Chapter 156 - Partners & Power (3)

"I think we need to talk about burning my collection of books while your collection is in the open," I glided my hand across his bookshelf.

"I already told you that you're free to do anything that doesn't sully the Roselia family name," Luke told me for the nth time.

"If my collection is well hidden inside the dorms, I see no reason how it sullies the Roselia family name," I recalled how the neutral fraction allowed their members to keep their odd hobbies.

"That's why I allowed you to keep some of your books when I knew where they were hidden," Luke coldly responded.

"That's the problem. It shouldn't be 'allowed' because I don't need your permission in the first place," I noticed.

"We're partners. We're equals to each other."

I couldn't believe how I was used to getting permission for Luke for almost everything. It wasn't even to the point where I could go, but from what I wore and what I could read. If Ellen never told me, I would've hopelessly continued this path where I was his marionette.

"It's because I'm too lenient on you Rika," Luke sighed.

My jaw almost dropped onto the floor from shock. Was this really his response to my request of leaving my books in the open? It was such a tiny thing, but unnerving at the same time. It was subtle, but a reminder of the balance of power we had behind the partner system.

Burning my books, chaining a necklace onto me to control where I could go, and confining me to his mansion when we weren't in school was not lenient. I didn't even visit my parents during the weekends to attend his crazy study sessions. I understood that couldn't be helped since we needed the points, but the others, I couldn't understand.

"You're definitely not lenient," I stared at him, cold as stone.

"I am, that's why you even think of the reason why you need my permission in the first place," Luke gave up on reading his book and walked towards his bed.

What did that mean? Did he expect me to be like Miliana? I had no politics chaining to me this place like her family did. I had no need to cooperate with his family to gain more power. I wanted to live a simple life with an average job where I could enjoy the small moments of happiness through simple things.

"Out of your generosity, I let you visit your parents and continue your time at that café," Luke genuinely appeared as if he was being generous.

"Then I want out. I don't need your kind consideration for me. I want this engagement broken,"

Even though I continued this stupid engagement to graduate from school, his arrogant speech made it intolerable at this moment. It was as if I was the person in the wrong for going against the horrible customs in this district. I apologized to my parents in my heart since it seemed like I wouldn't graduate from the most prestigious school like they expected me to.

"Even though I don't graduate from here, I don't think my parents will be too disappointed from my decision. Afterall, they assume partners are equals," I scoffed.

"You don't have the power to break our engagement," Luke narrowed his eyes.

"Your parents signed a contract with mine. It's not something it can be easily broken," Luke revealed.

What else was I just figuring out today? The memorila only revealed how my mom accepted the terms of letting me stay with her until the seal broke. I was determined to use the memorila one more time when I had the chance without Luke around. But from my parents' reaction when I first mentioned Luke was my fiancé, they seemed like they didn't know about it.

It didn't match up like a jigsaw piece that wouldn't fit inside the puzzle. But at the same time, there was a reason why we were engaged instead of being married. There had to be differences and loopholes that came with it.

"Contracts always have loopholes. Until I figure it out, I'm not going to be lenient with you anymore," I decided to go to sleep.

"I'm going to do what I want and I don't need your permission anymore," I murmured before falling asleep.

When I woke up, instead of finding myself inside the dorm room, I was in a large bedroom. I rubbed my eyes to find Luke's fraction gathered together again. I thought Luke was attending all the fraction meetings in my place. Why was I here?

"Don't we have to get ready for school?" I asked them.

"We are after doing a ceremony," Belle held out a shimmering white dress.

"This is for you to wear," Belle explained when I tilted my head in confusion.

"What is this ceremony for?" I groaned.

No one else in the room had to change into a dress filled with pearls and diamonds mixed together. Everyone comfortably wore their pyjamas from meeting early in the morning. I shook my head to deny her offer.

"For you and Luke to carry out the next stage in your engagement," Belle passed me the dress again.

Was this a nightmare? There was no way I was participating in this event. I had enough by accidentally moving onto the third stage. I had to desperately prevent myself from covering the mark of a rose on my neck with a scarf for the first few weeks after its appearance.