<span style="color: #FFBF40"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">House of Delecroix</span><br/><span style="font-size: 130%; line-height: 116%;">Castle Devona</span><br/><br/><a class="postlink" href="http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o793/Galvin_Fugazi/16aaa03c-d70c-49d0-833d-aa82d7697d9f_zpsf037c19c.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><br/><span style="color: #FFBF40"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Sir Abel M. Delecroix</span></span></div></span><br/><br/>Sir Abel was only mildly surprised by Martine's answer, but only because he had always assumed most ladies thought about children often--then again, he had never heard Iris mention children, and Martine was a far cry from the usual ladies of Erathia.<br/><br/>Martine surprised him fully, however, with her next words,<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #0080FF">“But if we two end up with each other, I want to have children. At least two.” </span></span>He couldn't stop the smile that spread across his face. Two was a perfect amount, and the fact that Martine wanted two simply because it would be with him made him swell with a masculine pride.<span style="color: #FFBF40"> "Too young? Hmm, perhaps too young for children at this moment--but marriage? Ah, there are many brides far younger than you, Martine. You are a lucky one, indeed. I think it's a god awful practice to marry women off so young. There has to be something a bit traumatizing in that, and I hope that it isn't that way for you,"</span>Abel replied seriously, dipping her, then pulling her back up.<br/><span style="color: #FFBF40"><br/>"Martine, if you ever wish to push back our marriage, or make it much later than it might be, I would understand. From what I've seen, young women don't have much of a choice, and you even admit that you don't either...I want you to be able to have choices. A strong mind like yours deserves that much--hell, anyone deserves that much..." </span>Abel's voice was rather firm and deep with conviction. He never wanted Martine to feel she was stuck somewhere where she didn't want to be, and it would pain him to know if he ever made her feel that way. Marriage was a big thing and it was even bigger for young women who weren't able to choose for themselves. He had chosen for Iris, but he would annul the agreement in a heartbeat if she ever voiced even the slightest unhappiness at it.<br/><br/>But perhaps he was just too soft of a man. He tried to pull his mind from the negative aspects of marriage in Erathia and instead focused it on Martine's glowing face,<span style="color: #FFBF40">"I believe, Martine, you should be allowed to ask dizzying questions yourself--it would only be fair..."</span>