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—Merci d'avoir choisi Fleur de Lys! Au revoir et à bientôt!–
After leaving, Lucien and Katerina once again holding hands without either of them noticing it again, the two head toward the taxi carriage that was waiting for them. He, the driver, upon seeing them, again throws them a look of dissatisfaction that causes them embarrassment. However, seeing them holding hands, he says nothing more, only turning his gaze back to the front, preparing for departure.
Afterward, Lucien again helped Katerina into the vehicle; however, this time it was no longer out of necessity—as she was now perfectly capable of doing it alone, not having heavy and voluminous clothes that made the task difficult—but because Katerina herself had asked him to, and Lucien did not refuse.
—International Chamber of Commerce? –Katerina asks once inside the carriage, curious about the words exchanged earlier–
—Ah, yes. Adèle's wife, Emilia Laurent, is the Director of the Cacomint, which is its abbreviation. In other words, she is the current Head of all the Merchants affiliated with this Organization. The Order of the Black Diamond naturally has ties with them –Lucien nods upon hearing the question– And about the Cacomint, it was founded 100 years ago and currently has 80 countries registered on its list. Furthermore, aside from the typical things a Chamber of Commerce would do, it is also in charge of trade treaties between the 80 member countries, investments, prices, currency acceptance, inflation prevention, fraud prevention, acceptance and affiliation of new members, blockades to different countries considered to be C-Rank, and even its very presence is capable of influencing international markets, as they also have political and, of course, economic influence–
—Ohhh –Katerina's eyes shine with curiosity to know this. Although she already knew a little, as in the past she had had brushes with some countries to get them to invest in the Empire, she was always open to knowing more– Is that how you met Madame Adèle?–
—Lucien nods and shakes his head at the same time– More or less. Actually, I met Madame Adèle and Madame Emilia together 5 years ago, when I was 20 –He responds with a smile– On my way to a certain city, located in another country on another continent, I found them in a nearby forest, as they had been mugged and had tried to flee alone, since their Guards had been killed. Just before one of those thugs could touch them, I appeared, killed 99% of the criminals, leaving only one to get information out of, and saved them both. As a result of that, we began to strengthen ties, with a great degree of improvement, as I accompanied them on the way to where they were going–
—How cliché –Katerina lets out a giggle of amusement, amused by the typical "Savior" trope she used to read in her Novels, and which, ironically, resonated a lot with her–
—Ironically, I was precisely looking for how to associate with the Cacomint, more out of curiosity than for benefit, since the Order of the Black Diamond doesn't need the Cacomint to exist, as we have much more power than them –Lucien adds also with amusement upon hearing the girl's laughter in front of him– So, that encounter came in handy, heh, heh–
—Katerina rolls her eyes and smiles– Madame Adèle is also a merchant, right?–
—Yes. And in fact, the position of Director was originally intended for her, but Adèle rejected it and gave it to her wife, because she preferred to continue her career as a Dressmaker –Lucien responds– Today, Adèle is extremely well-known abroad. Here, she has only been establishing a new shop for a week, as she didn't want to do it due to the disastrous state of this country, so you probably have never heard of her–
—Katerina nods– That's right. I've heard of many good dressmakers, but not Madame Adèle; that's why I was very surprised by the place you took me to. And I also liked that they didn't throw me out, heh, heh–
—Lucien smiles again– That's the good thing about having gone with Adèle. She is not governed by the laws of the Empire, so even if an edict about you had reached her, she would have ignored it. After all, she has great backing–
Once again, Katerina nods her head. The Empire needs the International Chamber of Commerce very much, and making Adèle angry is like wounding its own heel, for they are practically angering Emilia, who has the power to veto their country forever.
—Exactly –She murmurs, while the black-haired girl looks out the window, watching the buildings pass by–
Thus, once again, both submerge themselves in a new silence. However, the one now was so warm and pleasant that both felt comfortable feeling it.
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—So, how are you feeling?–
As we traveled toward the new location where Luc was taking me, Madame Adèle's words came back to my mind. These were spoken after we chose the new clothes I would wear. Specifically while I was changing, as I needed her help to remove the corset, the crinoline, and the dozens of ribbons that dress had.
—Feeling? –I asked, truly confused by her sudden question while I untied a ribbon–
—Well… Crown Prince Calix Auriel broke the engagement with you, demoted you to a Commoner, and forbade any of your descendants from acquiring a position of power. And he even blacklisted you–
—Hearing her, I froze– Ho, how is it that?–
—Gossip runs fast, mon enfant –The women responded, without a change in her tone or her work of helping me with more ribbons– About an hour ago, I received a Magic Communication from some Noble friends regarding what happened. And just half an hour before that, an Imperial Communiqué, announcing your veto to all shops aimed at Nobles to forbid your entry, with the risk of sanctions if it was discovered the notice had been ignored–
Upon hearing her, I couldn't say anything. The momentary pang of pain in my heart prevented me. It wasn't a pang for Calix, but for myself—for having so blindly loved a guy like him. Someone who accuses someone without real proof and tramples on someone already on the ground definitely deserves nothing: neither devotion, loyalty, nor love. However, at that moment, I was blinded by devotion toward someone I considered a light in my darkness, so I became a fool and worked very hard for him. And because of that, for not opening my eyes in time, I ended up this way: demoted, humiliated, blocked, and with a dark future.
Still, it wasn't all bad. After all, ending up in this state not only allowed me to cut ties with those people—with the Dukes of Erdevel, whom before 11 o'clock last night I still called "Family," even though they never treated me as such. I freed myself from their control, from their intrigues, and from being treated as a tool.
Furthermore… there is the fact that, if Calix hadn't rescinded our Engagement and expelled me, I would never have met someone as incredible and wonderful as Lucien. Even though it's only been about 5 hours (I don't really know how many) since I met him, I don't want to imagine what my life would be like if he had never appeared before me in my worst moment and helped me. Now with him by my side, that near future no longer looks as dark as it seems.
—Will you be alright? –I asked Madame Adèle, after a few seconds of silence– I mean, you ignored the matter–
—Ay ne t'inquiète pas. Ma femme is the Director of the International Chamber of Commerce. This Empire has sent many requests to be able to join, and just a month ago they succeeded –She responded with a proud smile– If they try to do anything to me, a simple call to mon épouse is enough to bring them to their knees and beg not to be expelled, heh, heh –Then, an even prouder smile formed on her face, flawless despite her more than 40 years of age– Besides, there is also the fact that you are now the Femme, I mean, the Protégée, of Monsieur Lucien–
—And does that have power? –Hearing her words, I couldn't help but wonder about him. Additionally, I also tried to understand the meaning of "femme"–
—Of course! Lucien is the Heir to the Order of the Black Diamond. It is said that the Order was founded by a Hero from another world who fought against demons long ago. –She began to explain, while she resumed the help she was providing with the dress– Over time, out of boredom, he formed this society to ensure the world's safety. However, as the years passed, it expanded beyond security, covering all sorts of areas. Medicine, Trade, Protection, Engineering, Biology, Magic, Teaching, Politics, Economics, Military, Technology, among many others, from legal and neutral to even illegal ones. Moreover, they have also been the designers of many novel things. For example, do you know the magical security cameras? Or also, the Magic Interfaces, which are like floating rectangles that show images? Well, they invented all of that and more–
Hearing her, I was beyond surprised. I had always wondered where these kinds of novelties had come from, for when I was 5 years old they didn't exist in this place. It wasn't until I was about 15 that these technologies began to appear and caused a sensation. Therefore, discovering that they come from them—from an organization led by Lucien—was a very big surprise.
—In the case of this country, the Order of the Black Diamond provides protections against Demons that even the Church does not have. Furthermore, there is also the fact that it controls the magical technological infrastructure, which also makes some artifacts possible, such as the Teleporter, communications such as Magic Mail, which is what Lucien used to ask me to attend to him, or defensive systems like the Golden Thunder, which are those large structures located on the four sides of the Imperial Palace, with a huge circle-shaped hole –The Lady responded with clear pride, like a mother would have for a son who has achieved great things– That's why, now that you are by his side, you basically have a special rank: Protégée. Or it could also be Apprentice, Follower, or in the future, it might be something much closer and more intimate than that –When she said this, a mischievous smile formed on her lips, one that made me blush a little at the implications– Therefore, as soon as everyone finds out about this, they will have to bow to you no matter what. Including the little Prince himself who did this to you, heh, heh–
—Really? –I asked, my eyes wide with shock–
—That's right… Oh well, not really –She said, forming the smile of someone who has made a mistake– Everyone knows that an Heir to the Order of the Black Diamond exists, but only a few know him in person and know exactly what he looks like. And when this happens, one is obligated to keep his existence quiet, if they don't want the Order's services to be withdrawn immediately along with a relentless pursuit. You know, secrecy. So, if they see you with Lucien, only those who know his true identity will show you respect. The rest will treat you depending on your behavior toward them, the knowledge you can contribute, your personality in general, etc. In other words, no privileges.–
—Ah… –Yes. I admit it. I got excited for a moment, heh, heh–
I was already imagining myself sitting on a throne next to Lucien, with a cold gaze worthy of an Ice Queen, looking at a Calix who is at my feet, crying, begging, crawling so that I would speak with the man beside me, with my beloved husband, so that he wouldn't withdraw his services from this place, and so his ugly and corrupt country could continue to exist a little longer, hue, hue…
Wait… Beloved husband?! What?!
—It seems we've already started with the intrusive thoughts, haven't we? –The Lady asked suddenly, startling me–
—No! It's not like that! I couldn't! –I exclaim quickly, trying in vain to hide something from someone twice my age, and who clearly has experience in this–
Madame Adèle says nothing more, she only smiles at me sweetly. With a smile similar to those you would give someone trying to hide something that everyone else sees.
—Sigh. This time, a sigh of disappointment– Well. It doesn't matter. They're just silly thoughts–
—What do you mean? –Madame Adèle stopped upon hearing me, and then looked at me with a furrowed brow–
—Someone as incredible as Lucien wouldn't notice someone as ordinary as me. If I were still the former Heiress of the Duchy, I would have a slight chance with him. But now that I am just a Commoner, that I am even worse off than them, almost in poverty, well… –Another sigh–
—Are you sure about that? –Looking at her face again, I noticed how her previous mischievous expression had returned. She even had an eyebrow raised now, a "realize it" kind of look–
—I nod my head sadly– Considering he said he goes where the paths take him, that he has no country, he must have surely ingratiated himself deeply with many women. He must have thousands to choose from, of all types and colors. That's why it's certain he would never choose a disgraced princess like me–
—Then, to my surprise, Madame Adèle let out a low laugh, so that Lucien at the entrance wouldn't hear her, but mocking enough for me to understand– Do you want me to tell you a secret? –A new mysterious smile formed on her face after she composed herself– Yes. It's true. He has been surrounded by many women, both "ugly" and extremely beautiful, on angelic levels. However, none of them, no matter how many positive characteristics they had, managed to move him. His only loves were knowledge and freedom. There were very powerful women, who controlled entire nations, who tried to offer him one of these, or even both types, so that he would stay with them and become their other half, but he simply rejected them and moved away without saying more. He never showed interest in any, no matter how beautiful, rich, or powerful she was –She adds, while removing my corset– In fact, we all believed he played for the other team, so some men tried to test this theory, which was dismissed when he looked at them with disgust and said "sorry, I like women" –A giggle escapes her mouth. A warm one, as if she vividly remembered this– After that, we all reached a consensus that he was aromantic, that is, a person who is unable to love or feel romantically attracted to someone. And even asexual, which is a person who has no interest in a physical relationship, as we never saw him feel that way, even when many threw themselves at him–
After that, finally having finished helping me unfasten my previous clothes, leaving me almost naked—since I still had on my too-coarse linen underwear—she headed toward where the clothes were hanging, taking the black lace underwear first.
And seeing it, an intense blush spread all over my head, for the underwear showed quite a lot since it was semi-transparent. Especially in the chest and pelvis area.
—On the other hand, with you… –She adds, as she begins to unfasten my previous underwear– Do you know how stunned I was when I saw you with his coat when you both walked in? And also how you both held hands with such naturalness? This has never happened with a woman before. He is extremely stingy. He takes good care of his clothes because he doesn't like spending to buy more. Therefore, letting someone else wear them, at the risk of getting them dirty, is definitely not his style –At that moment I remembered that, indeed, it was dirty. When he hugged me on that bench outside the Imperial Palace to let me vent after my expulsion, I ended up staining his jacket with my tears. However, Lucien said nothing to me. There was no reproach, no scolding, not even a single word mentioning it. He just let me pour my heart out against his chest while he stroked my back with tenderness– And also… –Madame Adèle continued– Going back to the fact that you were holding his hand. Do you have any idea how incredible that is? He doesn't like strangers touching him, except for those who are close or business partners. He dislikes the touch of a stranger and usually cleans himself off quickly. It's a very deeply rooted habit of his. However, with you, none of that happened. There was no attempt to clean himself. There was no repulsion. He didn't even seem to notice. This interaction between you two looked so natural, as if you did it all the time –Once again, she laughs softly and mischievously– I am sure that you have finally managed to move that block of ice, not only emotionally and physically, but also intimately, because when I deliberately showed him a bit of skin from your right leg, his eyes widened and I could notice a blush on him, ha, ha, ha–
The more she spoke, the more my face flushed and my heart pounded, as it also made me remember the moments lived between the two of us, like the act of holding hands.
Even that memory of when she moved the curtain and Lucien's gaze toward my bare leg that was revealed when the petticoats were lifted. I even saw how his gaze traveled up toward my thighs. At that moment I felt like I was going to die of embarrassment, heh, heh.
Even though I didn't perfectly understand this feeling at the time, since I had never experienced anything like it, I was happy to feel this way. Happy to feel desired both as a woman and for who I was inside, and not for what I could offer to others.
—Lucien is, let's say, like one of those wolves often seen in heroic legends. He is strong, independent, solitary, fierce, and free as the wind itself. However, despite being a lone wolf, he has managed to form relationships. And when that happens, he becomes very protective of them –Madame Adèle continues with a soft voice– However, for many of those wolves, there usually comes, as Lucien's Master would say, "the perfect match." A match that is capable of transforming him from a fierce and solitary predator into a puppy that wags its tail happily toward its mistress –Finally, the Lady looked at me with a smile– Seeing everything that happened minutes ago, I am sure that you will become the only she-wolf capable of taming the fierce wolf that no one else has been able to. So, don't belittle yourself, alright ma chérie? Because you won't be able to achieve it if you keep putting yourself down.–
Regrettably, despite hearing all that, I still felt unworthy. All this time being rejected by my Father, by my classmates at the Academy, by my professors, by the rest of the Nobles, and by Calix, has made me cautious of these kinds of imaginings. To me, they are just fantasies.
However, something inside me—perhaps the brave and fighting part, the one that didn't cow easily and had allowed me to survive a terrible family for 20 years and the cruel Nobility itself—had emerged once more, encouraging me to try and deploy all my "power" to catch this person and not let him go, if I didn't want to regret it for the rest of eternity. And I, for the first time, was contemplating doing it, leaving behind my wounds and choosing, for the first time, something for myself, something that would surely define my future life.
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—Are you tired?–
Suddenly, Lucien's voice, calm as the tide, pulls me from my previous memories. A voice with a tone of concern and softness toward me, toward this woman who, barely five hours ago, perhaps, was on the verge of breaking.
And, looking into his eyes, observing those beautiful amber eyes that are like a light in my former darkness, and seeing how he looked at me with the same warmth as the tone of his voice, my body trembled slightly; I had never received this kind of gaze, and I didn't know how to react. All the time, the looks I received were ambitious, disdainful, full of contempt, or a longing to trample me, but never of absolute concern.
—Finally, after a few seconds, I nod– Yes, a little… –And then, a yawn. A completely involuntary yawn that my former self would never have dared to make, considering it unseemly and improper for a demure lady of high society.– I-I'm sorry –I respond, embarrassed by such an act–
—It's understandable that you're tired. You've been through a lot today –His voice becomes even softer than before, with a likely involuntary tenderness– Besides, it's already past four in the morning. It's too late for a lady to be awake at these hours… unless they work in that kind of profession that has survived since the dawn of humanity, or they have night shifts…–
—A giggle escapes my mouth upon hearing those words, as I try to find a phrase that doesn't sound so bad– It's curious, but until this moment, I haven't felt sleepy at all. Probably due to the adrenaline of the moment… or perhaps something else –I murmur, while looking out the window, trying not to say "thanks to you, because I like being by your side and that's why my body doesn't feel tired."– However, now, in these moments… –And another yawn–
—In that case…–
Luc then stands up from the seat in front of me, where he was sitting before, and moves toward where I am, sitting by my side. Finally, he leans in a bit, staying very close to me. A distance so short that it allows me to perfectly smell that perfume of his, which exhales a soft, fresh scent of coconut.
—It will probably take us another half hour to reach the Hotel where we'll be staying, as there are some detours since the Imperial Guards are doing their rounds and there are still a lot of people out, so we're going to evade them and find clearer routes –He adds, pointing out the window at the crowd of people celebrating I-don't-know-what– If you want, you can lean on me until we arrive. When we're there, I'll wake you up–
My eyes go wide upon hearing his offer. And then, two Katerinas begin to battle each other in my mind. The part that recently woke up tells me to accept, because this is an opportunity that will probably never happen again in my entire life. However, the one that still has a sense of modesty, the one who was harshly trained to be a Lady, reminds me that I met him around 11 at night, so we haven't even known each other for 6 hours. Doing something like that with a man who, despite everything that has happened, is still a stranger, would be immoral.
—I…–
However, after another yawn, in the end, neither of the previous two sides won. The winner turned out to be the part that was tired, which had come out of its grumpy cage because it wanted to sleep, heh, heh.
—Alright… –Slowly I lean my body to the left, toward where he is, feeling with every inch how my heart begins to beat fiercely from nervousness–
Finally, I let my head fall onto his shoulder, which, while feeling hard due to his build, also feels quite comfortable and cozy. And after a few seconds, once my heartbeat stabilized, I close my eyes, ready to take a short nap.
—It will only be a short, 5-minute nap –I murmur, as I feel sleep invading me– I promise…–
________________ >> 30 minutos >> _________________
—Katerina… Kat… Katty… Katrina… Kana… Karina… Karina… … Gatito?…–
I slowly open my eyes after hearing a soft voice calling me in various ways, using different names derived from my own. Ways that, of course, caught my attention, as I didn't think there would be so many. And all coming from a single voice, but with different tones—playful, affectionate, imaginative, hesitant, and so on.
—Gatito? –As soon as I wake up, I yawn again, but no longer from such exhaustion–
—There is a country that speaks a language different from this one, where "gato" is phonetically similar to one of your nicknames, "Kat." This sounds like "Cat," meaning "gato." If we use another nickname, "Kitty," which is a slight variation, it could be translated as a diminutive. In other words, "gatito"–
Yes. This world is not like the worlds in the novels I've read on my days off or when I was bored with my training, where they had a unified language that everyone spoke and, ironically, no one cared about it, as there wasn't even an explanation for it being that way.
Our world, Eleanne, has multiple languages and countless dialects. At times, one language tends to be more important than another, either because of its ease of speech or commercial control. When I was studying to be the future Empress, one of my subjects was Foreign Language, where they taught me various important tongues, aside from Anglarien, which is the language I speak.
—What language is that? –I ask with curiosity– The word you said sounds familiar–
—Ardalés –He responds. And in an instant, I remember it completely– Por ejemplo, ahora mismo estoy hablando Ardalés, pero no soy Ardalense–
—Yes, I remember! I had a very hard time learning it when I was at the Academy, especially the pronunciations, because there were similar words in Anglarian, but with a different vocal pronunciation in Ardalese–
—And to think it's one of the simplest languages in this world –Lucien responds with a giggle– Take Shanri, for example; it has characters that look nothing like the ones you know, and it contains words that sound almost identical but are written completely differently. Plus, it has hundreds or more characters available instead of just A to Z–
—What language was Madame Adèle speaking? –I ask, remembering the words she occasionally dropped when talking to us, which were unknown to me–
—Valérien. Known for having, so to speak, nasal words–
—Yes. I heard her say a few phrases, and honestly, I thought the way she said them was funny –I'm sorry, Madame Adèle, please don't be mad at me!–
—In fact, you have Valérien heritage –Lucien tells me, pulling me away from the amusement of the memory–
—Eh? –I open my eyes wide, surprised by his words–
—Your mother's last name, Lumière, is Valérien –He adds, pointing at me– It's just that you, and everyone else, pronounce it wrong. You say it as it's written, Lumiere, instead of its correct pronunciation, which would be something like "Liumieg." That's probably why you never knew about this–
—Surprised, I lift my head from his lap where I was resting, I move toward him once more, but this time with my whole body, and I look at him closely– And what does it mean?–
—Light –He responds with a smile–
—Light?–
—That's right. Like the natural illumination of the stars, the moon, the sun, the effects of magic, or artificial light like that produced by lighting stones. Lumière, in Anglarien, is just a five-letter word: Light–
Then, just as I was about to ask him for more information about this last name and the possible connection to my late Mother, my hands and body catch onto something. My right hand touches something hard and textured, while my backside feels a surface that is slightly soft, yet also firm. In an instant, as if struck by lightning, a shiver of embarrassment runs down my entire spine.
—A, ah…–
I lower my head to look at what I am touching, and upon seeing it, I realize what I've done. YES. MY RIGHT HAND WAS TOUCHING HIS CHEST, AND MY GLUTES WERE ON HIS LEGS. If anyone saw us, it would definitely look like I was doing something completely unseemly with him.
—I-I'm so sorryyy! –I exclaim, leaping up and moving toward the far end of the carriage seat, away from him–
Just as I am about to say something else, a memory hits me: the moment I woke up. I wasn't leaning against the seat, or lying down, or on Lucien's shoulder like when I fell asleep. NO. My head was in his lap! YES. IN HIS LAP!
When did that happen?! How is it possible that it happened?! Yes, I am no longer a Noble. I am now a Commoner. BUT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT I AM STILL A WOMAN. This kind of act is so… shameful! It's supposed to be something you only do with your family or your partner! And he isn't my Father (at least not that I know of).
Besides, how did Lucien allow it? He looked so comfortable there, without a trace of annoyance, and I could even feel how he stroked my hair. HOW DARE HE? Obviously, it was pleasant, BUT HE COULD HAVE AT LEAST WAITED UNTIL I HAD BATHED. I AM DIRTY. My last bath was at 4 in the afternoon yesterday, before going out. Besides, I cried for a long time back there outside the Imperial Palace. My face, though clean thanks to the handkerchief he gave me when we met, still bears the traces of tears. And not only that—even though I'm supposed to not smell bad due to a biological constitution of mine, I STILL FEEL DIRTY.
AHHHHH.
—Kat? –He asks, with a concerned tone, but in his eyes, you can see the amusement at my lack of control, even using the nickname he established for me– Is everything alright?–
Alright?! You're asking me if I'm alright?! I'm dying of embarrassment… and you're asking me such a silly thing?! Are you stupid or are you blind?!
—Of, of course I'm alright –A nervous smile forms on my face as I look away– Why wouldn't I be?–
—You look red –He responds, the amusement in his voice increasing– Are you sick? I thought I had manipulated the rainwater well so it wouldn't affect us, but I think I let a few drops slip past–
Sick?! Are you serious?! You…! Aghhh!
—No, no, I'm fine. Don't worry –I respond, while trying to suppress my urge to hit him for making fun of my suffering– H-hey, we've arrived, haven't we? –My hand moves quickly toward the exit handle. Hopefully, the fresh air outside will help me–
—That's right. We are now at the Hotel Rein-...–
—Perfect! Let's go, I'm very sleepy –I interrupt, quickly opening the wooden door of the carriage–
Thus, practically fleeing to catch some fresh air, I step out of the carriage—this time alone, without his help—with a little hop down, leaving behind that man who doesn't hesitate to laugh at my suffering. Someday he'll pay for this. I guarantee it. Hmph!
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—Twenty to five in the morning… Twenty to five! My wife is going to kill me!–
—Heh, heh, sorry, sorry–
A few seconds after I stepped out, Lucien did as well. However, instead of coming straight to me—probably because he knew I needed space to breathe after that intense moment earlier—he went toward the driver, toward the grumpy taxi man.
And, as expected, as soon as Lucien stepped into his line of sight, the man began to scold him as if he were a child who had stolen a very sweet cupcake.
—How much is it? –Lucien asks after a few seconds, noticing that I had yawned again and that the nap, while good, hadn't been enough–
—Tsk –The driver grumbles, having been interrupted in his scolding– From the Taxi Branch to the Imperial Palace was 80 Oblecen. From the Imperial Palace to Fleur de Lys, 70 Oblecen. And from Fleur de Lys to this hotel, 50 Oblecen. Added to that, the continuous service, 150 Oblecen. In total, it's 350 Oblecen–
—Lucien nods, takes out his wallet, and then pulls out a bill of a denomination that leaves me stunned. 5,000 Oblecen– Here you go. Take it all–
The driver, like me, is stunned by the amount. Ø5,000 is the highest monetary denomination possible in the Empire. Because of this, they are very rare for Commoners to see, as these kinds of bills usually only circulate in wealthy areas or among the Nobility.
However, after a few seconds, the grumpy taxi man becomes infuriated upon seeing the bill.
—I don't have change –He grumbles– This was the last fare I was going to do before going home, so I left most of my change at the Branch –With that, he refuses to take the bill–
—Lucien shakes his head while simultaneously pulling from that same wallet, which seems to be a magic bank, as you can't actually see money inside, the exact amount requested– No. What I gave you before is payment for having stolen your time. Besides, consider it physical proof so that your wife, when you get home, won't scold you… as much, heh, heh–
—The driver's anger quickly vanishes upon hearing Lucien's words. However, he soon sighs with disappointment– Even though I'd like to accept it, you know how people are. If they see me with such a large bill, my Supervisor will take it and keep it for himself. In fact, it's likely that guy will also take the payment for my services, making up some excuse like he's taking it "to verify they aren't counterfeit." Because of this, I won't just lose the tip, but the cost of this trip too. And if that happens, I'll have to replace the money out of my own pocket–
—Is that so? –Lucien asks with interest. The interest of someone who has found gold–
—That's how the Transport Guild of this country is. Even though we work for a foreign company like Cabbinet, since those who work there are people from the Imperial Merchant Guild, they can become corrupt and deceive Cabbinet with altered results to make them believe everything is fine and that we are all at peace–
A flash of anger passes through Lucien's eyes quickly. A feeling that hadn't been part of his personality until now, for I have never seen him truly angry. All he did was laugh at me.
—Heads are going to roll –I joke to myself– It seems their business is about to run out, heh, heh–
—In that case, go straight home and hide, at least for now, the Ø5,000 I gave you. And I say "for now," because soon there will be no need to do such a thing anymore–
—The taxi driver hesitates, but after seeing the hopeful look on Lucien's face, he accepts– Alright. I just hope I don't get into trouble–
—Don't worry. In less than a week, that problem will be solved. I guarantee it–
After nodding, the driver climbs back into the coachman's seat, ready to depart. For my part, I approach Lucien, as I also wanted to say goodbye to the man. Although he is very grumpy, he also seems like a very good person.
—Thank you very much, sir –I say to him before he leaves, giving a slight 15-degree bow–
—It's nothing, kid –The man responds as he grabs the horses' reins– Congratulations on your new life –Then, he glances at me with a playful smile– And, congratulations on their marriage, too–
—Marriage? –I ask, stunned–
—Hya! –The man exclaims, making the horses move quickly, pulling away from the place before I could say anything else–
Nervous, I turn my head toward Lucien to look at his expression. I didn't know if he would be angry about the constant jokes from the adults regarding us, or if he would have some other expression, perhaps a positive one.
—Shall we go? –He asks. Looking at him, I notice a soft smile, and even a tender gaze, which make me blush. Clearly, he isn't angry, and he probably doesn't even mind, so I sigh with relief, and a hint of disappointment, since showing even a negative emotion would be something–
—Alright –I respond, flashing a nodding smile–
We turn around to look at the place where Lucien had brought me; before, because I needed to breathe, I hadn't paid it any attention, and afterward, I only focused on watching him and his interaction with the coachman.
—Wow…–
Before me rises the Hotel Reinel, an edifice of such opulence that it casts a shadow over any place I have visited before. The building is a multi-leveled colossus of grayish stone, crowned by a magnificent glass and metal dome that shines under the near-dawn sky like a jewel catching the first remnants of light. Its side towers, with steep, pointed roofs, give it the air of an urban castle, while the rows of illuminated windows suggest a labyrinth of endless rooms and high-society secrets.
My scarlet eyes scan the facade, stopping at the main entrance, where an ornate golden marquee announces the hotel's name, "Hotel Reinel," in firm, bright letters. Just above, two classical stone statues flank the structure like silent guardians watching over anyone who dares to cross the threshold. The door's arch, of impeccable architecture, spills a warm light outward, inviting me to enter a world that seems to belong to a dream.
—Ha –After a few seconds, I let out a little laugh inside my mind. It was obvious this was going to happen. I mean, Lucien is like a Crown Prince who, instead of controlling a country, could easily control the entire world. Staying in some run-down, seedy hotel? Not a chance–
—Forgive the opulence –He stops by my side, speaking in an embarrassed tone. Looking at him again, I notice him scratching his chin– I'm usually discreet, choosing inconspicuous places that serve only for what I need. However, when I reach national capitals, sometimes my stinginess fades a bit and I decide to treat myself to a luxury or two…–
—Ah… –Understandable. Sometimes I used to save the little money they gave me to later buy expensive but very tasty sweets– There's no need to apologize –Now I'm the one saying it. Heh, heh. It feels so good. Now I know why he had said it to me several times. I even feel empowered saying that, hue, hue–
—Anyway, let's go; it's almost dawn. You've stayed awake all night, which will be bad for your health –He responds, moving his arm toward me–
—Hearing him worry about my health, a blush appears on my cheeks. And this only worsens seeing his arm, which is clearly an indication for me to wrap mine around it– Alright… –
After a few moments of hesitation where I wonder whether to do it or not, I finally do. I wrap both of my arms around his firm, strong left arm. Yes, I've already broken many social rules. What does it matter if I break more? Besides, it all feels so natural. I would be an idiot not to let myself be carried away by these kinds of moments—unlike with Calix, where even through my eyes of love, it felt like a rigid act.
—Perfect. Let's head in then –He responds with a smile after seeing me accept his gesture–