His Personal Gain

Lennox's gaze dropped, his eyes settling on the parchment as he let out a soft sigh.

Beside him, Leonardo busied himself sorting through the stack of missives, his attention focused on the letters that came from the North. Lennox's golden eyes flicked towards his trusted advisor, a hint of challenge in his tone. "I told you why I'm marrying Esme, but you still haven't shared your opinion on the matter."

Leonardo's expression remained steady, neither surprise nor anger registering on his handsome face as he replied. "I knew you had a reason, but what was I to do if you'd already made up your mind without consulting me? You knew I might persuade you to reconsider, didn't you?"

The statement hung in the air, and Lennox's silence served as a tacit admission of the truth.