Chapter 13: A Ring

"Thank you for purchasing, Your Highness and Your Majesty! I hope your wedding will bring you a fortune!" Mr. Esteban said as we left the parlor.

"That man was too loud." King Levin suddenly said as I laugh.

"He sure is." I agreed.

"Now, shall we go to our next location?"

"Huh? Are we not done yet?" I asked.

"Of course, I have to buy you new jewelries and shoes to match your outfit," we began to walk around as people greeted us with smiles on their faces, while the other was star-struck in King Levin's presence.

"Look at the King of Mondreich. Isn't he personally good-looking?"

"Oh, how lucky Her Highness is. I envy her!" the girls gossips.

"They like you." I said.

"Are you jealous?" I raised my eyebrow and looked at him.

"Why would I be jealous?" as we entered the boutique.

"Nothing. Just asking."

"Good morning, Your Highness and King Levin! Welcome to Fancy Apparel! What would you like to purchase?" a woman in her middle age happily greeted us.

"Good morning, we would like to see some of your jewelries and shoes." King Levin said.

"And what do you prefer to see first?"

"Hmm, what do you think, Princess?" he asked.

"I guess, the shoes first."

"Okay then, follow me. I'll show you some brand new stocks of shoes." we followed her and saw shelves of shoes.

"Please pick what you desire, Your Highness." I carefully observe a shoe with a flower on its toes area.

"I choose this. Is it okay?" I asked King Levin.

"It matches your wedding dress so why not." he smiled.

"You can still choose anything here, Your Highness." the woman said.

"No, this will be fine. Though, the dress is long. The shoes can't be seen, anyways."

"As you wish, Your Highness. Shall we proceed to jewelries?"

"Yes, please." as we follow her to the glass table. Inside of it, there's full of shining gold and silver jewelries.

"Take a look here and let me know what would you want." she said.

"Are these real gold and silver?" King Levin suddenly asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty." she replied.

"Gold doesn't match her wedding dress so, show me silver necklaces as well as the earrings."

"Sure, Your Majesty. Let me discuss these jewelries for you." he nods.

She carefully grabbed three samples of the silver inside of a sealed cabinet as she placed a clean towel on the table then put it down.

"These three silvers are the only available here in our shop. First, this is a Mexican silver. As a professional jeweler, this kind of silver is usually used for making earrings. This is a standard type of silver that contains softer ores. I have samples of earrings that are made from Mexican silver. Take a look then you can now choose." she showed us two diamond earrings and another design that I don't quite recognize.

King Levin took the second diamond earring then he put it beside my ear.

"This is perfect for you." he said.

"Can I see Her Highness' wedding dress? I would like to take a look at it so I can know what matches her dress." she offered.

"Eliz." I called as she shows her my dress.

"Wow, this dress is so lovely~" she commented.

"Hmm... Yes, His Majesty is right. He chose the mid-length earrings for your dress."

"Told you." he smiled.

"You're good at this, huh." as he gives the earrings to the lady.

"Since you already have chosen a pair of earrings, let me show you another kind of silver for a necklace." she then show us another three designs of necklaces.

"These three necklaces are made from rhodium. This kind of silver is a family of platinum which prevents the jewelries from tarnishing. This is more costly than you expected since it was one of the exquisite qualities of silver after non-tarnish alloys." she explained.

"I'll let you choose now, Princess. I apologize if I muddle your choices." King Levin said.

"No, it's okay. After all, I don't know how to look at these. I'm grateful that you're with me." I smiled.

"Please do continue suggesting. I wouldn't mind."

"As you please. Then, I choose this." he picked up a necklace with a shiny diamond pendant that seems to be the partner of the earrings that he chose.

"Great choice, Your Majesty! You have good eyes. I thought you were not going to choose that. Most of my male customers doesn't know how to choose a gift for their wife." I felt a sudden heat on my cheeks as I heard King Levin chuckled.

"I-I'm not his wife." I stutteringly said.

"Soon to be." he corrected.

"Seems like Her Highness is getting shy." the Lady said as she carefully took the chosen accessories in their respective boxes.

"Please come this way for the payment, Your Highness." I was about to follow her when he blocked my way.

"I'll pay." as he goes along with the lady.

"He's being too gentleman." I whine.

"Don't you like that, Your Highness?" Eliz asked.

"Not that I don't like it. I just don't want him to do anything for me. I can pay for those with my own money, you know." I sigh.

"But, Your Highness, it seems like His Majesty is still courting you since you were both not even in a relationship." I look at her in baffle as she stares at me.

"You know what, you're right." as we both laugh then I noticed something on the shelf that I completely forgot an important thing to buy for the wedding.

I glance at him to check if he's not watching and then I walk to the shelf.

This was the shiny object that catches my attention and realized that I have forgotten to buy it for him.

A ring.

Without this, our marriage will be worthless.

"You like that?" I jumped in surprise as someone familiar behind me spoke.

"Uhm, I actually haven't bought a wedding ring for you." I scratched the back of my neck as he chuckled.

"No need, Princess. Mother doesn't want you to know that she already bought a ring for our wedding this morning before you woke up." I look at him confused.

"I see that you're confused. Last night when I was about to exit the palace, I bumped into her before going out and was asked if we already acquired a wedding rings."

"And then?"

"Due to our foreign origins, we had a quick discussion at the vestibule that I should have a ring that is made from Starnstadt and you will have a ring that is made from Mondreich. She said she will take care of it."

"Really? Mother agreed to that?"

"Of course. And I think, it's fine so that our unity will prove that we're joining forces." as he suddenly chuckles.

"I almost forgot that we are meant to be married because of that. But don't worry. In the first place, I don't have intentions to marry you just for that." he pushed aside my hair on my ears as his fingers slide on my chin.

"A ring will not satisfy me to make you mine." as he put his index finger on my left chest.

"But I need this."