<i><span>Wait a minute. You mean that ring you wear on your finger?</i>


    <span>Perhaps there was no doubt about it. This was a jewelry shop, a ce that deals with jewelry.


    <i><span>Who the hell is the bride then? His Royal Highness Arnold’s bride, the bride, that would be…</i>


    <span>After a few moments of contemtion, Rishe abruptly came to her senses.


    <i><span>That would be me!!</i>


    <span>The moment that registered, she thought she would lose her mind.


    <span>She nced in a panic at Arnold, but he looked sullen as usual.


    <span>He propped his cheekbones and sported a look that shouted he was doing nothing abnormal.


    <span>That made it hard to dismiss.


    <i><span>Wh-w-why? Could it be that a ring is required for the wedding ceremony even in Garkhain?… No, no, that can’t be true! Wearing a ring on the ring finger of the left hand is meaningful only in our country. I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t give a ring to a marriage partner in any other country!</i>


    <span>If it wasn’t a ceremonial necessity, what was it for then?


    <span>While she was thinking in circles, the old woman spoke, “My grandson will bring you some tea. Please have a seat on the couch, Rishe-sama.”


    <span>“Um, uhh, okay …”


    <span>“I’ll get this one ready. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a customer, so I’m very excited.”


    <span>As prompted, Rishe sat next to Arnold.


    <span>Because of the three-seater sofa, there was an empty space open for one person in the middle. Feeling ufortable, she asked timidly, “Your Highness, um, what is this…?”


    <span>“What? Is there anything you still don’t understand?”


    <span>“Of course there is!”


    <span>Thus she prodded in a series of questions.


    <span>“As I recall, I’m supposed to apany Your Highness and do as you wish, after I lost the bet, right?”


    <span>“Precisely, your perception is correct.


    <span>“So why are we talking about buying a ring?”


    <span>It was strange, no matter how you thought about it.


    <span>As she was lost in her thoughts, Arnold quipped, looking at the pocket watch he took out of his pocket.


    <span>“All I demand of you is to have a ring.”


    <span>“How on earth did youe up with that?! There should be more to it than this, isn’t there? An expedient order for Your Highness, and something I don’t normally do.”


    <span>“Huh? Is that what you want me to do?”


    <span>“No!”


    <span>No, in a sense, she could say that.


    <span>Rishe’s purpose in proposing such a bet was to bring out Arnold’s real intentions and feelings. And yet, a new mystery arose instead.


    <span>“Besides, you needn’t exercise your rights from the bet on this. If for some reason you wanted me to wear a ring, you could have told me and I would have done so.”


    <span>“…Errr.”


    <span>For some reason, Arnold was dumbfounded as he tried to say something perfectly legitimate.


    <span>“I didn’t think you’d choose honestly if I said I’ll buy you a ring and you can choose whichever you want.”


    <span>“Ugh.”


    <span>“I was afraid you dislike others from buying you things.”


    <span>She couldn’t reply.


    <span>Arnold was right. It was unsettling to be treated like that. Even now, she was extremely upset by this development.


    <span>“If so, you’ll have to make the most of this opportunity. The gems they deal with here are top-quality. There’s no limit to the money, so choose whatever catches your eye.”


    <span>“But, Your Highness, I can’t afford to buy something so expensive at a moment’s notice.”


    <span>“…Rishe.”


    <span>Arnold interrupted as if he’d expected that.


    <span>“If we order the ring here, the castle will foot the bill.”


    <span>“!”


    <span>The words shook Rishe’s shoulders.


    <span>“You’re interested in trade, and I have a surplus of private funds which I don’t have much use for. Thanks to you, it won’t be dead money. What do you think?”


    <span>“T-that’s…!”


    <span>Arnold chuckled.


    <span>“As you’ve seen, the shopkeeper is a person with a strong obsession with jewels. If I spend my money here, the owner may use the profits to purchase new pieces of jewelry. To put it in a roundabout way, we’ll be feeding merchants and skilled craftsmen.”


    <span>“U-h-h…”


    <span>“If you want to obtain other gems from other countries, that’s fine too. Because when things and people move, so does money. So, still wanna refuse?”


    <i><span>Zsst, devious!!!</i>


    <span>But Arnold had a point.


    <span>It was the saddest thing for a merchant to have people with money, who were unwilling to spend it.


    <span>It was unreasonable for the royal family to splurge, but if they have a surplus of private funds, then by all means let it fall to the people.


    <span>“…I get it.”


    <span>In any case, this was an ‘order’. In any case, Rishe has no veto power.


    <span>“Then, I’ll choose. With all my heart and soul, I will do my best.”


    <span>“Ha~”


    <span>Arnoldughed in amusement and gave her a hearty cheer.


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