The Husband With many Identities

Ch 12 - The Marriage Seal

Akeel remained seated across from Danaya, his attention fixed on the dissolution agreement.

The room had gone quiet.

A few moments earlier, he had been prepared to leave House Valcrest with a legal divorce and return to his Second Spark Workshop. Now Danaya had paused over one particular clause.

She looked up from the document.

"You seem amused."

Danaya's expression did not change.

"I am not amused."

"Then why are you looking at that clause?"

She tapped the parchment with one finger.

Akeel followed her gaze.

The words were simple.

All wealth acquired by either spouse from the date of marriage registration until the date of legal dissolution shall be recognized as shared marital property.

Akeel remembered the marriage seal on the certificate.

When the Valcrest officials had registered his marriage to Danaya, they had activated the crystal seal beneath the document. The seal recorded both of their energy signatures and marked the exact moment their marriage became legally recognized.

That same seal also activated the shared-property law.

Akeel leaned back.

"So the law applies to us."

"Yes."

"Even though I did not agree to this marriage?"

Danaya looked directly at him.

"The marriage was registered. The Valcrest seal recognized it. Unless a court declares the registration invalid, the law considers us husband and wife."

Akeel glanced toward the guards.

Rowan, Cael, and Daren had remained silent.

They were listening now.

Akeel returned his attention to Danaya.

"And until the marriage seal is broken, everything either of us earns becomes shared property." He asked.

"That is correct."

"Then I have one question." Akeel added.

Danaya waited.

"How much have you earned since our marriage was registered?"

The three guards stiffened.

Danaya remained calm.

"You want to know my income?" She asked.

"I want to know what the law considers shared."

A faint smile touched Danaya's lips.

"You are becoming very interested in the law."

"I was interested in leaving your estate. The law is making that more complicated."

Danaya opened a crystal link communicator.

A thin blue light appeared above its surface.

She pressed her palm against the screen.

Her energy signature was recognized immediately.

The crystal link communicator connected to the Valcrest Energy Bank.

The bank was not a storehouse filled with endless rows of vials. It was a network of protected energy accounts. Wealthy families deposited Energy Vials into the bank, and the bank recorded the amount as usable Energy Credits. Those credits could then be transferred through energy cards, written into legal checks, or used to power machines and contracts.

Danaya's account appeared.

Akeel looked at the figures.

He had expected a large number.

House Valcrest controlled several major energy contracts across Asterra. Danaya also received income from family-owned transportation routes, relic factories, commercial districts, and energy deposits.

Her personal account had received an enormous amount since the marriage was registered.

Akeel studied the transaction dates.

"How much of this was earned after the marriage?"

Danaya turned the tablet toward him.

"The system has already separated it."

Akeel read the total.

He remained silent.

Rowan could no longer contain himself.

"Lady Danaya's earnings during that period are not ordinary."

Akeel glanced at him.

"Yeah. I noticed."

Cael folded his arms.

"You understand what this means?"

"Yes." Akeel answered.

Daren looked uncomfortable.

"You could claim a portion of Lady Danaya's income."

"I know."

Rowan's expression tightened.

He finally understood what Akeel had been doing.

The poor Level One repairman they had dragged from the Second Spark Workshop had found a legal path into the Valcrest fortune.

Akeel had not threatened them.

He had not demanded protection.

He had simply read the law.

Danaya looked at him.

"How much do you believe you are entitled to?"

"Half of the wealth acquired during the marriage."

Her brows lifted slightly.

"That is your position? Unbelievable." She sighed.

"That is what the law says." Akeel said without any emotion on his face. Totally blank.

Danaya looked back at the account.

The marriage had lasted only a short time, but the amount was still enormous.

Akeel could leave House Valcrest with more Energy Credits than he could earn from his workshop in several lifetimes.

He waited for her response.

Danaya closed the account screen.

"You are correct."

Rowan stared at her.

"Lady Danaya?"

"The law is clear." Danaya said in a low voice.

Akeel studied her.

He had expected resistance from her. Even her subordinates are resisting.

He had expected lawyers, arguments, or perhaps an attempt to use her family's influence over him.

Instead, Danaya accepted his claim without hesitation.

She opened the account again.

"I will have the Energy Bank prepare the transfer." She said.

Akeel looked at her.

"You agree?" Akeel asked, but his face is still blank.

"I have no reason not to."

"You are willing to give me half of your earnings?" He asked again.

"If the law says they are shared, then they are shared." Danaya said.

Akeel nodded.

"Then I have no objection." He said.

Danaya watched him for several seconds. His face is still blank. She can't read what in his mind right now.

The strange man sitting before her had just been offered a fortune.

Yet his expression had barely changed.

He looked more interested in the legal document than the amount of wealth displayed before him.

Danaya slowly closed the crystal tablet.

"Then we can proceed with the divorce."

Akeel reached for the agreement.

But Danaya did not release it.

Her fingers remained on the parchment.

Akeel looked at her hand.

"Is there another problem?"

Danaya met his eyes.

"Yes."

She pulled the document back toward herself.

"I have another proposal."