The Unmatched Beauty

Chapter 3

Proposal

"What did you say, boy?!"

A loud voice came from the audience chamber where the patriarch was entertaining the heir and scion of the Marcatto family-a prominent family very much like the Costello. They were like the west equivalent of the Costello family from the east. Both are equally dangerous and hot-blooded.

"Yes, Sir Costello. My father proposed to join both families through marriage. Simply speaking, I am here to ask for your daughter's hand." Archard replied calmly.

The patriarch paused briefly as he contemplated Archard's words. Sure, the patriarch of the Marcatto family was a close friend from his teenage years before they each undertook the burden of upholding each family and communication was gradually lost over the years. But, he wasn't sure how his lovely wife and dear Adira would take the news. Especially Adira.

"That would be great but..." the patriarch started before averting his eyes elsewhere while he weighed the pros and cons of such an idea. Archard noticed the hesitation and honestly, it wasn't exactly leaning towards what he wanted. He cannot allow the patriarch to make a sudden decision of rejecting it.

"You don't have to answer it right away, Sir Costello. Please think it over carefully first. I also request that you do not tell anything about this to the princess. I would rather not incur her wrath and make her hate me over this." Archard spoke before the patriarch could conclude his decision. Well, he'd really rather not have the princess know about it yet. After all, it won't be interesting like that.

Sighing in relief, about not being pressured for a decision right on the spot, the patriarch smiled softly and nodded his head with a brief hum. He also does not want to seal the fate of his beloved daughter. If anything, he'd like for her to find a normal man and live a normal life. Far from the dark, dangerous, underground world of mafia families.

"You have my thanks, Archard."

Archard was taken off guard with the patriarch's recognition. It was often said that patriarchs never call another person's name unless he acknowledges him as his own. Well, perhaps the Costello's patriarch's gone soft over the years.

"It is I that should be grateful to you, Sir Costello." Archard replied and bowed his head slightly. "but, I would like to speak of a selfish request of mine."

"Speak, boy. If it is within my power, I will grant it." A beaming smile spread throughout the patriarch's face. It was very obvious how pleased he was with Archard right now. Seeing this gave him the necessary confidence to say his request. "I hope the patriarch allows me to acquaint with the princess."

"Oh! Of course! No worries! I'll ask someone to call her here." The patriarch beamed before he turned to his assistant. "Drew, call Adira here."

Bowing his head to the patriarch, Drew acquiesced and turned to leave. After a few minutes, Drew came back with an apologetic and embarrassed smile.

"The lady doesn't want to come down. She said she's tired."

"That brat." The patriarch grumbled under his breath before turning to Archard with the same apologetic smile as Drew. "Well it seems Adira's being difficult again. Excuse her rude behaviour. We just returned from an outing so she might've been exhausted."

"Not a problem, Sir Costello. There's plenty of chances anyway." Archard answered with a wave of his hand to assure the head that it was fine. "I shall excuse myself and allow you to rest as well then. Thank you for granting me an audience, Sir Costello."

Raising from his seat and tidying himself up, Archard bowed from the hips to express his respect and gratitude to the head of the Costello family.

"Take care, Archard. Please send my regards to your father as well." Costello's patriarch also rose from his seat and placed a hand over Archard's head. It reminded Archard of how his father treated him all the time.

They're friends, after all.

He thought with a smile on his face. Well, the man's rose to his position. Surely he did not achieve it with easy means. He just cannot seem to find it in him to regard this patriarch as anything amazing.

And here I thought he was a cold-blooded and heartless killer. Guess it was just another rumor, huh?

Archard thought to himself as he saw himself out but not before pausing briefly and gave the manor one last glance and proceeded away.

I'll definitely capture you, princess. Wait for me. Let's play a good game, alright?

..

"Who was that man, Phil?" Adira asked a man, well close to her age, that always accompanies her. He wasn't a bodyguard, nor was he part of their mafia. He was someone her father picked up on the street one day after being beaten an inch to death for stealing from one of the mafia gangs her father conquered.

The Costello's patriarch, Frank Costello, didn't want Phillipe to join his mafia but instead told him to be a part of his family. Despite the latter's insistence, he was still not allowed to undergo the initiation until he turned twenty one. However, he was treated like the son the master never had.

"Dunno and don't care." Phil shrugged and turned away. He was cold and aloof most of the time but not when Adira's around. You get what I mean.

"Oh. Okay. Anyway, I wanna eat ice cream. Will you join me?" Adira beamed, like a child, and grabbed hold of Phil's wrist. The latter just let the lady drag him wherever she wanted to go. Not that he minded it anyway.

"Fine."

"Next week, I'll be going back to school. How about you, Phil? How's university?" Adira asked as she rummaged through the fridge to find the ice cream she hid. Why hide it? Well, her father loves to play a prank on her and hide all of them till she has to play cute to get them back. Sometimes, her mother hides it to control her diet.

"It's fine. Got exams next week but other than that, nothing major going on." Phil answered as he munched on an apple he got from the table.

"Oh? Is that so?-Ah! Found it!-So you haven't been involved in any fights recently?" she exclaimed as she found the dessert and held one over to Phil.

"Mm. I've been behaving well. You really should trust me every now and then." He answered as he immediately switched from the fruit to the frozen sweets Adira was giving him.

"I do trust you. What I don't trust is your temper." Adira said pointing the spoon stick to Phil for more emphasis. "You remember last year? I was a freshman and you were a senior. You got into an allout brawl with this other senior."

Phil paused as he tried to recollect that incident but not even a little effort was spared to remember it. After all, even remembering the incident still makes his blood boil to dangerous degrees.

Of course. Why wouldn't he? This particular senior did say something that made Phil want to personally send him to hell. Even now, remembering what that senior said makes Phil want to go seek him out and add a few more holes to his side.

"Ah~ Adira definitely is hot and beautiful. I always wonder what that beautiful face would look under me as she begs for my dick."

"It was nothing. He was a bastard. So I punched him."

"See? That's what I mean!" Adira exclaimed and reprimanded Phil all over again. It was the same old routine but it was all Phil wished for. To stay beside her for always. To be the one closest to her.