The silence stretched for what felt like an eternity. I could practically see the wheels turning in their heads as they processed my suggestion. The hunger in Lyanna's eyes, the way Cassandra was leaning forward, my mother's thoughtful expression...
Then Cassandra snorted.
It started as a small sound, barely audible. But within seconds, it had grown into full-blown laughter. Not the gentle, indulgent laughter I'd heard from her before, but genuine, gut-busting hilarity.
"Oh my god," she gasped between laughs. "Marcus, that's... that's actually hilarious!"
Lyanna's composure cracked next, her analytical mask dissolving as she started laughing too. "The look on your face when you said it! You were so serious!"
My mother tried to maintain her dignity for a few more seconds before she too dissolved into giggles. "Oh darling, where did that come from? Such imagination!"
I felt my face burning as the reality of the situation crashed over me. They thought it was a joke. A ridiculous, amusing joke from their precious little brother who clearly didn't understand how the world worked.
"You should have seen yourself," Cassandra continued, wiping tears from her eyes. "All serious and strategic, like you were planning a military campaign. 'Maybe the best women for me are right here at this table,'" she mimicked in a deeper voice. "Oh sweetheart, that's adorable."
"Very creative," Lyanna agreed, her sharp eyes dancing with amusement. "Though completely absurd, of course. We're your sisters, Marcus. We love you, but not like that. We're going to find you proper wives who can give you the life you deserve."
"Exactly," my mother said, reaching over to pat my hand like I was a child who'd said something cute but silly. "We want what's best for you, darling. Real relationships with women who can be true partners, not... well, whatever that was supposed to be."
They were still chuckling, sharing looks that said 'isn't he precious when he tries to be clever?'
"You're right," I said, forcing a laugh that sounded hollow to my own ears. "That was completely ridiculous. I don't know what I was thinking." But I know, if you can't negotiate, you act.
"Probably still effects from the fever," my mother said kindly. "It's perfectly normal for young men to have... unusual thoughts as they approach their awakening. Your hormones are probably all over the place."
Hormones. They were dismissing my entire plan as teenage hormones and fever dreams.
"Besides," Cassandra added, still grinning, "can you imagine the scandal? The three Ravencrest women all marrying their little brother and son? The noble community would lose their minds."
"Not to mention it would be a terrible political move," Lyanna said, back to her analytical self. "We need marriage alliances with other houses. Keeping everything internal would weaken our position considerably."
"And most importantly," my mother said with gentle firmness, "you deserve better than us old women. You deserve young wives who can grow with you, who can give you children and a proper future."
Old women? Cassandra was twenty-one. Lyanna was nineteen. And they were calling themselves old compared to me.
"You're absolutely right," I said, nodding along with their laughter. "What a silly idea. I guess I was just... I don't know, nervous about meeting strangers."
"Oh, sweetheart," my mother cooed. "That's perfectly natural. But trust us, we'll find you the most wonderful wives. Women who will love and cherish you just as much as we do."
Just as much. But not more. Never more.
"I'm sure you will," I said, smiling as warmly as I could manage.
Inside, though, something had crystallized. Something cold and determined that their laughter had only sharpened.
They thought I was adorable. Precious. A sweet little brother having silly fantasies about his big sisters.
They wanted to find me 'proper' wives. Women who would love me just as much as they did, but who would be appropriate. Acceptable. Safe.
Well, that was interesting.
Because if they thought that was as much as I was worth, if they thought some random noble girls could love me just as much as my own family...
Then maybe I needed to show them exactly how wrong they were.
They wanted to offer their precious brother to other women? They wanted to find me wives who could match their devotion?
Fine.
But them first.
I'd make sure that by the time any potential wives showed up, my dear sisters and mother would realize that no one – absolutely no one – could love me the way they could.
And when that realization hit them, when they understood what they were about to give away...
Well, then we'd see who was laughing.
"So," I said brightly, cutting into my dessert, "tell me more about this academy. I want to know everything about the women I'm going to meet."
Their faces lit up with enthusiasm as they began describing my future classmates, my potential wives, my wonderful new life.
And I listened, and smiled, and nodded, and planned.
They thought I was just their sweet little brother.
They were about to learn how wrong they were.
"The Celestial Academy of Aetheria," my mother began, her eyes sparkling with pride, "is the most prestigious institution in our World. Students come from all across all the continents– from the Northern Ice Kingdoms of Valeria, the Desert Empire of Solara, even the Island Nations of Nereia."
"It's where all the elite send their children," Cassandra added, practically glowing. "Daughters of CEOs who control entire industries, noble houses that trace their lineage back centuries, and of course, the royal families from every major empire."
I tried to process that. "So it's like... a finishing school for the super elite?"
"Much more than that," Lyanna corrected. "For women, it's intensive combat training, magical development, political education, and leadership preparation. They learn everything they need to know to run empires, lead armies, and manage the complex politics of inter-empire relations."
"And for men?" I asked, though I had a sinking feeling I already knew.
"The male curriculum is equally important," my mother said diplomatically. "You'll learn advanced etiquette, household and business management, emotional intelligence, diplomatic hosting, cultural arts, and of course, how to be the perfect partner for powerful women."
"Support magic is a major focus," Cassandra added enthusiastically. "Healing, enhancement magic to make your wives stronger, protective barriers, emotional stabilization techniques. All incredibly valuable skills."
So while the women learned to conquer worlds, the men learned to... support them doing it. And smile while doing it.
"The competition among the female students is quite intense," Lyanna continued. "Especially when it comes to the male students. Daughters of rival companies, competing noble houses, even princesses from different empires – they all want to secure the best matches."
"Compete how?" I asked.
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Yay! Cheer me up guys!