Chapter 105 - North Korean rabbit

Episode 105

Arpad, feigning nonchalance, pointed to the amethyst set.

“So that is the item the young Duke of Müzen is said to have presented to you?”

“Ah, you heard? The Duchess and the young Duke came together.”

Just as Yulken had reported immediately upon his return.

Yulken had clearly stated that the Duchess and the young Duke had presented it together, but in Arpad’s mind, it had transformed into ‘the young Duke’s gift.’

Arpad subtly diminished the gift from another man.

“The young Duke’s aesthetic sense doesn’t seem particularly impressive. Something finer would suit you better.”

However, Hilia failed to grasp Arpad’s intention.

“They gave it as a token of gratitude. I helped the Duchess a little, you see.”

“Helped?”

“Yes. I saved her life.”

Hilia spoke, puffing out her chest as if boasting.

“I also accepted the position of Head Lady-in-Waiting. While you were away, I finished winning over the Ducal House of Müzen.”

Her appearance was so adorable he wanted to kiss her, but restraining himself, Arpad spoke with an admiring tone.

“Impressive. Truly like you.”

At Arpad’s praise, Hilia’s expression grew strange again.

“Are you sure you haven’t eaten something bad?”

“No. My eyes are perfectly fine.”

Though perhaps a bit clouded by infatuation, his vision itself was unimpaired, so it wasn’t a false statement.

Nevertheless, Hilia’s suspicious expression remained unchanged.

Arpad judged it better to change the subject.

“By the way, do you like it? My gift.”

Only then did Hilia, reminded of the ring’s existence, widen her eyes.

“That’s right! How did you get this? This is that one! ‘Statalia’s Star’!”

“I’m glad you recognize it.”

The smile that rose to Arpad’s face deepened.

Objectively speaking, no matter how numerous, Statalia’s Star was several times better than those amethysts.

He absolutely was not doing this to check some young Duke of Müzen whose face he didn’t even know.

* * *

What Arpad slipped onto my finger was a silver ring with a vivid pale purple gemstone.

I knew what this was.

‘Statalia’s Star!’

One of the five gemstones blessed by the goddess.

Similar to Agrippina’s Tear, which I had given to Arpad.

And it was one of the jewels Evangeline later obtained and cherished most.

It was said the continent’s greatest knight, Aaron Müzen, had risked his life to retrieve and present it for Evangeline.

It shouldn’t be discovered at this time, nor should it come to me.

Arpad shouldn’t have possessed it either.

But the ring Arpad placed on my hand was unmistakably ‘Statalia’s Star.’

The pale purple gemstone, the size of my thumbnail, glittered imposingly.

It seemed to hold a shining star within, true to the gem’s nickname.

This wasn’t the first time I’d received a wedding ring.

The ring I suspect became the cause of my regression was mine every time.

‘Wait, come to think of it, didn’t Arpad just take that ring away earlier?’

This question was momentarily forgotten before the goddess’s star sparkling on my finger.

Arpad spoke with a face that looked annoyingly smug for some reason.

“I procured it myself.”

“This? I hadn’t heard any rumors of its discovery?”

“The Black Mercenary Company obtained information a week ago. As you know, I’ve been searching for the goddess’s sacred relics.”

“Ah.”

The Agrippina’s Tear now adorning Arpad’s wrist was proof of that.

The pearl necklace I had given as an advance payment for the commission, Arpad was wearing wrapped twice around his wrist.

When I touched Arpad’s wrist with the hand wearing the ring, Agrippina’s Tear shimmered.

*Hmm*, the two sacred relics resonated, each emitting a different divine power.

It was irrefutable proof that Statalia’s Star was genuine.

“You were away for a week to find this?”

“That’s right.”

I tilted my head.

“Hmm? But you know by now that sacred relics are useless for your mania, so why did you go?”

I could guess how dangerous obtaining this must have been.

But I couldn’t understand why Arpad would suddenly decide to give this to me and willingly undertake that perilous journey.

Ah, of course, Arpad was several times stronger than the future Aaron Müzen, so it might not have been dangerous.

At my question, Arpad, who had been staring blankly with his mouth agape, hesitated slightly before answering.

“I wanted… to give it to you.”

Almost as if he were a bit shy.

A preposterous thought. Denying it inwardly, I deliberately asked brightly and casually.

“Hmm, why?”

“…….”

Arpad’s red eyes were tinged with clear bewilderment.

* * *

Arpad doubted his ears at what he had just heard.

That’s why he repeated the question like a fool. He was too flustered.

“Did you… just ask me why I’m giving this to you?”

“Yes.”

Hilia’s attitude suggested it was a perfectly natural question.

For a moment, speechless, Arpad stared blankly at Hilia before finally collecting his wits.

“It’s a wedding ring. Since I couldn’t give you a proper betrothal gift……”

Hilia grew even more puzzled.

“Hmm? But we have a wedding ring? The one from the detached palace.”

“That wasn’t a proper one. It was just a suitable pick from the jewels in the detached palace.”

“But the Crown Prince’s Palace already has more than enough jewels and accessories, doesn’t it?”

“…….”

Arpad felt a sudden pang of conscience and was left speechless.

In truth, from the marriage of abduction to entering the palace and up to now, he himself had considered that ring sufficient at the time.

It would have been better if Hilia had pointed that out with a sarcastic or resentful tone.

But she didn’t.

Her reaction was one of pure, genuine confusion as to why he was giving this to her.

It was as if Hilia was saying, ‘Aren’t we the kind of relationship to exchange such things?’

In a daze, Arpad gave a foolish answer.

“Because you’re my wife…?”

While he was frozen in shock,

Hilia reached her own conclusion about why Arpad was giving her such a precious jewel.

It was a slightly off-target judgment.

‘Ah, I’ve been doing too well!’

From Arpad’s perspective, having just realized his feelings, giving a wedding ring was akin to a confession.

But Hilia interpreted it a little differently.

Namely,

‘I acknowledge you as Crown Princess.’

Having demonstrated sufficient ability as a partner, as Crown Princess.

She judged that Arpad had given this as a reward or prize for that.

A thought that would leave Arpat utterly deflated, collapsing to the floor if he knew.

The two jewels resonated, but their owners did not.

Hilia spoke as if she understood.

“Thank you.”

“…No. I should have paid attention sooner.”

Arpad felt a slight relief. A faint blush threatened to appear on his porcelain-white cheeks.

The atmosphere seemed to be turning just a little romantic.

But that was shattered in an instant. Once again, by Hilia.

Having been looking at the ring on her hand with a proud smile, she clenched both fists tightly.

As if cheering Arpad on.

“I’ll work even harder!”

“…Huh?”

Is that the response one gives upon receiving a wedding ring?

While Arpad was momentarily confused,

Hilia resolved his question.

“You’re giving it to encourage me to work harder as your client, as your partner, right?”

It wasn’t a particularly positive direction. Arpad’s expression grew even more blank.

Hilia was utterly serious and quite excited.

“Well, I have been doing rather well.”

“You have, done well. You’ve done far too well.”

Only one thought remained in Arpad’s mind, still not fully recovered.

‘Watch your words! Fair words make fair answers!’

He must keep his resolve not to accumulate more karmic debt with his mouth.

He offered the kindest, most positive answer he could.

Consequently, he realized much too late that he had essentially answered ‘yes’ to Hilia’s question of ‘Is this a bonus for good work?’

Whether Arpad’s spirit was present or not, Hilia was delighted.

Because she quite liked the fact that a sacred relic that had belonged to Evangeline was now sparkling on her own finger.

Hilia smiled triumphantly.

“I’ll be worth more than this ring from now on.”

“…….”

The words, ‘You don’t have to,’… couldn’t quite leave his lips.

If he confessed properly now, Hilia would feel tremendously burdened.

And she might even try to run away. It was better to keep quiet.

That night, Arpad lay in bed holding the sleeping Hilia and ruminated.

‘I’ve been rejected.’

Rejected even before he could confess.

And the one who twisted things this way was none other than his foolish past self.

He had absolutely no intention of giving up.

After all, Hilia was now his wife, and Statalia’s Star was on her finger.

Now that he had realized, only one thing remained.

‘I’ll do my utmost to seduce her.’

Truly, a case of same bed, different dreams.