Seriously, I'm the one receiving gifts, so why do I feel more exhausted? I examined the gifts with a weary face, and thankfully, the long line that seemed endless finally showed signs of ending.
But the last person was quite unexpected.
"Ariel?"
I did send Ariel an invitation, but it wasn't a mass-produced one from Liam. it was a handwritten one from me, and I even emphasized that she didn't need to bring a gift. Knowing Ariel's kind heart, she would bring one anyway. But still, why are you standing in line!
"Why are you standing in line too?"
"But I wanted to give you something."
"You should have told me beforehand. You didn't need to wait in line like this."
"I can't cut in line when I'm a Saintess!"
Ariel's playful words were probably her true feelings. I knew it was also a consideration to ease my guilt, but I still felt sorry. However, her laughing face was so lovely that I couldn't help but smile along.
"You'll accept my gift, right?"
"Hmm, we'll see. You saw me rejecting others earlier, right? I'm a picky Divine Beast."
"You're making me a little nervous."
Ariel, who seemed genuinely nervous, brought two wooden dolls the size of her palm. She said she carved them herself, modeling them after me and Theo, but what was even cuter was that if you popped open the bottom of my doll, like a Matryoshka doll, there was a small eagle figurine inside. Seeing the feathers depicted quite delicately, I smiled brightly.
"So cute! You made this yourself? How did you do it? How are you so good with your hands?"
Even Theo's fierce eyes are the same! I felt like I received the best gift today, and I showered her with compliments, causing Ariel to blush and feel embarrassed.
"It's not a great skill. But I'm glad I could give it to you on time."
"Thank you so much. I'll treasure it."
"I'm the one who's grateful that you accepted it so happily. Actually, I was worried that Shuian-nim wouldn't like it because it's not something precious."
"What are you talking about? This is the most precious thing I received today."
Even though I said it with all my heart, she must have thought it was just a polite remark, as she laughed again and said in a very small voice to Theo, who was looking at us with a sulky face.
"Second Prince, if I ever... get together with... that person... you must come to the wedding. Shuian-nim too."
Only then did Theo answer with a slightly relaxed face.
"I will."
"Good luck, and I'm sure you'll do well. If you need any help, I'll assist you."
What? Help with what? Ariel is on Ricardo's side, so it can't be about the Crown Prince appointment... As Ariel smiled harmlessly, Theo twitched his lips and eyebrows.
He seemed completely relieved. Hey, why are you two exchanging signals like spies exchanging plans? Let me in on it!
Whether he understood the meaning or not, Theo seemed quite pleased with Ariel's words and drove the wedge in even further.
"Finally, even the dear Saintess has given a very precious gift, so I, on behalf of Shuian, express my deep gratitude."
"You're welcome."
With the addition of 'dear' to 'precious gift,' it meant complete approval. Only then did Ariel smile with relief and gracefully curtsy, lifting the hem of her skirt. The nobles' murmurs grew louder, of course.
"I thought the Saintess was on the First Prince's side. She doesn't seem to be on bad terms with the Second Prince."
"She is a Saintess, after all."
"Besides, the Divine Beast seems quite friendly with the Saintess."
"Well, as a Saintess, she would be especially devoted to the Divine Beast."
In any case, not being on bad terms with the Saintess, who was close to Ricardo, wasn't a bad thing for Theo's image, so there seemed to be nothing more to worry about.
"In addition, those who have given gifts that please my bird will be rewarded in a small way, so please visit my aide after the banquet."
The faces of those who had successfully given me gifts were filled with joy, while those who had been rejected seemed greatly disappointed.
Theo and Orca had prepared replies that were several times more expensive than the gifts they had prepared, but it was more important to them that they had gained the favor of the Prince and the Divine Beast.
Moreover, they would have seen Liam recording the names of those who gave gifts. They would now receive from Theo the value of the gifts they gave me and the extent to which I was pleased with them.
Anyway, I'm glad the welcome banquet I was worried about ended safely. As I was relieved, a woman standing far away and staring at me came into view.
I had never seen her before, and from the beginning of the banquet, she had been watching me from afar as if she was exploring me, without trying to talk to me.
Her reaction was in contrast to those who were trying to greet me, so she was even more noticeable.
'Is she just looking at me because she's curious?'
There's no malice in her gaze, so I can just leave it alone. Well, it's not like there aren't a few people staring at me out of curiosity. I quickly lost interest and turned my body.
After the banquet, only after confirming that there were no reactions of poison or magic in the gifts I received, I could bring them all to the bedroom.
I would know better if there was a bad aura, but it was a procedural check. It's better to check several times!
I insisted on carrying all those gifts myself, and Theo seemed even more proud that he noticed how excited I was.
"I'm jealous. It seems like you like them more than the gifts I've given you so far."
"That's not true. It's just fun to receive gifts like this suddenly."
I unwrapped the gifts again and looked through them one more time. I liked that there were many accessories that I could wear with Theo.
I was worried that I would come back empty-handed when expensive things came out one after another at first.
"The ones that come in pairs with the same design are for Theo and me to share, right? Pretty. Will you wear them with me?"
"Of course. Who else would I wear them with if not you?"
It was obvious that he thought one of them was his, which was cheeky and absurd, but also very cute.
He's got a severe case of rose-colored glasses... I wasn't in a position to say anything to Liam.
I answered with a deliberately grumpy tone.
"Why? I can wear them on both sides by myself."
"Shuian is very mischievous. Don't tease me and tell me that one is mine."
At the sight of his drooping eyebrows and playful pleading, I finally burst into laughter.
"Yeah, that's right. It's actually Theo's."
So sly! This vixen... While I was grumbling inwardly, Theo took something out and handed it to me.
"What is it?"
"I think it's my turn to give you a gift."
Theo's gift was an artifact in the form of a ring, and he explained that it had a function that automatically deployed protective magic when attacked.
I clearly heard before that artifacts that activate on their own, regardless of the user's will, are much more difficult and take longer to make, so they are more expensive than regular artifacts...
As if reading my question, Theo added an explanation.
"I wanted to give it to you sooner, but it took longer than I thought to make it. I was too greedy to add a function that sends a signal to me if something happens to Shuian. But I'm glad I can give it to you today."
Come to think of it, Theo was wearing the same ring as mine on his finger. No, how did he cram all those functions into one ring...! Is this overprotection for real?! I'm not just an eagle, I'm a Divine Beast! There were many things I wanted to say, but Theo's face looked so proud that I had no choice but to hold it back.
"No, why did you make it send a signal to Theo when there's even protective magic?"
"There may be cases where Shuian is in danger even if there is no damage enough to activate the protective magic. I thought this would make me feel at ease even when we are apart. I wish I could keep you in my arms all the time, but I couldn't help it because Shuian would feel stuffy."
To be honest, there's no way I'd be in danger unless the protective magic is activated... But I nodded obediently because I felt that it would be enough if Theo felt at ease.
"Okay, I understand."
I obediently entrusted my hand to Theo, who was about to put it on for me, but he hovered around the fourth finger as if he was going to put it on there, and then put the ring on my index finger.
Uh... well... I must be mistaken, right? Well, maybe... he was going to put it on because it would fit better on the ring finger than the index finger, but then he thought twice...
While I was trying to rationalize it, Teo gazed intently at the ring and kissed it. We had kissed plenty of times before, even on the lips, so a kiss on a ring shouldn't have been a big deal, but it felt different from usual.
In the atmosphere that suddenly became strange, I was just moving my lips. Theo smiles brightly with an attitude that is no different from usual.
"Did you have fun today?"
"Ah, yeah. It was fun. I received a lot of gifts, and I didn't think I would receive one from Theo either... Anyway, thank you."
"Is that all?"
Here we go again! But I'm glad it's not a weird atmosphere like before... Sometimes I don't know what Theo is thinking! I was relieved and hugged him tightly.
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