Chapter


    280


    Curtis'' frown deepened. "I told you before that your future husband woulde for you. this year. You were supposed to marry him, not get involved with another man.


    "Are you disregarding my wishes? I''ve never opposed anything you wanted to do in your life. Is fulfilling this one engagement too much to ask?"


    Xena sighed. It was true that Curtis had always supported her choices, even when her parents objected. Perhaps that was why she became the formidable warrior she was. Besides, the engagement was indeed his only request. "But, Grandpa," Xena pleaded, "Marriage is a life-changingmitment. Why are your clinging to this outdated concept of arranged marriages? Don''t I have a say in my own love life?"


    Curtis patted Xena''s shoulder. "I''m not old-fashioned, sweetheart. This engagement wasn''t my idea-it was your great-grandpa''s.


    Xena gasped. She thought it was impossible, given how far back this mess actually started, Not only that, but her parents were probably not even born then.


    Curtis continued, "It''s true, and you know I never lie. Your great-grandpa and Felix''s mentor arranged this marriage. The first girl born in your generation was to fulfill it. If no girls were born, the agreement would be void." Despite trusting Curtis'' honesty, Xena was still full of doubt. "But that''s absurd! The engagement specifies Felix''s name and his address in Eden Vige. How could this be possible if Felix wasn''t even born when it was made?" The whole situation felt surreal, challenging everything she knew.


    Curtis chuckled wryly. "I''m just an ordinary man, Xena. Your great-grandpa was a warrior, which is where your natural talentes from. Warriors of that era were capable of extraordinary things beyond our understanding. Don''t ask me to exin-I simply can''t." With the conversation going nowhere, Xena decided to change tactics. "I don''t care! Grandpa, I''ve met Felix. He''s not entirely hopeless, but I can''t stand him. He''s as stubborn as a mule andpletely unsuitable for me.''


    "Besides," she continued, "What about Jaden? He likes me, he''s exceptional, and he saved your life. Wouldn''t our family be seen as ungrateful if we dismissed him?"


    Curtis fell silent, caught in a dilemma. Breaking the engagement would make him a disobedient son, betraying his promise to his father. However, honoring it would mean disregarding Jaden''s life-saving deed. Seeing Curtis'' hesitation, Xena felt a glimmer of hope. She believed there was room for negotiation, and the life debt to Jaden seemed to be tipping the scales in her favor.


    "Grandpa, please... Just let me choose my own path in love. Okay?"


    Curtis wrestled with his thoughts for several minutes. As he steeled himself to speak, he noticed something odd about Xena. Her eyes were open, but she appeared frozen,pletely unresponsive.


    "She''s fine," a calm voice said from behind. "Xena, as Felix''s master, it''s about time we


    met."