My Unchosen Ex Chases Reborn Me (Soren and Fiona) novel Chapter 175

3/3

Chapter 175 Contours Of Rivalry

Chapter 175 Contours Of Rivalry

+5 Free Coins

Xavier’s certainty stung, but it also fanned Soren’s pride. He was the third son of the Zonfrillo family, heir apparent to a princely house. Confidence was his birthright, and he felt it surge like cavalry behind a raised banner.

Last lifetime, perhaps, Fiona had worn Xavier’s ring. Yet Soren reasoned that if he refused to relinquish her this time, what power did Xavier truly possess–save the tales he chose to spin?

Soren’s voice returned, icy but measured. “She is sleeping, Xavier. I’m afraid you won’t be taking her anywhere tonight.”

“You cannot keep her, Lord Soren, not with a heart half–turned away.”

Soren’s mouth crooked into something between a smile and a challenge, a silent promise that the contest had only begun.

“There is only one way for you to keep her,” Xavier said, voice low but unwavering. “Treat her better than anyone else ever could. Only a heart laid bare and true can possibly outshine mine.”

Xavier offered no chance for rebuttal. Duties at the palace still called, and after dropping that single, ringing sentence, he turned on his heel and disappeared down the corridor in a swirl of indigo cloak.

Soren exhaled once, then cut across the inner courtyard toward the front gate, boots striking stone with a measured certainty that made servants flatten themselves against carved pillars.

Beneath the shadow of a winter–stripped plane tree, Vincent knelt on the freezing flagstones, belt and saber laid beside him as a mute confession of guilt. From the veranda, Penelope regarded him, eyes like iced glass, recognizing it was a punishment he had freely chosen.

“Rise, Mr. Niven,” Soren said, tone level as water yet carrying the weight of command.

“I struck first, Lord Soren. The consequences belong to me alone. I pray you will not drag the Niven household into this storm.” Vincent showed no fear.

“What I want, Mr. Niven, is a conversation about military supplies,” Soren said.

The words landed like an unexpected arrow. Vincent froze, breath clouding in the cold air.

For years, the Greenwood Legion under General Yeats and the Guardian Legion stationed in Broadmoor had clashed over each wagon of grain, every bundle of arrows, every pair of winter boots promised by distant quartermasters. The prospect of discussing allocations with the

1/3

13:58 Sat, Oct 18

Chapter 175 Contours Of Rivalry

70

+5 Free Colns

prince’s heir was the very opening Vincent had prayed for. Soren was dangling a modest carrot before Fiona’s brother–enough to open doors for her, yet too small to affect Broadmoor’s defenses.

“What, then, do you want?” Vincent believed there was no such thing as free lunch.

“I have no intention of taking Miss Fuller as my wife. Still, it would be best if you abandoned any plans of your own.”

“If she can live peacefully,” Vincent said with a sad half–smile, “that is all I desire. I harbor no claims beyond that.”

Soren could not fathom such self–denial; empathy was a language his heart rarely spoke. Yet for Fiona’s sake, he let the conversation meander a few more, almost courteous beats.

When Soren finally returned to Clearsky Pavilion, he found the chambers silent; Fiona had not stirred.

The air was steeped in mellow sandalwood that stilled even restless dreams, pulling her into deeper layers of oblivion.

He studied her sleeping face–so mild, so unguarded–that he could scarcely reconcile it with the courteous distance she wielded when awake.

Soren settled on the edge of the mattress, remembering the day a year ago when she had pulled him from the river. Back then, he had glimpsed, now and then, a shy warmth in her

eyes.

Yet after their return from Yondale, that spark had vanished. When she spoke of “giving it a try” her gaze held duty, not desire–as though for her brother’s sake she would sacrifice anything, even herself.

By sparing Vincent further censure, Soren was bending his own code. Never before had private sentiment been allowed to tangle with affairs of state.

Is it worth it?

He admitted, at least to himself, that love might bloom in time–perhaps it already had, in the faintest budding form. Yet surrendering his ambitions, his heritage, everything that made him Soren- that he could not promise. And Fiona, loyal to her family, would never ask for less.

In some bleak future, he suspected, today’s concession might return as sharp regret.

Fiona’s lashes fluttered. Across the room, Soren sat at a writing desk, shoulders rigid, expression cooled to the steel of formality.

2/3

13:58 Sat, Oct 18

Chapter 175 Contours Of Rivalry

+5 Free Coins

“I should be going back now,” Fiona said after a pause, striving for a calm she did not feel.

Fiona tried to stand, but her knees were still like water. She wobbled, tipping forward. Before gravity claimed her, Soren caught her by the waist, and she found herself pressed against the steady wall of his chest.

She lowered her lashes. “Was there something in the incense?”

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify