She thought he stopped doing that, but Winter was still buying more things than she knew.
Violet sighed and looked anxiously at the pearls that shone softly in the dark store as if they had their own light. She felt strangely saddened by the sight of such a pitiful abundance of gifts.
He must have given so much to his parents for such a long time. Longing for love. Was it okay to cut out his parents from his heart?
Violet worried. The expression on Winter's face, when he had said earlier that he was still afraid of being abandoned, came back to her mind.
The pearl shop owner spoke comfortingly, perhaps reading Violet's bitter expression.
"By the way, Mr. Winter's expression has brightened up a lot since he was hanging out with the Princess. Even though his eyes are usually dim, they look bright to me."
"I'm not feeling well today, Grandma."
"What was the good news? You're always losing your temper."
"Noisy."
Winter grumbled. Then, keeping an eye on Violet, he began to furtively collect the pearls.
Violet watched Winter like that quietly.
He was a man who suited autumn much better than she had thought, but the combination made Violet somewhat sad.
***
Three days later, on the morning of the family meeting. Violet, who had finished preparing everything, leisurely began to get ready.
She finished preparing for the meeting an hour earlier than scheduled. She wore a navy blue dress with pearl sleeves and collar, and large, thin gold-leafed earrings on both ears.
Violet was left alone in the dressing room for a moment, looking in the mirror to steel her resolve, when Winter opened the door and came in.
"Are you ready?"
At Winter's words, Violet turned to him and then sat up.
Winter stood speechless behind the door for a moment at the sight of his wife. Her clear eyes were a piercing blue, and her hair, which was tied up neatly, seemed to be sprinkled with gold dust.
"Are you okay?"
When Violet asked, Winter answered seriously.
"Majestic and dazzling."
Violet smiled slightly at his compliment.
"Thank you."
Winter walked slowly and faced Violet. She was as beautiful as ever, and she had the determination and dignity of someone standing before a major general.
Winter threw out a light remark to escape from the overwhelming feeling.
"Did I buy the pearls well? Praise me quickly."
"You made a good purchase. And the owner there seems to take good care of you."
"Didn't you know? Women usually pretend not to care about me and take care of me."
He jokingly said something obvious. Winter, who had relieved Violet's tension with that joke, held out his hand. Violet put her gloved hand on his. He put a large sapphire ring on top of her glove, and it matched her very well.
Winter said as they walked down the hallway and out of the mansion.
"Let's hurry up and get the wedding ready after we get back from Alika before it gets any colder. There's not much time left until next spring."
"Alika must be really cold."
"So I'm going to take you, packed tightly in a coat and blanket."
Violet laughed, perhaps because the word "packaging" was funny. She had a serious meeting today, but she couldn't stop laughing because her husband was with her. It was fortunate that he didn't attend the meeting because Lawrence didn't follow his last name.
Winter's face, which had been cracking jokes, began to darken as he left the mansion, and soon his expression became very serious. In front, there was a sea of people, including reporters from neighboring continents as well as Rorkround, who had come to cover this grand event, and Kanik staff that Winter had brought in just in case, but that was all. He thought they would have brought out at least ten, if not twenty, horses, but only two horses were pulling the carriage they usually used. He thought there would be a line of emblems hanging on the gate like in front of the palace, but there was nothing special.
Winter looked at Violet with a frown and she spoke with a bright face.
"I prepared hard, but I'm not sure if it will turn out okay."
What on earth had she prepared?
He thought that he really shouldn't leave it to his wife, and when he went out, he found that there wasn't even a hundred-member orchestra that he had thought would welcome the guests. As he was looking around, he saw the carriages of the Lawrence family, including Ash, slowly approaching from the lower royal palace rather than the higher mansion.
There was a huge horse-drawn carriage, and on both sides, numerous horse-riding escorts surrounded it. Rather, it was Ash who brought the military band. Winter, who had already checked the list, said with a frown.
"Look at that. That kid shows up like that! Why haven't you invested anything like that?"
"I also invested enough..."
"You're already dazzling, so don't try to brag that you spent extra money on it."
Violet calmly spoke with an embarrassed look in her eyes at Winter's questioning.
"Don't be angry and listen, Winter. At first, I thought it was right to show my strength through ceremony like Ash."
"But there's nothing! That's why I shouldn't have left it to you. My wife has no talent for extravagance! I should have bought you a cruise!"
"I don't know why I need a cruise, but... I changed my mind along the way. You don't like formalities either. Whether they're done by others or done to you."
"All those unnecessary formalities are a waste of money. But that's me, and you're the Princess."
"I've told you many times that I'm not a Princess. And to change the subject, I've decided to spend my money on informing more people about this family meeting."
Violet spoke softly and looked toward the train station. It was just as Ash's carriage, which had arrived early, was getting ready with a military band on either side. There was a noise coming from the direction of the train station, and hundreds, maybe thousands of people appeared.
Only then did Winter startle and ask Violet.
"...Are you going to wipe them all out by force? It's not a bad thing, but I'm a bit surprised that it's your choice."
Violet laughed and shook her head, thinking his true story was a joke. Fortunately, Winter quickly understood the situation and nodded.
"Ah, those who wish for seats."
Flags bearing the names 'Farmers' Union', 'Blacksmiths' Union', and 'Kanik Clan' were approaching. Those coming from the train station were following Eglin's lead to the mansion, carriage to support a selection of sturdy horses for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for non-nobles to secure seats, and carrying candidates who would represent them if the seats were to be awarded.
Violet opened her mouth.
"We need to know that this isn't just our family's business, and they need to know that too. This might be the last thing the Lawrence family can do as a royal family. We can't have a situation like that again where a mine collapses and there's no way to tell anyone."
Violet continued as Winter nodded silently.
"I didn't know this many people would come. Ah, I guess I have to greet the guests."
Violet took a deep breath and smiled as she looked back at the Lawrence family. She felt the pressure of the unexpected crowd, and even Violet greeting them one by one did not ease their tension.
Ash, who had failed to make a dramatic entrance due to the commotion, got out of the carriage with a frown.
Then he approached Violet, who was standing at the door, to assign the servants to let Lawrence lead people out one or two at a time.
"I don't know what kind of trick that is, but it's probably counterproductive. Didn't you call us here to demand that the Lawrence family give up their seats? But look. You're showing us that this isn't a good thing for the nobles, right now."
Then Violet looked at him with a thoughtful expression.
"Ash, I have always had great respect for our family. When Rockround was in danger, the Lawrence family was the first to step into battle. I didn't shy away from royalty. I believed that was the job of royalty."
"But is this something like this?"
"That's why Father and Wayne chose this national policy. Because they are a member of the Lawrence family. You are not worthy of my family. And I'm not the only one who knows that."
After she finished speaking, Ash and the crowd fell silent. After a long silence, one of Violet's cousins, Angela, approached her.
"Thank you for coming. I couldn't sleep the night before because I was so excited."
"Violet! I'm finally going to see the famous garden I've heard about. My friends were so jealous that I got to see it first."
"Oh my, I was bragging too."
A few Lawrences let out a delighted exclamation as they made their way through the mansion and into the garden, guided by the attendants, who chattered among themselves first.
At that sight, Ash nervously pushed the servant who had come to guide him away, then said to the escorts who had brought him, feeling his stomach turn.
"How dare you invite such lowly beings to a meeting of the royal family?"
Then Winter, who had been watching from afar, walked towards Ash. Dozens of Kanik employees followed behind him and confronted Ash's escorts.
The reporters who saw Ash narrow their eyes and look at Winter gathered around. Winter spoke first.
"Ash Lawrence."
"Tell her."
"Why me, when I'm not even a King?"
Winter taunted as he had learned from his wife, then continued speaking with a mischievous expression on his face, his hands behind his back.
"By the way, it seems you were a bad student when you were young."
"...What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"No, our Princess was taught not to call people the best of the best, and you did it just now."
Ash's eyes widened as Winter began to babble loudly about what he had said without thinking. Ash spoke hurriedly.
"How dare you say such a thing?"
"I would say such things all the time. But you shouldn't. You should have lived your life valuing people like my wife. You were a royal."
Winter continued, laughing.
"Still, you're a pretty good guy. I admit it."
"...What?"
"That's right. You knew you weren't up to par, so you gave up the throne with your own hands."
"Shut up, Winter Blooming!"
"Of course, if you were smart, you would have given your position to your younger sister."
When Winter, who knows no bounds when he starts teasing others, says this, he laughs heartily, and the Kanik staff also giggles. Violet, who looks back at them for a moment, sighs and thinks again that there is something villainous about them. It was clear that they were influenced by the villain leader, but there were times when they seemed to enjoy it too.
Ash glanced at Violet as she approached him to welcome all the guests, then spoke to Winter.
"How can a King be confident when he is afraid and gathers people together to hide behind them?"
Winter was taken aback by her words.
"On the contrary. He is too big of a gall to make a family feud into a national affair. Does my wife still not understand?"
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