XXIX: The Arrangement

"Well Ariam?" Elsa said, standing in front of Ariam. "What are you going to do about this?"

"Jeref Ulmeran has nothing on me." Ariam scoffed. "I'm not concerned."

"You should be." Elsa said. "What if Rebecca starts taking interest to him? The man wants to see her. I can only say no to him for so long. Eventually he'll get fed up and search her out himself."

"Well by then she'll be off the market."

Rebecca awoke to voices downstairs and rolled over in bed to get a glance at the chrono on her nightstand. It read 12:30 in the morning. Who in kriff's name is visiting at this hour? Rebecca sighed and got out of bed. Grabbing her robe, she wrapped it around her and quietly crept downstairs towards the parlor where the voices were coming from. The door was slightly ajar, and as she approached the doorway she recognized Ariam Vorru's voice. Both excitement and curiosity got the best of her as she put her ear to the opening and listened.

"When are you making this happen? Even if Lord Ulmeran is shoved aside, there will be other suitors, Ariam. They could come in droves."

"Are you saying I can't handle the competition, Elsa?"

"I'm saying be careful."

"I always am." Ariam grinned for a moment, then the smile faded. "However, you are right....Jeref Ulmeran won't be the last." He stroked his chin, thinking. "I may have to push things up. I know Jeref. The man can be....relentless, when it comes to what he wants."

Elsa raised her brow. "And you're not?"

"Well, lets just say, my moral compass points much higher than his own. All of his family work and think alike. They chase after whatever obsesses them until something...or someone else, catches their eye."

"So?" Elsa took a seat beside him. "What do you plan to do about this?"

Ariam remained silent for a few moments. Meanwhile outside the room, Rebecca leaned against the wall, trying to make sense to what her grandmother and suitor were talking about. She had never heard of a Jeref Ulmeran before that night. Rebecca sighed, coming to a conclusion that Jeref was part of another one of her grandmother's crazy schemes. She quickly turned back to the door when Ariam spoke up again.

"I'll confer with my father. Next weekend...I'll throw another gala at his estate. I'll do it then. All you need to do, Elsa, is make sure she attends."

"You're throwing a gala? That's very high profile."

"And a reporter from each of the major holo-networks will be there. This is a big deal for us, Elsa. Our two families uniting will be the best thing to happen for the Corellian aristocracy since before the Empire was founded. I want this to be well known, as I'm sure you do as well."

Elsa nodded her head slowly in agreement. Her expression turned into a grin. "Not to mention further your career..."

Rebecca listened for a few more moments before backing away from the parlor slowly. It was then that she believed she knew why Ariam was being so forward with her during their outings. With her understanding that the greater good of the aristocracy was something her grandmother obsessed with, it was clear to her that her relationship with Ariam was serving as political tools only, and at that moment Rebecca came to the conclusion that she wanted no part in any of it. Feelings of heartbreak and betrayal overwhelmed her as she  quickly turned and raced up the stairs to her bedroom as Ariam and Elsa continued.

"There is...one more thing I need from you, Elsa."

"Name it, Ariam."

"There's of course the chance, however slim, that Rebecca could refuse me. I need you to make sure she cannot."

"Ah..." Elsa nodded, deep in thought. This was a tricky situation to rectify. There were many legislative barriers to maneuver around. After several moments, Elsa spoke up again. "We could write up a betrothal arrangement. Her consent isn't needed for that course of action."

"Is that still legal?"

Elsa grinned. "I will make it legal. Just leave everything to me..."