Chapter 95
Varkas stared for a moment at the gem, red as if it were burning, then approached the merchant and paid the price.
Thalia looked down at the ruby brooch in her hand with eyes filled with dismay.
Varkas asked in an indifferent tone.
“Anything else?”
It must have been a meaningless question, so why did it feel as though he was testing what was inside her?
She forcibly held back the gaze that tried to return to the moonstone.
“I don’t need anything. They’re all just so-so.”
The merchant’s face subtly twisted.
Pretending not to see it, she turned toward the entrance, and Varkas followed after her and wrapped an arm around her waist.
It seemed he was supporting her because she kept staggering at every opportunity.
Accepting the touch that had become familiar at some point, she left the shop and saw Daren Dru Siar and several other retainers waiting outside.
One of them approached and gave a report.
“We have finished inspecting the market. The supply of goods seems stable, and trade in the main items appears active as well. However, there were quite a few complaints that public security has been somewhat unstable.”
Varkas, who had been passing through the noticeably quieter passage, turned to look at him.
“Is there some problem with the security force?”
“Rather than a problem with the security force, it seems to be because bandit groups have been running rampant recently. They say attacks targeting trade merchants have occurred one after another.”
A faint crease formed between Varkas’s brows.
The man cautiously added,
“To discuss that issue, the lord of Dorkaen has requested a meeting. What will you do?”
“…Fine. We will meet the lord first.”
Varkas, who had been touching his chin, readily nodded.
Thalia, who had been secretly watching him, glanced back.
The jewel she had left behind as if throwing it away flickered before her eyes.
She tried to comfort herself by thinking that she did not need a trivial gemstone like a moonstone, but her regret did not easily fade.
By the time they left the exchange and climbed into the carriage parked along the main road, even anxiety crept over her.
Perhaps she would never again find a gemstone with that kind of color.
Thalia sat in the seat and looked down at the ruby in dissatisfaction, then looked out the window.
Varkas was discussing something with his retainers.
It seemed he was informing the knights of what had just been decided.
When it did not look as though they would depart right away, Thalia rummaged through the carriage storage cabinet.
After haphazardly digging through Varkas’s belongings, she found a leather pouch filled with gold coins.
She quickly shoved it into her clothes and carefully went outside.
The soldiers seemed too busy loading the wedding gifts given by the influential people of the city onto the carriage.
Watching their reactions, Thalia soon crossed the main road.
When she entered the trade exchange again, she saw the merchants cleaning up their shops.
She pulled the hood down deeply and pushed through the crowded street.
Perhaps the urgent movement put strain on her, because her calf muscles stiffened and pain spread all the way to her pelvis.
Ignoring it, she ran into the jewelry store and walked to the counter.
The gemstone that resembled Varkas’s eyes was giving off a gentle light on the red cushion.
She picked it up and stared at it for a while, then turned her head toward the merchant.
“I’ll buy this gem.”
The man, who had been looking at her with a surprised expression, smiled broadly.
“As expected, you have a good eye. This moonstone is a rare piece with a very unique glow and pattern. Normally, I should receive thirty-five soldem, but for Her Highness the Grand Duchess, I will specially offer it for thirty soldem.”
Thalia listened halfheartedly to the merchant’s rambling words and opened the leather pouch.
At that moment, a blunt voice came from behind her.
“This guy is a total swindler. Since when does one moonstone cost thirty gold coins?”
Thalia turned her head and widened her eyes when she found Lucas Raedgo Siarkan.
He looked down at the gem in her hand and sneered.
“It doesn’t even look worth five gold coins.”
“W-what absurd thing are you saying!”
The man raised his voice as if wronged.
“This moonstone is a rare, top-quality item! Do you think it is common to find something with this kind of glow and pattern?”
“Even so, it’s not worth thirty soldem.”
“Thirty soldem is already a low price. If it were put up for auction, it could go even higher than that…!”
In front of the merchant, who was huffing with his face red, Thalia poured out the gold coins.
With a clink, the coins minted by the imperial family piled up on the counter.
Even at a glance, there seemed to be well over thirty.
She shoved the gem into her pouch and said arrogantly,
“I can’t be bothered to count them one by one. Take care of it yourself.”
Then she turned and left the shop.
In front of the shop, mounted warriors with stiff faces were waiting.
Thalia held her head high and passed them.
But before she had even taken a few steps, Lucas caught her.
“Hey, if you wander around as you please like this…”
“Hey?”
When she shot him a fierce gaze, the boy flinched back and lowered his eyes.
It was the result of diligently grinding him down over the past few days.
The boy corrected himself with an expression as if suppressing irritation.
“You must not wander around as you please without an escort, sister-in-law.”
“I was going to return right away.”
“Even so, you should at least tell someone. What are we supposed to do if you sneak out?”
Thalia somewhat fiercely struck away the hand on her shoulder.
“I’m not a prisoner of House Siarkan. I have no obligation to report my every move.”
“That’s not what I meant. What if something serious happened…!”
Thalia ignored his presumptuous nagging and turned toward the square.
During that time, perhaps having finished preparing to depart, all the knights were seated on their horses.
Thalia hurriedly approached the carriage.
Then Varkas, who had been speaking with a nobleman nearby, sent her a cold gaze.
Thalia swallowed dryly.
Was he angry because she had disappeared without saying anything?
As she tensed up, Varkas let out a small sigh and lightly gestured with his chin.
“Get in. I need to travel on horseback.”
Then he turned toward the knights.
Thalia let out a small sigh of relief and climbed into the carriage.
A short while later, the carriage that had been standing still began moving along the main road.
Thalia took out the gemstone she had placed inside her coat.
The silver-blue mineral gave off a pale glow in the dim shade.
She looked at it for a long time, as if she were a person who had never owned a gemstone before, then pushed it back into her clothes and looked out the window.
The sky that had been shining brightly only a few hours earlier was now covered with light gray clouds.
The heat of summer had completely faded from the chilly air, and a dry scent of water mixed into it.
Judging from the damp air, it seemed likely to rain soon.
Just as she expected, by the time the carriage left the downtown area and passed through the castle walls, the darkening clouds began pouring down a drizzle.
Thalia pressed her cheek against the cold glass window and looked ahead.
On a gentle hill covered in pale rain, a somewhat crude-looking fortress rose sharply.
That seemed to be Dorkaen Castle.
“Thank you for coming!”
When they arrived before the castle gate, a man with a bearskin draped over his shoulders ran out of the building.
He was a middle-aged man with a thick black beard.
He bowed politely toward Varkas at the front.
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Grace the Grand Duke. I am Uzan Darken, entrusted with managing this region.”
Varkas lightly jumped down from his horse and accepted his welcome with a composed expression.
“I am Varkas Raedgo Siarkan.”
The man, who had been observing his new lord with curious eyes, wore a gentle smile.
“You must have had a hard journey coming such a long way. Now, please come inside. We have prepared a grand dinner for Your Grace.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
After giving an appropriate greeting, Varkas handed his reins to a servant and approached her.
Thalia, who had been standing blankly in the drizzle, hunched her shoulders.
Varkas spread the hem of his cloak and made a cover over her head.
The castle lord, who had been watching the sight with interested eyes, carefully spoke.
“This beautiful noblewoman must be Her Highness the Grand Duchess. It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness. Please feel free to call me Uzan.”
Thalia answered only by nodding once.
The man showed a slightly embarrassed look, then quickly returned to a smiling face and began flattering her.
“It is an infinite honor to welcome such a noble person. I will do my utmost to ensure you stay without discomfort.”
“Enough with the formalities. Just guide me to the room. How long are you going to keep me standing in the rain?”
When she snapped coldly, the man hurriedly stepped up the stairs.
“Oh dear, my apologies, Your Highness the Grand Duchess. Now, please come this way.”
Following him into the enormous stone building, the smell of burning firewood and candles pierced her nose.
Thalia stayed close to Varkas’s side and looked around the old castle that gave off an eerie atmosphere.
As if it were a building constructed during the Era of the Kingdoms, the inside of the old castle was thickly filled with dampness along with deep darkness.
“You may use this room.”
The castle lord guided them to a room on the second floor.
It was a fairly cozy and well-decorated bedroom.
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