celestial grace."
To any ordinary girl, being praised so exquisitely by the handsome, powerful Crown Prince would have been enough to make her heart flutter and her cheeks burn with flattered shyness.
But Seris’s pale purple eyes remained as calm and unrippled as a frozen lake.
She felt nothing but an instinctual revulsion.
"His Royal Highness is too kind," Seris replied, her voice melodious but carrying a chillingly distant, polite edge. She naturally leaned a fraction closer to Rhain, "My husband’s presence is the only blessing I require."
Rhain’s dark grey eyes met Lucius’s amber gaze.
"We are humbled by your excessive praise, Your Highness," Rhain added, his tone flat and utterly indifferent.
The royal flattery bounced off them like water off a stone wall.
After a short period of this seemingly harmless group chatter, a subtle shift occurred in the room.
Clink.
Lucius gently set his exquisite wine cup down on the table.
The soft sound immediately drew the attention of everyone present.
"Patriarch Thorian," Lucius spoke, his voice leaving no room for argument. "I must request a strictly private audience with young master Rhain. It concerns a matter of the highest dynastic importance. It is something that cannot be heard by others."
Thorian’s thick brows twitched slightly. He had hoped to use this time to solidify the Thunderwood family’s bond with Rhain.
But he did not dare to refuse a direct command from the Crown Prince.
"Of course, Your Highness," Thorian bowed respectfully. He immediately stood up, signaling to his children. "Godfrey, Elara, come with me. We must attend to our guests outside."
Without a word of protest, Godfrey and Elara followed their father, the three of them swiftly exiting the study.
Once the Thunderwood family members were gone, Lucius turned his charming smile toward Seris.
"Lady Seris," Lucius said softly, gesturing toward the doors. "If you would be so kind as to step outside as well? This conversation is meant for your husband’s ears alone."
Seris’s pale purple eyes immediately flashed with intense reluctance.
Her instincts screamed that the man sitting across from them was incredibly dangerous.
She did not want to leave her husband alone with him.
She turned her head, looking at Rhain with deep unease.
Rhain met her worried gaze.
He gave her a gentle, reassuring nod.
"Go back to Dean Carmilla and wait for me there," Rhain said tenderly. "I will be out shortly."
Seeing his unshakeable confidence, the anxiety in Seris’s heart eased. Trusting her husband implicitly, she stood up and offered a polite, stiff bow.
"Excuse me, Your Highness."
The soundproofed golden doors closed with a dull sound behind her.
The two men were now entirely alone.
Lucius leaned back into the plush sofa, crossing one leg over the other.
"Rhain," Lucius began, his amber eyes seemed to intensify with a bloodthirsty light. "I am a man who appreciates true power. Stormveil Academy is simply too small a pond for someone like you. Even these noble families are nothing but regional overlords."
Lucius spread his arms grandly.
"I can offer you whatever you want. I will support you with all the might of the Royal Court. You will receive resources that the Stormveil Academy could never dream of affording. And when I ascend the throne..."
"...I promise to name you the Grand Chancellor of the Solathane Dynasty. Your authority will be second only to mine. You will command immeasurable power and limitless wealth. Entire provinces will bow at your feet."
It was ab offer that could shatter the willpower and blind the ambitions of any cultivator in existence.
Rhain, however, was as placid as ever.
He wasn’t blinded by the dazzling promises in the slightest.
"A very grand offer, Your Highness," Rhain said calmly, "But there is no such thing as a free meal in this world. What exactly do I have to give in return?"
Lucius let out a satisfied chuckle, assuming Rhain was simply negotiating terms like any other smart and ambitious man.
"Your absolute loyalty," Lucius stated directly. "You will support my ascension completely and obey my commands without question."
Lucius paused, his face showing a lustful smile.
"And... there is one more minor detail."
Lucius leaned forward, a twisted, covetous expression appearing on his handsome face.
"I have taken quite a liking to your wife. I want to... enjoy her."
Without waiting for Rhain to respond, Lucius continued with a benevolent tone.
"Do not worry, I am not an unreasonable man. To the outside world, she will remain your beautiful, untouchable wife. Your pride and face will be perfectly preserved. But in private... you will share her with me."
Lucius chuckled softly while speaking, as if he discussing the trade of a common artifact.
"You are a smart man, Rhain. You possess the strength to stand at the very pinnacle of this world. You must not let foolish, mortal societal norms blind you to the bigger picture. Women are merely expendable resources on the path to true supremacy."
He gestured dismissively with his free hand, "I currently possess a harem of hundreds of the most exquisite beauties gathered from across the Solathane Dynasty. As my future Grand Chancellor, you need only lift a finger, and you may pick any of them to warm your bed. Take ten, take twenty, take whoever you please. As long as you agree to my demands and share Seris with me, my unconditional support is yours."
Lucius looked at Rhain with an arrogance of a ruler presenting an undeniable decree.
"What are your thoughts?" He asked.
For a long moment, the private study was dead silent.
Rhain remained seated, not moving an inch as if he had turned into a stone statue.
Then, slowly, Rhain raised his hands.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
The rhythmic sound of clapping echoed clearly in the quiet room.
A harmless, incredibly serene smile spread across Rhain’s handsome face.
"What a generous offer, Crown Prince."