CHAPTER 47 - A DATE WITH LIAM (1)Actually, this wasn't the first time Ezekiel had come to the north. Several times, he had come to the Duchy of Almandine for work. In the lands of the Euclase Continent, there was no area that he had not been to.
This was thanks to his father, the Emperor, who insisted on having him work all over the continent, assigning him here and there and not giving him any rest since he was a teenager.
However, the middle-aged man always kept Harriet close to himself. He never asked Harriet to go anywhere or away from the capital, as if wanting to raise her with his own hands. It was only natural that Harriet's reputation had skyrocketed because of the Emperor's treatment of her.
In fact, even if Ezekiel had forced his father to place Harriet in the Western Fort, far from the capital, if Harriet didn't agree and asked the Emperor to stay in the capital, he wouldn't be able to drive Harriet away.
The emperor spoiled Harriet by letting her do what she wanted and giving her wealth and power. It was clear that the man raised Harriet to become the next Empress… but why?
What didn't Ezekiel know?
While thinking like that and looking out the window from his room, he saw a person in a brown robe walking out from the side gate of the castle, across from the garden.
It was indeed far away from Ezekiel's bedroom window, however, Ezekiel had a 20/20 vision. He was the best archer on the Continent if he could boast.
And because of that, he could tell that the brown-robed woman was Harriet, from the strands of her pale lavender hair that fluttered out of her hoodie.
The clothes that the woman was wearing were different from yesterday's lavish jewelled clothes. The woman only wore ordinary people's clothes, and she also went alone without being followed by anyone. It was a rare sight.
Harriet always looked beautiful with jewellery adorning her body and the beautiful dresses she wore. Even yesterday, he saw the woman dressed so beautifully to welcome the group of guests. She… looked like the moon and stars sparkling in the night sky.
Then where did the woman go in that kind of clothes? Did she sneak out secretly?
***
Harriet took off her hoodie and looked around the city roundabout. She woke up this morning, and Liam had disappeared from her side. What was that man really planning?
But when Harriet saw a man standing by the fountain, plainly dressed, tall and slender looking, Harriet understood.
"But we will not go together. Meet me at the city roundabout at ten in the morning, so it will feel like a real date," he said yesterday.
Liam's hair glowed in the morning sun, and his charming smile grew when he saw Harriet a few steps away from him. Liam's shining golden eyes warmed, looking at Harriet gently. The man spread his arms, one holding a paper bag, and the other holding a walking cane.
And Harriet couldn't help but jump into the man's arms. It was like she hadn't seen him in forever. It felt as if Harriet had missed him so much.
"Ah, Madam, I missed you so much," whispered the man hugging her tightly, voicing what she had just felt in her heart.
Warm, made Harriet smile happily. "Has Milord had breakfast?"
"I have," replied Liam kissing the top of her head. He asked, "What about Madam? Have you had your breakfast? Did you sleep well?" .
Harriet couldn't stop smiling. It really felt like they hadn't seen each other in a long time, even though they slept in the same bed last night. Liam's question that he used to ask at home was now being asked outside, making this all feel more thrilling than usual.
"I've had breakfast and I slept well," said Harriet.
Liam laughed softly. The man grabbed Harriet's hand after moving the paper bag into the same hand that held the walking cane. Then his left hand grabbed Harriet's right hand and pulled it up, kissing it briefly and holding her warmly. He said, "Let's go for a walk on the side of town you haven't seen.".
Harriet looked at the side of Liam's face, blushing from the joy of seeing the man look healthy today. It was as if they were a normal couple spending the weekends together…
Liam pulled her hand down a busy street. Several horse-drawn carriages passed along the road and stopped at the shops. Harriet saw that it was a street filled with dress and clothing stores for commoners to the nobility.
There were also many jewellery shops, and on the other hand, there were artisans who sold processed goods typical of the north, such as monster skins and furs.
Harriet's eyes lit up at the beautiful light brown fur coat on display behind the boutique glass. Seeing that, Liam immediately pulled her there.
"Milord, wait," Harriet held Liam's hand.
"Why?" Liam asked raising an eyebrow, looking at her innocently.
"Did you purposely bring me here? Is this a temptation for me to spend your money?" asked Harriet quickly, a little panicked.
Liam laughed loudly at Harriet's question. He replied, "Come on. On our first date, we went down a street full of small traders, so I just bought you some cheap knick-knacks. Now's a good chance to buy you something a little more expensive."
"But... yesterday I bought a lot of stuff," said Harriet, still holding Liam.
Liam let go of Harriet's hand and put his arm around her waist, pushing Harriet gently to follow him into the shop.
"You did buy a lot of stuff. But I haven't bought anything for you," Liam insisted.
Seeing how enthusiastic her husband was, Harriet sighed and gave up. One coat would be enough, she thought, and then they could go and be done with it. However, Liam ended up buying her three fur coats, two fox monster scarves and five pairs of gloves.
Harriet just glanced at a white earmuff, and Liam picked it up for her right away.
"Milord…" Harriet held Liam's hand. "It's almost summer, I won't need..."
"But these earmuffs can still be worn for two or three years before the fashion in this place changes. Don't worry, you can still wear it next winter," Liam said softly.
Harriet groaned softly in a low voice that sounded adorable to Liam's ears. The man smiled with his golden eyes looking at Harriet with delight. "Okay. It's almost summer, you say? How about we find a suitable summer dress for you to wear in the north?"
"Milord, I've got lots of summer dresses," said Harriet. She could wear the dress she bought in the capital.
"I know the dresses in this place are not as good as the dresses from the capital, but the summer dresses here have a different fabric," Liam said quietly.
Harriet blinked. "You know about fabrics too, Milord?" she asked.
"My parents had a fashion business decades ago. But back then, the roads between the major cities of this continent were still very difficult for carriages to pass and still very dangerous, so the two of them stayed in the capital for several months a year for the business. I had never accompanied them, but I had seen a lot of fabrics," explained Liam in a cheerful voice.
Harriet was happy to hear Liam talk about his parents. There was no trace of sadness, or perhaps Liam was hiding it well, and what was more evident was the gleam of the man's admiration for his parents.