THSMW 54

chapter 54

Suddenly, I remembered that the Duchy of Blanche owned a diamond mine.

The diamonds glinting under the drawing room lights completely stole my gaze. There was a reason the box was that big.

I was quite taken aback. There was such a massive amount of diamonds inside that I couldn’t even begin to estimate them by eye. They were all clustered together.

“Wow, Your Highness. Are you proposing to my sister or something?”

“No. Still working on it.”

Miliard asked while sneaking peeks into the box. Siegfried calmly shook his head.

All the diamonds were already cut and set. Rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, anklets, even fountain pens and pocket watches were studded with diamonds.

What on earth was the point of embedding diamonds even into everyday items?

Was I supposed to write him letters with that fountain pen? Or check the time with the watch while waiting for him to come back?

I looked up at Siegfried with eyes that clearly asked for an explanation. After causing all this madness, he merely smiled like a bashful boy.

“Most of the diamonds are pink—because they resemble your eyes. I added a few white ones too since they’re standard… I kind of ended up with a lot.”

That wasn’t “a lot”—this was clearly way more than when he gave me the pearls. My lips just opened and closed without sound. Siegfried went on.

“I had to leave sooner than planned, so I rushed to prepare all this. I could only get what was already available on the market. Once I return from the Eastern Front, I’ll find a jeweler and have something made just for you. Of course… if you’re willing to wait for me.”

I thought all the talk about waiting and proposing after he returned was already over.

Did I somehow make him feel insecure? Or was it because the vineyard I just bought burned down?

Maybe he was thinking, You won’t be able to grow grapes for years, so here, take this instead?

“I believe I already told you I’d wait.”

Five years? That’s nothing. I could wait ten. Siegfried wouldn’t return right after the Eastern Front anyway. He’d have to go through a few more battles before coming back to the capital.

But so what? With all the pearls and diamonds he gave me, I could wear a different design every day until he returned.

Besides, Siegfried even included several unmounted diamonds, the kind used for financial transactions. Clearly, he meant for me to use them to restore the vineyard.

If he’d given me money directly, word might reach Eisa. But with jewels, it was a different story.

“Your Highness… you’re really serious, aren’t you?”

I set the box down beside me and laced my fingers with Siegfried’s. He blinked wide in surprise at the sudden warmth.

“Of course. Even animals put in this much effort when they’re courting.”

Animals don’t even know the value of diamonds. I gently brushed his rough knuckles with my fingertips. Siegfried bit his lower lip and held his breath.

“I’ll wait. But you have to write to me. You’ve done all this, so you need to take responsibility for blocking all my marriage prospects in my prime, at twenty.”

“Sure. I like taking responsibility. Didn’t I say I don’t want to be irresponsible?”

Well, that was a relief. There was no guarantee Siegfried would continue liking me in the future, but this was still better than becoming the Crown Prince’s fiancée.

Even if his feelings faded one day, I’d still have the diamonds, pearls, and the vineyard.

I decided to let Siegfried go, half with concern over how long a boy’s first love could truly last, and half wondering if I’d been well and truly roped in.

Either way, it wasn’t a bad deal for me. As I held the box in my arms and faced Siegfried, a hand suddenly darted out.

Smack! Instinctively, I slapped it away.

Turning with a glare, I saw Miliard rubbing his reddened hand.

“Ow! That hurt!”

“Don’t you dare eye someone else’s jewels.”

Ah, looks like I found another thing to keep me busy while waiting for Siegfried—hiding my jewels from greedy Miliard.

Early the next morning, Siegfried left the Elipritz estate with Vanessa and Killian.

I, along with the rest of the count’s household, stepped outside the front entrance to see him off. Naturally, I didn’t forget to wear all ten of the diamond and pearl rings he gave me.

He ought to feel his gifts were worth it, at least this much.

As Siegfried finished saying goodbye to Abyssion, he turned and looked my way. I waved at him. The diamonds sparkled in the morning sun.

He squinted slightly as if the light was too bright, then broke into laughter. Clad in a black cape and uniform, he approached me. Now that he was actually leaving, it felt a little sad.

“Take care, Ariel. I’ll write to you.”

“Please make sure you eat properly. Don’t get hurt and come back strong. I believe you’ll do just fine.”

“Anyone listening might think I’m your son.”

It was meant with sincere concern, but the emperor allowing a mere teenager like Siegfried to go off to war made me resent him a little.

Of course, it was Siegfried’s own decision to volunteer, and Eisa’s pressure had also played a part.

Still, if I were the emperor, I’d never send such a young, handsome son to a dangerous place like that.

“I heard the east is famous for emeralds. Should I send you some?”

“Yes!”

“Sis, have some shame and say no once in a while.”

I slapped Miliard’s impudent mouth. He immediately went quiet.

Siegfried looked at my hand, seeking permission. I turned my palm upward, and he leaned forward slightly. His lips, rougher than they looked, brushed against the back of my hand and pulled away.

Welp, there’s no backing out now. I’m going to end up waiting five whole years for Siegfried.

“I should get going.”

“Stay safe.”

As I adjusted his collar, I got a bit choked up. I guess I’d grown quite attached in a short time.

Sending him off like this, I felt a pang of regret. Knowing he’d spend the next few years amidst life and death on the battlefield, I wished I’d been kinder to him.

Noticing my expression, Siegfried offered a faint smile. He’s not off to die, so I really shouldn’t look so forlorn.

Then, he mounted his jet-black horse. Killian and Vanessa followed behind.

I watched as Siegfried’s figure grew smaller in the distance.

After Siegfried left, time passed quickly. The mansion was restored within a few months and regained its former grandeur.

The time I’d spent with Siegfried hadn’t been long, but his absence felt bigger than expected.

I tried to return to my daily routine. I managed the household and focused on reviving the vineyard that had burned down.

There were occasional incidents caused by Miliard, but aside from those, the days were peaceful.

A year later, news arrived that Siegfried had claimed victory on the Eastern Front.

It was after I returned from this year’s monster subjugation. Without Siegfried, the campaign had taken longer again.

Summer passed, then came a short autumn and winter. The pub owner’s wife, whom I’d often visited, gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

I would occasionally stop by to play with the child. Siegfried had grown noticeably taller in just a few months, but babies grew on an entirely different level.

As the baby began to toddle and babble, Siegfried went to fight in a war started by the Western Kingdom. Once that war ended, surely he’d return.

I looked at the fresh green grape leaves sprouting on the tilled land and thought of him.

Then spring came again. Summer. Autumn. Winter.

Five years passed. And summer came once more.

“Ariel, a letter arrived.”

I woke up from my nap with a book over my face, startled by the knock. Miliard, who was soon to come of age, now stood a head taller than me.

“Is it from His Highness?”

“Wow, you knew without even looking. Well, he is the only one who writes to you regularly.”

“My dear little brother, if you don’t watch your words, I’ll stitch your mouth shut.”

“You should mind your words too, sis. You might really become a princess, you know.”

That day finally came—when I couldn’t just laugh those words off as a joke.

Honestly, I never thought Siegfried would actually write to me consistently for five years. With each letter came a new kind of gem.

I took the letter and the sapphire earrings from the Western Kingdom that Miliard handed me.

“What do you think? Pretty?”

“Uh… yeah.”

“Look at that reaction.”

When I asked after putting the earrings on, Miliard gave a half-hearted nod. I tapped his shoulder, and he pouted.

“Seriously, after getting that many, can’t you spare one for me? For my hobbies?”

“I’m not handing over my babies to an idiot who gambles his life on card games.”

“Well, excuse me.”

I ignored Miliard’s grumbling and began reading the letter.

It started with Siegfried asking about my well-being, then mentioned that though he’d been slightly injured in this last war, it had ended in a grand victory. And finally—he said it was time to return to the capital.

I screamed and hugged Miliard. He tried to push me off, complaining, but I ignored him.

“His Highness is coming back!”

Siegfried is coming back.