Chapter 602: “...That compared to men, I prefer soft and sweet girls?”
The delicate square box resting on the table was about half the size of a palm, its surface a deep, solemn brown-gray, with corners wrapped in bright gold that shimmered under the light.
"This is..."
Charlotte’s expression faltered slightly, her light tea-colored eyes reflecting the exquisitely crafted little box.
Due to the ring box’s special material, her mental sense couldn’t penetrate it. Even as an Arcanist Mage, she couldn’t immediately glimpse what was inside, if she forcibly broke through, she could, but doing so would clearly go against the gift’s intention.
Upon hearing Astrid’s words, Charlotte pursed her lips into a soft smile, the black silk-clad legs crossed beneath the table quietly uncrossing. She gently took hold of the wooden box, speaking in a gentle whisper.
"Lady Charlotte, please stretch out your hand first."
Hearing Astrid’s words, Charlotte blinked, hesitantly extending her hand.
As a marquess formally appointed by the Emperor, and also a powerful mid-tier Arcanist Mage, Charlotte spent most of her time surrounded by magic circles. Only rare actions such as flipping through books for research or writing lecture notes require her to use her hands directly.
Thus, her snow-white, delicate hand was well-maintained, every inch of skin smooth, lustrous like jade, but most beautiful were the five slender, porcelain-white fingers, as smooth as polished ivory.
Astrid gently opened the lid of the box. A simple, ancient ring emitting a faint magical fluctuation lay quietly at the center of the silk lining. Bathed in the light, the plain white band cast a shadow, making the metallic patterns shine like stars.
With delicate movements, she removed the ring. Under Charlotte’s astonished gaze, Astrid held the woman’s hand, aligning the ring with her ring finger and slowly sliding it on.
Flecks of light flickered faintly between their fingers, accompanied by a cool, gentle pressure.
The next second, the previously bare ring finger was now adorned with a ring, no longer plain. The flower pattern engraved on the ring’s outer surface accentuated the paleness of her knuckle, making it even more striking to the eye.
"Do you like it, Lady Charlotte?" The clear, melodious voice echoed through the room, striking a chord in the listener’s heart.
Hearing Astrid’s voice, Charlotte paused, her gaze still fixed on the plain white ring on her finger. Instinctively, she curled her fingers, feeling its tangible presence.
The ring fits perfectly, neither tight enough to restrict blood flow nor loose enough to fall off at any moment.
Astrid... why is she suddenly giving me a ring...
Affected by this unexpected gesture from her younger relative, Charlotte’s heartbeat faltered. Even her previously relaxed, elegantly crossed legs unconsciously lowered. The fine, smooth transparent stockings rubbed softly against each other, and the red-soled high heels tapped against the floor with sharp sounds that resonated with her heartbeat.
In the Valeria Empire, such a gesture had only one meaning, a nobleman incorporating marriage to a noblewoman, promising a lifetime together.
But soon... she noticed something extraordinary about this ring.
"This is... a spatial ring?"
"Yes, Lady Charlotte, you’re not wrong."
Her mental sense probed inside, there was no soul imprint, nor any objects. This ring was ownerless.
Realizing Astrid’s gift was a spatial storage device, Charlotte frowned slightly, momentarily forgetting the earlier gesture, her breath soft as silk.
"This is far too precious. Little Astr, you should keep it for yourself."
Across the entire empire, spatial storage devices were rare and dwindling. Before humanity truly mastered spatial magic, these treasured items remain priceless and in perpetual demand.
Even if used as a one-time consumable, Astrid, as a peak tier Magnus, would need it more than she, a mid-tier Arcanist Mage.
Upon hearing this, Astrid shook her head, not releasing Charlotte’s hand. Instead, she gently gripped the woman’s wrist, preventing her from removing the ring.
"I already have a spatial storage device, Lady Charlotte, you should’ve noticed long ago. Look, it’s this glove."
Hardly had Astrid finished speaking when the night-sky-colored black silk glove lightly brushed Charlotte’s wrist. The spatial ripple emanating from it was identical to the one released earlier when the box was taken out.
Charlotte listened, her delicate brows still furrowed, speaking earnestly.
"But even if you already have one, having an extra ring under your control would make daily life far more convenient. In critical moments, it could even serve as a defense."
Such a gift was truly too valuable.
Hearing Charlotte’s refusal, Astrid, having once been an older sister herself, understood exactly what the other was thinking, and thus replied with slight firmness.
"For defense, I have the magic focus spear gun you gave me, and the head maid is always by my side. I don’t need to rely on it."
"And just the spatial turbulence from one spatial device is enough to injure the user. If two were used together, even if I somehow survived, I’d probably lose half my life."
Seeing Charlotte still unmoved, Astrid tightened her grip, gently cradling the woman’s wrist, speaking softly.
"Besides, Lady Charlotte has dedicated so much time and energy to the Empire. Even in the Battle of White Maple Town, you sacrificed your hard-earned spatial device to strengthen the barrier, providing theoretical support for our subsequent operations."
"The Empire should reward you. I’m merely delivering the Empress’’s will."
At this, Astrid’s voice grew even softer, tinged with the slight petulance of a younger relative.
"So, Lady Charlotte, please accept it~"
In the past, when faced with her younger sister’s gifts, she herself had been unable to resist this exact tactic.
Sure enough, Charlotte was slightly moved, as if seeing before her the silver-haired girl who once nestled in her arms, softly cooing and clinging to her.
"..."
After a brief silence, the woman gracefully crossed her knees again, the elegant white hem of her dress covering her sheer-stockinged thighs, then gently lowered them.
"Then... thank you, Little Astr... and the Empress’."
Deep down, she knew exactly who truly wished to give her this ring. A warm emotion swelled in her chest, gradually spreading to her eyes.
"So, Lady Charlotte really likes this ring, then?" Astrid asked gently.
Charlotte nodded in response. "Yes, I like it very much."
Whether for the beautiful engraving, its practical use, or Astrid Calliste’s intensely caring and sincere heart, she felt especially delighted.
Seeing the dark-haired beauty’s brow relax, Astrid released her hand, smiling softly.
"Good, as long as Lady Charlotte likes it."
"I’ve been meaning to give it to you for a while, but I’ve been too busy lately to find the time."
First Amalia, then Lyra, she truly hadn’t had much time to focus on anything outside of work during this period.
Hearing Astrid say this, Charlotte softly hummed in agreement, gently chiming in.
"Indeed... during the last few days you stayed in Losterling City, you were completely impossible to find."
According to the maids, she was occupied with urgent matters and temporarily not receiving visitors. Although Charlotte knew she wouldn’t be on the Regent’s refusal list, seeing how busy Astrid was, she assumed the other might truly be inconvenienced, and thus refrained from visiting.
Back then, someone had been enjoying a private moment with Lyra.
Hearing this, Astrid’s crimson eyes dimmed slightly, as if recalling something, her fingertip gently brushed her lips.
"I’m sorry for neglecting Lady Charlotte."
"We don’t need to say things like that between us."
"But Lady Charlotte just now thanked me."
Turning her own words against, Charlotte glanced the ring on her finger, lifted her gaze to meet Astrid’s eyes, and spoke softly.
"Little Astr... really knows how to leave me speechless..."
Not just her words now, but even earlier, the act of giving the ring.
Didn’t Astrid know what placing a ring like this meant in the Valeria Empire?
It was only because she was Astrid’s aunt, and they were both women, that no misunderstanding would arise. Remove even one of those factors, and people will certainly start speculating.
"I really don’t know where Little Astr learned all this..."
Giving a gift is one thing, but doing it in such a... ambiguous way...
She wasn’t sure if she was overthinking, but Charlotte continued.
"Someone unfamiliar might assume Little Astr is... presumed..."
Giving a ring was already ambiguous enough, then personally placing it on her finger.
"I just wanted to surprise Lady Charlotte..."
"...It actually suits you. Makes your already beautiful hands look even more stunning."
Praised so directly for her looks, Charlotte’s hand paused briefly, her expression remained calm.
"Little Astr... purposely placed it on this finger?"
"Of course. After all, Sister wore your ring on the ring finger before."
As observant as Astrid was, how could she fail to notice Charlotte’s usual habits, especially such a visible spot as the fingers?
"You really put thought into it."
Charlotte imprinted her mental signature onto the ownerless spatial ring, then tried placing a nearby feather pen inside. After confirming it succeeded, she retrieved it.
Once certain the spatial ring had fully recognized her as its owner, Charlotte flexed her fingers a few times, her pink lips parting slightly.
"Astrid came here not just to give me a gift, or to let Lyra tour the workshop, correct?"
"That’s right. I wanted to discuss with Lady Charlotte the upcoming plan for promoting magical energy devices."
"That proposal we discussed before at Liya Tower?"
"Yes."
Astrid answered softly, fingertip lightly tapping the table.
"Now that war has temporarily receded from the Empire, and magical energy weapons have just achieved great feats, it’s the perfect time to promote magical energy devices."
For this plan, Astrid had specially included Amalia in prior letters to prepare the venue in advance.
What they would do next is send invitations to every prominent noble across the Empire, showcasing the latest achievements in magical energy devices and demonstrating how these novel inventions would greatly enhance the nobles’ lifestyles.
Just as Lady Fanya years ago had used new magical energy devices to greatly improve noble life quality, providing clean, flowing water at will, light projected instantly at the press of a button, and continuous heating from geothermal and wall systems.
This exhibition aims to emphasize that the next wave of technological change will primarily benefit the nobility, allowing them to live in even greater comfort and elegance. As for production tools meant for the common people, those will remain unexhibited for now.
"So soon... Although indeed, we should seize this opportunity..."
Turning to serious matters, both women silently set aside the ring topic. Charlotte carefully considered which magical energy devices to display, giving the most conservative estimate based on the current craftsmen team’s efficiency.
"At the latest, it will only take one month for all planned magical energy devices to be displayed at the venue," Charlotte said softly.
Astrid nodded slightly upon this, her fingertip resting hearing against her smooth, pale chin.
"Excellent. That exceeds my expectations."
"Next, I will, in the name of the Empire’s Regent, send invitations to all nobles across the Empire, inviting them to the capital to testify to this."
"As for the specific exhibition date, let’s set it for the twenty-fourth of next month. That allows time for the Empire Weekly to build anticipation, and for nobles from remote regions to reach the Capital City."
"What does Lady Charlotte think?"
In response to Astrid’s inquiry, Charlotte shook her head, replying gently.
"My political acumen probably still doesn’t match Little Astr’s. If you think it’s suitable, then that date is fine. I have no objections."
The time Astrid proposed was actually longer than a month, more than sufficient.
"Then let’s settle it like that. As for the types of magical energy devices to display, what does Lady Charlotte think of these?"
"Let me see... such a thick stack of plans..."
"I wasn’t just busy socializing in Losterling City."
The scroll unfurled, revealing various magical energy devices vividly drawn on paper.
After thorough discussion and finalizing details, Astrid sipped the tea Charlotte offered, then used wind magic to relay a message to the head maid, inquiring about Lyra’s status.
Learning that the pink-haired maid was currently sitting in a daze before a model of a magical energy cannon, Astrid nodded thoughtfully, casually set down her teacup, and lifted her gaze to Charlotte.
"By the way, Lady Charlotte."
"Yes?"
"Do you remember me asking you before... about love?"
At the word "love," Charlotte blinked, puzzled as to why Astrid had suddenly shifted from magical energy devices to this topic.
"Of course."
Astrid exhaled softly through her nose, then spoke.
"Lady Charlotte seems to believe... that genuine feelings can exist between women?"
Those were Charlotte’s exact words, she held a critical view of nobles keeping male concubines, yet also maintained rational scrutiny.
"..."
"Mm."
A soft hum. She had a nagging feeling Astrid was about to drop something big. Charlotte gradually closed her legs, the pale foot arch beneath her sheer stockings slightly shifting in the light, revealing even smoother, more delicate skin.
"Then suppose," Astrid said, propping her cheek with one hand, letting her silver-white hair cascade down to her chest, concealing the exquisite blue brooch, "I told Lady Charlotte..."
"...That compared to men, I prefer soft and sweet girls?"
A sudden verbal direct hit made the silver-white spatial ring on Charlotte’s ring finger grow slightly warm.
