Chapter 98
After hearing Peches’ story,
Strangely enough, she felt as though she had grown closer to him.
Perhaps it was because they had shared something personal.
Family matters—especially the more disgraceful they are—are usually guarded fiercely from others.
Of course, there are households like the Rown royal family, who make no effort to hide their chaotic mess.
Thinking of her own family, whom she didn’t care to recall, Riana shook her head as if to push them away.
Thankfully, beside her was Ian Hart, who would talk with her.
“Where are we going now?”
“How about the shopping district?”
“I’m fine with anywhere.”
…That’s the hardest answer.
Given such a difficult task, Ian Hart chuckled and rose to his feet.
“I’ll guide you properly.”
“Then I’ll trust only you, Your Majesty.”
Riana smiled brightly like a child and placed her hand on the one he extended.
The streets of the Lofel district’s shopping district were naturally crowded with people.
Luxurious, ornate carriages passed along the broad avenues, while well-to-do looking people strolled leisurely on either side.
In the distance stood a few rather tall buildings.
Seeing them, Riana let out a small exclamation.
“Wow… definitely imperial.”
“What is?”
“Mm… should I say the sheer scale, or maybe this strange refinement?”
“What do you mean, strange refinement?”
Ian Hart chuckled lowly, prompting Riana to shoot him a look.
Even she found it hard to put into words. It just felt different.
“…Anyway, it just really feels imperial.”
“Alright, I won’t nitpick.”
At his words of surrender, Riana’s pout softened. Ian Hart then began walking forward, holding her hand.
“That’s a wise choice. It’s not good manners to question a compliment, you know.”
Now playful again, Riana teased him as they walked.
The two of them went from a boutique to restaurants, bakeries, general stores, and more.
Sometimes they didn’t enter a store, only browsing the stalls outside.
“How about this?”
“This bracelet?”
“Yeah.”
He pointed at a bracelet displayed inside a glass case.
It looked like a pair, crafted with thin silver chains and a small red gem in each.
Riana gave her honest impression.
“It’s nice. Not too flashy—just right. The design isn’t overwhelming.”
Its clean simplicity matched her taste.
But then came words that left her startled.
“Should I buy it for you?”
…Huh?
“Wait, all of a sudden?”
Blinking wide-eyed, she asked back. Ian Hart only shrugged casually.
“Couples usually give each other gifts.”
Though they weren’t truly lovers.
He swallowed that thought and, before Riana could protest, boldly purchased the pair of bracelets.
“Give me your wrist.”
After quickly paying the beaming shopkeeper, he demanded her hand without hesitation.
His confidence left Riana so flustered that she unconsciously offered her wrist.
When the cold metal clasped around it, her delayed protest finally slipped out.
“Hey…”
Then why did you even bother asking if you were going to do it anyway?
She thought that, but the cool sensation on her wrist didn’t feel unpleasant.
If she had disliked it, she would have refused outright.
Lowering her gaze, she saw her pale wrist adorned with the bracelet, his large hand hovering beneath.
“…It suits you well.”
On his wrist was the matching design, only slightly larger.
The simple style fit him too.
A pair of bracelets, same design, different size.
It wasn’t something they needed to show others right now.
‘But then why…’
Feeling a strange mix of emotions, Riana bit her lip.
Then she remembered—it was still a gift.
“…Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
He simply shrugged at her late thanks.
“Where to next? The sun’s setting, so we’ll probably only have time for one more place.”
He asked as if it were nothing.
Well… to outsiders, they were supposed to be lovers anyway, so maybe it wasn’t all that strange.
Ignoring the odd feelings stirring in her chest, Riana decided their next stop.
“Then… I want to visit a good blacksmith.”
“A blacksmith?”
“Yes.”
He thought for a moment, then nodded and led the way.
Soon, they arrived at a rather large forge.
At the sight inside, Riana’s earlier unease was forgotten and her eyes sparkled.
“Wow! These weapons are all really good. The quality’s consistent too.”
She looked more excited than she had anywhere else.
It was only natural—at her core, she was a knight.
“How many can I pick?”
She whispered the question, and Ian Hart gave her the answer she wanted.
“As many as you need.”
“Hehe, don’t regret it.”
Grinning mischievously, she darted off to browse.
Ian Hart chuckled.
His wealth was such that even buying the entire forge wouldn’t make a dent.
But saying so might sound like bragging, so he just kept quiet.
After about half an hour of shopping—
“That’ll be 4 gold.”
Ian Hart paid for the pile of weapons Riana had chosen.
As they left, she beamed.
“I’ll put these to good use!”
“Do you like them?”
She nodded eagerly, her smile wide.
Of course, he could already tell by her face, but he wanted to hear her say it.
“I love them. I was planning to get some practice weapons anyway, and since I didn’t know any smiths, I’d been putting it off. I’m glad we found this place today.”
“Hmm. Though, for practice weapons, it seemed you picked quite a few.”
He recalled the hefty bundle he had tucked into his dimensional pouch—daggers, spears, finely made swords, even large pikes.
She had bought over forty in total.
Quite a lot for one person.
Especially since her main weapon was that massive greatsword.
“Uh… so maybe a few dozen?”
Caught red-handed, she smiled sheepishly and corrected herself.
Lately, she often spoke in a light, playful tone without even realizing it.
Almost like she was being… cute.
But only when it was just the two of them.
He steadied his heart once again.
“May I ask what kind of training you plan to do with all these?”
“Enchantments! I’ve gotten used to the lessons, so I wanted to practice on my own. If I rest too long, my hands get rusty.”
For a moment, his gaze faltered, but Riana, too busy chattering about her interests, didn’t notice.
Their final destination was the central plaza.
The sunset glow over the fountain was, in his words, beautiful.
“Time really flew today…”
“We walked around quite a while.”
“Exactly. I didn’t even notice the hours passing.”
She said it without thinking, but to him, it felt different.
Not noticing the hours pass.
Those words tickled even his hardened heart.
Until now, he had thought it unnecessary to share his feelings.
Relationships built on emotion were fragile, whether love or hatred.
Their current bond, founded on contract, was safe.
She would remain his wife, the empire’s empress, for life.
But that conviction was weakening.
How long could he keep his emotions to himself?
In truth, right before the contract was finalized, he had ordered Peches to remove the clause forbidding romantic feelings.
And now here he was, caught in these very thoughts.
Then Riana suddenly sighed.
“When we get back, I feel like Madam Gizel will scold me for skipping dinner and snacking instead…”
At her random remark, he couldn’t help but laugh.
She went on, complaining about how guilty Gizel’s calm scolding voice could make her feel.
“Why are you worrying about that all of a sudden?”
“Well, the last few days I’ve been skipping dinners here and there, and Sasha and Madam Gizel both fussed a lot.”
“Why haven’t you been eating dinner properly?”
“Uh…”
She fidgeted.
Usually, she shared lunch with Ian Hart.
And after those meals, for some reason, she never felt hungry at dinner.
