"Woman, what in the hell are you talking about?
Have you lost your mind or something?"
Vaan questioned with a confused look on his face.
"Huh…?"
Seraphina's expression changed.
"What in the hell are you on about?
Are you insinuating that just any random woman could marry me, the Young Master of the Vesta Family, just by spreading some false rumors about me? Do you even realize what kind of message it spreads? If I marry you because of these rumors, there would be thousands of women following after you, spreading foolish rumors about me. Am I supposed to marry them all?"
Vaan questioned.
"Is Young Master Vaan comparing me to a random woman…?" Seraphina tilted her head.
"Well you aren't exactly special, are you?
Average Magic Talent, Average Family Background, Average looks, you may not be a random woman since we have been friends for a long time, but marrying me, I apologize if it may come off as rude, but Seraphina,
Someone like you shouldn't even dream of marrying me."
Vaan spoke as he looked into Seraphina's eyes with a cold look on his face.
"…"
Seraphina froze.
She couldn't understand what was happening…
Wasn't the reason Vaan doing everything was to get her?
Then why was he rejecting her when she was offering herself?
"Not to mention I already have a Fiancé, how could I possibly marry you when I have someone like Elara? No matter how I see it, that's a downgrade." Vaan commented.
Hearing his words, Seraphina's expression changed.
She finally realized what Vaan was trying to do.
'Heh…'
Seraphina chuckled helplessly.
It was embarrassing and extremely degrading, however, right now, she had no other choice.
"Young Master Vaan, I obviously didn't forget about Elara, I know she is your fiancé and is someone chosen by your mother. I understand that you cannot break off your engagement since she is Lady Astra's pupil and I do not mind it.
Polygamy is extremely common for someone of Young Master Vaan's status, you can marry both of us. Elara can be the main wife, I am satisfied even if I am a concubine. I just wish to stay with Young Master Vaan."
Seraphina spoke as she secretly clenched her fists.
To think she would be forced to become someone's concubine, not to mention she was the one who had to suggest it…
Seraphina was frustrated, but there was nothing she could do. She just bowed her head, waiting for Vaan's reply.
Seeing her like that, Vaan couldn't help but smile inwardly.
'That was all you had to do. It was just that easy.'
He muttered inwardly, talking to the previous Vaan.
Seeing as how a woman who treated even smiling at him as a 'reward' for him, now practically begging to marry him, Vaan couldn't help but chuckle.
'This does feel quite good though…' Vaan thought inwardly, even though he tried to hide it, a small smile couldn't help but appear on his face.
Seraphina saw that smile and clenched her fist even harder.
She knew her actions would be lowering her 'value' even further, it might even open up the pathway of Vaan abusing her in the future, but for her family's sake, she had to deal with it.
Also, even if she couldn't become Vaan's wife, just being his concubine would uplift her status to an incomparable level.
She might not be able to use Vaan like she did before and might even lose the support of many other young mages who were after her, however, the new networks she would make using her status as Vaan's Concubine would be much more useful than what she had right now.
She might even have the chance to raise her family's status to an even higher position if she 'satisfies' Vaan.
Thinking about it, Seraphina gulped, then, resigning to her fate, she smiled.
'To whatever the future holds…'
She muttered inwardly, trying to cheer herself.
But then,
"That is Lady Elara for you, not Elara.
This is the second time I am correcting you, Seraphina."
Vaan spoke up.
"What…?" Seraphina's expression changed.
Where did that come from?
She wondered inwardly.
Vaan, however, didn't care about what she was thinking and continued speaking, it was finally time for the last push.
"Also, although you are correct about how I cannot break off my engagement with Elara, your reasoning is completely wrong.
Her being Mother's Pupil doesn't matter, I won't break off my engagement with her because I love her. An amazing woman like her, only a fool would give up on her.
I don't know why I get this feeling from you, but I think you are indirectly comparing yourself to Elara and are actually putting yourself above her, so let me make things clear right here and now,
No, you are not better than Elara.
Honestly, you aren't even in the competition.
And I am not even talking about Magic Talent here. Elara is beautiful, probably the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life. She is sweet, she is adorable, she is smart, she may be a bit naïve, but that just adds up to her charm.
You are heavily outmatched, Seraphina and it is to the point where if I take you as a concubine, it would be disrespectful to my Elara, so stop suggesting that stupid idea again and again."
Vaan paused, then he leaned forward, and,
"And stop disrespecting my future wife. I have been excusing you for a while now, but if I ever see you not showing her proper respect,
You won't like what I am going to do,
Is that clear?"
"…"
Seraphina turned silent.
She looked into Vaan's eyes and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find those eyes that looked at her with desire.
It was as if that Vaan had disappeared.
Seraphina closed her eyes and started thinking. She needed to come up with a solution before this meeting ends, however,
Vaan stood up.
Then, he placed a paper on the table, then glancing at Seraphina, he spoke,
"This is the list of everything you have borrowed from me till now, the renting cost and the interest rates are written in front of them and the total is mentioned at the bottom of the list and on the backside.
Considering our close relationship, the rental cost and interest rates I have applied are half the market price, but I suggest that you clear your account as soon as possible. You should know that these rates continue to increase as time passes, and you have been already piling up for the past decade.
I will be taking my leave now."
Vaan spoke up as he walked away.
8560 Elemental stones.
"!!!"
Seraphina, who glanced at the total widened her eyes in horror.
8560 Elemental stones.
"T-This doesn't make any sense!" She screamed as she turned towards Vaan.
"This amount is beyond comprehension! Not even the entirety of the Stormweaver Family's treasury would cover it! How did it get this high!?"
She questioned.
Vaan paused, then he turned around and,
"Your interests have been piling up for 10 years, Seraphina.
All the details are mentioned in there, you can have them rechecked to confirm it, I do not mind it.
The Vesta Family does not fool others in order to make profits."
Vaan replied, then, he turned away, wanting to leave, but then,
"There was no contract signed."
Seraphina commented.
It didn't matter anymore, Vaan had already made it clear that he wouldn't marry her, the two of them already stood on opposite sides now, Seraphina was trying to prevent this, however, with this monstrously huge 'debt' over her head, Seraphina was out of options.
Even if it strained her relationship with Vaan, she had to do something about this debt.
"In accordance with the established regulations of the Vesta Family, it is imperative that any trade, regardless of the applicable interest rates, be accompanied by a duly executed contract bearing the signatures of all involved parties. However, for the items in this list that were 'lent' to me, there exists no such executed contract. This absence effectively designates all of these transactions as 'Gifts,' thereby exempting them from any associated interest charges or repayment obligations, in keeping with the customary understanding that gifts do not entail such financial commitments."
Seraphina spoke, her tone completely different from before. She wasn't rude, however, the 'professionalism' in her language made her tone clear.
Vaan narrowed his eyes.
Seraphina's tone, even in his past life, he didn't like people who talked like the way she was talking right now.
If it was the previous him, he would have simply punched this bitch, however, he was now a new Vaan, an improved Vaan,
He was now a peace-loving person.
"So from what I understand, you are saying you won't be returning any of it, let alone paying the interest, correct?"
Vaan questioned.
"I am not obligated to return anything, as mentioned above, Gifts do not have to be returned and of course, there are no interest charges on them, since those items belong to me now."
"I understand." Vaan nodded, then, he just turned around.
Seeing that, Seraphina narrowed her eyes. Breaking her character, she questioned,
"What are you going to do now?"
Vaan stopped, then, he glanced at Seraphina, and with a small smirk on his face, he replied,
"What do you expect?
The things I did for you for the sake of our friendship, you are repaying me by asking for an official contract and are trying to cheat me. Legally, you are on the right of course, so I won't be doing anything.
But don't expect it to end here.
You have seen my kind side,
Now it is time to see my petty side.
Seraphina Stormweaver, I will make it clear right now. This won't end well for you. You used my friendship, I will do the same. From knowing you for so long, I know you deeply care for your family,
So I will be targeting your family in the future, everything you have built after so much effort, your family structure, the people you have hired, and the connections you have built. I will make sure I will destroy it all.
I'll pressure your family using my influence, I'll make it so others will avoid you like the plague,
And I will do it till you return every single penny to me and this time,
There won't be any friendly discounts."
