Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 76: Strolling In Feigned Anger.

Chapter 76: Strolling In Feigned Anger.

Afternoon.

Marketplace.

Critic Arley, Critic-Ishire.

***************

The low-born attire slightly kept attention away from them, Theodore wouldn’t want a repeat of what happened with the magistrate. He needed the safety of his wife assured and the image of his wife mysterious till whenever.

They could’ve stepped out of the cart in front of the jeweller but Blanc had forgotten they needed a tattered cart for their marketing, so they had to step out of the carriage at the front of the entrance.

Blanc waited at the entrance while they strolled inside.

Theodore also told her that strolling through the market even if you never intended to buy anything makes everything great.

Lydia had only been to the marketplace twice, the first time as it had been a fair and the second time was when Theodore had taken her out to his rebellious place for dining.

And now, Theodore has agreed to be with her as she makes a selection of jewellery because as the lady of Critic Arley, she needed to make statements about how she presented herself.

The view, the people and the damn lookers, despite the couple dressing lowly, drew attention. With Theodore’s glistening hair in a low bun.

Lydia has a shawl protecting hers. Her beautiful eyes and the way nobles walked that every lowborn knew. Their step was confident and full.

"Honey wait here" Lydia alerted Theodore with a frown.

Theodore hated the nickname because it now had another meaning but he stopped.

Lydia with graceful steps entered a corner, she had just seen two boys settling in.

They reached the two boys and there they were, homeless and cold.

They were dressed in tattered clothing, their faces bore the grime of destitution. They had matted hair and sunken eyes, they embodied the struggles of impoverished youth.

She saw something behind them.

A makeshift shelter.

One in a dilapidated alley where they used sacks sewn together to make a cover over a few standing bamboo sticks, it provides minimal respite from the biting cold.

Cardboard and discarded newspapers serve as meagre insulation against the elements, offering little comfort in the face of the harsh weather conditions.

Lydia bent a bit to their length as they were sitting in the tent that only had cartons after the ground and the biting cold.

"Hi," she said to them, but the two boys only watched them through their lashes, their chapped lips pressed together.

"Do not glare at my wife" Theodore growled, narrowing his eyes at the boys.

Lydia smiled "Why are you glaring at me?"

She asked patiently.

"I’m hungry," one of them said, he looked thicker despite both of them having protruding bones, they were slim and pale.

They looked identical, twins bonding more in poverty.

They are twins that the era has put in this condition.

Lydia nodded at his answer, "Where are you from?" she asked.

He started to reply "Critic-" but the other brother who hadn’t said a word cut his brother off. "Don’t tell her, she is noble" he said.

"What, how do you know that?" the first twin asked suspiciously.

He pointed at Lydia with his brows "Look at her nails" he said "And his hair" he added without meeting their eyes.

The brother shrugged "What does that matter" he said confusion thick in his voice.

"They’re pristine, it shows that they don’t work at all, they’re trying to deceive us" the slimmer brother continued.

Lydia raised a bro. "No no talk to me, my husband is a bear, he won’t do anything," she said placing a hand on Theodore’s arm, the latter merely watching them with a frown.

They’re not of Critic Arley, he thought.

He had eradicated the whole city of this level of individuals by giving everyone something important to do and even if they still had low-class individuals this extent could not be found.

At their prolonged silence, Lydia continued. "Yes we are a bit in the middle class and we do not do much work, that is why" hoping they talk so she could help, their black hair now looked brown because of dust and every trouble they had gone through.

Their eyes betray a mix of weariness and a faint glimmer of hope that someone, amidst the bustling streets, might extend a helping hand, but they were scared to talk about themselves.

The one who had been resisting started to say. "Still-" but the first one who had admitted hunger interrupted him. "Stop you, I’m the eldest let me talk, We are from Critic Izinghale" he said to the couple.

"What then are you doing here?" Theodore asked with a frown.

He could not let the frown stay down, the situation was making him feel horrid.

"Orphans are being sent to the slave establishment in Critic Izinghale" he said as their defence, if the orphans of Critic Izinghale were being sent to the slave establishment that means they have no inheritance anymore and the management has abandoned them.

Theodore hated bad governance, he had always been suspicious of the ruler in Critic Izinghale but Salvatore would do anything to make Theodore furious.

"How did you travel without getting caught?" Theodore was curious but Lydia wished to ask differently.

"Do you want a job?" she asked them.

They looked at each other before they said in unison "Yes"

She nodded, Theodore unconsciously reached to shift her shawl away from her face while she talked. "Good, I shall give you crits and my address, do not look at the address till you’re absolutely sure you want a job" she said.

"We are sure" they yelled in unison.

These boys scavenge for sustenance in the refuse of a society that has little regard for their plight. Sometimes they hold a tin can for spare change from other people.

She turned to Theodore. "Papers Honey"

Theodore groaned as he reached into his pockets and then presented her with a paper and pen, he always had them because not only was he a ruler, he was also a businessman.

She only calls him Honey when she is pissed, he has now realised the hard way.

Lydia scribbled down the mansion’s address and then she folded it, she knew the story about the mansion was everywhere, about it being the monster’s lair, they might think, they’re trying to lure them into their death.

Lydia sighed before adding crits to the paper, she shook her head and Theodore knew.

He just kneeled so he gave her a small pouch that contained a bunch of crits. Lydia gave it to them.

They stood up abruptly and bowed deeply before they said. "Thank you, Lady, we shall come to the address"

"Do you wish to look at the address before we leave?" Lydia asked but they shook their heads.

"No we shall come please enjoy your day" the once suspicious one said.

"Thank you" the one who had claimed to be the elder one said.

Lydia smiled, feeling as though she had done something productive despite the money not being hers.

"Come, the shop is just over there" Theodore pulled her out of her thoughts.

Lydia felt like she needed to make money of her own as the lord might get tired of her and her spending if she did not make any.

She also intends to give out money and opportunity and if it is always Theodore’s money then it’s not her kind gesture anymore but extravagant spending.

She sighed before asking Theodore "Do you think they would come?"

"We could make a bet" Theodore shrugged as he gave an idea.

She gave a small smile "What are you betting on?" she questioned.

He smirked enjoying the idea. "What do you think?"

"I think they would come," Lydia said confidently.

"Nothing would bring anyone to my mansion, not even hunger would" Theodore told her.

Lydia frowned before she started to say "But it’s not just your mansion anymore, it’s our mansion, people would come"

She is sure things would change now that she is the lady of Critic Arley.

She wanted things to change.

"I hate that" Theodore declared "But I love you" he quickly added at Lydia’s paused steps.

He said he into her neck making her shiver.

They barely took two steps before Lydia’s eyes widened "Theodore look" she said.

Theodore pulled her into her arms, her back pressed to his front, he sniffed her neck. "Gooseberry" he purred, happy that she was back.

Whatever she saw that made her smile, he shall get it in abundance.

Lydia smiled, she had wanted to drop the angry wife act but it was fun seeing Theodore watch her as though she couldn’t feel his gaze.

"What is it you saw" he asked, holding her tigther.

She tried and pointed at a shop "Chandeliers" she whispered.

She was still looking at it dreamily.

"We should buy chandeliers"

"Anything you want wife" Theodore said with a smile.

He pulled her towards the shop and Lydia rested the urge to jog.

As they entered the shop, Lydia’s smile widened.

In the chandelier store, she encountered a lavish display of exquisite lighting fixtures.

The store exuded sophistication with polished mahogany showcases, showcasing an array of dazzling chandeliers adorned with crystal and intricate metalwork.

The warm glow from the carefully arranged chandeliers created an enchanting ambience.

Knowledgeable staff in refined attire attended to customers, providing detailed information about each piece’s craftsmanship and design.

Lydia dragged Theodore and they started to talk to the staff. "A detailed information on this please" she said pointing at a chandelier that she wanted.

"This is quite expensive," the staff said politely.

Lydia blinked while Theodore frowned.

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