Chapter 6 Part 2
“Shall we disembark now?”
“Yes.”
Elia nodded. Both of them wore matching bracelets on their wrists, swaying gently.
Aksion escorted Elia out of the carriage. Instantly, all eyes turned towards them, as if Elia were the main attraction of the day. Elia’s outfit today was a soft green. The yellow silk dress with a touch of light green made her look like a fairy of early spring. The dress complemented Aksion’s white tailcoat perfectly.
“They make such a lovely newlywed couple.”
“Is that dress from the North? It’s quite nice.”
In the palace, where pink was dominant due to the spring season, Elia’s color stood out uniquely. She raised herself slightly on tiptoes and whispered in Aksion’s ear, a voice only he could hear.
“Keep escorting me.”
“…Of course.”
Was he embarrassed? He tightened his grip on her hand. Elia smiled. She knew that the more affectionate they appeared, the stronger the Mahart family would become.
‘The nobles must be spreading rumors about reconciliation between the royal family and the Mahart family.’
Elia’s wedding had brought peace between the long-standing rivals. However, this was only temporary; Elia had a different goal.
‘To transfer all the royal family’s power to the Mahart family.’
It was the final act of her revenge.
“Excuse me…”
As the two walked side by side, someone called out to them.
“Popetcherian.”
Elia greeted him. She had invited him, and the wizard was wearing the tailcoat she had sent him in advance. Looking awkward in the formal attire, Popetcherian walked a bit clumsily.
“This is my first time at such a party, so it feels strange.”
Without his cracked glasses, his appearance was much improved. Elia patted his shoulder, telling him to relax.
“I received the bracelets well. Your craftsmanship is perfect. Be confident.”
“Ahem. It’s an honor.”
The wizard, who was weak to compliments, marched ahead like a soldier.
“Let’s go.”
Elia clung to Aksion’s arm. It was the first step towards the ballroom. The banquet hall was in full bloom with spring. True to the name “Cherry Blossom Banquet,” cherry blossom-shaped decorations were everywhere. Everything was just as Elia remembered.
‘To see this again.’
Each time she recalled scenes from her memory, the realization of her return struck her anew. As Elia scanned the room, she felt a gaze on her. It was Violet.
‘So intense.’
Violet was dressed more lavishly than ever before. In the past, many nobles surrounded her. But now, no one dared approach the princess. Nobody wanted to be caught in her traps.
Elia paused in the hall, and ladies and noblewomen swarmed towards her, as if waiting for this moment.
“Princess Elia, or should I say, the young duchess now?”
“It’s my first time meeting you. I’m Lena Olga.”
Elia was instantly surrounded by people. During her wedding, she naturally garnered attention as the bride, but this was the social scene. It was a place where people flocked to those they needed to impress.
‘Interesting.’
In the past, Elia had no one around her. Only those who mocked her. But now, everything was the opposite.
‘I was treated like a fake princess back then.’
Elia looked directly at the lady who introduced herself as Lena. It was a familiar face. She had been one of those who tormented her in the past.
‘Seems like she’s no longer close to Violet.’
The aristocratic circles changed with the emperor or the times. The current emperor valued decorum and demanded modesty from the ladies. As a result, it became very difficult for noble ladies to marry if any scandals surrounded them.
‘Well, Violet might be an exception.’
The emperor’s daughter breaking his own rules was ironic. Elia glanced at Violet. Just last month, those who fawned over Violet were now clinging to Elia. Elia watched with satisfaction as Violet’s face twisted.
“Excuse me, have I done something wrong…?”
When Elia said nothing, Lena asked cautiously, a stark contrast to the past.
“Not at all.”
Despite Elia’s reassurance, Lena remained visibly anxious. Lena’s eyes then caught the bracelet on Elia’s wrist.
“Oh my, what an unusual bracelet. Your taste is impeccable. May I ask which designer created it?”
“Indeed. Is that dark blue sapphire? It’s a gemstone I’ve never seen before.”
The bracelet’s gem emitted a subtle light. As everyone expressed interest in the unique gem, Elia spoke up.
“It’s a sapphian stone. The designer is my personal jeweler.”
“Sapphian? That sapphian? The one I know is transparent…”
“It’s infused with magic.”
That’s impossible.
Everyone seemed skeptical. It was understandable, as the only processed sapphian jewelry in the empire belonged to the Empress, gifted by another empire. There were no jewelers in this empire who could process sapphian.
“You mean it’s possible to process it?”
“Yes, and it contains magic as well.”
Elia stroked the jewelry, and the surrounding area fell silent. Only after she removed her hand did the murmuring resume.
“This bracelet has a soundproofing spell.”
“My goodness, it really is processed sapphian!”
The ladies, having experienced the magic, were amazed. Each noble family had their own mages and magical tools. However, a bracelet this small and beautiful, functioning as real jewelry, was unprecedented.
“I have an exceptional jeweler.”
Elia introduced Popetcherian. Standing awkwardly before the crowd, he looked bewildered.
“This is Popetcherian, my jeweler and mage. He has a natural talent for processing sapphian.”
Popetcherian’s face turned red at Elia’s praise.
“If you replenish the magic periodically, it can be used multiple times. And of course, it’s still jewelry made of precious sapphian.”
This brought to mind the Empress’s necklace. Her necklace could only activate its magic three times. Once the magic was used up, its value as a necklace diminished. Thus, she had only activated it once, when she received it as a gift.
The Empress, watching from afar, scowled.
“I’ll soon open a salon to take orders.”
Elia introduced the land gifted by Aksion. The building, located in the heart of the noble district, was being renovated. The noble ladies, hearing this, were excited.
“Oh my, so it was you who bought that place!”
“My husband gifted it to me.”
Elia smiled shyly. Aksion was beside her, but people kept their distance from him due to his monstrous reputation. However, Elia’s words changed their perception of him.
“My, the capital is abuzz with your love story!”
“A love marriage, how sweet.”
Rumors of their romantic relationship had spread throughout the capital.
“And the bracelets are matching.”
“Yes. We exchanged our magic to infuse the sapphian.”
“My goodness, is that even possible?”
Everyone was amazed. The custom-made sapphian, infused with their magic, was unique to Elia’s jeweler.
“Even non-mages have a small amount of magic in them. My jeweler is exceptionally skilled at handling magic.”
“I’ve never heard of such a thing! He must be extraordinary.”
Popetcherian’s face burned bright red.
Everyone envied Elia. Lena Olga stepped forward with confidence.
“Princess Elia, if you open your shop, may I place the first order?”
Lena Olga was from a wealthy family that had amassed wealth through trade. The noblewomen exchanged glances. Typically, the older noblewomen would speak first, but none dared challenge Lena’s prominent family.
