Chapter 49: The Four Kingdoms
When the carousel came to its stop, Penelope hopped down before Vincent could assist her. Her eyes immediately sought the place where she had seen the man earlier.
"Is everything okay?" Vincent asked, following her gaze.
He had noticed her excitement fade midway through the ride.
Penelope didn’t respond at first.
A cold, prickle of unease washed over her. Had she seen him? Or was her mind playing cruel tricks on her?
She could no longer find him in the crowd, and that led her to believe she must have imagined it.
She didn’t want to overthink it either. It was entirely possible she might just be seeing things in the sea of unfamiliar faces. Even if she had seen him, this was a town’s fair after all, and not some private space.
Neither possibility felt particularly comforting.
Looking back at Vincent, she forced the heavy thoughts away, swallowed the lump in her throat, and smiled warmly.
She reached into the large woven basket he was carrying and grabbed another candied apple.
"Everything is fine now," she said softly, taking a deliberate bite of the sweet, crimson treat to anchor herself to the present moment. "The carousel was super wonderful. You should have ridden it with me, but don’t worry, next time, I shall force you, personally."
Vincent narrowed his eyes slightly, completely unconvinced by her abrupt change of subject, but he didn’t press her. Instead, he stepped closer and reclaimed her hand, his fingers settling around hers with quiet familiarity.
"Enough sweets for now," he said. "Is there anything else you wish to try out?"
"Hmm.. let’s keep looking," Penelope replied, pulling him along once more as they explored the fair.
Having made his way to the opposite side of the crowd, the middle-aged man continued to observe Penelope, as well as the man she was constantly moving around with.
A grim understanding settled over him.
"So it’s true," he murmured.
For years, rumors have painted the Marquis as an unfeeling monster dressed in human skin. A man who cared for nothing, feared nothing, and could not be controlled. But the rumors had been wrong.
The man turned away.
"I have to report this."
The king of Caledonia would find the information valuable.
"You’ll have to forgive me once again, Lady Eleanora," he murmured to himself. "But it seems your daughter will soon share your fate."
The man slipped backward into the shadows of a heavy canvas tent, blending effortlessly among the Caledonian and Vandalian merchants moving through the fairgrounds. The hood of his traveling cloak dipped lower over his face.
Before disappearing entirely, his eyes lingered one more time on the towering figure of the Marquis. What he had found today was worth more than any military report, and in the hands of the wrong king, it could become a weapon capable of shaking kingdoms.
The delicate balance between the four kingdoms had survived for years on caution and mutual deterrence. That little balance suddenly seemed far less stable.
Almost as if sensing eyes upon him, Vincent’s gaze shifted toward the line of merchant tents. For a brief moment, he studied there, but found nothing strangely out of place. Only Merchants, customers, and children running between stalls.
"These are all so beautiful," Penelope’s voice brought him back as she admired the shimmering fabrics displayed throughout a vibrant merchant’s stall.
What fascinated her most was how the fabrics seemed to change color whenever the afternoon sun touched it.
She reached out, her fingers brushing against a bolt of fabric so smooth it felt like running water.
"Vince, look at this," she breathed, her eyes wide with genuine wonder as she turned a vibrant, teal fabric over in her hands. She rubbed the soft material lightly between her fingers.
"It’s silk, isn’t it?"
Vincent looked down at the delicate material, his expression relaxed but observant as he held their basket of candied apples in one hand and kept the other close to her waist.
"It is," he replied.
Penelope looked back at it, fascinated. "I thought so, but it feels different from the ones I’ve seen before. It’s so light."
"That is because it is a finer grade than what is commonly sold in Vandalia," Vincent explained. "Raw silk imported directly from Caledonia. They control most of the Empire’s maritime trade routes. Their merchant fleets travel farther than anyone else’s, giving them access to eastern ports beyond the sea where silk production is more advanced."
He reached down, his gloved finger lightly tapping the edge of the bolt. "We Vandalians value practicality like wool and fur. Thick materials capable of surviving northern winters. Caledonia has a different philosophy."
"A different philosophy?"
Yes."
There was the faintest hint of amusement in his voice.
"Caledonia prefers display of wealth. Their court considers it a personal failure if everyone in the room cannot immediately tell how wealthy they are."
"Caledonia..." Penelope murmured, fascinated. Having spent so much time in her father’s manor, and shielded from the mechanics of the four kingdoms, the sheer scale of the Empire was dizzying.
She moved to the next stall, which smelled intensely of rich earth, roasted beans, and sharp citrus, and unfamiliar spices. Rows of burlap sacks were filled with colorful powders and wrinkled fruits she could not name. She picked up a small, polished wooden box filled with fine, dark brown powder, and took a delicate sniff.
"What about this one?" She held it toward him. "It smells sharp, but sweet."
"That is a mixture of cinnamon and dark cacao," he said calmly, "The ingredients originate from the southern reaches of Solaria. The climate there is warm enough to cultivate them. However, those boxes are usually processed and traded through the market of Valois."
"Valois?" Penelope tilted her head. "I remember my mother’s family have relatives living there, but I’ve never visited. Is it really hot as they say it is over there?"
"Warmer than Vandalia," Vincent replied.
"Everything is warmer than Vandalia," she countered.
"That is also true."
Penelope laughed.
"It is a fragile place," Vincent shrugged casually. "Valoisia is the cultural heart of the Empire. They’re mostly fond of fashion, art, music and social gatherings."
"That’s like a polite way of saying they’re obsessed with appearances."
"Yes."
His answer came so quickly that she laughed again, though Vincent could not find anything funny in what he said.
"Oh, so you disapprove of it then?" she asked.
"I find it quite inefficient."
"Of course you do."
Vincent chose to ignore that particular response.
"Still, their influence is considerable," he added. "Many of the luxury goods sold throughout the Empire pass through Valoisian markets. They understand commerce nearly as well as Caledonia understands maritime trade."
Penelope listened intently to Vincent.
It was rare to hear him speak so much at once, and she found herself enjoying the steady, grounded rhythm of his voice as he broke down the world for her.
To him, they were logical facts about the Empire he helped protect, but to Penelope, it was a vast, colorful tapestry she was seeing with fresh eyes.
Just to keep him talking, she wandered into the third vendor. The stall displayed rows of small, intricately painted glass bottles that caught the sunlight like tiny prisms.
"Don’t tell me," she joked playfully, glancing back at him. "Let me guess. These must be from Belgravia?"
Vincent arched a brow, genuinely impressed. "It’s a good guess, but no. Belgravia’s wealth comes from coal, iron and steel. Their foundries produce everything from railway tracks to artillery pieces, and they build the engines that move goods across the Empire."
Penelope looked down at the glass bottles. "Then where are these from?"
"Those are Valoisian crystals," he replied. "You can use them for perfumes, oils, and cosmetics. Their artisans are exceptionally skilled."
He stepped closer, his chest pressing lightly against her back as he looked down at the display. His close presence made her cheeks heat up.
Completely oblivious, Vincent continued his explanation.
"If you fancy the glasswork," he continued. "I can have a crate imported directly to the estate in Aelgard. You wouldn’t have to wait for a town fair to see it, or some other festivals."
Penelope stared at him.
This man truly has no concept of moderation.
"It looks like it’s going to rain soon," Vincent suddenly uttered as he looked up at the sky.
