Chapter 11

"Would your wife be one of the girls out there Victor?" Arthur asked.

Arthur tapped the table as the crowd near the window became more rowdy.

"No," Victor said," She never said she would come."

Arthur hummed.

"Look at that girl with red hair!" a boy with glasses exclaimed.

"Isn't that the princess?"

"Oh my god! It is!"

"Her hair is so red! Even more red than a burning torch!"

"Did you see the beauty behind her?"

"Who, the brown haired one with glasses?"

"No! The one behind them all! With the instructor."

Everyone suddenly became quiet.

Arthur looked over puzzled, why did they suddenly become so quiet?

"She's so... beautiful!"

"...L-like a goddess!"

"Her hair is like moonshine, just look at it glistening in the sun!"

The boys praised," She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen!"

"Look at those violet eyes! They're like jewels, I can see them from here!"

Arthur frowned, wasn't that...

Elliot gasped," Victor!," he shouted," It's your wife! She's here!"

The class became quiet at the revelation. Victor stood up and approached the window.

"Which one?"

"Yeah which one?"

"The platinum blond one!" Elias said," At the back, the girl with violet eyes!"

Victor glanced out the window and his gaze landed on a familiar figure.

Arabelle was following the group of girls looking at the building.

Her long, straight blond hair fell to he waist, like a waterfall. Arabelle's small head was adorned with a pearl headband with navy blue ribbons which complimented her pale complexion. There was a slight bush on her cheeks and her pouty lips were painted a beautiful, subtle red.

Arabelle wore the same uniform as the other girls, an elegant navy blue knee-length skirt. She wore a white blouse and a navy blue blazer that was cropped at her waist. The uniform perfectly fit her figure and swayed in the wind as she walked towards the building.

Arabelle seemed to feel the eyes on and searched until she met Victors, she gave him a teasing smile and a little wave.

"Bella..." Victor whispered, he looked a little dumbfounded before quickly making his way out of the classroom.

"Bella?" a boy asked.

He had been close to Victor and could grasp what he said," Is that her name?"

"Victor's Wife's first name is Arabelle," Elias explained," I guess it's a pet name."

"Wow," the boy tall boy next to him said," That's Arabelle Andreas? I've heard about her, she's really popular in the empire, now I know why."

"Yeah, she's a real beauty! Did you see the way she smiled and waved at Victor? I felt like my heart was going to explode and she didn't even smile at me!"

"I know," another boy agreed.

Arthur went up to the window as well," It really is her. She's gotten prettier than last time."

The faces of several girls were pretty bad, while other looked on interested.

Some gasped," Wow! I wonder what cream she uses!"

"Her hair is so immaculate...."

"As expected of the next duchess!"

In all the commotion no one noticed the figure that was looking at the girls from his desk.

"How interesting..." Prince Bradley said eyeing all the figures," Even my sister came."

As he looked over everyone, his eyes strayed towards Arabelle for a moment longer.

On the floor upstairs, Prince Rupert looked on with a similar expression.

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"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" Victor asked after giving her a long embrace.

Arabelle smiled," Because I wanted to surprise you," she said as she let Victor kiss her hand.

They were in public so it would not be considered appropriate to do any more.

"Well, consider me surprised," Victor said smiling," Why did you suddenly think of doing this?"

"We have our ascension ceremony soon, so I thought we could travel back together, besides, The Academy is closer to the Duchy anyway."

Victor nodded, "Will you be staying in the dorms?"

Arabelle shook her head," I've already graduated, I'm just tagging along to see you. I got permission from the Academy to visit the campus. They said I could stay in a guest room, but I'll be living at an inn in the town, I want to have a look around."

"I'll stay with you," Victor said," I'll go and get permission."

"Alright," Arabelle readily agreed.

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"Arabelle, meet my brothers," Eloise said gesturing to the two men in front of her.

"Greetings to your highnesses," Arabelle said as she gave an elegant curtsey.

"Greetings," Prince Rupert exclaimed.

Prince Rupert was a tall young man with shiny blond hair and blue eyes.

A picturesque fairytale prince.

Prince Bradley was slightly taller with light brown hair. He had the same blue eyes and a mischievous air to him.

He nodded," It's great to meet Victor's well known wife, I've only seen you a couple of times."

Arabelle smiled humbly," It's great to be remembered by your highnesses."

"You are more beautiful than what the rumors say," Prince Rupert said pleasantly. Victor frowned and the grip on her hand became tighter.

"Thank you your highness."

"I heard that you're the one that owns the northern trade association," Prince Rupert said," and that you run the salt farm in the Northern Duchy.'

"That's right your highness," Arabelle said pleasantly," It was the culmination of some research I had done at Sheryl Academia."

They were presently sitting in the cafeteria, there were a lot of heads turned here. After all, three people from the imperial family were sitting on the same table.

"What made you want to make the association?" Bradley inquired smiling," Wouldn't it be enough to just sell it to merchants? And with such good quality salt, may I ask why you sell it for slightly cheaper?"

Arabelle glanced at Victor, who nodded, and turned back to them" It's mainly because I plan to sell other things in the association, and the duchy doesn't have an official trade association your highness."

In fact the salt was more expensive than a lot of basic commodities, it was just considerably cheaper than what was on the market before. Even if it was cheaper, they would still earn a lot of money from it.

"As for selling the salt cheaper, it's because the process isn't all that expensive, it also makes it easier for the common people to purchase it."

"Why sell it for higher outside the territory then? Salt sold in the duchy is considerably cheaper than elsewhere, even though it's lesser than what is sold by other companies..." Bradley questioned.

Eloise frowned," Bother, why are you questioning my dear friend left, right and center? You just met her. Are you trying to find fault with her?"

Bradley shrugged good-naturedly," I was just curious."

"It's alright," Arabelle said flapping her fan," It's mainly because of transportation cost, your highness. The farther away the place is, the more it will cost," she said simply," Also, of coarse I want to make sure the people of the duchy can afford things, I am a little biased towards them," Arabelle concluded smiling, admitting her fault.

"A noble's duty is to look after their people," Prince Rupert said understandingly.

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"She's quite bright isn't she?" Prince Rupert said as Arabelle and Victor walked away.

"She's a careful one," Prince Bradley snorted," Just like that husband of hers, Victor. No wonder they get along so well."

Prince Rupert nodded slowly with a thoughtful smile.