The Martial Unity

Prince Rafia had a very distinct demeanor. It was cold and detached. Her eyes lacked warmth, and her body language was devoid of consideration. "Raise your heads," She commanded.

Even her tone was monotonic and devoid of any grace or measured cadence.

"Distinguished guests, welcome to the convention held by the Rafia Consortium," She began unceremoniously, speaking clinically. "Today's agendas, as you all have been informed, have to do with a new scheme that the Rafia Consortium will be implementing in regard to the new system of patronage of our esteemed members to the Rafia Foundation. The presentation will begin immediately, and your seats have already been prepared."

Immediately, an array of luxurious seating arrangements across the wide and spacious hall appeared out of nowhere, much to Rui's surprise. Whatever esoteric technology was being employed was extraordinarily exclusive and rare.

A large board appeared behind her as the guests took their seats across the convention hall hosting the business convention.

The large title head at the top of the board immediately drew everybody's reaction.

[Patronage Tiering System]

Below it was a large intricate maze of layers and sub-headers with several points below each of them, with many arrows that stretched across the entire board.

"Senior Rui Quarrier, please come with me. I wish to speak to you about an important matter privately," She remarked without a hint of commanding assertiveness. Her words once more drew the attention of the various guests who were engaged with her staff as the convention hall grew silent.

Rui Quarrier was the first person at the top of Princess Rafia's list of people to privately consult out of all the distinguished individuals invited to the business convention.

That was an unexpected development for many.

She simply stared at him with a blank expression that may as well have been frozen in time, waiting for his response. Rui, on the other hand, groaned inwardly at being placed in the spotlight yet again.

"I would be honored, Your Highness," Rui got up, bowing, before following her to one the door at the end of the convention hall, ignoring the many stares fixated on him.

"It may behoove you to dispense with such gestures, Senior Quarrier," she remarked when they were out of everybody else's earshot, referring to his bow. "This is a business convention and thus merely semi-formal at most. Such polities are not observed in business gatherings such as this one."

"I wasn't aware of that, Your Highness," Rui replied courteously. "I shall bear that in mind."

Her assistant opened the door to the office that they found themselves in. "Please have a seat," the princess gestured before taking her own. "I am not fond of small talk; thus, I hope you do not take offense at my tendency to avoid them. I have but one proposition to make to you."

She stared into his eyes without even the tiniest shred of emotion as she uttered the following words.

"Please marry me, Rui Quarrier."