Wife of The Demon Prince
Chapter 136: Return fortune

Chapter 136: Return fortune

Ara couldn’t believe her eyes. Right at the bedside was a big opened chest with shiny jewels in it. She looked around the room, but there was no sign of Hamon in the room. She then quickly rang the bell to call a maid.

Soon a young maid came running in, she bowed, "Good morning, Your Highness. How may I be of your service?"

Ara wasn’t still used to the new title, but she didn’t show any discomfort, and just pointed to the chest, "Why is this here?"

The maid looked towards the opened chest. Everybody had been talking about the chest already, she then replied with a smile, "Oh, that. It’s a wedding gift from His Highness, and I believe its your return fortune for the dowry."

"Return fortune..."

That had completely escaped her mind, because her family hadn’t given any dowry to the royal family. Basically, women married into the royal family usually give a large fortune as dowry, so it was custom that the groom returned some of the fortune to his bride after the wedding night. It was more of a courtesy than a requirement, and the value differed depending on how much he loved the bride.

However, people evaluated the love royal men had for their wife based on the jewels given. Moreover, not only did Hamon not accept the dowry from Ara’s family, but he had given her the largest return fortune in the history of the De Biville family.

The maid continued on, "All the jewels in the chest are gold, His Highness has changed the history of the De Biville family by giving the crown princess a return fortune of a chest full of gold." Said the maid with an envious expression.

Ara nodded slightly, "is that so..." What was wrong with Hamon? Why would he give a return fortune when he did not even take the dowry in the first place? She really didn’t know what to make of his behavior now.

Ara sighed before glancing at the maid, "Where is His Highness right now?"

"His Highness is in the private training hall."

_

Soon the servants helped Ara take a bath and dressed up, after she was done with all of the time wasting preparation of a princess, she made her way to the crown Prince’s private training hall.

Ara received envied looks from all the maids, as words had already spread around the palace about the gold chest. The moment she arrived at the passageways of the training hall, All the soldiers stopped what they were doing and bowed in respect, "Hail the crown princess!"

The grand greeting still felt strange to Ara, but she nodded in acknowledgement. She’d once been to the training hall with Oliver, so she knew her way to the place.

As soon as she approached Hamon’s training hall, she heard the sound of blade cutting through the air. She caught sight of Hamon with his sword in his grip as he swiftly moved around. And just like before, he was shirtless, but this time Ara made sure not to glance at his exposed torso, she was here to make him take back his return fortune!

"Hamon."

Hamon, who was practicing and didn’t notice her approach, immediately stopped and turned his head to her direction. She was up already? He thought.

Ara’s eyebrows knitted together as Hamon turned to her. What happened to him? His red eyes looked dull, and he had dark circles under his eyes...Didn’t he sleep last night? She was about to ask, but he spoke first,

"You’re awake this early? I thought you’d sleep some more as you looked tired last night." He said, but despite his concern for her, he was the one who looked more exhausted like he hadn’t slept well enough.

"I’m fine...Didn’t you sleep enough last night? You look exhausted and...Did you have trouble sleeping last night?"

She was sure he had fallen asleep before her last night. But why does he look this way? She glanced at him questioningly, but he smiled, "Not at all. Am not used to sleeping in for long." He lied.

However, it wasn’t entirely a lie, he’d stayed up all night holding her in his arms while she slept, he only left her side by dawn and came to his training hall. But normally, even if she hadn’t kept him awake, he hardly slept at night anyway. He looked exhausted because of all the lack of sleep accumulated for a long time and all the days he’d missed sleep, which got even worse as the wedding drew near as his anticipation of the fact that she would soon be his wife grew.

But apart from all of that, it was already a part of him to not be able to get much sleep at night, ever since his mother left him when he was still little, he’d always find it hard to sleep in peace. So he kept himself busy with his training instead.

Ara stared at him, but she didn’t further ask any questions about why he looked exhausted and went straight to what brought her here, "Well...Why did you give a return fortune when my family didn’t give a dowry?"

"Because I want to." He answered curtly. Ara’s eyebrows snapped together, "There is no reason for you to give me a return fortune, people have already believed our love story from you not taking the dowry. I don’t know why you went all that far in giving me a chest of gold. It’s too much of a burden for me to pay back that much fortune."

"How about you add it to your unpaid debt with me?"

"No, I don’t want to owe you anything anymore. And I am not the type to keep all those jewels, I have nothing to do with them."

Hamon raised a brow, "Are you implying that I take them back?" He asked, Ara nodded, but he smirked, "You know I don’t take back what I’ve already given. Am not taking it back."

Ara frowned, "I’m also not accepting it this time. So far, I’ve lost count of everything you’ve given me, and I can’t keep owing you. Moreover, I have nothing to do with all those jewels in the chest. Please, take them back." She said firmly.

Hamon stared at her with his forehead creased. Why was his wife so hard to please? She had never taken anything from him willingly without wanting to return it. He laughed softly as he responded, "You know, There are times I think it would be easier if you were like other women who fancy jewels and dresses." Hamon said as he tossed his sword aside and walked towards Ara in his half-naked state.

Ara couldn’t help but notice every ripple of his solid well-built muscles. She blinked twice as he stopped in front of her and glanced down at her. He then slowly lifted his hand and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

Ara’s heart couldn’t help but pound wildly in her chest at how close he stood, she looked up at Hamon with trembling eyes, and he continued to speak in a soft low voice, "I sometimes wish you’re a woman who I could easily interest with my wealth and gifts, to make you happy every time I gift you something."

"What...?"

Hamon sighed, "You’re too difficult for me, wife." But I can’t help but still love you more. He added internally.

Ara blinked at his words. She pursed her lips and was about to retort but Hamon spoke first, "Fine, I agree to what you said. We can’t argue on our first day of marriage."

"You agree?" She asked, her face brightened up at his agreement to take back the gifts, but Hamon wasn’t finished yet, "I agree, but...Am not taking back what I’ve already gifted you, I only agree on not getting you another gift after this one."

"But the return fortune is too much!" She couldn’t keep that much fortune.

"Okay, you can save it somewhere for yourself, I won’t gift you anything again."

"But_"

"No matter what you say, I won’t take them back." He said firmly not leaving a room for further argument. Ara stared at him, she knew he was stubborn and he wouldn’t take it back no matter how much she insisted. If he wouldn’t take it back...Then she’d save it for him for the future, she’d give him back double.

"Fine, I accept this one."

Hamon looked taken aback by her sudden acceptance without arguing more, but Ara continued, "But since I accept this, you will also accept whatever I gift you in the future."

A smile was quick to grace his face, "You plan to gift me something?"

"Yes, I’ll give back as much as I’ve received."

"Mhm." He hummed, "I like the sound of that, I’ll be looking forward to your gift then."

Unlike Ara, Hamon looked happy about the thought of receiving something from her. He continued pleasantly, "I will accept anything you gift me, so don’t worry."

Ara was pleased to hear that, she’d also gift him something unexpected, "You have to keep your words."

"Yes. I’ll keep to it."

Ara smiled, "Good that we agreed on this without arguing." She said.

As if remembering something, Hamon remarked, "We are to join the king and queen for dinner tonight at his residence."

Ara nodded, she wasn’t surprised as it was something normal to visit the king after the wedding night. Ara’s eyes fell back on Hamon’s well-built muscles and suddenly an idea came to her mind,

She glanced up at him, "Hamon."

"Hmm?" He hummed as his red eyes bored deep into hers waiting to hear what she wanted to say.