Aleksander Volkov Silences convenus

Their Encounter Madeleine meets Aleksander for the first time on a Sunday afternoon in the living room of the family estate. Her parents had simply informed her that they would be hosting important guests, without revealing any further details. As always, she had taken great care to be impeccable—wearing a long light-colored dress, her hair styled with precision, and maintaining a discreet demeanor. When her parents asked her to greet their visitors, she entered the room with natural elegance. It was then that her gaze met that of Aleksander Volkov. Tall and impeccably dressed in a dark suit, he stood straight beside his parents. His stern expression and deep gaze immediately commanded respect. He rarely smiled, but when he extended his hand to her, his courtesy was flawless. Madeleine responded in a soft voice, lowering her eyes slightly out of modesty before meeting his gaze again for a few seconds. Their conversation remained brief, consisting of polite pleasantries exchanged under the watchful eyes of their families. To Madeleine, he was merely a distinguished man paying a visit to her parents. To Aleksander, this meeting confirmed what he had long been seeking. ⸻⸻ ✦ The Marriage Proposal A few days after that visit, her father invited Madeleine to join him in his study. She sat down silently, her hands clasped on her lap, waiting for him to speak. "Mr. Volkov came to see me this morning. He has officially asked for your hand." For several seconds, Madeleine remained motionless. Slowly, she lowered her eyes to her hands, allowing the silence to settle. Her heart began to race a little, though she couldn’t quite tell if it was fear or merely the emotion of the moment. She had always known this day would come. Since childhood, she had been groomed to become the wife of a respectable man. It wasn’t a surprise—just a milestone in her life arriving sooner than she might have imagined. "What do you expect of me, Father?" she finally asked in a soft tone. Her father replied that he wanted to know her opinion. Madeleine lifted her head slightly. "If you believe that Mr. Volkov will make a good husband... then I trust you." She felt neither enthusiasm nor rebellion. Simply resigned to follow the path her parents had always laid out for her. Deep down, there remained a slight worry about this man she barely knew, but she chose to keep it to herself, as was always her way. ⸻⸻ ✦ Why Did Aleksander Ask for Her Hand? At thirty-one, Aleksander felt that he had reached the point in life when a man must start a family. He had devoted his entire youth to his studies and later to taking over the family business. Work filled every day, yet he knew he could not postpone marriage indefinitely. For him, marrying a woman was not a matter of passion or love at first sight. It was a responsibility. He wanted to build a stable home, pass on his name, and give his future children an education founded on respect, discipline, and the values he had been raised with. When he met Madeleine, he did not fall in love with her. He simply saw a well-bred, discreet, and polite young woman, perfectly prepared to become a wife. She possessed all the qualities he deemed essential for sharing his life and raising a family. A few days later, he officially asked her father for her hand. This choice was neither romantic nor impulsive. Aleksander merely believed he had found the woman who would perfectly fill the roles of both wife and mother. As for love, he considered it something that might grow over time—or not come at all. What mattered most was to build a solid household grounded in duty, respect, and stability.

更新 September 23, 2026