Married To Darkness
Chapter 259: The Cruet Wine Of Truth

Chapter 259: The Cruet Wine Of Truth

Salviana glanced at Alaric, her lips curving into a mischievous smile. "I think this is perfect. Don’t you?"

"It certainly has flair," Alaric admitted, his tone teasing but his gaze thoughtful. "How much?"

The old man hesitated for a moment before naming a price that could make even the wealthiest nobles balk.

Alaric didn’t even flinch. He was a prince after all.

"We’ll take it," Salviana said without hesitation, her excitement overriding any practical concerns.

The old man’s face lit up, his gnarled hands trembling slightly as he carefully wrapped the cruet in enchanted cloth. "You’ve made an excellent choice, my lady, my lord. The king will surely remember this gift for the rest of his days."

As they left the shop, the sun had begun its descent, casting a golden glow over the marketplace.

Salviana clutched the wrapped cruet to her chest, a sense of accomplishment radiating from her.

"Well," she said, her voice brimming with satisfaction, "I’d say we’ve outdone ourselves."

Alaric chuckled, shaking his head. "You’re lucky he had something this unique. Otherwise, we’d still be wandering."

"It’s more than unique," Salviana said, her tone turning playful. "It’s legendary. You should thank me for having such excellent taste."

"I’ll thank you when the king doesn’t look at me like I’ve gone mad for gifting him the drink of witches," Alaric quipped.

She laughed, her red hair catching the fading sunlight. "Oh, he’ll love it. And if he doesn’t? Well, at least we’ll have tried."

As they climbed into their carriage, the guards storing their other purchases, they both felt a sense of fulfillment.

They had not only found a gift that would make an impression but had also shared in a small adventure that added another story to their growing list of memories together.

The carriage wheels creaked as they rolled toward Lucius’s mansion, the setting sun casting an amber glow across the vast horizon.

Salviana glanced out of the window, a small smile playing on her lips as she noticed the guards riding behind them with carts full of newly purchased goods.

Rugs, candleholders, curtains, and even buckets were neatly packed into the convoy.

When they arrived, the mansion loomed ahead, a testament to its former glory.

The stone exterior was weathered, vines clinging to the edges as if nature sought to reclaim it.

Jean, the ever-dutiful housekeeper, stood at the entrance, her brows shooting up in surprise as the guards began unloading the purchases.

"My lady, my lord," Jean greeted, her voice tinged with astonishment as she watched the goods being carried inside. "All this... for the house?"

Salviana stepped down from the carriage with Alaric’s help, her fiery hair catching the evening light. "Jean, the mansion needed a little sprucing up, don’t you think?" she said lightly, brushing dust from her skirts.

Jean’s surprise melted into gratitude as she smiled. "You’re too kind, my lady. This will certainly breathe new life into the place."

Lucius appeared in the doorway, his dark, piercing eyes scanning the commotion.

His expression remained unreadable as the guards filed past him, carrying the items inside.

He leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed. "You’ve been busy," he remarked, his voice smooth but devoid of emotion.

Salviana shot him a playful glance. "I’ll take that as a ’thank you.’"

He smirked faintly but didn’t reply, his attention shifting back to the unloading process.

Inside, Jean and Sarah, one of the housemaids, eagerly began organizing the new additions. Salviana, ever one to involve herself, rolled up her sleeves and joined them.

Alaric leaned against a wall, arms crossed, watching her with a mixture of amusement and mild exasperation.

"You don’t need to do that," he said. "Let them handle it."

"I want to," she replied without looking at him, smoothing out a new crimson rug that instantly brightened the once-dull parlor. "It feels nice to be part of the process."

Jean and Sarah exchanged looks, clearly grateful for her presence. "The new curtains are lovely, my lady," Jean said as she hung them in the dining room. "They suit the house perfectly."

"And protect Lucius," Alaric countered.

As the sun dipped lower and evening approached, the house had transformed into something warmer, almost inviting.

Salviana stepped back to admire their work, brushing her hands together. "There. Now it feels more like a home."

Alaric approached, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Are you satisfied now?" he asked, his tone teasing but affectionate.

"Very," she replied, leaning into Alaric slightly. "Lucius, what do you think?"

Jean stood curious too.

Lucius, who had been quietly observing from the corner, shrugged. "It’s... better," he admitted begrudgingly. "But the house doesn’t need sprucing up. I can live in a crypt, you know."

Jean rolled her eyes but said nothing. Salviana grinned. "You’re welcome, Lucius."

As the sky darkened, Lucius stretched and finally spoke. "It’s too early for me to leave," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. "You’ll have to wait until nightfall."

Alaric frowned. "Wait? You could’ve told us that before we came all this way."

"How was I supposed to know you are coming?" Lucius retorted sharply.

Salviana laughed softly, resting a hand on his arm. "It’s fine. We’ll wait."

And so, they stayed, passing the time in idle conversation. Salviana and Alaric sat on a worn sofa while Lucius occasionally drifted off to another room, reappearing as the hours dragged on. Finally, the sun disappeared, and the cloak of night descended.

Lucius emerged from the shadows, his usual elegance intact. "It’s time," he announced. But before they could leave, Salviana’s stomach growled audibly, and she flushed with embarrassment.

Alaric smirked. "Well, it seems someone’s hungry."

"I didn’t think we’d be waiting this long!" she defended, crossing her arms.

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "We could stop somewhere for food. There’s a bistro not far from here."

"A bistro?" Alaric repeated, raising an amused brow. "You sure it won’t offend your vampiric sensibilities to sit with mortals?"

Lucius gave him a pointed look. "If they serve wine, I’ll manage."

Salviana laughed. "Then it’s settled. Let’s go before I faint from hunger."