Ch#95
95
Varkas stared at the gem, which glowed as red as if it were on fire, for a moment before approaching the merchant and paying the price.
Thalia looked down at the ruby brooch placed in her hand with eyes full of dismay.
Varkas asked in an indifferent tone.
“Anything else?”
It was likely a casual question, but why did it feel as if he were testing her inner thoughts?
She forced her gaze away from the moonstone, though it tried to wander back.
“I don’t need anything. They’re all just mediocre.”
The merchant’s face twisted slightly. Ignoring him, she turned toward the entrance, and Varkas followed, wrapping an arm around her waist. He seemed to be supporting her, as she often stumbled.
Accepting his touch, which had become familiar before she knew it, she stepped out of the shop to find Daren Dru Sheakan and the other retainers waiting.
One of them approached and gave a report.
“We have finished the inspection of the market. The supply of goods is stable, and trade in major items seems active. However, there were quite a few complaints that public security is somewhat unstable.”
Passing through a passage that had become noticeably deserted, Varkas looked back at him.
“Is there a problem with the guard?”
“It seems to be less a problem with the guard and more due to the recent surge in bandit activity. I heard there have been successive attacks targeting merchant traders.”
A faint crease formed between Varkas’s brows. The man added cautiously.
“The Lord of Dorcaen has requested an audience to discuss the matter. How would you like to proceed?”
“……Fine. Let’s meet with the Lord first.”
Varkas, stroking his chin, nodded readily. Thalia, stealing a glance at him, peeked back toward the shop.
The gemstone she had left behind as if discarding it flickered before her eyes.
She tried to console herself by thinking that a trivial jewel like a moonstone didn’t matter, but the lingering regret would not fade. By the time they left the exchange and boarded the carriage parked on the main road, a sense of anxiety even began to creep over her.
Perhaps she would never find a gem of that exact color again. Sitting on the seat and looking down at the ruby with dissatisfaction, Thalia checked outside the window.
Varkas was discussing something with his retainers. It seemed he was relaying the recently decided matters to the knights.
Since it didn’t look like they would depart immediately, Thalia rummaged through the carriage storage. After haphazardly digging through Varkas’s belongings, she managed to find a leather pouch filled with gold coins. She quickly tucked it inside her clothes and cautiously stepped outside.
The soldiers seemed preoccupied with loading wedding gifts from the city’s influential figures onto the wagons. Watching them warily, Thalia soon hurried across the main road.
As she entered the trade exchange again, she saw merchants packing up their stalls.
She pulled her hood down low and pushed through the crowded street. Perhaps the hurried movement was too much, as her calf muscles stiffened and pain radiated up to her hips. Ignoring it, she ran into the jeweler’s and walked up to the display stand.
The gem that resembled Varkas’s eyes emitted a soft glow atop a red cushion. She picked it up, staring at it for a long while, before turning to the merchant.
“I’ll buy this stone.”
The man, who had been looking at her with a surprised expression, broke into a broad smile.
“You certainly have an eye for quality. This moonstone is a rare piece with a very unique color and pattern. Normally, I should receive 35 soldems, but for the Grand Duchess, I will give it to you for 30 soldems.”
Thalia absentmindedly let the merchant’s babbling flow past her as she opened the leather pouch. Just then, a blunt voice spoke from behind her.
“This guy is a total swindler. How can a single moonstone cost thirty gold coins?”
Thalia turned her head and her eyes widened as she discovered Lucas Raedgo Sheakan.
He sneered, looking down at the gem in her hand.
“It’s not even worth five gold coins.”
“W-what kind of preposterous talk is that?!”
The man raised his voice as if he were being wronged.
“This moonstone is a rare, top-quality item! Do you think things with this color and pattern are common?”
“Even so, it’s not 30 soldems.”
“30 soldems is a bargain. If put up for auction, the price could go even higher than that……!”
Thalia poured the gold coins in front of the merchant, who was huffing with a flushed face.
With a clinking sound, the coins minted by the Imperial Treasury piled up high on the display stand. At a glance, there were clearly well over thirty.
She stuffed the gem into her pocket and said haughtily.
“I’m too lazy to count them one by one. Take what’s owed.”
Then she turned around and walked out of the shop.
The mounted warriors were waiting in front of the shop with grim expressions.
Thalia held her head high and passed them. However, before she could take more than a few steps, she was caught by Lucas.
“Hey, if you go wandering off like that……!”
“Hey?”
When she shot him a fierce glare, the boy flinched back and lowered his eyes. This was the result of her diligently hounding him over the past few days.
The boy corrected himself with an expression that looked like he was suppressing his irritation.
“You shouldn’t go wandering off without an escort, Sister-in-law.”
“I was going to return immediately.”
“Still, you should have said something. What if you just slip away like that?”
Thalia brushed the hand on her shoulder away rather roughly.
“I am not a prisoner of the Sheakan family. I have no obligation to report my every move.”
“That’s not what I meant. What if something big happened……!”
Thalia ignored his presumptuous nagging and turned her steps toward the square.
In the meantime, the knights had all mounted their horses, seemingly finished with the preparations for departure.
Thalia hurriedly approached the carriage. Then, Varkas, who was talking to a noble man nearby, sent a cold gaze her way.
Thalia swallowed hard.
Was he angry because she had disappeared without a word?
While she was bracing herself, Varkas let out a small sigh and gave a light tilt of his chin.
“Get in. I must travel on horseback.”
Then he walked toward the knights. Thalia let out a small sigh of relief and boarded the carriage.
A short while later, the stationary carriage began to move along the main road.
Thalia took out the gem she had tucked inside her coat. The silver-blue mineral emitted a pale light in the dim shadows.
She stared at it for a long time like someone who had owned a jewel for the first time in their life, then tucked it back into her bosom and looked out the window.
The sky, which had been shining brightly just a few hours ago, was now covered in light gray clouds. The scent of dry grass mixed into the chilly air, from which the summer heat had completely vanished. Judging by the humidity in the air, it looked like it would rain soon.
Just as she expected, by the time the carriage left the city center and passed through the fortress walls, the thickening clouds poured down a drizzling rain.
Thalia pressed her cheek against the cold glass window and surveyed the way ahead.
Atop a gentle hill shrouded in misty rain, a rather rustic-looking fortress protruded. That seemed to be Dorkaen Castle.
“Thank you for coming!”
As they arrived at the castle gate, a man with a bear skin draped over his shoulders rushed out of the building. He was a middle-aged man with a bushy black beard.
He bowed politely toward Varkas, who was at the head of the line.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace. I am Uzan Darken, in charge of managing this region.”
Varkas, who hopped down from his horse, accepted his welcome with a stoic face.
“I am Varkas Raedgo Sheakan.”
The man, who had been observing his new lord with curious eyes, wore a gentle smile.
“You must have had a hard time traveling such a long way. Now, please come inside. I have prepared a grand banquet for Your Grace.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Varkas, who showed courtesy with appropriate greetings, handed the horse’s reins to a servant and then approached her.
Thalia, who had been standing blankly in the drizzling rain, hunched her shoulders. Varkas unfolded the hem of his cloak and created a shield over her head.
The Lord of the castle, watching the scene with eyes full of interest, spoke to her cautiously.
“This beautiful lady must be the Grand Duchess. It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. Please feel free to call me Uzan.”
Thalia replied with a single nod of her head instead of words.
The man, who showed a slight hint of embarrassment, quickly returned to a smiling face and began to flatter her.
“It is an infinite honor to welcome such a noble person. I will do my best to ensure you can stay without any discomfort.”
“Enough with the pleasantries, just lead us to our room. How long are you going to keep us standing in the rain?”
When she snapped at him coldly, the man hurriedly stepped up the stairs.
“Oh, my apologies, Your Highness. Now, please come this way.”
As she stepped into the massive stone building following him, the smell of burning wood and candles stung her nose.
Thalia stayed close to Varkas’s side as she looked around the old castle, which gave off an eerie atmosphere.
As if it were a building built during the era of the warring states, the interior of the old castle was steeped in deep darkness and thick, damp humidity.
“You may use this room.”
The Lord led them to a room located on the second floor. It was a bedroom that was quite cozy and well-decorated.
