Chapter 148 --148
Dimitri entered, carrying another stack of documents. "Your Highness, more reports. And..." He hesitated. "Another seventy-three marriage proposals arrived this morning."
"Burn them," Elara said without looking up.
"All of them?"
"Yes. Issue the blanket rejection statement I drafted earlier. No exceptions."
"Even the one from Duke Harland’s family? They’re offering significant political alliance—"
"Duke Harland is on the arrest list for embezzlement and conspiracy. His marriage proposal is attempt to avoid prosecution through political marriage. Rejected and flagged for priority investigation." Elara made a note. "Anyone else offering marriage proposals with suspicious timing gets added to investigation list. Correlation between proposal submission and criminal activity is too high to be coincidental."
Dimitri almost smiled. "You think they’re trying to marry you to avoid arrest?"
"Seventeen of the proposals came from families directly implicated in the embezzlement scheme. Twenty-three more from families with documented corruption in administrative records. Thirty-one from nobles who supported the Emperor’s blood rituals." Elara’s voice was flat. "Yes, I think they’re attempting to use marriage as immunity from prosecution. It won’t work."
"Understood, Your Highness. I’ll coordinate with the investigation teams."
He left.
Petra slumped in her chair. "How are you so calm about all of this? The empire is collapsing, everyone wants to either marry you or kill you, half the government is corrupt, and you’re just... making lists and calculating probabilities."
"Panic would be counterproductive. Emotional distress impairs decision-making. Calm systematic analysis produces optimal outcomes." Elara glanced at her. "You’re experiencing stress. That’s normal. You should rest. I can continue working alone."