Chapter 42—Head Of The Family
Elvin could only imagine. “I wonder how long it took such a family to accumulate that kind of wealth.”
“The family in our city, they amassed that wealth over the last five hundred years. It’s a very old family, and it is believed that all of Tan Height used to be their land. They had an army in the past to protect it, and till now, they still do. For a family that has lived that long in one place, you can be certain the wealth came to them legally.”
“I don’t even know this much about them. I don’t see much written about this family, even though I tried to do my research once. They must be pretty clandestine not to be known by anyone.”
“Oh, a few know them, but they usually tie them down with blackmail or something, so they don’t ever reveal their faces to the public. A friend of mine is a victim. They are the invisible royals of society. If their picture is about to be posted on any public site, it would first go to the site admins who would report this, check the phone the sender is using, and call the phone company, or hire a hacker who would then wipe all pictures of these family from the person’s phone, and laptop if any.”
Elvin slightly shook his head. “All this for the sake of secrecy. That’s insane. Surely, it must be lonely for them.”
“You don’t even know the best part. Anyone they are getting married to, be it a lady, or a guy, they have to bear the name of the family, a sign that they are now one of them. Do you think you could marry a lady and bear her first name?”
Elvin carefully thought about it. It wasn’t the way it was supposed to be…he knew that. This was something that was strictly done between royalties, especially if it was a queen in power. “Well, it’s unheard of, but overlooking that, if I truly love her, then I can do this for her.”
Eve had indirectly mirrored herself before him, but he wouldn’t have guessed because of the way it was presented to him. Such innocence. They needed her to find a husband, and she had gone after her High School crush. It was the time they had relaxed the rules in the house and had allowed them to go out to make friends, with the strict orders that they weren’t to tell anyone who they were.
She didn’t understand then why they kept their identities secret. But growing up, and seeing the responsibility attached to the name, she understood. Everyone knew where they lived or knew the house they claimed was their general house, even though they had many, but not everyone had seen them.
“Are you very sure, Elvin?” Eve asked. She had to test him. His claim to be with her. She had to be sure she had made the right pick, for even though her heart told her he was the one, she had to use her head.
Elvin laughed. “Well, I think so.”
“And you’re willing to embrace a life of wealth, health, and solitude all for love?”
“Yes. I can. And why are you asking so seriously? Are you one of them?”
Eve suppressed a laugh. “I very much would like to be one. I admire them a lot. But I’m asking because I want you to bear my first name. Can you? That’s if I agree to marry you.”
“Are you serious?”
“Very.”
Eve watched him ponder on this. She had more questions to ask, but first, she needed him to answer this. She needed to be sure.
“Well, okay,” he said.
“You don’t know what you’re saying, right?” she asked.
“I think I do.”
“No, you don’t. What if I told you that marrying me means that you would never know anything about my past, or what I’ve done? You would have to live with a stranger who you would have to befriend and try to fall in with every day. Can you really do that? Come on, Elvin. These aren’t just the things you say. These are the things you mean. No man wants to be under a lady. Admit it. He already feels superior and looks at himself as such. And wealthy ladies, they always intimidate men.”
“Considering how soft hearted I am,” Elvin said, “I think I can do it. That is, all you’ve asked. All I have to do is remind myself how I met her, and the struggle it took me to keep her. That’s it. She may not always make my heart beat fast whenever I see her, but you can be certain that I would never fail to love her.”
Their eyes were locked, and Eve could feel him leaning close towards her. She leaned closer too, and their lips met. She was never going to get used to the magic of his lips, but to stop this fire before it starts, she broke the kiss with her eyes closed and said, “Please, don’t make me horny. I promised to take you on a date. I would like my legs to be able to take me there. And I promise, when we return, we can do everything you want to do. Is that okay?”
“As friends?” Elvin asked with a smile on his face.
“As whatever,” Eve said, and responded to his smile.
She had created her rules and had tested in on Elvin. He wasn’t an entitled man. He wasn’t opinionated either. He was perfect for her. She would only tell him one secret if they got married. The family she talked about she was the head of.