A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

What felt like hours passed, but (f/n) didn't want evening to fall. It was still awhile off, but she had no desire to share a room with the man sitting across from her. Sure, she had last night, and that had been embarrassing. Now, she couldn't really look at him without wanting to slap some sense into him. She hadn't even been reading the book that much; her mind kept going to solutions on how to solve this problem.

Granted, there was the chance that actually reading would give her that knowledge, but she couldn't put her mind to it. Resting her arms on the desk, she laid her head over them and the book. A groan escaped her lips. She wished that she had never seen him that day out in the ruins. Then, she wouldn't be having this problem, but she just had to search for the supposed monster.

"This will only take more time the longer you procrastinate," the male voiced as the sound of him flipping a page in his own book hit her ears.

"That reminds me. Why do we have to go through this process so quickly? I'm still not agreeing to it, but this time frame seems short to me," she mentioned, lifting her head up a little to look at him.

"It would've been longer had your parents not taken you from me."

"Well, why not wait five years until we have a child? Why can't I enjoy my life a little more?"

"The latest that you can have a child with me is when you're eighteen. Any later and our child will drain the entirety of your life energy before they turn two."

"And, how do you know all of this? Have you tested this out?"

"You would learn this information from that book in front of you as well. By you asking me, it shows me that you're not even trying to read it."

"Then, at least tell me how you knew me to be eighteen. I don't remember telling you that I was six back then."

"When our chosen turns eighteen, it feels like wave washes over our chest. It warns us that our chosen has one year left to bear us a child. Again, you would find this in that book."

"Well, maybe, I don't want to read. I'm tired of being cooped up somewhere like one of your farm animals in a pen. I want to explore the mountains that we're in and enjoy the sights that life has to offer."

"You would insult me by comparing my treatment of you to that of an animal?" he asked, snapping his book shut and standing from his chair. "Your behavior today is reprehensible, and you're testing my patience."

"It's not my fault that you're getting mad by me simply stating the truth. You bring me here, lock me up and tell me that I'm supposed to give you a child. Afterwards, I'm to forfeit my life willingly like I was merely breeding stock. I don't care if you kill yourself when I die. That's a whole another issue. I merely want to live my life, and if I do have a child, I want to spend more than just two years with them. Wouldn't you like to spend more time with your child? And, wouldn't you have wished for more time with your parents?"

"Yes, I would've liked to spend more time with my parents. And, yes, I would like to be with my child longer, but kelremm die with their partners. It's how things work in our world."

"But, why? That's seems a little harsh to me."

"Your question would be answered if you read like I told you to."

"You can't just throw my questions to the wind by telling me to read a book. That just demonstrates to me how much you blindly trust a text. There is one important detail which I noticed about this book; there's no author. Who wrote this, and why does your kind trust it so much? That's what I would like to know? Who's the one that has been conditioning all of you to practice such things? Where did you even get this book?"

"Each kelremm home has a copy of it. It's been passed down through each generation. I'm not certain how old that book is, but it's what we follow," he answered, his right hand clenched around the binding of his book.

"But, you don't even know who wrote this! For all you know, some kelremm could've written this as a cruel practical joke and had copies of it made and distributed. And, don't get pissed off at me for pointing that out. There's no author on this book, so the possibilities are endless."

"(F/n), don't you dare tell me that my culture is a mere joke! It isn't!" he shouted and slammed the book on the desk now as if to frighten her.

She knew that she should probably be quiet for now, but she couldn't help it. He was telling her to follow traditions where the origins of them were questionable. "How do you know? Do you know the author and the validity of their account of your history? Are there other books to support the text written in this one?"

Seeing him raise his right hand, she flinched and shut her eyes. Thankfully, she felt no impact. She opened her eyes slowly and saw him bring his hand back to his side. He met her gaze, and she moved back in her seat some. It was intimidating, and she glanced to the side.

"(F/n), look at me," he spoke softly, though; she could tell that he was holding back his exasperation.

Hesitantly, she did so, and his gaze softened. Her heart skipped a beat, but she angrily told herself to get a hold of it. She couldn't let him sway her at this time; she had to keep up her fighting spirit. "What?" she muttered, attempting to keep her voice from sounding softer.

"We'll make a deal. If I can show to you well founded evidence of my culture's ways, you will accept them. If I cannot find this, we'll search for the true answers. In both cases, though, you'll remain by my side. I refuse to let you go, for I won't let anyone else have you. Will you agree to these conditions?"

"And if I don't agree?"

"Then, we'll go back to the original plan of me forcing you to accept my culture. I'd rather not take that route, but I will do so if you cause me to."

"You won't tamper with the information, will you?"

"No, and if you suspect me of unfair play, you can call me out on it. I'll admit to cheating if I did so, and we'll search for answers outside of these books. I'll take you beyond the walls of my home and past the mountains if we have to. We're both risking a lot on this agreement. I might be giving up my chance to have a child with you if it takes too long to find these answers."

"I understand. I'll agree to those conditions. Thank you for giving my concerns a chance."

"I'd rather not argue with you," he simply answered, relaxing some and moving over to the bookshelf. "I still expect you to marry me, however. If you win, I'd rather not travel outside my home without people knowing that you're mine."

Some heat hit her cheeks, and she briefly glanced over to him. Luckily, his back was facing her. She turned away from him soon after and mumbled, "Right now, I'm not promising that I'll become your wife. Despite this agreement, I'm still mad at you for earlier today."

"As am I. I'm not fond of you running away from me, and you should know that I'll catch you each time that you try to get away."

"I won't run as long as this deal is in place. Can you promise not to call me by my chosen, though? I rather like having the ability to use my legs at my free will."

To this, she heard one of his melodic chuckles. In some respects, however, it was worrying. It was like he considered it a ridiculous request to make. "(F/n), I'll call you what I wish. Besides, I rather like you falling into my arms each time. Even though you say that you won't run, those two words when directed as an order will guarantee that you don't. Besides, it makes you dependent on me."

"You're a real gem," she grumbled, turning her attention to the book in front of her and lazily flipping a page of it. She hated how small the text was. It just made the book look all the less inviting.

"I do like to keep up my physical appearance for you."

Rolling her eyes, she rested her chin in the palm of her left hand. That was probably why he felt so keen on changing and bathing in front of her. Not that she would indulge him by staring at his body. When she did recall those incidents, heat did invade her cheeks. She hated this effect that he had on her.