The Next Morning
As soon as Ryutaro woke up, he immediately greeted Grace, who was preparing breakfast.
"Oh, you're awake, dear? Good morning," Grace said with a warm smile.
"Hoahh... Good morning to you too," Ryutaro replied while yawning.
Ryutaro then looked around but didn't see Aurelia and Charlotte anywhere.
"By the way, where are those two?" he asked as he scanned the surroundings.
Grace hesitated for a moment before responding nervously, "Uh... them? Maybe they're out buying something in town?"
Ryutaro was puzzled. He had been here for a month but had never once gone to the city.
"The city? You mean the Celestia Kingdom's city? Is it really okay to let them go alone?" Ryutaro asked, concerned.
Grace let out a sigh, realizing how little her husband knew.
"Don't tell me... you didn't know, dear? There's a city nearby called Indepencia," she explained.
"Indepencia? What kind of city is that?" Ryutaro asked, intrigued.
"Indepencia is a city of absolute freedom. No kingdom has authority over it, and all races live there without discrimination," Grace said.
"Oh, so in other words, it's a peaceful place?" Ryutaro assumed.
"Not exactly. While it's free, it's also the biggest hub for the slave trade in this world," Grace revealed.
Ryutaro was shocked to hear that.
"Oh… I see. But how do you know all this? Weren't you locked away for 500 years?" Ryutaro asked curiously.
Grace quickly responded, "Because that city has existed for over a thousand years. Even I was surprised when Charlotte suggested taking Aurelia there—I thought that city had long been destroyed."
"Oh, so that place is even older than you," Ryutaro remarked.
"Yup, that's right," Grace nodded.
Hearing this, Ryutaro immediately questioned why they had gone there without informing him.
"By the way, why did they go there without telling me?" he asked.
Grace smiled knowingly. "Because they wanted to get you something."
"Something? Don't tell me... it's about last night?" Ryutaro narrowed his eyes.
Grace flinched at his words. "Eh... How did you kn—"
Before she could finish her sentence, she covered her mouth. Ryutaro, however, simply sighed.
"Relax, I heard everything last night," he admitted.
"What do you mean by 'everything'?" Grace asked cautiously.
Ryutaro took a deep breath before answering. "No need to hide it anymore. It's about their feelings for me, right?"
Hearing this, Grace could only surrender.
"I figured you heard it," she said, resigned.
"How could I not? You guys were so loud that I couldn't sleep," Ryutaro replied.
"Oh… in that case, I'm sorry," Grace apologized.
"It's fine. Since I already know, just tell me—Aurelia and Charlotte went to that city to buy something for me, hoping I'd accept their feelings, right?"
"Yes, you're absolutely right. They want to give you something to show their sincerity, just like how you accepted me," Grace confirmed.
Ryutaro was silent for a moment before asking, "And you're okay with that? With me accepting them?"
Grace chuckled softly.
"Pfft, did you think I was going to monopolize you? I don't mind, as long as you still remember that I'm your first wife," she said with a playful grin.
Ryutaro sighed, realizing this was a lot to process. In his previous world, he had never even imagined having more than one wife.
"Alright... give me some time to think about it," Ryutaro said.
"Sure, but don't take too long. They probably won't be back for a while," Grace replied.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll do my best," Ryutaro said.
Just as he was about to leave for the fields, Grace suddenly called out to him.
"Wait! Before you go, make sure you pretend you don't know about last night. Let's keep it as a little surprise for them," she said with a mischievous smile.
"Alright, alright, I'll keep it a secret," Ryutaro reassured her.
With that, Ryutaro headed to the fields while contemplating their conversation, and Grace continued preparing breakfast.
In the City of Indepencia
The city was bustling with life. The streets were filled with the noise of merchants calling out to customers, and the towering buildings gave an air of grandeur. Aurelia and Charlotte were in awe of the scene before them.
"Wow, this place is so lively!" Aurelia exclaimed.
"Yeah, I didn't expect it to be this crowded," Charlotte agreed.
As they admired the city, their eyes landed on a particular accessory shop that displayed various dazzling jewelry pieces.
"Hey, Aurelia, look at that! There's an accessory shop. Maybe we can find something unique to give to Ryutaro," Charlotte suggested excitedly.
Aurelia nodded in agreement. "Alright, let's check it out."
Upon entering the shop, they were greeted by a store attendant.
"Welcome! How can I assist you today?" the attendant asked politely.
"We're looking for an accessory to give to someone special. Right, Aurelia?" Charlotte said.
"Uh, yeah! Do you have any recommendations?" Aurelia asked.
The store attendant smiled knowingly.
"Oh? Is it for your boyfriend?"
Their faces turned bright red.
"Eh... No! We're getting it for our older brother!" Charlotte quickly corrected.
"Yes! He's not our boyfriend, just our older brother!" Aurelia added.
The store attendant chuckled at their flustered response.
"Oh, I see. If it's for your brother, please follow me," the attendant said.
"Alright," they replied in unison.
The attendant led them upstairs, where luxurious accessories with intricate designs were displayed. She picked one off the rack and presented it to them.
"This is called the Infinity Tag," she explained.
"Infinity Tag? What does it symbolize?" Charlotte asked.
"This necklace represents eternal love. If someone wears this, it signifies that their love for the recipient will never fade. The gemstone embedded in it is a ruby, which symbolizes loyalty. It's perfect for someone special," the attendant explained.
"Oh, that's a very deep meaning. What do you think, Charlotte?" Aurelia asked.
"I think it's beautiful, especially the part about undying love," Charlotte responded.
Curious about the price, Charlotte turned to the attendant.
"How much does it cost?" she asked.
"This piece is priced at 5,000 silver coins," the attendant replied.
Charlotte's eyes widened slightly. "5,000 silver coins? Did I hear that right?"
"Yes, but if needed, I can offer a small discount," the attendant said.
"Oh no, I meant... isn't that too cheap for something adorned with a ruby?" Charlotte asked.
Aurelia was stunned. "Are you kidding? 5,000 silver coins is expensive!"
"Do I look like I'm joking? I'm serious," Charlotte replied casually.
"But where are we going to get the money? I only have 1,000 silver coins, and Grace also asked us to buy something for her husband," Aurelia reminded her.
"Don't worry about that," Charlotte said confidently.
She then pulled out a black card from her pocket. The moment the attendant saw it, her expression shifted. This card was something only a select few in the world possessed—those deemed truly worthy.
"A Black Card?! Please, let me verify it first," the attendant said.
She activated a spell to check for counterfeits, and when the verification confirmed its authenticity, the entire floor fell silent.
"It… it's real!" the attendant gasped.
"Who is she? How does she have that card?"
"Is she a disguised princess?"
Aurelia turned to Charlotte in disbelief. "Wait, you're rich?! Why didn't you ever tell me?"
Charlotte shrugged. "I just chose to keep it a secret."
Without hesitation, Charlotte turned to the attendant.
"I'll take four," she said.
"Four?! What for?" Aurelia asked in shock.
"One is for you—consider it a token of our friendship," Charlotte said with a smile.
Aurelia was speechless. "But that costs ten gold coins!"
"It's fine. I have plenty of money," Charlotte reassured her.
The attendant quickly packed their order.
"Here you go," she said.
"Great! Now we just need to find something for Grace," Charlotte said.
Just as they were about to leave, Aurelia's eyes locked onto another accessory in the center of the room.
"Charlotte, look at that!" she said.
"Hmm... That might be the perfect gift," Charlotte said, intrigued.
What did Aurelia see that caught her attention? And will their gift be enough for Ryutaro to accept their feelings? Stay tuned for Chapter 17!
*If I made any minor mistakes that might be distracting, I sincerely apologize. I have done my best for this novel, and if you enjoy it, please consider giving it a like and sharing your feedback, suggestions, or criticism so I can learn and improve. Thank you for reading, and see you in the next chapter!*