The Empire of the Chiss

You must make sure to be on your best behavior. You gingerly check your outfit. You are a bit underdressed for the environment… But it was your best suit, and you washed it cautiously and ironed it well.

You look up when the door in front of you opens, letting an old man with a questis appear.

"(F/n)'(Y/n)'(L/n)?" He asks, looking into your eyes so directly it destabilizes you a bit, "The Patriarch is ready to receive you."

You almost trip as you stand up.

The… The Patriarch?!

You look down at the invitation to reread it again, but nowhere does it say you would meet the Mitth Patriarch himself.

"Hum… All right." You gulp.

He invites you inside while your mind is working at max speed.

So this is not for a mere aide position… Oh, Warrior, what did you agree to?

A tall male Chiss is looking at the window, hands clasped behind his back, in regal robes, turning his back to you.

"Your Venerante, your appointment is here."

"Thank you, Thivick, you are dismissed." The Patriarch says with such a deep and authoritative voice, you straighten your back as a reflex.

The old man exits the room, closing the double door behind him, leaving you alone with the man. He has such an impressive aura… And you did not even look at his face yet!

Finally, he turns to you, and you are utterly struck by his regal features… Your hand clenches around the strap of your purse in a self-soothing gesture.

The Patriarch looks you up and down for a minute before fully turning to you.

"You may sit, miss. Make yourself comfortable." He invites.

You try to sit in the most elegant way you can muster as he sits in his presiding chair behind his desk with ease and mannerism.

You are so out of place!

He takes out a pile of flimsy and hands it to you, his rings shining in the light of the office.

"There is the contract. Read it and sign it if you agree." He simply says.

You grab the flimsy, trying to control your breath and red the title.

'Official rematching and wedding contract'

You stop

End reread it times.

You look back at the patriarch, lost.

"I do not understand, your Venerante."

"That is quite simple. I have been searching for a wife for a moment, and your profile passed a rigorous selection process before I personally picked it to meet you in person. I propose to you a marriage and an advantageous rematching to the Mitth."

"I… Why me? I am a nobody."

"Indeed, you were not our first choice, but we rigorously studied your profile, your academic record, and background, and it appeared evident you demonstrated compatible personality traits to marry me and lead the Mitth in a new era of enlightenment. You are the best candidate for the job on our list."

"Can I think about it?"

The Patriarch blinks shortly, like he was surprised at your demand.

"May I know why?" He asks

"I need… To weigh the pros and cons."

"With all due respect, miss, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Anybody else would jump at the opportunity."

"I know, but… I have personal reasons."

He tilts his head, joining his hands before himself.

"Is that about your deceased parents?" He asks point-blank.

"…Yes. I have spent my all life uplifting their memories. I know we are a nobody family in the Ascendancy, but I do not want their name to disappear."

"Devotion to your family, this aspect of your personality was very apparent in the rapport."

"… I want their memories to persist. Even if I must be the only one wearing their names."

"What about your siblings?"

You crease the flimsy in your hands a bit.

"Well, I hoped the occasion you proposed to me would be for them." You admit, "I wish for them an easy life, but as the eldest, I must carry the legacy of my parents."

The Patriarch grabs his chin in his fingers, thinking for a bit.

"What if they were the ones carrying your parents' legacy?" He proposes, "You rematch in the Mitth, and as a wedding gift, I sponsor your siblings to allow them to keep and uplift your family name in the Ascendancy."

"You could do that?"

"Sponsoring happens more often with the 40th, but it is not unheard of. I do not foresee any difficulties in the process, but your sibling will be held at a higher standard than the common people as the sibling of a Patriarch's wife and the pupils of one of the 9th."

"Meaning?"

"They are still young, so at first they will be expected to enter one of Csilla's Universities."

You gulp.

One of Csilla's Universities? Entering one of the most brutally competitive Universities of the entire Ascendancy? One the children of Patriarchs enter to follow in their parents' steps of Grandeur?

Your siblings are far from idiots, but you simply do not have the means to academically prepare them for the ruthless exams of entry!

"Is there… A way for you to hire some personal teachers… to prepare them for the exams?"

"That's something we can discuss in the marriage contract." He lets you know.

"So… I may pose my conditions for this marriage and rematching?"

"As long as you are reasonable, you can ask whatever you want."

"Reasonable?"

"Don't expect me to cede the Nyix line of the Mitth to your siblings, for example."

You chuckle a bit despite your stress.

"No, of course not."

"I see you need to think about all of that. You can contact Thivick for any more questions you might have and for negotiation of the terms." He hands you a card, "But this offer is limited in time, you are not the only promising prospect we have."

"I understand. Thank you for letting me take the time to think, Patriarch…?"

"Mitth'urf'ianico."

"Oh, that's… A beautiful name." You cannot help to comment out loud.

He looks at you before chuckling.

"All right, miss. I expect news from you soon." He stands up, extending his hand to you.

You stand up in turn and shake his hand, praying for your palm not to be too sweaty.

"Thank you, Patriarch, for the offer."

He escorts you to the door, and there you are again, alone in the luxurious waiting room.

You flip through the flimsy sheets as you walk toward the entrance.

You'll need to speak with your siblings to get their opinion, but if you can secure your family name with a sponsor… Even if only your siblings still wear your parents' name instead of you, as you hoped… That is an acceptable compromise.

You press the pile to your heart, entering the busy street.

Maybe this rematch is not too bad an idea after all…