Chapter 9.1 – My Wife
Valia used to work for the Imperial Family, and knew that once every five years, the Ghel Empire invited unmarried royals from other kingdoms to the Imperial Palace. It was a way for the Empire to gain admiration from the foreign royals through their splendid architecture and culture.
The Imperial Household was always busy during that time, but it was especially hectic when Valia had been there. She never had time to sit down and rest her exhausted limbs, but this time around she enjoyed herself with a leisurely stroll. Life really was familiar, but at the same time full of mysteries.
“What’s everyone doing?” Valia wondered as she stretched her neck to look at a gathering. It appeared that people were looking at some items on a wide display shelf, but she couldn’t see what it was. Were they buying holy artifacts?
“They’re looking at the cuff links that have been blessed by the temple,” Sean explained. “It is said that if lovers share cuff links, the love between the two will deepen. In the case where one does not have a lover, it is said if you throw the cuff links into the lake at the temple backyard, you will meet your lover. The custom is very popular with unmarried aristocratic ladies. It seems that the royals from other kingdoms are also interested in it.”
“It’s my first time seeing it today. How interesting,” Valia commented.
Intrigued, she walked towards the display shelf where the ladies were gathered. Contrary to her expectation where the cuff links would be given after money was exchanged, no monetary transaction was made. She noticed that the cuff links were given away for free.
‘As expected, the rich are different. Well, it’s also because they make generous donations.’
The temple was not an impoverished place, far from it. Devout believers would easily give massive donations in exchange for a blessing. Most of all, the backyard that Valia was exploring allowed access only to people of noble or higher status. It may appear that the temple was giving away the items for free out of kindness, but nobles of a certain status would never think of stealing.
In any case, Valia couldn’t tear her eyes off the display shelves either. Robin, who was guarding her from behind, gave a recommendation.
“Why don’t you try it too, My Lady?” he suggested.
“Robin. Don’t recommend anything distasteful to My Lady,” Sean reprimanded sternly.
Robin hastily straightened his posture. “I’ll be careful!”
Valia chuckled. “It’s alright. And I haven’t made any donations to the temple.”
The nobles selecting the cuff links were from prestigious households who had the financial ability to make such generous donations, but she was not one of them. It was impossible for Valia to afford it in the first place. While the attending priest did not check a donation list as he handed out the items, Valia had a conscience. She was about to tear her longing gaze away from the display, when Sean spoke.
“The Marquis makes a large donation every year to the temple,” the knight said.
Sean’s words floated in her ears. She blinked her silver-grey eyes. She glanced over at Robin, who was also wearing a puzzled expression.
‘So…is he telling me to go ahead?’
Robin seemed to read the question in her gaze, and he nodded. Sean kept his gaze upwards with a serious face He was pretending not to notice their nonverbal exchange. Valia held back the laugh that threatened to burst from her, then stepped forward.
The priest looked towards her and spoke. “You can choose the one you like.”
Valia’s eyes turned towards the display shelves with the cuff links. Each pair rested on soft white silk, and while they did not look particularly expensive, she could see that each product was handcrafted with great care. Since cuff links were associated with a romantic myth, the ladies were extremely picky with their choice.
‘These ladies are quite charming. But then again, I would have also been prudent in my choice before.’
But contrary to her thoughts, Valia couldn’t take her eyes off the shelf. She was drawn to a tiny pair of cuff links studded with rubies. While rubies were precious gems, these ones were only half the size of Valia’s fingernail, so they didn’t look expensive. However, it was their brilliant red color that leapt out at her.
‘His eyes are red.’
Shuden’s eyes were bright red. If someone asked her to choose his most memorable feature, she would definitely choose his eyes. Both passionate and cool, those red eyes carried two entirely opposite auras. After seeing him face-to-face, she finally knew why rumors spread about him even in the Imperial Palace. The intensity in his gaze was hard to forget.
‘I’ll be a nuisance if I take too long to choose, so I’ll just go with this.’
Valia reached out to take the ruby cuff links. The moment when she picked it up—
“…”
A woman who looked more mature than Valia reached out for the same cuff links. She stared at Valia with her light-brown eyes, which were the same color as her hair. Judging from the woman’s glamorous appearance she appeared to be of high status, but there was a subtle sense of arrogance in her gaze as she scanned Valia up and down.
“I see we picked up the same thing,” the woman said.
To be accurate, Valia picked it up first and then the woman reached out for it. Valia blinked her silver-grey eyes.
“I chose first, and then you reached out.”
A sense of displeasure flashed across the woman’s brown eyes. Although it was only an instant, Valia’s experience from working in the Imperial Palace allowed her to read emotions and expressions quickly.
The woman tightened her grip. “Oh my, are you sure you didn’t see wrongly? We definitely picked it up at the same time,” the woman said in a honeyed tone. She was likely trying to divert attention by talking so she could forcefully snatch the cuff links away.
But she was up against Valia. It would be different if Valia was up against a trained man, but she could easily beat this weak lady’s grip.