The Alliance Marriage Went Wrong

"Don't you think we should return now? The sun will set soon and they will wait for us to have dinner all together."

Arin Helev couldn't believe that his wife was still not getting bored even after wandering the whole evening in the market! It's been hours but she didn't even seem to be tired at all. She already checked out almost every stall and shop in the capital but she only bought a few accessories. Just what was her purpose?

"There is still a few hours before dinner and we don't even need an hour to return to the palace. Why are you so hurry?" Iria asked Arin back. She helplessly shook her head at him. Rather than stuck to her and being all sulky, he should just return to the palace!

Crown Prince Arin sighed and glanced around. "Alright. You can spend some more time but we have to return soon. Vance and Uncle Feric will be worried if we return too late."

There was no response and Arin turned to Iria. He realized that she wasn't listening to him at all. Instead, all her attention was focused on something that was displayed on the stall. "What is it this time?" He asked.

He glanced down at the items on the stall and he slightly raised a brow. Braid bracelets. It was a bit shocking because this was the first. He followed her around the whole evening but it's her first time showing interest in any kind of jewellery! He was already convinced that she was not a fan of jewellery despite being a royal. Was he wrong?

"Do you like that? I don't think it's any special." He remarked. They already walked past many shops and stalls which sells all kinds of jewellery with diamonds and rare gemstones. She didn't even glance at them for once and now, it's bracelets. Braided ones on top of that. They were too common.

Iria finally heard his voice when she was snapped out of her thoughts. She slightly smiled when she turned to him. "Not any special? In Jerivia, we don't think that way."

"What do you mean?" He asked her.

Iria shifted her gaze back to the jewellery and gently touched a few of them. "We have a custom, much more like a belief. If you give a braided bracelet to someone, that means you wish for that person to always be safe, happy and protected. It means your greatest blessing will always be with that person.

"In Jerivia, we valued this belief a lot and it is applicable to all kinds of relationships. For a parent and child, for siblings, for friends, for lovers and... "

She couldn't finish as she was distracted by Arin's action. Feeling perplexed, she narrowed her eyes at the braided bracelet on her left wrist. Then she turned to Arin.

"I bet it's also applicable between a husband and wife," Crown Prince Arin Helev muttered with a little smile on his face.

Iria Alewine blankly stared at the braided bracelet which was a mixture of gold and yellow in colour. Her father had once given her a braided bracelet when she started fighting beside him. Apart from that, no one had ever done this for her. And now, Arin Helev the Crown Prince of Qalagon was doing it for her?!

"This is... " She couldn't even say more and only shook her head. He shouldn't do this. He shouldn't.

"I already expressed many times how I want you to be safe. Besides, I also feel good when I see you being happy. So, following your kingdom's custom, if I were to give a braided bracelet to anyone, it must be you." He explained and looked down at the braided bracelet which he chose for her.

Iria nervously squeezed her clothes with her right hand. This belief was highly valued in Jerivia and she didn't dare to accept it while she was just a fake who came here to fool him!

Noticing the little smile on his face only made her felt the pressure more! What was she supposed to say? Right now, she wondered that it would be better if he was cold to her rather than this. At least, she wouldn't have to feel more guilty than she did now!

"Will you pick one for me too? I think it will be better if we exchange it." Arin said and she darted her eyes to him. He seemed to be a bit amazed when he saw her flustered face. However, she quickly turned back to the braided bracelets.

Quietly staring for a while, she picked the one which was a mixture of silver and black in colour. She turned back to him and tied it to his left wrist. "No matter what happens in the future, I also wish for your safety." She murmured.

She might be a fake but... she wasn't lying. In the world they lived in which was dominated by greed, wars and inequality, someone like Crown Prince Arin Helev was a true gem. Humanity was slowly killed but he was the one who wished to rebuild that and create a world where all kinds of people lived together happily and in harmony, irrespective of classes.

Someone like him deserved to be safe and protected but... were those the only reasons why she felt this way? She didn't know. She never felt this way towards anyone, let alone an enemy!

Having no idea of the things that crossed Iria's mind, Arin Helev lifted his left hand and took a closer look at the braided bracelet. "This will keep me safe." He muttered and flashed a smile.

Of course, he had many valuable things. That's a given for the Crown Prince of a powerful kingdom like Qalagon yet he only had two possessions that he personally deemed valuable. The two ornaments that were hanged on the handle of his sword, the shape of a bonsai and a sun. The former from his late mother and the latter from the mysterious woman beside him. And now with this braided bracelet, the number had risen to three. He wondered if there would be the fourth one.

Ever since he met this woman, he started to experience unfamiliar feelings which he didn't even understand. The one he hated the most among them was the sense of insecurity. He didn't know why but he felt like this woman could disappear from his sight anytime and he really hated that feeling. Throughout the 22 years of his life, he had never felt insecure as he did now yet he never showed it.

"I think I look around enough. Shall we return now?" Iria said when Arin's gaze was still fixated on the little new gift.

Arin brushed away all the things that crossed his mind and forced a little smile. "Okay. Let's go."