Chapter 217 217: Romanova Glory

Irina's expression changed the moment she stepped out of her room.There was the maid, Natalya, waiting outside the door, and Irina could see how worried she was.

"Milady," She started, seemingly wanting to suggest something but couldn't or rather didn't know what to suggest.

Irina had grown up from a baby in her hands, so she understood her the most and she was the only one who understood the expression on her face when the proposal was announced.

Irina was furious.

Natalya knew that Irina didn't like this decision, not one bit.

Now, she could suggest for her lady to runaway into a different country, but even though the Romanova's had fallen from grace decades ago, the still had connections.

And the patriarch had enough of it to get Irina back into Russia in just a few hours.

So all Natalya could do now was bow a bit, tears welling up her eyes as she said, "I'm sorry for being so useless, milady."

Irina was a bit surprised at her maid's reaction and just wanted to give her a hug, but she couldn't.

The Estate was filled with rats at this time of the year, so she couldn't risk one of them finding out that she still shows care to a maid.

They would make Natalya's life a hell, whenever she wasn't looking...so she just sighed and said, "raise your head."

Natalya complied, looking directly at Irina's expression and she immediately understood what she was doing.

Natalya realized her mistake of doing this outside a private place, so she just said, "I apologize."

"Lead the way," Irina just said and they started walking forward.

Irina was right, there were rats around, and one of them walked out a few moments after she left.

"Damn, she's cold," a tall lady with raven black hair stepped out, "even to her only proper parental figure."

She looked around for a while before sighing, "though, that's not unexpected from the Romanova siblings."

Seeing that there was nothing to report back, she might as well go and enjoy the drama that would unfold.

Though she was curious, if the common enemy of both brothers was successfully kicked out of the inheritance race, would they turn on each other?

Or is there some type of agreement between the two?

She would prefer if they chewed each other until both parties were destroyed.. and then the Romanova legacy would be thrown to the wolves before it is completely destroyed.

"That'll be fun to watch."

***

Irina walked with Natalya down the stairs but before she could reach the meeting area, she was approached by their retainer.

He was a tall man, that seemed to be in his late forties maybe even earlier fifties.

His expression was completely neutral, as he had long learnt to erase any bit of emotion on his face.

Even when he was standing before his wife of two decades.

"Milady," he said, bowing slightly, "the Patriarch requests a private audience before you join the guests."

"Where?" Irina calmly asked.

"The study," the retainer replied. "Immediately."

Irina nodded. "You may go, Natalya."

Natalya hesitated, her lips parting as if to protest, then she caught the faint warning in Irina's eyes. She bowed deeply. "Of course, milady."

As Natalya retreated, Irina followed the retainer down a different corridor, one that led away from the public halls and deeper into the older wing of the estate.

The walls here were darker, lined with portraits of Romanova patriarchs, men with cold eyes and proud demeanors, all staring down at her.

Though there was a picture of one woman with an even colder expression, one that seemed even more intimidating than most of the others here.

The study doors opened without a sound and she immediately spotted her father who stood by the window with hishands clasped behind his back, gazing out at the snow-covered grounds.

He did not turn when she entered.

"You may leave," he said to the retainer.

The door closed, sealing them inside and letting the silence properly settle between the two.

Even with his back towards her, Alexis Romanova undoubtedly releases an aura that demanded attention.

"You see," He started, his back still turned towards, "there was once a time when the Romanovas stood at the very top."

"I know," Irina nodded, "but I'm sure you didn't call me here to give me a lesson on the family's history."

Alexis turned towards her and although she seemed completely calm, he could tell, "you're angry."

"I wonder why," She said, sarcasm dripping from her voice, "maybe it's because someone planned my wedding without consulting me."

Alexis was silent for a while, none of his boys would dare speak to him like that, but that was just because they were cowards.

With a sigh, he said, "The Belozerskys made a formal proposal and It is really advantageous."

"For whom?" she asked.

There was a faint smile on his face, though it was completely humorless. "You know the answer to that."

Irina met his gaze without flinching. "I see."

"With the Belozerskys support, we'll rise from the mud," he explained, hoping to make her see what he did.

"And that completely replaces my place with that of my 'husband's'?" She asked still looking at him.

"This is the only way to restore our family's glory," he explained.

The only reason they were still alive right now was because of a simple addition to their last name.

It was stupid yes, but it had been working for them so far, and every patriarch, past or present dreamt of putting Russia under their control once again.

The Belozersky alliance was about the closest they had gotten to that goal in over nine decades.

Irina tilted her head, "then allow me to propose an alternative."

He raised an eyebrow. "You are in no position to negotiate."

"On the contrary," she said calmly, "I very much still have the right to negotiate and I think you know that really well."

There was silence between the two for a while as they stared at each other, with none backing down.

The patriarch seemed to be reminded who she took after.

"I am willing to marry," Irina continued, "but not to the Belozerskys."

Her father's expression hardened. "That alliance is already in motion."

"Then redirect it," she said. "Marry me to someone beyond my brothers' reach."

"And who would that be?" he asked coolly, "a foreign businessman? A politician? Someone who will take you away from us entirely?"

She knew that it wasn't his main worry. All he was concerned about was the benefit that person could provide.

As much as Irina was his favorite, he would never sacrifice his family for her, on the contrary, he was willing to use her as a way to use her as a way to drag the Romanova name back onto the world stage.

"There is someone," she said.

Alexis studied her face, searching for hesitation, for uncertainty or any trace of deceit.

He found neither. Instead, he saw the same resolve that was all too familiar to him.

"Speak," he said.

"He is not Russian," Irina continued, "and not European either. He does business globally, operates above borders, above governments."

Well, that was a bit of stretch, at least right now, but she had to get him to believe that Ethan was a force to be reckoned with right now....which he was.

"And you expect me to just approve of this?" Alexis asked, there was a small frown on his face.

"Yes," she nodded causing his frown to deepen, "because I believe the benefits we gain from him will far out weigh the Belozerskys."

This got him curious, so he asked, "and those benefits are?"

"He's unbuyable," She simply stated, "unlike the Belozersky, we can remain completely assured that he would never sell us out."

"Loyalty is not what we need right now Irina," Alexis said with a sigh, he even seemed a bit disappointed.

"He also has the biggest information pool, maybe the biggest in the world," she added, "no matter what information you need to find, as long as it exists, it's with in his palm."

His eye brows raised as he heard her words, wondering whether or not she was completely sure of her words.

But Irina continued, "and I believe, in just a Year, his will be the leading tech company... And guess what our current leader is most interested in?"

Alexis turned away, facing the window again. Outside, snow continued to fall, blanketing the estate in white, hiding all imperfections beneath a pristine surface. A Romanova specialty.

"You understand," he said slowly, "that if this man fails, if he turns on us, or if he brings unwanted attention—"

"I'll bear the consequences," Irina finished. "Publicly, privately, entirely."

Her father glanced back at her. "You would stake your position on this?"

"Yes."

"And you are certain," he added, "that he will accept?"

She chuckled before saying, "why don't you ask him yourself."

With her words, the laptop on the desk turned on, revealing an avatar with a suit on, sitting on a cube.

"Hello Alexis."