9 Chapter 9: The Cross family II
With all that has been said, we go back to the question: Why does the Cross family insist on having Charlton marry Annalys?
Clearly, if that union were to happen, it would close all possibilities for the Cross family to ever flip back towards the monarchists. It would take away their carefully constructed image of neutrality and drive them to the limelight. The king would never sit back and let them be, and how could he?
As said, their family and Charlton's hold at least 20% each of the total military power in their kingdom. If they were to be unified through marriage, it would directly place their military power almost equal to their monarch. Aside from that, the purpose of the union would always be up for question. If grand duke Charles were still alive, he would never allow it to happen.
Yet, despite this knowledge, they were more than willing. Again, the only reason they were contemplating to back down was because Geoffrey was too powerful and influential. Not only in the sense of the militia or connections, but he was also too popular with the masses. Even if they were to perform their coup d'état, and by some miracle they won, there's a huge possibility of them facing a civil war after.
However, if Charlton turns his back against their monarch despite their blood relations, not only will it even the level playing field, but it will also erase the possibility of a backlash (given what happened to his father).
Now, although it was not necessary for Charlton to marry Annalys for that to happen, it would be an insurance for their family. For in the end, they were not fighting this cause for whatever bullish belief the radical faction has. They were in it for their own aspirations.
Aside from all those reasons given above, Charlton was a man of his own. For all his titles, grand duke of Suffox and son of a war hero (albeit sentenced as a criminal later), his achievements were nothing to be scoffed at.
At a young age of 19, he has charmed the masses and earned himself the title golden boy. And unlike other titled nobles who solely relied on rent and taxes from their territories to line their pockets, he was able to amass wealth not only through his short career as a music producer, but also through his investments on the most lucrative companies which were still operating today. Which man could boast the same feat?
Thus, for their family to keep on wooing the man despite how many times he turned down the offer, it was completely acceptable.
Now, the issue was, how do they table the proposal again when Charlton already clearly rejected the third time?
If the basis were that he did not want to go against the royal family, then that was still viable. When grand duke Charles died, they knew he would seek justice. However, they underestimated Charlton's fortitude.
Although Marquis Klaus already informed them that Charlton's main suspects were his uncle and Geoffrey (yes, they wanted Charlton to lay the blame on him because he was the greater nuisance for their cause) making that the main reason why he wanted to return to the capital, they did not want to take chances.
If by chance Charlton was able to trace that the root of what happened to his father was in fact, of their radical faction's doing, then that would just be asking for more trouble. That was also one of the reasons why their family haven't taken their mask off yet.
But that's besides the point.
Right now, Charlton was on his way to finding his maternal family guilty, if not already, given that it's his uncle's stupidity that allowed his father's death to happen.
In any case, once he returns to the capital, they would only need to lead the way, feed him conjured evidence, and let him completely come to that conclusion on his own. With Geoffrey out of the picture, that was something they can easily accomplish.
However, even if this objective of theirs comes to fruition, it doesn't necessarily mean that Charlton would welcome Annalys as his grand duchess next.
The only answer to this predicament was that, aside from the condition where Charlton has completely turned his back against his maternal family being met, he needed to develop feelings for Annalys.
The Cross family did not think that Charlton has a natural preference against Annalys. He wouldn't have taken a long time to consider their second proposal if he did.
Annalys was beautiful, has the right pedigree, has a good reputation, could be charming when she wanted to be, and fancied herself in love with him. With everything that happened to Charlton, they assumed that he must be looking for a wife that has all her qualities.
So for him to turn down their offer, it must have been that he never had the opportunity to see Annalys in that light yet.
Thus, how do they make that possible? From the way they see it, the only way for that to happen is if they are able to create opportunities for Charlton and Annalys to spend time together. The next issue is how?
Thankfully, as if it was luck, opportunity came at the right timing.
Thus, when Charlton finally asked Christopher how his sister has been doing, he creased his eyebrows and frowned as if there's a huge, worrisome matter weighing on his mind.
"My sister has been fine. However, regarding her, my family and I have been in a predicament as of late. I hope you won't take this the wrong way, but since I'm already here, let me ask, would you mind lending us a hand?" He finally replied.
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TBC
