"This necklace, if you sold it, you could probably buy about 100 warhorses."
"What?"
Only then did Asha's eyes widen.
Warhorses, unlike regular horses, were expensive because they required both a strong build and training. Even a mediocre one would cost 10,000 Veronas or more. Therefore…
"You're saying this is worth over a million Veronas?"
Carlyle didn't reply, just smiled. He picked up the necklace and approached Asha, placing it around her neck and whispering softly.
"Think of it as a down payment."
The necklace's clasp made a light clicking sound.
Asha felt the considerable weight of the jewels on her collarbone. She wielded a greatsword, so a mere necklace shouldn't be heavy.
However, this one was, perhaps due to its value of a million Veronas.
'If I sold this, I could buy 100 warhorses… or build a fence around the abandoned land! No, better yet, I could buy food…!'
While absentmindedly stroking the ruby with her fingertips, Carlyle leaned down and whispered in her ear again.
"I can guess what you're thinking, but I'd prefer it if you sold it last, even if it is a wedding gift."
Asha snapped back to reality.
"Are you… really giving this to me?"
"Why? Are you worried I'll take it back later?"
Carlyle thought the fiery ruby looked perfect with Asha's pale skin and dark hair.
When he first saw Asha 'properly,' he had the sudden thought that this necklace would suit her, as if she had come to bury the winter of the north.
So Carlyle had picked up the expensive necklace without much thought.
"The necklace seems to have found its owner. It looks good on you."
Carlyle flicked Asha's cheek with his fingertip and turned to call Madame Laurel.
"Alter the dress as quickly as possible. The ceremony is only ten days away."
"Yes! I will make it fit perfectly, as if it was originally made for Countess Pervaz."
Asha sat back on the sofa and watched Carlyle open the cigar box.
Her cheek where he had touched it felt a little tingly.
***
Early May, peak of spring, Carlyle and Asha's marriage ceremony approached. Many wished to witness this unprecedented event, but the Imperial family wished not to publicize this already embarrassing matter. However, they couldn't completely bar guests for the Crown Prince-like Carlyle's marriage ceremony. So, they decided to invite only a select few. Among them was Cecilia, who was just recently considered a strong candidate for Crown Princess.
"Lady Cecilia is quite something. If it were me, even if I received an invitation, I probably couldn't bring myself to attend."
"Why couldn't you? It's not like it's a long-lasting marriage anyway."
"Of course not! Do you know the atmosphere when that woman chose His Highness Carlyle? We all thought she would be killed by His Majesty the Emperor or His Highness Carlyle right then and there."
Quietly listening to the careless chatter of those around her, Cecilia confirmed to herself once again. 'Yes, a three-year marriage at most. So what happens now is important.'
Even though it was all against the Empress, perhaps Carlyle was also testing the Crown Princess candidates. If she gave up her Crown Princess position because of something trivial like this and sided with the Empress, she would be disqualified without a second thought.
'I need to show him that I'm different.'
Cecilia confidently held her place, not standing out too much but looking more beautiful than ever. People glanced at her and whispered again.
"'The Barbarian princess' is too much. Lady Cecilia is sitting in the front row,
she should be entering as the bride."
"Right, the comparison would be too obvious."
Cecilia, sitting in the very front row, looked beautiful enough to elicit sympathy for Asha, whom they had been underestimating until now. Curly blonde hair, golden eyes that sparkled like royalty, rosy white skin, a slender yet curvy figure, a dress that accentuated her strengths, and perfect posture. She looked ready to walk down the aisle as the 'bride'.
"Well, does that woman even know Lady Cecilia? She grew up in Pervaz, so how would she know the nobles of the capital?"
"True. She was so bold in front of His Majesty the Emperor that time, I wonder what she'll be like today?"
"Even if she dresses up, she'll still look like a country bumpkin savage. I'm worried His Highness Carlyle will be embarrassed."
With the sound of fans fluttering, such talk filled the hall when suddenly, the conductor of the court orchestra raised his baton in the air.
Recognizing that the ceremony was finally beginning, people held their breath and fixed their eyes on the door where Carlyle and Asha would enter.
Soon, the doors opened and trumpeters blew their trumpets. The court orchestra then began to play a cheerful concerto, and the Emperor, Empress, High Priest Gabriel, and Imperial ceremonial officials walked in one after another through the open doors.
"Oh my! It seems High Priest Gabriel will preside over the marriage vows."
"To have High Priest Gabriel and Lady Cecilia, The bride won't even stand out!"
Light mockery arose again.
It was a ceremony awkwardly named "marriage vows ceremony" due to Carlyle's desire to reclaim the crown prince position. Despite the prince's recent demotion and expected reinstatement, the ceremony was lavishly decorated.
The golden hall shimmered, yet the Lord of Pervaz, resembling a blackbird struck by sunlight, seemed out of place. The guests awaited Carlyle and Asha with morbid anticipation.
Soon, the emperor, empress, High Priest, and other royals took their seats. The senior court official announced in a booming voice:
"His Highness Prince Carlyle Kendrick Ivelina Bondel Everisto and Countess Asha Amir del Pervaz shall enter."
The nobles struggled to hide their smiles and rose from their seats. Curiosity burned, even if they tried to appear indifferent.
However, an unexpected situation unfold.
"Huh…?"
"Wh…who is that?"
"Is that…the… barbarian princess?"
"Could it be…she's wearing…the late Empress' necklace?"
Everyone doubted their eyes. Carlyle, as always, was confident, handsome, and radiant. His dazzling appearance was unsurprising, so it was deemed "ordinary."
However, the woman who entered the hall with her hand on his arm defied all expectations.
Her hair wasn't wild and untamed, her face wasn't pale and sickly, and she wasn't clad in animal skins.
Her hair was neatly braided and pinned up, her eyebrows groomed, her skin radiant, her makeup subtle yet elegant, and her dress simple yet graceful. But most importantly…
"That…isn't that Her Majesty Ivelina's necklace?"
"Yes, I've been wondering about it too. Why is she wearing the one… gifted to Her Majesty Ivelina by His Majesty at her wedding…"
Around Asha's neck hung the ruby necklace worn by Ivelina Gould, Carlyle's mother, at her wedding. Many older ladies recognized it due to the immense attention it received back then.
The necklace, with seven pigeon-blood red rubies of 50 carats each, surrounded by dozens of top-quality diamonds, was meticulously crafted by a renowned jeweler over a year. "Did His Highness Carlyle allow her to wear that?"
While it wasn't odd for Carlyle to lend his mother's wedding necklace to his bride, the issue was the recipient being the "barbarian princess" instead of Cecilia Dupret.
"What happened?"
"His Highness probably lent it casually, or maybe it's just for show…"
"Th-that must be it, right?"
There was no other explanation. However, while the appearance of this precious treasure after 26 years was surprising, the necklace looked remarkably good on Asha.
"The maids must have put in some effort. The barbarian girl looks quite…"
"I thought it was someone else."
Though hesitant to openly compliment after ridiculing her as the savage princess, their intent was clear. Cecilia, too, was slightly bewildered by the unexpected situation.
'Was she always like this?'
Perhaps because the unkempt hair and animal skin cloak were so shocking, she only remembered Asha as pale, like someone from the north. But the current Asha Pervaz was eye-catching enough to turn heads in any social gathering.
Carlyle wore a relaxed smile, seemingly enjoying the surprised gazes, while Asha…
'She seems indifferent as ever.'
Cecilia felt a pang of disappointment that Carlyle didn't react to her. At the same time, she found Asha's indifference irritating. Coming from a notorious backwater known as the beggar's den, she had rendered the "crown princess candidate" position Cecilia had earned through years of tireless effort meaningless, yet her expression conveyed no attachment to it…
However, regardless of Cecilia's thoughts, the wedding oath ceremony proceeded as planned.