Chapter 155: A Sweet Winter Date
Half-teary, Shiao Yi clung to Dominic, who lifted him into his arms.
"No, the sparring with you was fun."
"But this... it’s not really a date, right? I didn’t even know what I was supposed to do."
Aaron who is watching their exchange came over while grinning.
"So it was a date, huh? Captain Dominic, I could suggest the perfect date course for you."
"What’s in it for you?"
"Oh, don’t make such a scary face. You and I, we’re friends, right?"
"I have no memory of having any relationship with you."
"You’re so cold! All I want in return is for you to join me in a magic stone experiment later. Anyway, my recommendation is—"
Two hours later, Shiao Yi and Dominic arrived at a jewelry shop.
This was the store Aaron had recommended.
The exterior was modest but elegant and inside, the shop extended deep spacious and calm.
Though it was a bit stiff, Shiao Yi could appreciate Aaron’s good taste.
No wonder he was the son of a great merchant and a bit of a stylish man.
Dominic encouraged Shiao Yi, who was looking around at the various gems and ornaments in the high-quality glass cases with curiosity, to take a seat on the sofa recommended by the staff.
"Welcome. How may we assist you today?"
A neat man in his forties approached with a gentle smile and asked.
"I am Dominic de Beaumont. This is Shiao Yi, my lover. We would like to order a pair of ear cuffs as a symbol of our bond."
Shiao Yi turned to look surprised and Dominic smiled and nodded.
"We promised before, didn’t we? This is your birthday gift. I want to give it to you."
Shiao Yi’s face turned bright red as he nodded.
He shyly held the edge of Dominic’ coat, saying nothing, and the way he did it was utterly endearing.
"Really! That’s wonderful. Congratulations!"
Even though they were lovers of the same gender, the shop clerk showed no disgust or surprise, he simply smiling as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Indeed, it was clear that Aaron had chosen the shop well.
The shop could be trusted.
"Now, what kind of design would you like? If you have preferred stones or a design in mind, we can accommodate it."
He laid out several ear cuffs for reference—some flowing along the ear, some cylindrical to pinch the ear, some half-spherical like earrings—various styles.
It was fun choosing the stones and designs while consulting with Dominic.
He liked simple designs as well, and it was nice to discover they shared the same taste.
They chose a long, slender, simple gold design that was neither too bulky nor too delicate, set with small black obsidian and blue topaz.
The obsidian matched Shiao Yi’s eyes, and the blue topaz matched Dominic’.
Seeing the price, Shiao Yi hesitated, but Dominic insisted firmly that he wanted to give it to him, and Shiao Yi reluctantly agreed.
Honestly, that had been the hardest part—Dominic was so modest.
Leaving the shop with the clerk’s cheerful smile seeing them off, they looked forward to the finished pair in a week.
On the bustling street filled with people in various outfits, Shiao Yi looked around with his mouth slightly open.
Usually so guarded, he only let his defenses down unconsciously when he was with Dominic.
While holding hands with Dominic, he seemed unusually unguarded.
Although agile Shiao Yi was unlikely to bump into anyone, Dominic who is uneasy about strangers touching him in the crowd, gently pulled him closer.
Instinctively, Shiao Yi pressed against Dominic’ arm and staying close to him.
He was probably so focused on the surroundings that he didn’t even realize it.
Dominic struggled to keep his own smile from spreading.
On top of that, many of the passersby’s eyes tended to fall on them.
They were on a large street two blocks away from the Royal Castle Road.
It was a bustling commercial area with various shops and eateries, and in the center was a square with a fountain.
Across the square, one could see the large guild building and the guard’s facilities.
Since ceremonies like parades, troop departures, and returns took place in front of the royal castle, the street was paved with wide stone cobblestones, giving plenty of space.
Across the street, noble mansions and large buildings for trade and industry were neatly arranged.
The vuards stood at the gates of each section of the royal castle, and knights guarded the particularly large main gate, but there were no castle walls.
The castles of the Rosaria Kingdom were open and welcoming.
Whenever there was an event, the castle gates would open, and from the protruding balconies along the street, the king and the royal family frequently appeared to mingle with the citizens.
The royal family had always been gentle, and the people admired them greatly.
The country’s real governance, however, was in the hands of the elite ministers.
Both ministers and knights took pride in protecting the king and the kingdom.
The royal castle was built of stone with white plaster, prioritizing function over extravagance.
Its left and right wings were long three-story rectangular buildings, each assigned to civil and military functions.
The central building stretched along the street, forming the castle’s face.
It had two stories, decorated pillars, and balcony corridors that added beauty to the view.
A paved square with stone cobblestones extended from the large castle gate to the gently curved main entrance.
Beyond the entrance hall were large halls for gatherings, audience chambers, and ballrooms, while the second floor contained rooms of various sizes for meetings.
Behind this main building, separated by a spacious inner courtyard, was the royal palace.
The palace had five stories, with the top floor featuring an observation room and a rooftop garden.
Private gatherings of the royal family and their close associates were held there.
Dominic had been invited a few times.
Thinking back, he realized he was technically a cousin of the current king, though he hardly ever thought of it.