Chapter 5: "I Want 30 Million. Cash Only."
Soren narrowed his eyes at the paper in her hand, burning with the need to make her sign it. His initial displeasure disappeared, and he quickly regained his previous calm.
Aisha sized him up, finding his quick change of behavior interesting.
"Your Highness seemed to have already made up your mind. But I’m curious... Was it your idea to annul the engagement or did that wench tell you?"
"Aisha, be careful with your words. Don’t call your own sister that. It was entirely my idea," Soren replied in irritation.
"And does His Majesty agree with your idea?" Aisha peered at him from the edge of her cup. Seeing his frown deepening, she knew he hadn’t. "Without His Majesty’s approval, this won’t work. The engagement is between our family and has long been established for years."
How could Soren not understand what she was saying?
Still, he didn’t want to give up. He and Aisha can never be together. A woman whose reputation has already sunk so low is unfit of him. More importantly, she turned out to be of a far lower rank than he. His mother wouldn’t allow him, a future emperor candidate, to have a wife like her.
Even Soren didn’t think she was a match for him. Of course, that didn’t mean he didn’t appreciate Aisha. He had known her since they were kids and admired her. She was also the top student in the academy and was always invited to socialites’ tea parties. However, her disgusting actions and ruined reputation have long become a burden on him.
If he wanted to sway the public’s approval from his older brother to him, he had to cut her off.
"For as long as you can say something to him, my father will understand—"
"Ha!" Aisha suddenly laughed. The incredulity of his words made her speechless. "Did the tea muddle your head, Your Highness?"
"You—!" he looked stunned and wanted to retort. But Aisha interrupted him before he could finish.
"Why should I stress myself over your matters? As you can see, I’m a patient. I should be recovering." Aisha looked him in the eye. "If you want to annul the engagement, think carefully of what you should tell His Majesty. I can’t wait for him to approve it."
Soren scoffed at her words, not believing any of it. Especially, the last bit. For someone who even risked her own life just to keep their engagement, her words didn’t match it at all.
"Good, don’t regret it."
Soren agreed immediately, as though he couldn’t wait to leave. Just as he turned around, he heard Aisha speak once again.
"Wait."
As expected, she couldn’t bear to part with him. Her earlier words were just said out of frustration. Right now, she must be regretting it already. Although he had decided to annul their engagement, Soren couldn’t just give her up completely.
After all, out of everyone, Aisha was the most beautiful and also the one who had proven how deeply in love she was with him. She would do anything for him. What man wouldn’t want to keep a woman like that by his side?
"If you’ve regretted it already, we can negotiate," Soren said soon after he turned to face her.
Aisha unexpectedly nodded, seriously taking his words to heart. "That’s right. We can negotiate."
"Speak. What do you want?"
Soren wanted to know what she would demand from him. For as long as it wouldn’t stop the annulment of their engagement or become a problem to his path to enthronement, he wouldn’t mind doing it.
"Prince Soren is indeed of noble character." She picked up her cup and sipped from it, wetting her lips. "Then, I won’t be reserved and say it. There’s another way I can sign and not trouble you to come to His Majesty and seek his approval. It’s just that... it’ll cost you a bit."
Soren furrowed his brows. There was something off about this yet he couldn’t tell what it was. But hearing that she will sign the annulment papers, his attention zeroed in on this.
"It doesn’t matter."
Sigh, so blind and straightforward.
Yet Aisha was glad he didn’t try to refuse.
Soren saw her holding up three fingers in the air. He didn’t understand what that signified and scowled.
"30 million," Aisha said, making sure her demand was clearly heard. "I want 30 million. Cash only."
This scene was something Soren and Daisy had never expected. When they saw her lifting three fingers, they thought it was a new way to curse at him. Daisy was cheered for her inside. But when they heard her words, they became too stunned to speak for a minute.
The room fell into an impregnable silence.
In just a span of seconds, Soren’s face turned colorful. Aisha looked at him expectantly and seriously. There was no jest in her words. She was sincerely asking for 30 million.
"Are you strapped for money? Isn’t the Novalis family giving you any?" Soren looked at her doubtfully, suspecting she was concocting another plan to prevent the annulment of their engagement.
Aisha understood his skepticism. The Novalis family was one of the richest star merchants on Earth. As part of that family, it would be strange for her to lack anything.
Besides, Aisha’s former monthly expenditure was no secret to anyone close to her. She could burn a million in a single trip to a shopping mall.
A mere 30 million was not something she should have trouble getting from her family.
But Aisha already planned to turn away from that family.
"Your Highness doesn’t need to concern himself with that." Aisha waved the papers with her other hand. "Do you want me to sign this or not?"
She fanned herself with the papers, playing with them.
However, to him, Aisha seemed to be threatening him with it. If he didn’t agree, she might tear it apart.
Between giving her 30 million for her to sign and asking his father for approval, Soren knew which one would be best for him to pick.
It was just that... He didn’t have 30 million to give her instantly.