Princess Shu

Schuden stared at Valia. His favorite silvery-gray eyes, resembling that of the dawn sky, were hidden inside her thin eyelids. Instead, he looked at her long eyelashes and cheeks. Her fingertips were elegant and her skin was fine. Looking like this, she was a noblewoman without a doubt. 

However, she was different from other nobles in terms of her trivial habits.

[Thank you for picking me up.]

Not thanks for walking her home, but thanks for picking her up.

It was a minor difference but Schuden remembered her words.

There were endless minor details that touched Schuden’s nerves one by one. What all of them had in common was that Valia was the source.

If she was someone ordinary, he would have just overlooked it. He might have quickly erased it from his mind because it was not worth remembering. However, because it was Schuden’s ‘wife’ who said that, he deemed it worth thinking about once more.

A crack started in crevices. A crevice that could cause a crack in a person was commonly referred to as a ‘wound’. Schuden never cared about the wounds of others. He was tired of women who were longing for love because they had not been loved as a child.

‘It must have been more because she was the daughter of a knight.’

Poverty and misery were very close. Looking back, poverty was the absolute reason that Valia became Schuden’s bride. If she were from a proper noble household or if her parents were in their right mind, they would not be willing to sacrifice their daughter for only a small amount of money.

If he looked back just a little bit, he could see how many hardships she had been carrying on her back.

‘She has not said anything yet though.’

Valia was cautious. Schuden had only known her for a while, but he could tell. His bride with the silvery-gray eyes had never once spoken of her past. He had never seen anything like shade within her. She was just silent like the dawn.

‘Will she change once she gets used to me?’

Valia might not have tried to lean on him because she was still unfamiliar with him. He did not know how her attitude would change when some time passed and his position became stronger. Schuden became a little curious. How would he react if Valia tried to lean on him by telling him the hardships she had in the past?

‘I might come to despise her.’

Schuden was always like that to others. So it was only right that it would be the same for Valia too. But strangely enough, it was difficult to be sure. If it was someone else, he would not even look back, but it was strangely different for her. Perhaps because she was his wife. Perhaps because their first meeting was unusual.

…Or it could have been because he now liked her more than he thought.

‘That still won’t be an exception though.’

Schuden had always been the same. From when he lived in a small fishing village in the south until he was forcibly taken to the Marquess Garth’s manor. He despised falling in emotions with the wound as an excuse. To put it in extreme terms, he even hated it. Schuden loathed self-pity and thought that those who struggled were pathetic. Despite babbling that they were going to die, no one would really die. It was a truth that Schuden experienced throughout his life.

[Son of a demon.]

There were people who still lived even after killing people.

[You don’t want this? If so, will the results be different? In the end, everyone died because of you!]

There were people who needed to keep on living.

[Just because you are the last direct line of that oh-so-great household, he killed all the villagers to take you alone. You killed them all. Our mother, and even my father!]

Someone who had no choice but to be harsh on the wounds of others because of the heavy guilt on his back.

[…Leo.]

[Don’t call me Leo! If your grandfather is the demon, then you’re the son of the demon. The only difference between you two is just age. You piece of trash, keep this in your mind.]

Schuden recalled the purple eyes full of contempt. The young boy, who was so desperate, and Schuden, who was that much younger. The young face was drenched in tears and poured curses on him. Blood was dripping from the back of Schuden’s hand and the boy was wielding a blood-stained knife.

[Live until I rip out your heart and swallow it, soon-to-be Marquess Schuden Garth.]

After a moment of hesitation, Schuden moved his hand on top of Valia’s. A faint cut could be seen at the back of his hand that covered all of hers. He gently squeezed Valia’s hand, able to feel her heart breathing faintly through her slender hand. Schuden silently buried his lips on Valia’s forehead. It was not long before he closed his eyes.

Marquess Garth’s manor was busy from the morning. Strictly speaking, the employees were busy. In particular, the maids who helped Valia dress up were very nervous. That was because today was the day where the Marquess and Marchioness were going to visit the palace.

While everyone was busy, Valia was the calmest person in the manor. After wearing the ceremonial dress, she checked for wrinkles and put on some accessories.

“Take out the jewelry pin.”

All the colorful decorations that did not go well with the ceremonial dress were excluded. Today, Valia just had to be elegant and neat. This was also the reason she did not call any designer. 

Sometimes there were nobles who were too nervous at their first visit to the palace and dressed up too splendidly, it was not a good choice. This was because there were many eyes looking in the Imperial Palace, so excessive decorations raised up the scowl. The sole purpose of the first visitation after marriage was to greet the Emperor, the owner of the Empire. It was not even a debutante, so there was no need to dress up strikingly.

After finishing all of her makeup, Sarah carefully took out the brooch she brought from the jewelry storage. It was a brooch of the Marchioness that Valia was frightened of not long ago. Sarah carefully attached the brooch to Valia’s left chest.

As if proving it to be a top-notch jewel, the brooch reflected light that would dazzle people’s eyes at even the slightest movement. Its presence was great just by looking at it, and it drew attention as she put it on her clothes. Valia was worried that she would lose the treasure of the House of Garth.

“Madam, it’s a very beautiful brooch.”

“That’s right. I have never seen such a fancy jewel before.”

Only Valia was worried about that, the maids just chattered in admiration. Valia intended to stay alert all day today to prevent the loss of this beautiful and expensive brooch.

“Madam, is there anything uncomfortable?”

“No. Let’s go out now.”

“I will take you, Madam.”

Her first visit to the palace. Even in the past, Valia had never met the Emperor face to face, she only served the female members of the Imperial family. The Emperor was a precious body that only the highest class among the Imperial court officials could have an audience with. Valia’s heart was not beating as fast as it did at her wedding, but not because she was not nervous. And she knew the reason why.

“Schu.”

“You’re here, Valia.”

The firm arms and hands. Reddish-blonde hair and red eyes that looked like blood at first glance. Just linking arms with Schuden was already a big support for her. 

Valia smiled.      

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

The Imperial Palace of Gel, which she had not seen in a long time, was as majestic and archaic as ever. As they got closer to the Emperor’s main palace, the splendor of the Imperial Palace became particularly overwhelming. Specifically, the audience chamber with the Emperor was even fancier. It was the first time that Valia had entered the audience chamber.

“Greetings to His Imperial Majesty, the Supreme Emperor.”

“Greetings to His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor.”

And it was also the first time she saw the Emperor in person. Since his latter years were quite miserable, Valia thought he would have the face of a patient, but the current Emperor looked very hale and hearty. Had it not been for the Emperor’s conduct, he would have looked like an ordinary old gentleman from any noble family.

“Get up, Marquess Garth, Marchioness Garth.”

“I am much obliged.”

“Enough with the courtesy. Let’s sit down and talk.”

The Emperor recommended Schuden and Valia take their seats. Even sitting down was helped by the lady-in-waiting in the Imperial Palace. Valia sat calmly in the chair.

Before asking Schuden any questions, the Emperor waited for him and Valia to have a cup of tea for the sake of formality. Then, as soon as they put their teacups down, he asked.

“Then, Marchioness.”

But in fact, it was Valia whom the Emperor was interested in, not Schuden. The young noblewoman with silvery-gray eyes who had been quiet all the time raised her head. 

I was told she was 18 years old. Two years younger than Schuden Garth.

“Please, by all means, Your Imperial Majesty.”

“How’s your life in Gel?”

“I am well, thanks to your kindness.”

There were no unnecessities in Valia’s answer. The Emperor had already heard from the chief lady-in-waiting that her Imperial etiquette was perfect, but it was different to see it in person.

“I’m also happy that you’re well here.”

“Your Imperial Majesty’s grace is as vast as the rivers and seas.”

In response to her thorough answer, the Emperor just nodded.

“By the way, I heard about the wedding. It was such a glamorous wedding. It’s a shame that I didn’t see it in person.”

Valia answered inwardly to the words that were filled with deep regret.

‘Don’t be too disappointed. You’ll be able to see it in a few years.’

Yeri and Gusto had the second wedding. They were part of the Imperial Household, so the Emperor could attend. Even in her past, the Emperor attended their wedding. The Emperor, who never dreamt that his small wish would come true a few years later, continued to give his words of blessing.

“Although it was unusual at first, you’re now the respectable lady of the household of Marquess Garth of the Gel Empire. Always be aware of the fact that you’re a high-ranking noble.”

“I will keep that in mind, Your Imperial Majesty.”

“Even though you’re from another country, your Imperial etiquette is very good. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’m not looking down on your motherland.”

“I didn’t take it the wrong way.”

Valia was not good at making her speech longer. It was an ability to be able to flatter and to be good at speaking. Because Valia did not have such an ability, she tried to learn etiquette without unnecessities. There was no one in the Imperial Palace who would pick a quarrel just because her answer was short, after all. It was Valia’s own way of survival, and was carved deep in herself and had continued to this day.

‘They are weirdly similar.’

The Emperor nodded to himself when he saw Valia like that. The more she spoke, the more she looked like Marquess Garth. Noble attitude, Imperial etiquette, everything was perfect. But she was very quiet. However, she had been impeccable, so it was not offensive.

‘Is it because she’s the subject of oracle?’

The temple also offered a huge amount of tribute to the Imperial Palace. Even if it was not because of the tribute, it was difficult for the Emperor to easily refuse the request made by the High Priest for God’s will.

‘Nobles can’t have love for love’s sake.’

In fact, many nobles had a marriage for convenience. In the noble world, marrying for love was a concept that only appeared in popular novels. Love after marriage was good if they took a liking to each other after marriage, and it was even better if they fell in love. However, not all men and women fall in love when they meet. Therefore, among the nobles, even if they only respected each other, they were evaluated as an exemplary couple.