"You are," Soleia corrected through gritted teeth. "Did you think that your fief is rolling in riches?"
Crystals didn't come by easily. The royal family had an absolute monopoly over the sales and distribution of these magical stones― after all, the feats and wonders that could be accomplished with its help weren't something King Godwin wanted to share with his citizens.
Besides, the common folk didn't have any ability to harness the stones' magical properties― giving them these crystals would be as useful as giving them to the livestock. Even the ugliest, smallest, and most clouded stone would still cost the average citizen an arm and leg through the black market.
However, Soleia wasn't as poorly off as the common folk, even if she, like them, couldn't channel any powers with these semi-precious stones. She had dismantled some of her jewelry and sold off whatever she couldn't use.
"Then how did you get your hands on these?" Orion arched a brow, staring down at her, unimpressed. "Or is my fief poor because you decided to squander funds on these trinkets―"
"You might be destitute, but you should be grateful that I'm not. If not, we would all be sleeping in the stables tonight," Soleia said with gritted teeth, as she immediately reached out to swipe the aquamarine from Orion's hands, enraged at his insinuation.
When their fingers brushed against each other, Soleia withdrew her hand quickly. She felt it again― that zap that caused the hairs on her arm to stand as though she had been struck by lightning. This time, Orion's eyes lit up with amusement, watching her as the corner of his lip quirked up just ever the slightest.
She reminded him of a kitten he had as a child.
"Right," he said with a lazy drawl in his voice, but there was a sharp glint in his eyes. "Your father must have given you a lot of money to support your little hobby. Can't have his daughter spy on a man without her jewels, isn't that right?"
Soleia's eyes twitched in irritation as she bit her bottom lip― hard. This man probably assumed that her father was secretly sending her money to spy on him!
There was no need to speak further. Turning around, she turned a deaf ear to him as she swiped all of the remaining crystals into her bag. That should be the last of her belongings.
"You have your work cut out for you," she said, tying the drawstring back with more force than she needed to use. "Good luck with that."
With that said, she roughly used her shoulder to shove her way through. When she got past Orion, she was surprised to hear a short chuckle coming from him. She understood as well― Orion was a veteran soldier who could slay dragons with his bare hands. How could she, a frail woman with no magic, possibly push him out of the way if he didn't allow it?
"And your inventions," Orion suddenly said right as Soleia approached the door. "Those trinkets can help save our―"
"Your," Soleia corrected, petty bitterness on her tongue. "As your concubine, your bankruptcy is no longer my problem but that of your duchess. She will be handling your fief and estate's finances from here on out."
"Right," he said, raising an eyebrow. But there it still was― that oddly charming half-smirk he wore. It wasn't entirely friendly, of course, but it did show Soleia his clear bemusement.
Soleia wasn't sure what he found so amusing, especially since she was purposely trying to spite him. Whatever danger he saw in her earlier had clearly disappeared― he now looked at her as though she was a cat puffing up its fur in an attempt to intimidate a lion.
"Those trinkets can help save my fief from bankruptcy?" He gestured to the bag that Soleia was carrying, shrugging as he did. "Those didn't seem too different from whatever can be found at the market."
"How dare you!" Soleia said with a gasp. She stormed straight to Orion, stopping right in front of him as she glared daggers at him. If looks could kill, she would've finished the task the Levielen army had failed at. "These are one of a kind! I have had great success with many of these inventions, and was on the verge of a breakthrough with the previous one if you hadn't destroyed the garnet!"
"Oh?" Orion asked, folding his arms across his chest as he leaned against the surface of the desk. "What breakthrough?"
"It was supposed to bring warmth!" Soleia said. "You would've known if you hadn't stormed in here with a mistress, demanding to… to… boot me out of the estate after everything I've done! Not only did you not give me a single word of thanks, you treated me appallingly. How have I offended you? No wait, what am I asking― how could I have had the opportunity to offend you? I barely saw you!"
Soleia sucked in an angry breath. All the grievance and pain from the last two years rushed to the surface suddenly like a broken dam.
"You didn't even look at me when you returned― your men nearly trampled on me as they stormed through the gate! And then you pointed a sword at me! You threatened to kick me out of my own home!"
Soleia reached for her neck, swallowing the bile in her throat at the memory. Booting her out of the estate was the least of her worries― Orion Elsher was straight up ready to relieve her of her neck if it hadn't been for Ralph's intervention.
"I know we didn't get married because of love, but I have still done my part as your duchess," Soleia whispered, her voice low with pain.
'Am I so detestable in your eyes that I'm not worth the slightest bit of respect?' she wanted to ask, but the words remained on the tip of her tongue.
She was too afraid to hear his answer, but Orion didn't even respond to her outburst of emotion.
Soleia's heart sank further. What had she been expecting, for Orion to go on his knees and plead for forgiveness? For him to apologize for his behavior?
Ludicrous.
Her throat felt clogged up as she took a deep breath, feeling the familiar warmth behind her eyes born from unshed tears. She bowed her head, refusing to let him see her tears. However, before she could wipe her face clean, she suddenly felt Orion step closer. He reached out a careful hand, his fingers combing the loose strands of her hair behind her ear.
Soleia jerked her head up in surprise, sucking in a quick breath. She had half-expected him to hit her. But instead, Orion continued to carefully comb through her hair, his fingers brushing against the soft earlobe, jostling her earring. The warmth of his fingers caused a frisson of longing to course within her.
The moment he touched the powdery selenite stone, Soleia realized the blue of his eyes suddenly turned clearer. As though the stormy clouds had parted and made way for the sun, his irises reminded Soleia of the summer sky― they were crystalline.
Orion's lips parted. When he swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbed up and down.
"I…"
"Cousin!" A sudden voice tore through the air, causing Soleia to jump in surprise. "Cousin Orion! I heard you've returned! Cousin― Oh!"