Chapter 92: Chapter 92
It was almost funny how quickly the courtyard had emptied after that.
Medea was somewhere being patched up or sulking that she almost died for someone else’s love confession. Xenos didn’t know, nor did he care—and now, he was standing beside Gaia, alone, in the manor gardens.
"It’s so, so, so beautiful!"
Gaia’s voice cracked with joy as she spun her hand around, watching the sunlight glint off the ring on her finger.
She turned it one way, then another, as if it were the most magical thing she’d ever seen.
"I’m glad you like it."
Before he could say anything else, she lunged forward and hugged him tight enough to make his ribs groan.
Xenos took a moment before awkwardly raising his arms and patting her back.
’Man, I feel like a bastard doing this... is this guilt?’
He didn’t get guilt often; he didn’t do guilt. But seeing her so genuinely happy, so completely unaware—yeah, that made something twist in his gut.
The girl was beaming like her entire world had turned golden, and he knew damn well he’d only wanted this marriage for the land.
"I feel so blessed..."
Gaia somehow clung even closer.
"Ever since I met you that day."
He internally sighed.
’That’s guilt all right.’
Even though he knew it’d pass in a few hours, he still didn’t feeling.
But fine. If he was going to use her, he could at least pretend to make it up to her.
A date sounded like the least he could do: a little fun, something of a quick distraction, a, uh... a sort of preemptive honeymoon, yes.
"But do you know what’s even better?"
She looked up at him, her brown eyes sparkling.
His smile stuttered for a second, mostly because of that face, but he reigned it back.
"How about you and I go have some fun in the town? I’m sure your dad’s been locking you up since your Awakening. Probably before that too."
Somehow, her expression brightened even further.
"You’re right! Let’s go!"
And before he could even blink, she was already pulling him toward the gates, her excitement practically dragging him along, her past not on her mind for even a moment.
’She’s older than me, right?’
He thought dryly, watching her bounce like a kid.
Well, at least she looked like she was in her twenties.
He wouldn’t have done this otherwise, because again, while this realm considered sixteen-year-olds adults, his older Soul made him feel iffy about marrying one at that age, even if it was only for their land.
No matter what anyone said, that was something ingrained into him and would likely never change.
They spent the next few hours wandering the streets.
Though this was a town, its market square wasn’t that much smaller than the city he was in not too long ago, or rather, it was more colorful, filled with stalls that sold all types of linen.
It was also livelier, with stalls more focused on foods, the smell of roasted meat filling the air.
Street performers danced in the middle of the crowd, while bards sang next to them about something that Xenos, once again, didn’t bother to listen to.
Gaia, who now stood amongst that ’crowd,’ was the complete opposite of him, acting much like a tourist seeing the world for the first time, wanting to go everywhere and touch everything.
When she eventually lost interest in them and dragged Xenos along, she pointed at stalls faster than he could keep up.
"Oh—what are they selling there?"
"Why’s that person wearing a bird mask?!"
Xenos answered some questions and ignored others.
"That smells like... fermented goat milk."
"Those are accessory charms."
"That’s... probably a scam."
"Acanthis... I think."
Gaia puffed her cheeks.
"You know everything; that’s no fun~!"
Her enthusiasm was contagious, as even he found himself genuinely smiling once or twice while she haggled with vendors for no other reason than because she could, admired random trinkets, and talked like she’d been trapped inside her whole life—which, to be fair, she had.
After a while, they stopped to rest near a fountain, and there, Gaia asked one of her many questions again:
"How did you even think of giving a ring?"
She lifted her hand, the ring glinting in the sunfall.
"I don’t think anyone has ever done that before. I’ve read, like, um... stories, and marriages were always arranged by the parents. The bride and groom only meet during the celebration—the proaulia, the gamos, and the epaulia. Three days of rituals, gifts, and ceremonies, which are honestly... mostly for the bride. But this..."
After yapping off, she smiled again, much, much softer this time.
"This is something else."
"Yeah, I, uh, kind of stole the idea. Some... House had this massive marketing campaign about it."
"Marketing... campaign?"
He waved that phrase off.
"The point is, they convinced people that putting a bigger ring on someone meant that you loved them more. Romantic, right?"
Gaia giggled, shaking her head.
"That doesn’t sound very romantic."
"Yeah, well. Depends on who’s selling it."
She didn’t understand half of what he said, and honestly, that was fine. Gaia wasn’t asking to understand him; she just wanted to know him.
And Xenos, despite himself, didn’t hate it.
By the time the sun began to dip fully, they ended up standing before a tall building with warm lights spilling from its windows, a restaurant, or at least the closest thing this stratum had to one.
Indeed, it was a very novel concept for this stratum, but it was still here nevertheless, built for those of the Main and Great Houses that came and went through this little town.
{Pandocheion}, or so the sign above read.
Gaia blinked and glanced at her husband.
"Are you sure? I heard it’s expensive..."
Xenos patted her head, earning a flustered pout.
"Relax. I can easily afford it."
A well-dressed butler at the door opened it for them with a bow, which had Gaia smile politely and murmur a "thank you."
Inside, another butler greeted them.
"Welcome to Pandocheion, a place for those of great taste."
Xenos nodded while Gaia repeated her polite "thank you" again, something that Xenos couldn’t help but laugh quietly at. She was adorable in how seriously she took this. Thɪs chapter is updated by novel fire.net
They were led to a small table beside a window overlooking the town’s lights.
Xenos asked after both he and Gaia sat.
"...right. Of course."
In the First Stratum, they’d had holographic menus. In the Second Stratum, cardboard ones.
If the First Stratum was of the future and the Second Stratum was steampunk, then how come such concepts that were easily replicable hadn’t come down the Divine Stairs, but specific others did?
Xenos clicked his tongue.
’Second Stratum’s House Khronos probably hoards even these types of ideas. Figures.’
Those bastards were of Time, after all.
"What do you have then?"
That, the butler understood.
He straightened his posture and recited smoothly.
"We have lentil soup with olive oil and bay leaves. For main courses, we have roasted lamb with herbs and chicken braised in our special mixture. For dessert, we have honey-dipped fruits."
As he spoke, Gaia’s eyes lit up more and more, her mouth slightly open, nearly salivating.
Xenos glanced at her and chuckled, making her blush a little. The butler was there, though, so she didn’t say anything.
"Yeah, we’ll take two soups and one of everything else."
As they waited, Gaia leaned her elbows on the table.
"I’m so excited to try everything! I haven’t had really good food since, well... ever!"
Xenos was looking forward to it as well.
"I’ve been eating nothing but monkey meat for a while now."
Sure, he’d eaten well at that banquet, but he didn’t want to mention that now. Gaia was sensitive about those matters, and she’d likely feel left out.
It was what he learned to do from their date today.
"Yeah, since I’ve been moving around a lot, I had to make do. It’s pretty chewy, but it’s better than nothing; the lands I’ve passed weren’t exactly human-friendly, you see."
Gaia’s smile faltered a little.
Turning to silence, she looked down while fidgeting with her fingers.
After a long pause, she eventually spoke, her voice barely audible:
"You only married me for the land our fathers agreed on, didn’t you?"
And for the first time that day...
Xenos didn’t have an immediate answer.