Princess Shu

It was around the time in the past when Valia first entered the Imperial Palace. At that time, beautiful and elaborate lace decorations were famous. Even after Valia became the lady-in-waiting, it became more popular for a long time. In particular, the designer who presented the thin and fine lace decorations with flower patterns gained sensational popularity.

‘It was probably Fleur lace, right?’

The designer who achieved great success put her name on the lace and sold it at a high price, succeeding in establishing artificial scarcity of the lace. Valia remembered that it was very popular because the designer never used a corset and excluded all support garments that freakishly suppressed the body. 

‘So right now is before lace decorations became popular.’

Valia admired the outstanding perspective of the designer who was in charge of her wedding dress. Now that she had become the Marchioness, she thought it would be better to get help for her debutante.

“Marchioness Garth, is it okay if I invite you to my manor later? I really want to have a chat with you.”

“Of course. It’s an honor for me.” 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

After hearing about the arrival schedule for the Eastern Kingdoms Union’s delegation, Schuden adjusted his schedule and later came out of the audience chamber. The attendant who waited in front of the door quickly opened his mouth.

“Your Grace, Marchioness Garth is in the special guest’s room.”

“Lead the way.”

“This way.”

The building with the Emperor’s audience chamber and the building with the drawing-room was not far away, both buildings belonged to the same main palace. It was not long before Schuden reached the drawing-room hall. When he made his way to the drawing-room where Valia was resting, he heard a voice calling him.

“Aren’t you Marquess Garth?”

Schuden shifted his gaze. It was someone he knew.

“Oh, Count Machard.”

“It’s an honor for me that you remember my name. This is my first time meeting you after your wedding.”

Count Machard scuffed his hands together and winced before Schuden. Schuden only remembered Count Machard’s face and name but he had no interest in anything else. His interest was focused only on the drawing-room where Valia was, but that did not seem to be the case for Count Machard. Schuden asked.

“Do you have any business with me?”

“What do you mean business? I’m not here for something grand like that, I just want to speak with you.”

Count Machard was one of the flies that flocked to line up for Schuden. However, he failed every time he tried to speak to him at the banquet hall due to the large number of people always by Schuden’s side. But today he happened to meet Schuden in a place where no one interfered! Count Machard did not want to miss this opportunity.

“If it’s okay with you, I’d like us to go have a drink and chat outside the Imperial Palace. I know a very good place.”

Count Machard’s tone was subtle yet noticeable. Anyone could tell that his purpose was not purely to ‘have a drink.’ Schuden responded with an expressionless face.

“It seems that you have forgotten that I’m married. And if my memory is not wrong, Count Machard is also married.”

Count Machard was a womanizer and had already been divorced five times, the rumors about him were not good. But despite all that, Count Machard was, indeed, now married. When Schuden pointed out that fact, Count Machard quickly waved his hand.

“How can I forget that you’re married?”

Count Machard smiled slyly.

“But Your Grace, unlike women, men’s desires are extremely instinctive.”

“Extremely instinctive, huh? Interesting.”

Seeing Schuden show interest, Count Machard’s eyes lit up. He talked excitedly and passionately.

“Of course. It’s not something to talk about during the day, but the husband has to satisfy the wife. So having an experienced husband is also good for his wife. Isn’t this a win-win situation for each other? It’s not all bad for a healthy man to go to such a place.”

“Hmm.”

Schuden nodded slowly. 

“If it’s as Count Machard said, the wife must also be experienced.”

“Pardon? Your, Your Grace, what do you mean…”

“Am I wrong? To satisfy her husband, the wife must have also learned a lot.”

“That’s…”

Count Machard stuttered, unable to find anything to say.

“Besides, you said a man cannot suppress his desire. If so, only noblewomen should be allowed to ascend to high-ranking positions, so it would contribute to the development and well-being of the Empire. Why don’t you make a suggestion to His Imperial Majesty yourself?”

“W, well, that’s not…”

“What’s not?”

Schuden smirked.

“Don’t you think the contradiction in your words is jarring? Count Machard, you’ve even made me uncomfortable after wasting too much time with your useless words.”

Count Machard’s face turned pale. He gave his greeting and hurriedly disappeared. Schuden frowned slightly. Most of the people who buttered up to him like that were those who tried to start a business in partnership with the business owned by the House of Garth.   

What a big dream he has.

Schuden kept one more thing to ask his aide in mind and talked to the attendant.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, I will take you, Your Grace.”

The attendant, who had been quietly standing, guided him again. The drawing-room was right nearby so he could arrive quickly. The lady-in-waiting, who had already received the news, stood in front of the door and opened the door immediately.

“Valia.”

Valia, who just heard that Schuden was coming, was about to get up. Schuden strode up and reached out to her. Valia gently put her hand on his hand. It was a familiar behavior as if she had done it several times.

“You’re here.”

“Yes. Have you been waiting for a long time?”

“No.”

Even during the brief conversation, their eyes were fixed on each other. Marchioness Joan blinked at the sight unfolding before her eyes.

In fact, Marchioness Joan had seen countless ladies who could not take their eyes off Marquess Garth. He was such a good-looking man. Moreover, he had a pair of eyes that seemed to eat women’s hearts. Marchioness Joan was objective in personal appearance, yet fully understood the hearts of the ladies. So it was understandable that Valia could not take her eyes off Marquess Garth.

‘On the opposite side…’

 It was the first time Marchioness Joan had ever seen Marquess Garth’s gaze being fixed on a woman. She had seen him quite a bit at the banquet, but this was indeed the first.

‘It’s not just that, he can’t even seem to take his eyes off of her.’

Valia looked away first with a smile on her face. Despite that, Schuden’s eyes were still on her. If Marchioness Joan was someone of low social status, her eyes would have been wide open.

“Then, I will take my leave first. I had a great time today, Marchioness Joan.”

“Pardon? Oh, yes. I had fun too, Marchioness Garth.”

Marchioness Joan exchanged a nod with Schuden according to the custom and her eyes followed the couple as they went out of the drawing-room. When they had left the room, Marchioness Joan habitually muttered.

“Oh my.”

‘So he’s a man who can make that kind of expression too.’

When the news that they would get married in five days spread around, rumors came from all over the place. The most sensational rumor among them was that they had a premarital pregnancy and got married in a hurry.

‘No, absolutely not.’

Marchioness Joan shook her head. She would not be the only one, anyone who had just seen Marquess Garth’s eyes and facial expression would think so too.

‘All those rumors will disappear once they attend a banquet together.’

Marchioness Joan liked Valia’s impression, she would not be able to get to know the whole person when she just met her for a short time, but her first impressions were generally clear.

‘She does not seem like someone who enjoys social events.’

A calm smile and peaceful eyes, a gentle voice with a tranquil face. Of course, appearance and personality did not always match. However, unless she had a fantastic reversal. It felt like she would prefer a more status activity. The social event could be burdensome so her first priority was to have tea time for the two of them alone as promised.

‘I’ll have to write the invitation as soon as I get home.’

Marchioness Joan clenched her fists. Her heart was pounding at the feeling of being Valia’s chaperone. She had a vague premonition that she might find a friend she liked in this capital full of tightwads.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Schuden was watching Valia.

“…”

The designer’s hands became more cautious with his piercing gaze. Her reaction was rather favorable. The assistants that had always followed the designer were very nervous, much to the point of fainting should someone shout. When Valia saw the assistant’s hands tremble while braiding her hair, she turned her head.

“Schu.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you going to keep watching over there?”

Schuden, who rested his cheek on the back of his hand, asked the designer.

“Aren’t all husbands like this?”

The designer responded immediately.

“There are a lot of noble couples who come together to the beauty salon.”

‘Although, of course, none of them stared at their wives with such a piercing gaze.‘

The designer wisely swallowed the latter sentence. Schuden shifted his gaze to Valia.

“That’s what she said.”

So it did not matter. Valia grimaced at the back of her nose and finally burst into laughter. The softened expression of Marquess Garth and the easy-going attitude of the Marchioness was quite familiar to the employers now but absolutely not for the outsiders. In particular, the designer who ran a beauty salon and had quite a wide knowledge of rumors thought her eyesight was wrong for a moment.

“That’s it for today.”

“Yes, Marchioness.”

The designer responded immediately. No matter how she thought about it, now was the time for her to read the air and step back. Even the hands of the assistants continued to tremble and they were bound to make a mistake anytime. Quick and meticulous in finishing, the designer opened her mouth and exclaimed.

“Marchioness, I haven’t chosen the necklace yet…”

“I will do that myself. Just go ahead, I will call you back later.”

“Yes, just call me anytime.”

The designer got going with her assistants. The maids who were well aware of the change of their master’s mood also left the room. Only Schuden and Valia were left. Valia lightly grumbled at Schuden.

“Schu, how could you just keep watching us over there?”

“But she said other couples are also like this.”

“Normally, husbands do not see their wives getting ready like that.”

“Well, I guess they all have problems with their eyes.”

Valia laughed as if it could not be helped. Actually, she liked it when Schuden looked at her for a long time