256: Present For Mother

Present For Mother

Arlan timely returned from the summit, and as per his order, Oriana was ready to leave with him. The prince didn't wish to have many people around him so among his knights, he only allowed Imbert to come.  1

Disguised asf an ordinary noble with his servants, Arlan left the royal palace bringing only his attendant and knight captain with him. As such, Orian sat in the carriage with Arlan while Imbert rode on horseback. 

After last night's incident, Oriana was too embarrassed to sit in such a small, enclosed space with Arlan. She dared not look at the prince sitting in front of her, more so with her  feeling his gaze on her. She found her cheeks heating up and her heart picking up its pace. 

'Calm down, heart, calm down. He doesn't even remember it so there is no need to be embarrassed. No one else saw, no one remembered other than me that means nothing happened. I need to calm down…'

Unknown to her, her racing heartbeats sounded like heavenly music to Arlan's ears. The light blush on her cheeks was the loveliest shade of pink he had seen. He knew he was the reason she was like this, and this made him hide a smile. 

She continued to stare outside the window, doing her best to not look at the prince. 

This time, their carriage did not stop in front of a marketplace. Rather, it was a district lined with mansion-like boutiques and parlors, an avenue that catered to the discerning tastes of its target affluent clientele. There were no crowds walking down the streets. Instead, there were lines of carriages parked in front of each shop, while the few customers loitering outside were obviously noblemen shadowed by their subordinates. 

'What kind of place…?' 

Oriana was struck with incredulity. From the elegant furnishings outside, she would believe if people were to claim these were mansions of aristocrats. If not for the boxes and wrapped purchases she witnessed being carried out by the servants to the carriages, she would not guess this avenue was a shopping district. 

'Queen Seren said Nefer is the economical capital of the kingdom. I was wondering why I barely saw nobles in the markets we visited. I thought it was beneath noblemen to shop like commoners, but that was only because they have their own district.' 

The carriage stopped in front of one building. The storefront alone was dazzling, with life-like statues sculpted in the form of lions and eagles. Each side of the entrance had statues that were inlaid with various gemstones sparkling under the sun. Oriana could not help but gape. 

"We are here to buy souvenirs for my mother," Arlan spoke which brought her attention back to him. 

"Welcome, esteemed customer," the doorman politely greeted as he opened the door for them. Only then did Oriana realize what she thought was a mansion was in fact a clothing shop, but instead of an entire set of attires, they specialize in expensive fabric used as shawls and scarves. 

As they walked inside the shop, Imbert showed the crest of Silver Oak to the shop attendant in charge of receiving customers. They were led inside that lavish shop without any disturbances. 

It was the usual thing as guests coming here were rich or with powerful backgrounds. The shop attendants and shopkeepers  were aware that royals would often play outside in disguise to not pull any attention towards them. 

Not even a minute later, the shop owner himself came to them and guided their way to a private room where only Arlan and Oriana were present and no one would disturb their shopping. Imbert outside the shop.

"Your Highness, what you are looking for in particular?"

"A present for my mother," he replied. "Show me your highest-quality products."

"Fantastic! We have a fine range of new shawls." 

A shop attendant brought out several boxes of beautiful shawls and the shop owner showed them to the prince, explaining them one by one. 

"This is the highest quality silk which you won't find anywhere else in the continent. Not only is the silk high class, but this elegant needlework is made by using the finest threads of gold by the most renowned master weaver of Othinia. A hundred grains of gold was used on this."

Oriana could not help but be shocked by the most expensive piece of clothing she had ever seen in her life. She could only watch and dare not touch it. 

Arlan picked the fabric and passed it to Oriana who was next to him. She was taken aback, as if what he passed was some kind of venomous snake. 

"Y-Your High—"

"Hold it."

She obediently held it and heard Arlan ask, "How is it?"

At his question, she stared at him for a moment in shock. Was she misunderstanding things? 

Seeing her lack of response, he raised a brow. "I asked you 'how is it'."

Oriana lowered her gaze towards the lovely green shawl with golden threads in her hand. "It's…It's good, Your Highness."

"That one?" He pointed towards another one.

She first put back the shawl on its original container as she was scared  of damaging it or dirtying it. 

A hundred grains of gold!

How many decades would be slave away to earn that amount? Touching that expensive fabric was already too much for a person of her status.

"It's good as well," Oriana replied timidly. 

"That one?"

"That one too?"

Each of them were beautiful in their own rights that she could not find anything lacking in them. 

"If all are good, shall we buy all the stock of this entire shop?" Arlan asked. 

"Huh?" She looked at him, understanding the sarcasm from him. "They all are really good."

"I dragged you here so you can help me select a nice present for my mother, but I don't think we can carry all of their stock in a single carriage. Look carefully and select the best one."

'He wants me to select it for Her Majesty. Why me, of all his people? I can't even tell the difference between them. How can I tell which one is the best?' 

"Your Highness, I dare not select anything for Her Majesty. I have no idea of her royal tastes. What if Her Majesty won't like what I choose?"

"Do not worry about that. Just get which one you find the most beautiful," he insisted. 

Oriana gave up. WIth a determined face, she paid strict attention to each of those shawls. As she checked the displayed boxes one by one, the shop owner explained to her the the color combination, to what kind of design each fabric contained, details of each fabric, from how it was made to 

While Oriana struggled to take in everything the shop owner was saying, Arlan was quietly observing her. Her colorful reactions fascinated him, especially her expressions whenever she touched a new shawl, sometimes even  raising her brows or gasping whenever she heard something surprising from the shop owner. 

Her smile was as lovely as the first blossom of spring the moment she made a final decision an hour later.

"Your Highness!" she smiled brightly. "I found it! It's this one!"

Her voice faltered when she realized her gaffe. She was only his servant, and they were in a public place. Her behavior was insolent on many levels. She let out an awkward cough.

"I mean, I think this one is good, Your Highness. The symbol of the Palace of Rose is a pink rose and this shawl has a similar design. Also, this color, it will suit Her Majesty…I think," she said hesitantly, worrying that Arlan would chastise her or dislike her choice.

Arlan looked at the shop owner. "Pack this one."

The shop owner happily folded the shawl with the rose design and put it back in its box while Oriana was happy that Arlan liked what she chose. A light smile painted on her lips which didn't go unnoticed by the prince.

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