.𖥔 ݁ ˖₊˚✩.𖥔 ݁ ˖๋ ࣭ᰔᩚ.ᰔᩚ ⭑. ݁ ˖₊˚✩.𖥔 ݁ ˖๋ ࣭ ⭑
CH 114
After the commotion at the department store calmed down, the people that were present came to the same conclusion; the Prince loved his wife. He appeared like any other young father, enjoying the news of their first child, blissfully ignorant of the turmoil of their past marriage and divorce.
This revelation was a source of comfort for many, especially as it had been used in the past to tarnish the reputation of the Royal Family. Their marriage had been one of convenience and lacked any real affection, the fact that the witch of Lars had manipulated the Royal Family of Lechen could not be ignored.
The Crown Prince of Lechen had entered into an arranged marriage solely for the sake of national interest and even went as far as to give up his crown in the name of his country. Such a selfless act was considered quite the noble sacrifice.
"I will not take your money, Your Highness," the owner of the confectionery shop said.
He was emotional and close to tears as Bjorn looked around the sweet shop, looking for Erna's favourites. It showed he was a husband of great devotion and love for his wife. There were no other words to describe the situation.
"Think of it as an apology, for misunderstanding Her Highness, the Grand Duchess," the clerk said.
The gift box she had sniffed out was wrapped in colourful ribbons and wrapping paper, it was a gift perfectly suited for Erna.
"I'm grateful," Bjorn said. "Maybe next time, if you want to give a present, you'll pass it directly on to my wife," Bjorn winked at the clerk.
"Will there ever be a day where I could see her?"
"Of course," Bjorn was lost in thought for a moment, but nodded, "because she loves this department store."
Bjorn recalled a time when Erna had imagined a department store as grand and more beautiful than the palace during her time living in the countryside. He smiled as he remembered that Erna used to deliver flowers to this very store.
While there was plenty of sweet treats back at the mansion, Bjorn still felt the urge to buy more for his wife. It was then that he realised he had been paying closer attention to Erna, especially since she started fiddling with candy more often, which must have been a sign that she was pregnant.
Bjorn considered going home for a second, but instead, popped down to the first floor. The crowds followed him where ever he went, but he ignored them. If his efforts helped the Grand Duchess become beloved amongst the people, then he will endure being the spectacle.
He passed by the hat shop and wondered if it was the same one that Erna delivered her flowers to. Although the hats on display were indeed very pretty and colourful, even he could tell they paled in comparison to Erna's attempts and her boasting that she got paid a higher rate than most must not have been an exaggeration.
Bjorn continued to look around the first floor, then stopped in front a display of sparkling trinkets. He found it amusing that he was considering buying something from a mere jeweller, when he had access to the best jeweller on the continent.
Despite the irony, Bjorn stepped into the shop. He wanted to get something special for Erna, something more special than anything she had ever gotten before. He was overcome with the desire to fill Erna's life with beauty and grandeur.
He could give her anything she desired, but Erna was not one to be so easily satisfied and that only made Bjorn more determined. He felt a sense of urgency and frustration at finding the perfect gift.
Bjorn was often confused by his desire to please Erna. It was hard to reconcile the fact that he could control any major part of his life without difficulty, yet, he could not control these feelings for her. The more he tried, the more anxious he became.
