Chapter 8.2 – Virgin Test
However, there were some nobles who were more absorbed in the conversation rather than the games.
“Have you heard that Count Bruce’s wedding is scheduled to be held in three months?”
“Of course I’ve heard about it. Viscount Ben’s daughter is the bride.”
“She was adopted by Viscount Ben, but she was originally the daughter of a vassal knight.”
“So the Count is marrying a mere knight’s daughter?”
Rumors had been widespread among the society that Count Bruce’s marriage partner was, in fact, the daughter of a country knight. While there were nobles who praised the couple for their romanticism, there were also nobles who found fault with their discrepancy in status. And in such a high-class bar, the latter opinion prevailed.
“That bride’s status will be elevated from the daughter of a country knight to a countess,” one noble sneered.
“I heard that Count Bruce fell in love with his bride-to-be,” another said.
“Of course, otherwise he wouldn’t have asked the Viscount to adopt her, then pushed forward with the marriage.”
“But if she grew up in the countryside, wouldn’t she find it difficult to adapt to the capital? What will happen then?”
Some conversations were worth hearing, while others were appalling to the ears. The latter usually involved nobles who flocked to each other and got drunk early on.
“If she was originally a knight’s daughter, wouldn’t it be shameful to call her a noble? Who knows what will happen? Since she didn’t grow up in the capital, she might be wild, unlike the ladies these days. ”
‘Daughter of a knight?’
Shuden’s expression dimmed, but it was invisible to the eyes of the nobles who were engaged in boisterous chatter.
“It’s said that in old times that the hymen was checked, but I don’t know if that should be introduced in the Ghel Empire.”
There was a chorus of laughter.
“Hahahaha! If that was done, then there would be more than one or two brides that will be shunned!”
The noblemen laughed uproariously at their joke. Shuden drank a sip of wine. The bitter taste of the liquor danced on his tongue. He swirled the glass lightly, causing the red liquid to ripple in the glass. Finally, he opened his mouth to speak.
“You’re all only talking about doing a virgin test,” he said.
The group’s attention turned to Shuden. His elegant red eyes swept over the men in mock appraisal. The men instantly felt a sense of powerlessness, as if overwhelmed by the king of predators.
“Why aren’t the lot of you talking about man-hymen testing?” Shuden said.
The men laughed nervously. “Ha, haha…Your Excellency. There’s no such thing as a man-hymen—”
“You were all saying such absurd things, and all I did was repeat the same ridiculous idea, so is there really a problem?” Shuden said with a cold laugh. “You are literally talking about how nice it would be to desert the bride on the wedding night.”
The mens’ faces flushed, but Shuden’s presence was too formidable for them to challenge. He was Marquis Garth, after all, a man who had made many great achievements at the war, and there were even discussions of him being promoted to the rank of duke. Shuden’s status, fame, and skills were a towering wall that the second-rate nobles could never overcome.
However, that didn’t mean that a noble wouldn’t try. “Your vulgar words are not suited for this high-class bar,” one said.
“My point exactly. Please be careful of what you say,” Shuden answered as he stared disdainfully down the men. “You can’t even behave with dignity in a place full of nobles, no matter that you’re drunk.”
Critical stares from the rest of the room began to pour down on the group that dared to cause a powerful man discomfort. The men backed down and slipped away to a quieter corner.
The atmosphere in the bar quickly recovered. Shuden spoke a little more with the high-ranking nobles, including Marquis Logan, then left and returned home.
“You’re here, Master?” the carriage driver said. The carriage had been standing by, and Shuden got inside.
“Shall we go back to the mansion?” the driver said from his front seat.
“Yes,” Shuden answered.
The carriage driver skillfully steered the horse. Meanwhile, Shuden stared indifferently out the window with his red eyes. He was not a monk. He could not completely suppress his emotions and treat them like nothing. However, there was no need for the confrontation earlier. The feeling he felt earlier was clearly anger. But why was he angry? He wasn’t the type of man who let his emotions get out of control just because those people said some offensive things.
[If she was originally a knight’s daughter, wouldn’t it be shameful to call her a noble?]
Shuden should’ve beaten one of them up. He let out an annoyed sigh and swept his hair back. His faintly scarred hand pushed back his reddish-blond locks.
“Change the destination. I’m going to the Second Temple,” he ordered the carriage driver.
“Understood.”
The carriage bearing the honorable insignia of Marquis Garth changed its direction.
***
Contrary to everyone’s worries, Valia was doing well; In fact, she had never lived such a luxurious life before. As an official guest of the Great Holy Priest, she resided in the sunlit Honored Guest Room and spent her time in leisure. The meals weren’t lavish and she didn’t have a personal maid to serve her due to the nature of the temple, but this was the most relaxed she had ever been in her life.
Today, too, she enjoyed the prepared meal then went for a walk. Her radius of action was limited to the inside of the temple. However, she preferred stillness, and didn’t even have any thoughts of venturing outside. The Second Temple was the second largest temple on the continent after the Great Holy Temple, and the First Temple was so vast that she wouldn’t be able to see every room even after a few days of wandering around.
“There’s an unusual number of people today,” she noted.
The normally quiet temple was bustling with activity. Everyone was dressed up elegantly, so it was pleasing to her eyes. Sean, who was shadowing Valia from behind, spoke.
“The royal families from different countries are visiting now. Today is also the day when nobles come to pray. It seems like there are many people because of the overlap,” he explained.
“Is that so?” Valia wondered.