"You know about your engagement to Count Sevrin's son, don't you?" I asked Rumia to be sure.
"And?" Rumia asked.
I couldn't help but laugh, though there was no humor in it. "And? You're asking me 'and'? And it means we can't be together, Rumia. Your father has been planning this marriage for years to restore his Baron status. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if he had you specifically for this purpose—a beautiful daughter to trade for political advancement."
The words came out harsher than I'd intended, but they needed to be said. Someone had to inject reality into this fantasy she seemed to be living.
"I don't care," she said, crossing her arms defiantly. "I don't care about any of that."
