"Mr. Stanton… I must admit that your promises are very enticing," Harvey reasoned with Elric, smiling faintly. "However, I have bad experiences with empty promises. I'm apprehensive that I won't be able to see those promises come to fruition."

Elric's expression darkened slightly, but he still forced a smile. "Harvey, I'm being sincere with you. Your response is very disappointing. I wouldn't have offered my daughter if I only wanted to give you an empty promise. I have plenty of options, you know?

"I love my daughter. If it isn't because I truly admired you, I wouldn't have said anything about letting you marry her?"

Elric sounded like he was hurt. "Harvey, you completely got the wrong idea!"

Harvey calmly replied, "It's not that I got it wrong; it's just that how you make those promises isn't genuine. Or perhaps I should say, it's your sincerity that makes you look so fake.

"I'll be direct. If you really do admire me, then the person sitting here before me won't be you but your