Chapter 278 I Keep My Promises
Cecilia couldn't stand Alaric sometimes.
She pushed him away with both hands, turning her face away in frustration. "Alaric, I really need to talk to you about something," she said.
"What is it?" Alaric asked, his face still close to hers.
She could feel his breath on her cheek, and it was incredibly intimate.
"Just back off a little," she demanded.
Alaric chuckled and planted a kiss on her cheek.
"Alaric!" Cecilia tensed up, her face turning completely red.
Who gave him permission to kiss me?!
"I can't help it. I'm just so into you," Alaric said with an innocent look on his face.
She thought, 'He is such a scoundrel!'
Fortunately, after the kiss, he moved away from her slightly.
Cecilia took a moment to compose herself.
"Tomorrow is the Lockhart Group's anniversary celebration, and they've invited a lot of people. Do you want to go with me?" Cecilia asked.
"What do you think?" Alaric countered.
"If you're free, we'll go together. If not, I'll find someone else to accompany me," she said.
"Who do you want to find?!" Alaric's face darkened.
"Rose, my secretary!" Cecilia rolled her eyes.
Alaric relaxed instantly.
"I'm free tomorrow," Alaric said, indicating that he would accompany her.
"Great, let's go pick out some dresses in the afternoon. I've asked Harmony Threads to hold some high-end designs for us," Cecilia said.
"Sounds good," Alaric agreed.
George came over to call them for dinner.
The two sat at the dining table, eating quietly.
Cecilia had to admit, she was really hungry.
She ate quite a lot, and she was very focused on her food.
As she was eating, her eyebrows furrowed slightly.
She looked up at Alaric. "Why are you staring at me like that?"
"Because you're beautiful," he said simply.
"You're crazy," Cecilia muttered under her breath.
"Don't you want to know what I've been busy with these days?" Alaric asked suddenly.
Cecilia asked casually, "What have you been busy with?"
"Preparing my promotion materials," Alaric said.
Cecilia's expression hardened slightly.
"They're breaking the norm by offering individual promotions to our newcomers this time, calling it cultivating young talents. Once promoted, we'll jump three levels and directly enter the position of a noble family official," he explained.
Cecilia fell silent, lost in thought.
She was reflecting on past events.
In her previous life, Dominic's rise was meteoric. He went from a mere official to an executive officer, then to a chief executive, and within a few years, he was climbing the ranks with astonishing speed, eventually reaching the position of a supreme officer. The promotion was so rapid it was almost unbelievable.
As for whether Dominic ever made it to the position of Grand Minister, she wasn't sure.
What she did know was that while Dominic was climbing the ladder, Alaric was quietly pursuing him, eventually becoming his sole competitor for the role of Grand Minister.
But she suspected that Alaric came up just short.
After all, Dominic had shamelessly used the wealth of the Lockhart Group as a dowry to marry Lyra, the second princess of the noble family, thereby securing an open door to high positions.
This time around, Cecilia was determined not to let Dominic get away with it.
"How prepared are you?" Cecilia asked.
Alaric replied, "I'm well-prepared, but the outcome is never guaranteed."
So Alaric is aware that Dominic might play dirty, too?
"The two major noble families of the Yakurosean Empire—do you have a preference for one over the other?" Cecilia inquired.
"Which one does Ms. Lockhart favor?" Alaric responded with a question.
"The Hotchner family," Cecilia said decisively.
"But recently, the Monroe family seems to be doing better," Alaric said, raising an eyebrow.
"The Monroe family is more inclined towards Dominic," Cecilia stated.
"Ms. Lockhart seems to be quite informed," Alaric observed with a furrowed brow.
"If you want to make real progress within the noble families, you should align with the Hotchner family," Cecilia advised without further explanation.
Alaric studied her closely.
"The two noble families support each other and balance each other out, but there's also a hidden competition between them. In recent years, the Monroe family has indeed been outperforming the Hotchner family. Many key positions within the Yakurosean Empire are filled by Monroe family talent. Given this long-term trend, there's a real risk that the Hotchner family could be overtaken by the Monroe family."
Alaric remained silent, lost in thought.
He thought, 'How could a woman who keeps to herself know so much?'
Even though Cecilia seemed adept in the business world, the gap between business and politics was vast.
Even the Four Great Houses couldn't fully unravel the intricate relationships among the noble families.
The web of connections within the noble families was so complex that even insiders struggled to make sense of it.
Yet, Cecilia spoke with such clarity.
"My insights aren't baseless," Cecilia said, unperturbed by Alaric's silence. She continued, "A century ago, the noble families were merely the right hand of the Royal Family of Whitaker in managing the Yakurosean Empire. But after the Royal Family granted them too much power, the noble families' ambition led to a rebellion. They overthrew the Royal Family of Whitaker, dividing the empire between themselves. Although there was an unofficial agreement to avoid direct conflict, the tension was always there. Five years ago, the Monroe family's refusal to engage in a proposed marriage alliance with the Hotchner family revealed early signs of discord. Over the past three years, the Monroe family has been quietly consolidating their influence. Despite appearing to be a fair competition, it's always Monroe family talent that holds the key positions. This growing power within the Yakurosean Empire means that if things continue this way…"
Cecilia paused.
Alaric's gaze remained fixed on her.
"The Monroe family will eventually eliminate the Hotchner family, just as they did with the Royal Family of Whitaker," Cecilia stated plainly.
Alaric swallowed hard as he asked, "When did the Monroe family refuse the Hotchner family's marriage proposal? When has it always been Monroe family talent in key roles?"
Cecilia pressed her lips together.
What she'd just said was based on a perspective from ten years in the future.
In other words, everything she mentioned had yet to happen.
She was speaking in advance.
As Dominic pursued the Monroe family path, Alaric's best option was to align with the Hotchner family and collaborate with them to counterbalance the Monroe family, thereby either toppling the Monroe family or maintaining the current balance of power. It was crucial not to let the Monroe family gain ground or let Dominic advance through them.
Otherwise, the outcome of her previous life would repeat itself.
"This is all I can share for now," Cecilia said, avoiding further explanations.
Because even if she tried to explain, no one would believe her.
Reincarnation? People would likely think she was delusional.
But Cecilia believed that Alaric would heed her advice.
Her instincts told her that Alaric would take her words seriously.
"Alright, I'll ally with the Hotchner family," Alaric agreed.
It was exactly what Cecilia had anticipated.
Yet, it still surprised her.
Alaric's choice was a make-or-break decision for his entire life.
And he had agreed without hesitation.
Cecilia said, "Alaric, I don't know who's backing you or who you really are, but I promised to help you achieve great things, and I will keep my word!"
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