Princess Shu

Valia took a slow breath.

“…So, the former Marquess killed all the villagers.”

“Yes. I don’t know anything else in detail. But it’s certain that the former Marquess staged such atrocities to bring His Grace in.”

Shaun did not know everything. All he knew was that Schuden’s father became fed up with the family and ran away, that Schuden’s mother was not a noble, and that the former Marquess Garth killed all the villagers to bring Schuden with him.

“…Why did he have to go that far to bring His Grace?”

“His Grace’s father was the youngest son of the former Marquess. The other sons who were above him underwent misfortune so the only direct line left was His Grace.”

“So the former Marquess could not accept an indirect line.”

“That’s right.”

Shaun was the first knight assigned to Schuden when he first came to this manor. As he was the young knight assigned by the former Marquess to protect and watch Schuden, he had many opportunities to hear about Schuden’s past. He mostly picked up what the former Marquess Garth had said when he threatened Schuden. His knowledge was limited, but it was still better than not knowing anything. 

“…If you were shocked by my story, I apologize in advance.”

“No, I’m not shocked. Rest assured, Sir Shaun.”

Valia lived in the Imperial Palace and had witnessed many cold-hearted incidents. She got so strong that she was not shocked even after hearing this kind of story. However, Valia was concerned about Schuden. He was a strong man. He looked strong from afar, and he looked strong from up close. How much patience did he take to create such strength?

“Madam, His Grace will probably stay in the palace again today.”

“…Is that so?”

If Schuden left the palace, there should be someone coming to inform Valia in advance, but there was none again today. Although she had not been very conscious of it for the past few days, Valia felt the vacancy in the manor, perhaps because she just heard about Schuden’s past. People feel lonely when they can’t be there for someone.

“Madam, I think you will be beautiful enough without any decorations on your back, just this fancy tiara and braided hair will be enough.”

“Yes. Because madam’s hair is as beautiful as the night sky.”

Valia touched the tiara on her head while listening to the maids chattering. The beautiful crown had a large diamond embedded in the center and small diamonds along it creating delicate curves. Although Valia did not have a delicate eye for jewels, she could see that it was by far the most precious among the many jewels.

When she looked at the tiara in the mirror, her silvery-gray eyes widened.

“Schu?”

Schuden was reflected in the mirror. Valia, who met his eyes through the mirror, quickly turned to look behind.

“When did you come?”

“Just now.”

Schuden walked closer to Valia. The maids bowed politely to the lord of the house who had returned home after a long time. They read the room and slowly went outside. Valia and Schuden were left alone in the bedroom in no time. Schuden was still the same. It was not like he could change much in those few days.

“Do you like the present?”

“I was surprised that you sent so much.”

“Is that the end of your appreciation?”

Valia laughed softly. Still, her heart ached. She vaguely knew how Schuden felt when he presented the jewel to her. Wounds were easily contagious and broke the heart. Aside from being sad, Valia had no intention of bringing up the story in the first place. 

‘It would be unpleasant.’

Valia did not know how to offer comfort. She did not even want to clumsily touch his scars. She heard his story in order to avoid incurring his anger. However, there was no way this strong man could first bring out the wounds of his childhood. Because that was his weakness. Thus, they would not talk about each other’s wounds for the rest of their lives, nor would they be able to comfort each other for the rest of their lives.

But,

Valia took Schuden’s hand. The back of the man’s hand with a faint scar was wrapped around a white hand.

“Schu, thank you for your present.”

Wounds were often relieved by gentle words that permeated the surroundings. Valia did not think her words could permeate Schuden’s heart, she did not even expect that at all. But still, she wanted to tell him only good and gentle words.

“But it’s my first time trying on a tiara, so I feel awkward. Do I look okay?”

“You look pretty, Valia.”

After blinking, Valia took off the tiara she was wearing on her head. Her black hair scattered gently. She reached over Schuden’s head, the diamond tiara quickly covered the top of his reddish-blonde. Valia smiled jokingly.

“You look pretty too, Schu.”

Schuden was stunned, he sat still and wondered what the lady was up to now. Valia would be the first and last person in his life to think of putting such a thing on his head. However, the way she smiled was really not bad.

“Valia, you are the only wife who will say that to her husband.”

“Then I guess other wives all have problems with their eyes.”

Schuden smiled as he put down the tiara. This was the reason why he left behind the attendant who showed signs of dissuasion. When he looked at Valia, he felt a sense of satisfaction that was hard to express in words, as if his empty heart was filled somewhere. He thought it would be possible even if someone asked him to look into these silvery-gray eyes all day long.

“By the way, Schu, the High Priest is coming tomorrow.”

“Yes, Valia.”

But his mind was not necessarily connected to her mind. Just look at his wife who did not forget to talk about work even though it had been a while since they were reunited. Schuden did not necessarily think of the fact that it was not even a week since he entered the palace.

“Is there anything else you want to say? Or an apology that you want to hear…”

“No, you can just treat him to a cup of tea and send him away.”

“What? But that’s blasphemous.”

Valia said with her eyes open wide. Schuden laughed briefly. Instead of answering, he took her hand. And he kissed each of her slender fingers. Schuden was a man whose mood changed in an instant. Otherwise, her fingertips could not have trembled like this. Valia was intensely anxious at the drowsy yet peculiar touch.

“Valia.”

Schuden raised his head with Valia’s hands on his mouth. The thirst that rose in the red eyes was clear that Valia stepped back in spite of herself. Schuden hugged her waist, his firm male frame coming in close contact with her. His hand held her chin, and his thumb swept her pink lips. Schuden whispered.

“Why does that matter? God is not even watching here.”

The distance to the bed was not far.    

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

“It’s been a while since I last saw you, Marchioness Garth.”

Philemon, whom she has not seen in a while, was as kind as usual. Whenever Valia saw him, she would think of Carl. It was weird, they had different impressions and facial expressions. Valia would be the only one in the whole continent to look at a High Priest and think of a mercenary.

“Welcome to Garth’s manor, High Priest Philemon. And…”

The silvery-gray eyes turned to someone next to Philemon. A middle-aged man was standing there, looking a little younger than Philemon. Valia calmly called his name.

“High Priest Mercille.”

“Gasp.”

Someone gasped behind Valia, probably one of the servants. But that reaction was justified so she did not want to find a flaw with it. Philemon cleared his throat.

“The number of people in the group has increased all of a sudden. My apologies for the late contact.”

It was only a few minutes ago that Valia received a message saying that one more High Priest would come. It was sudden news. Even the employees who had been somehow immune to Philemon’s frequent visits to the manor were flustered. Of course, though she did not make it obvious, Valia was the one whose hands were shaking the most.

“It’s fine. Let’s go inside.”

When entertaining guests with tea, Gel’s nobles generally used the annex rather than the main building. Unlike Schuden, who only used his office or the drawing-room regardless of whether Philemon visited or not, Valia had formally set up the annex.

Any building of Garth was luxurious. Expensive paintings on the walls at regular intervals and chandeliers that shed elegant light. The marble walls that the employees worked hard to wipe off under Paul’s direction were shiny. Each pillar was decorated with fresh wildflowers. The tea table lay in the center of the hall. After Valia offered them to take a seat and sat down together, Mercille, who had not even greeted her since the first meeting, opened his mouth. 

“His Grace is nowhere to be seen.”

Mercille’s voice showed faint displeasure. Valia wiggled her fingers, hidden under the hem of her dress. She was very nervous, but hiding her emotions was what she did best.

“His Grace is busy with work in the Imperial Palace so he could not be with us. I hope the two High Priests will understand.”

“I’m here to apologize. How can I nitpick such a thing? It’s fine.”

Unlike Philemon, who smiled kindly, Mercille did not even have the slightest bit of a smile on his face. Valia glanced at him, who did not even say it was okay even out of courtesy.

‘High Priest Mercille…’

Unlike Philemon, who felt like a kind grandfather, Mercille had a stronger feeling of being a whiz. To put it nicely, he was intuitive so he looked sharp, and to put it badly, the sharp look in his eyes made him look harsh. Valia thought that it would not be easy to deal with him.

“It’s tea time but there are too many people.”

Mercille’s words dropped. In some cases, it was very disrespectful for a guest to point out something at tea time. Valia could feel it on her back that the atmosphere among the employees became ice cold. Even Philemon seemed perplexed. Only Valia was still smiling. 

“Everyone, you can leave.”

She gestured lightly.

Sarah bowed her head and immediately withdrew with the other employees. Shaun was the only one who was behind her. Mercille squinted his eyes.

“What about you?”

Shaun silently answered the unspoken question as to why he did not go out.

“I’m carrying out the orders of His Grace.”

“What’s the order?”

“To escort the Marchioness.”

“Who is going to hurt the Marchioness at this tea time?”

“I’m only following my liege’s orders.”

Mercille stared at Shaun without answering. Shaun did not avoid his look either. Philemon intervened in the unexpected confrontation between the two.

“High Priest Mercille, this knight has been escorting the Marchioness in the temple all the time so there is no need to be so wary.”

Besides, they were there today to apologize for the miscommunication of the wedding officiant. They would not even talk about things so important that no one else should hear them, like temple princess or oracle. 

Mercille tilted his head slightly as if intrigued.

“Hmm, so you must know about the ‘temple princess’.