TFM 95

Chapter 95

***

After staring at the fiery red gem for a moment, Varkas approached the merchant and paid for it.

Talia looked down at the ruby brooch in her hand, her eyes filled with disappointment.

Varkas asked in a casual tone.

"Anything else?"

It was likely just a casual remark, so why did it feel as if he were probing her innermost thoughts?

She forced herself to keep her gaze fixed on the moonstone instead of turning away.

“I don’t need anything else. It’s all just so-so.”

The merchant’s face twisted slightly. Pretending not to notice, she turned toward the entrance, but Varkas followed her and wrapped his arm around her waist. It seemed as though he was trying to steady her, as she kept stumbling.

Accepting his now-familiar touch, she stepped outside the shop and saw Daren Dru Shiokan and his other retainers waiting.

One of them approached and reported.

“We have completed our inspection of the market. The supply of goods is stable, and trade in major commodities appears to be brisk. However, there were quite a few complaints regarding somewhat unstable public order.”

Varkas, who was walking through the noticeably quieter passageway, turned to look at him.

“Is there a problem with the security forces?”

“Rather than a problem with the security forces, it appears to be due to recent rampant bandit activity. I hear there have been a series of attacks targeting merchants.”

A faint furrow appeared between Varkas’s brows. The man added cautiously.

“The Lord of Dorcaen has requested a meeting to discuss this matter. What shall we do?”

“......All right. Let’s meet with the Lord first.”

Varkas, who had been stroking his chin, nodded readily. Talia, who had been watching him surreptitiously, glanced back over her shoulder.

The gem she had left behind, as if casting it aside, flickered before her eyes.

She tried to reassure herself that she didn’t really need a worthless gem like a moonstone, but the sense of regret would not easily fade. By the time she stepped into the carriage parked by the main road after leaving the exchange, a sense of anxiety had even begun to overwhelm her.

Perhaps she would never find a gem of that color again. Sitting in her seat and gazing down at the ruby with dissatisfaction, Talia peered out the window.

Varkas was discussing something with his retainers. It seemed he was conveying the decision made a moment ago to his knights.

Seeing that they weren’t about to leave immediately, Talia rummaged through the carriage’s storage compartment. After haphazardly rummaging through Varkas’s belongings, she managed to find a leather pouch filled with gold coins. She quickly stuffed it into her clothes and cautiously made her way outside.

The soldiers seemed preoccupied with loading the wedding gifts given by the city’s influential figures onto the carriage. Keeping an eye on them, Talia quickly crossed the street.

As she stepped back into the trading exchange, she saw merchants tidying up their stalls.

Pulling her hood down tightly, she made her way through the crowded street. Perhaps the hurried movement had taken its toll; her calf muscles stiffened, and the pain spread all the way to her hips. Ignoring it, she darted into the jeweler’s shop and walked up to the display case.

A gemstone resembling Varkas’s eyes glowed softly on a red cushion. She picked it up, gazed at it for a moment, then turned to the merchant.

“I’ll take this gem.”

The man, who had been staring at her in surprise, broke into a broad smile.

“You certainly have an eye for fine things. This moonstone is a rare piece with a truly unique color and pattern. It’s normally worth 35 soldem, but for Her Highness the Grand Duchess, I’ll offer it to you for 30 soldem.”

Talia half-listened to the merchant’s rambling as she opened her leather pouch. Just then, a gruff voice came from behind her.

“This guy’s a total con artist. How can a single moonstone be worth thirty gold coins?”

Talia turned her head and her eyes widened when she saw Lucas Raedgo Shiokan.

He sneered as he looked down at the gem in her hand.

“It’s not even worth five gold coins.”

“W-what kind of nonsense is that?!”

The man raised his voice in protest.

“This moonstone is a rare, top-quality piece! Do you think items with this color and pattern are common?”

“Even so, it’s not worth 30 soldem.”

“Even 30 soldem is a bargain. If we put it up for auction, it could fetch even more than that...!”

Talia poured gold coins onto the counter in front of the merchant, who was fuming with a crimson flush on his face.

With a clatter, coins minted by the royal court piled high on the counter. At a glance, there appeared to be well over thirty.

Putting the gem into her pocket, she said haughtily,

“I can’t be bothered to count them one by one. Just take care of it yourself.”

Then she turned and walked out of the shop.

In front of the shop, mounted warriors with stern expressions were waiting.

Talia held her head high as she walked past them. But before she could take even a few steps, she was grabbed by Lucas.

“Hey, if you go around acting so recklessly...!”

“Hey?”

When she shot him a fierce glare, the boy flinched and looked down. It was the result of her diligent scolding over the past few days.

The boy corrected himself with an expression that seemed to be suppressing his irritation.

“You shouldn’t be wandering around on your own without an escort, Sister-in-law.”

“I was just about to go back.”

“Still, you should’ve told me. What am I supposed to do if you sneak out like that?”

Talia brushed the hand resting on her shoulder away rather sharply.

“I’m not a prisoner of the Shiokan family. I’m under no obligation to report my every move.”

“That’s not what I meant. What if something terrible happened…!”

Ignoring his presumptuous nagging, Talia turned toward the square.

By then, the knights had all mounted their horses, presumably having finished their preparations.

Talia hurriedly approached the carriage. Just then, Varkas, who had been talking with a nobleman nearby, shot her a cold glare.

Talia swallowed hard.

Was he angry that she had disappeared without a word?

Just as she was on edge, Varkas let out a small sigh and gave her a slight nod.

“Get in. I must travel on horseback.”

With that, he walked toward the knights. Talia let out a small sigh of relief and climbed into the carriage.

A short while later, the carriage, which had been stationary, began to move along the main road.

Talia took out the gem she had tucked inside her coat. The silvery-blue mineral glowed faintly in the dim shadows.

She stared at it for a long time, as if holding a gem for the very first time in her life, then slipped it back into her pocket and looked out the window.

The sky, which had been bright just a few hours earlier, was now veiled in dark gray clouds. The cool air, now completely devoid of summer’s heat, carried the scent of withered grass. The humidity in the air suggested rain was imminent.

Just as she had predicted, by the time the carriage left the city center and passed through the city walls, the thickening clouds began to pour down a light drizzle.

Talia pressed her cheek against the cold windowpane and looked ahead.

A somewhat rugged-looking fortress jutted out atop a gentle hill covered in a light drizzle. That must be Dorcaen Castle.

“Thank you for coming!”

As they arrived at the castle gate, a man draped in a bearskin cloak rushed out of the building. He was a middle-aged man with a thick, unkempt black beard.

He bowed respectfully to Varkas, who was leading the group.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. I am Uzan Darken, the administrator of this region.”

Varkas leaped down from his horse and accepted the greeting with a composed expression.

“I am Varkas Raedgo Shiokan.”

The man, who had been studying his new ruler with curious eyes, broke into a gentle smile.

“You must be exhausted from your long journey. Come, please come inside. We have prepared a grand banquet in your honor.”

“Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”

After exchanging polite greetings, Varkas handed the reins to a servant and approached her.

Talia, who had been standing there blankly in the drizzling rain, slumped her shoulders. Varkas spread the hem of his cloak, creating a canopy over her head.

The lord, who had been watching this scene with interest, cautiously spoke up.

“I see this beautiful lady is Her Highness the Grand Duchess. It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. Please feel free to call me Uzan.”

Talia responded with a slight nod of her head.

The man, who had looked slightly embarrassed, quickly regained his smile and began to flatter her.

“It is an infinite honor to welcome such a distinguished guest. I will do my utmost to ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible.”

“Enough with the pleasantries. Just show me to my room. How long do you plan to keep me standing out here in the rain?”

At her brusque retort, the man hurriedly set off up the stairs.

“Oh my, I apologize, Your Highness the Grand Duchess. Please, this way.”

As they followed him inside the massive stone building, the smell of burning firewood and candles stung her nose.

Talia pressed herself against Varkas’s side and looked around the gloomy old castle.

It appeared to be a structure built during the Era of the Ten Kingdoms; the interior of the old castle was shrouded in deep darkness and thick with damp, musty air.

“You may use this room.”

The lord of the castle led them to a room on the second floor. It was a bedroom, quite cozy and well-appointed.

***

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