A Marriage Alliance for Revenge - Chapter 22

“Goodness gracious!”

 

As Lucas and Briella got off the carriage, those who recognized the couple stopped in their tracks and stared at them as if they were bewitched.

 

“Isn’t that the Duke Viterpan?”

 

“So, the person next to him must be his wife, I suppose?”

 

Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, Briella raised her chin slightly, wearing a haughty expression.

 

Observing Briella’s swiftly changing expression, Lucas looked at her with a sense of wonder and burst into laughter.

 

He could never quite adapt to the ever-changing facets of her character.

 

Hidden beneath the splendid hat provided by the maid, her face revealed no trace of the village girl from the north.

 

“You are truly elusive, my dear.”

 

Lucas reached out to hold her hand, which was raised just out of his reach, and gently clasped her fingers.

 

Caught off guard, Briella blushed and glanced down at their hands.

 

“Look over there!”

 

Someone who caught sight of Lucas and Briella exclaimed with admiration.

 

Some scoffed, claiming ignorance of noble etiquette, while others blushed and averted their gaze.

 

“You’re being excessive.”

 

Amidst the murmurs and stares of the people, Briella whispered softly.

 

“Better than being inadequate.”

 

Lucas looked down at Briella, still holding her hand. Dusk was approaching as the two walked along the coastline, their hands tightly intertwined.

 

Lucas had made the right choice.

 

With every step they took, they felt the constant scrutiny of others.

 

At this rate, before tomorrow arrived, rumors of Lucas and Briella would have swept across the entire capital.

 

It was the moment when the true identity of the Duchess Viterpan, who had been concealed behind a veil, spoken only through hushed voices, was revealed through the mouths of the public.

 

“A truly splendid debut.”

 

Briella’s voice, full of confidence, mingled with the sea breeze and reached Lucas’s ear.

 

Whenever the wind blew, her silver hair, woven into a single braid, swayed like the tail of a beast. The sight tempted Lucas, causing his finger to twitch momentarily.

 

“Disappointed it wasn’t a glamorous party?”

 

“Absolutely not.”

 

Briella raised her head. Merely the thought of being watched by the nobles in the stifling hall sent a chill down her spine.

 

The sensation was followed by nothing more than the crumbling of expectations, like sand carried away by the waves, in response to the mere mention of a “date.”

 

That’s all it was.

 

“Yet you sound disappointed.”

 

Briella turned her head at the voice that flowed like a hum.

 

“No, I don’t.”

 

With Briella’s resolute voice, Lucas turned his head and suppressed his laughter.

 

Unbeknownst to her, her plump cheeks protruded like those of a troubled child.

 

“This is our first date. So please, enjoy yourself, my dear.”

 

“I, Briella Viterpan, shall heed His Excellency’s intentions.”

 

“Splendid posture. Now, what would be a favorable choice for our evening repast?”

 

As the wind from the seaside blew, Lucas brushed aside the strands of hair that fluttered about and inquired so.

 

Her head grew dizzy at his touch, grazing her face.

 

Gazing up at him, Briella slowly raised her hand and caressed his face.

 

“Does it matter what we’ll eat?”

 

Unbeknownst to himself, Lucas trembled at the cool sensation of her fingertips. Briella brushed his face with the back of her hand and smiled innocently.

 

The onlookers who had been stealing glances at the two stopped and observed them.

 

The observers were breathless in the subtle ambiance emanating from the couple.

 

It was as if they had become actors in an opera theater, fulfilling the spectators’ desires.

 

Lucas gently clasped her hand, reaching up to stroke her cheek.

 

The gradually setting crimson sun on the horizon was now engulfing them.

 

The gaze of the two pairs of eyes, meeting mid-air, blazed like the fiery twilight.

 

Lucas never wavered from her eyes, which had turned emerald green to fiery red, as he slowly pressed his lips against her palm.

 

Cool and velvety lips were conveyed to her palm. Unbeknownst to herself, Briella’s lips involuntarily parted slightly.

 

Lucas’ black irises were now fixated on her lips, which had turned crimson, rather than her eyes.

 

As if swallowing, as if consumed.

 

With his crimson lips, Lucas gently pressed Briella’s palm.

 

The contact of their lips seared her palm. Heat surged through her entire body, yet her heart remained cool.

 

“That’s playing it unfair.”

 

“Haha.”

 

Lucas’ clear laughter echoed like the twilight that tinted the sea.

 

“I suppose it’s true that the Duke Viterpan seems to have gone mad for a woman.”

 

“That seems to be the case. What kind of mischief have we gotten ourselves into on the streets?”

 

The elderly ladies wagged their tongues in astonishment. The murmurs of the people had grown much louder than before.

 

Now openly staring at the two, they pointed fingers and whispered. Some alternated their gazes between Lucas and Briella, covering their faces with embarrassment.

 

“You have truly captivated the people, Your Excellency.”

 

“Well, then. I’ve emerged victorious, and didn’t cheat, right?”

 

Briella nodded with a smile at Lucas’ words. Brightly, he laughed in response to her affirmation.

 

It was but a short time until twilight transformed into darkness.

 

As the sun, depleted of its final light, concealed its form beyond the sea, the street lamps flickered to life along the coastline.

 

Briella and Lucas strolled along the path hand in hand, never letting go. The embroidered pattern following the sun’s disappearance was that of the stars.

 

“That smells delicious.”

 

Briella redirected the conversation.

 

Restaurants lined up along the coast, attracting a gathering of people.

 

“It seems that we’ll have to decide where we should go soon.”

 

“Do you truly intend to have dinner here and depart?”

 

Lucas nodded in response to Briella’s words. They were almost at the end of the coastal area.

 

As they continued, the number of people sitting in restaurants decreased.

 

Briella looked at a restaurant emitting a warm yellow light. The people already seated there were either watching passersby or enjoying delicious food.

 

The wafting aroma made them even hungrier.

 

“Wait a moment.”

 

While Briella was examining the restaurant, Lucas noticed something and took her hand, leading her forward.

 

“Ah!”

 

Caught off guard, Briella quickened her pace. Their shadows hurriedly followed behind them.

 

“Welcome!”

 

A girl who was organizing her belongings quickly bowed when she saw Lucas.

 

Wearing a white hood, the girl only reached Briella’s waist.

 

“How much is it?”

 

Lucas pointed with his hand towards the basket.

 

“One copper for a bouquet.”

 

The girl had striking rosy cheeks and freckles on her nose. Her red hair, sticking out between the hems of her hood, was neatly braided on both sides and reached down to her chest.

 

Briella looked at the flower bouquet delicately arranged in a flower basket.

 

The bouquet, woven with roses, each displayed its unique color without any two being the same.

 

“It seems business isn’t going well.”

 

The girl’s head drooped at Lucas’ words. The flower bouquet was hand-picked every morning on the hillside.

 

Compared to the flowers nurtured and cherished in the greenhouse, they were infinitely plain. That’s why few sought them out.

 

“If you had sold them at the square, you could have sold more.”

 

Briella looked at the flowers being filled into the basket and spoke regretfully.

 

“To sell at the square, one must pay rent.”

 

The girl’s small voice, mumbling between intertwined fingers, echoed in Briella’s ear like an echo.

 

Only now did the slender figure of the girl, illuminated by the streetlight, become visible.

 

Her large eyes still rolling, observing Lucas and Briella’s reactions, made Briella’s chest tighten.

 

“How much was it?”

 

“One copper. If you buy three bouquets, I’ll ask for 2 coppers instead.”

 

“Give me all of them.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

The girl, who didn’t understand Lucas’ words, widened her eyes and asked again.

 

“Are you planning to sell them elsewhere?”

 

“No! No, I’m not.”

 

The girl quickly shook her head. Her anxiousness stemmed from the possibility of Lucas retracting his statement.

 

“Well then, I’ll buy them all.”

 

“All of them?”

Lucas nodded affirmatively. The girl’s eyes quickly scanned the basket. Since they had agreed to exchange two coppers for three flower bouquets, she needed to know the remaining number of bouquets.

 

It was when the girl was fidgeting, counting the flowers in the basket.

 

“One, two, three…”

 

“Here.”

 

Lucas bent down and handed the girl a small pouch.

 

Caught off guard by the sudden situation, the girl didn’t know what to do. Briella smiled at her.

 

“Go ahead and open it. If it’s not enough, feel free to say so.”

 

Encouraged by Briella’s words, the girl cautiously opened the pouch.

 

“Oh! There’s so much!”

 

Startled by the sight of ten silver coins in the pouch, the girl looked at the two of them with a surprised expression.

 

Lucas and Briella smiled widely at the sight of the girl’s innocent reaction.

 

“It’s fortunate that it’s not insufficient.”

 

Lucas rummaged through the basket and found the most beautiful flower, which he handed to Briella.

 

Without saying a word, Briella accepted the flower from Lucas.

 

It was a small wild rose commonly found in the Rhone Empire. The tiny flower, believed to be a guide even in the darkness, seemed to shine.

 

“I’m glad it pleases my wife.”

 

Lucas lifted the entire basket. After gently patting the girl’s head, who was still half-dazed, he extended his hand to Briella.

 

Briella didn’t hesitate to take Lucas’s hand when she saw his large hand.

 

“Aren’t you accusing me of excessiveness this time?”

 

“If this is considered excessive, then oblige me anytime.”

 

Briella glanced down at the flower in her hand. The wild rose that bloomed in the sacred land of the Rhone Empire, now transformed into a bouquet in the hands of a child.

 

Thanks to that miracle brought about by the wild rose, that girl’s evening meals had been plentiful for several days.

 

It was a predetermined happiness. Lucas’s payment to her would soon disappear, and the girl would sell flowers on the street again.

 

But Briella hoped that the experience the girl had today would remain a precious memory in her future difficult life.

 

Briella’s nostrils twitched as she looked back at the girl standing under the streetlight, clutching the bag Lucas had given her, her face flushed red.

 

‘To what end was I working for when I was empress?’

 

The cool breeze blew. Lucas pulled Briella closer, hunching her shoulders, and tightened his grip on the hand he held.

 

It was their first date.

 

* * *

 

“Mistress!”

 

Lucas, dressed in his garments, turned around at the voices of the maids. It was the early dawn, a moment untouched by the bustling world.

 

As always, Briella appeared at the doorway, impeccably adorned and without a single strand of hair out of place.

 

Seeing her, Lucas chuckled playfully.

 

“I thought we had exchanged enough greetings for one evening, but it seems you were not satisfied, my lady.”

 

The faces of the maids blushed at Lucas’ words, and they withdrew. However, instead of blushing, Briella approached him with a subtle flicker in her eyes.

 

Through the unbuttoned shirt, his sturdy chest was revealed.

 

Without uttering a word, Briella stepped closer to Lucas, taking the maids’ place. She fastened each undone button and then picked up the cloak that was lying on the bench.

 

Lucas turned his body to face away from Briella as she donned his cloak onto him.

 

Due to their height difference, Lucas had to bend his knee, while Briella had to stand on her tiptoes.

 

“Please return safely.”

 

Her words were conveyed behind his back, as they didn’t talk face-to-face.

 

“You worry too much.”

 

Lucas turned around, fully dressed. A man as dark as the night itself gazed at Briella. In response, she retrieved a handkerchief and handed it to him.

 

“I’m not skilled enough. My workmanship falls short.”

 

It was the white handkerchief adorned with embroidered yellow roses that Lucas had given her during their first date.

 

“…This is a quite touching gesture.”

 

Lucas glanced at the handkerchief in his hand and then raised his head.

 

“It’s natural, something to be expected.”

 

“But sometimes, what is deemed natural may not always be so.”

 

Lucas tucked the handkerchief into his inner pocket. Briella, observing his actions, slightly lowered her head.

 

“…”

 

“If you plan to enter the palace, it would be best to rest more.”

 

Lucas caressed Briella’s slightly hardened face. With his touch, Briella closed her eyes and felt the warmth of his hand.

 

With Lucas’s departure imminent, she had been unable to sleep properly for the past few days.

 

He reassured her countless times that there was nothing to worry about, yet Briella was plagued by nightmares every night.

 

Despite attending numerous meetings together, the variables and threats that emerged each time persisted until the day of departure.

 

“I must go.”

 

“…”

 

Briella opened her eyes, which she had been keeping shut, at Lucas’ words. Then she took a step back from him.

 

“Let’s say goodbye here.”

 

Briella nodded slowly in response to Lucas’ words.