The duel was concluded with a surprise forfeit by Princess Valerie. Everyone watching was equally confused and dumbfounded, but they clapped and cheered anyway.

"That was an interesting match..." Cassandra said with a slight smile "Maybe your younger sister took your words to heart and decided the Crown Prince was the best choice for her..."

"Maybe..." Valamar said as he let out a big yawn and began stretching his body

"It seems you're fatigued, my lord... Do you need to rest?"

"I'm fine, Cassandra... honestly, I'm surprised you aren't tired as well. Today must've taken a toll on your energy as well..."

"...Hmmm... Now that you've mentioned it...*yawns* I do feel a little tired..." Cassandra then leaned her head to Valamar's shoulder "Maybe I'll take a little break here... Honestly, being out on a campaign against the Lothirians felt less taxing than this..."

"Tell me about it..."

The two were as if they were in their own world away from the rest as the other guests were minding their own businesses, some using this opportunity to further their own agendas and establishing new relations with other guests. Some guests were talking, some were playing, and some were doing their own matchmaking as well. All in all it was an eventful night.

Valamar then caressed his wife's cheeks and just started looking at her to which she started to blush.

"My lord, again with your staring..." Cassandra said as she blushed in embarrassment

"What's wrong with that? Can't a man admire his own wife?" Valamar asked with a chuckle "Honestly, I'd either be blind or daft to not admire a beauty like you. All others pale in comparison..."

"Mmmm... I'm both elated and embarrassed by that, my lord..."

"I'm just going to keep staring at you all night..."

"Well, if my lord is fine with that, then I have no problem..."

"...Crap..." Valamar said with a sudden tone

"What's the matter?" Cassandra asked worriedly

"I almost forgot there is one last tradition we have to do..."

"...Another one? I don't remember another tradition related to Ancient Rumasilian customs of marriage from my lessons with ompung..."

"That's because this tradition was only recently started by King Valadar the Just when he was still a Prince being married to an Aurosian Princess..."

Valamar then got up from his seat and took his wife with him as he led them to run quietly away from the party.

"Where are we going, my lord?" Cassandra said with excitement and anticipation "Where are you taking me..."

"First off, we have to quietly escape from here. It's best to let no one notice us too much. I'd hate the attention and guards assigned to us." Valamar said as he lead his wife quietly through an emptier path out of the gardens

The two managed to make their way safely out unnoticed. They made their way on foot to the stables nearby where Valamar spotted his horse already saddled and ready to go. He had given a small coin purse to a stable boy there for discretion and as a tip for grooming his horse.

"Are you sure it's fine to do this, my lord?" Cassandra asked worriedly as Valamar helped her up his horse and he got up as well "I'm not sure if this is okay..."

"It's alright. Huda here is a strong steed. There's nothing to worry about. He can carry us both no problem." Valamar answered

"Not that, silly..." Caassandra retorted with a slight giggle "I mean us leaving unannounced like this!"

"As I've said, my dear... it's tradition. Have a little more faith in your husband, Cassandra. Besides, don't you feel the least bit excited?"

"Well... okay, maybe I am a little in anticipation..."

Valamar stared at his wife with a grin, coaxing for a more honest response from her.

"Okay... a lot... Now please don't torture me with this..." Cassandra said

"Alright, we're gonna go a little faster, so hold on tight..." Valamar pulled on the reins of his horse as Cassandra clung onto him tightly from behind. Valamar could even feel a little bit of a more soft sensation there. He said a silent prayer as they left off with high speed as if they were being chased.

They raced through the city streets while laughing and giggling on the horse. Some guards were caught off guard as they saw a speeding horse and immediately jumped to the sides of the street. Some guards even tried pursuing them but they managed to evade being stopped.

It was not until they had reached the large city gates did they see many guards on their regular patrol. Valamar slowed his horse down and took something from his pocket as he saw some guards coming towards him. It looked like some sort of golden badge. However, when Valamar showed the badge to the guards, they immediately bowed and backed away and let Valamar and Cassandra pass.

As they left the city and rode outside, Cassandra looked with awe at the beautiful full moon on the horizon which shone upon the roads. There were children playing with each other even into the night. There were also houses and farmland outside of the city for the farmers. Rumasil sits on very fertile lands.

Cassandra could also see a large spectacular lake from afar. It was larger than any lake she's seen in her home country.

"I've always thought the landscape in Rumasil was very pretty from the memories I've had when I last came here..." Cassandra said

"Florentia wasn't too bad either... Maybe it's because new places and experiences are much more exciting than the things we're used to. Because frankly, I really think this place looks as boring as any other." Valamar said

"Oh God help me! It appears my husband has gone blind to not notice such beauty around him." Cassandra said jokingly

"Nonsense! I am noticing the Divine beauty holding me tight quite clearly..."

"Honestly my lord, I don't know why I'm still blushing anymore..."

"You just love me too much..."

"And that's a good thing..."

"Well anyways, if you think the roadside is pretty, you're just going to love the place I'm taking you two. In fact, we're almost there!"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

As he said that, Valamar took a turn from the main road and took a smaller path heading towards the lake. The lake was situated at a lower level than the city and so the pathway headed slight downwards. After ten more minutes of riding, Cassandra could see what looked like a pretty little cottage-house from afar by the side of the lake.

"That house looks very pretty, my lord!" Cassandra said as she pointed to it

"Ah, wonderful that you think that, because that is our destination!"

Cassandra was surprised when Valamar said that as they had already arrived at the gates of the house which was surrounded by six feet tall iron fences. In front of the gates were a few soldiers talking with each other. As they saw Valamar and Cassandra arriving, one of the soldiers stepped forward.

"What business do you have here, sir?" The soldier asked inquisitively "May I see any identifications?"

"Piss off, Abang (older brother)." Valamar said as he helped Cassandra down from his horse "You know yourself how tiring weddings are, and would it kill you to be there at the party?"

"I was at the church... and at the party as well making sure the security was all well and good. I got here earlier because uncle Valaron had told me to prepare the house for you two." the soldier replied with a chuckle "And my oh my, your wife looks even better up close!"

"Hey. Eyes off my wife." Valamar then gave the reins of his horse to one of the soldiers there as the head soldier ordered the gates to be opened

"May I have the pleasure of being introduced, Valamar?" Cassandra asked

"No need to waste your time on this asshole. Come let's go inside."

"Hey, rude... Forgive my late introductions." The soldier said "I am Valantine Haporseaon si Valamen."

"Oh! Another member of the Valamen family. I'm pleased to meet you!"

"He's the youngest grandson of the Great General Valahan si Valamen and the captain of the Royal guard and takes pleasure in annoying me. He’s technically my granduncle, but we don’t need to worry about that. Oh, and he's also my second greatest tormentor during my childhood."

"Who's the first?" Cassandra asked

"(Kak) Vera." The two of them answered at once

"Well, that was in the past. Anyways, I shouldn't keep you two waiting out here in the cold night. Please go on inside." Valantine said

Valamar immediately went inside of the house along with his wife as the gates were once again closed. Inside the house was relatively plain with only a few paintings hung on the wall and simple carpets although it was relatively large.

"This will be the place we'll be staying in for the night, so please make yourself feel comfortable." Valamar said as he then walked towards a door to open it "This will be our room... Nothing too fancy, but I hope it won't bother you."

"Anything's better than sleeping on hard ground during a campaign." Cassandra said "But in all honesty, this place is very lovely."

"You haven't seen anything yet..." Valamar said as he took off his heavy regalia and placed in on the table next to the bed and he was down to a plain white shirt and his simple long pants

"Ah, then I'll be undressing as well..." Cassandra said but then she noticed Valamar was still just standing there and she proceeded to give him an embarrassed look "Mmmm... I mean it's fine if my lord is here..."

"Oh no, I almost forgot! Sorry about that... I'll uh,,, I'll be waiting outside at the deck of the house. Please, take your time!"

Valamar immediately left his wife to her own privacy though he wondered how she would fare undressing herself though he figured she would manage it. As he reached the back porch of the house, he could clearly see the beautiful lake, it's waves going back and forth against the coasts as well as the beautiful full moon and it's reflection upon the surface of the water.

He sat there quietly thinking to himself of all that had happened to him that day. He was now married to a beautiful Princess of a foreign country, and according to Rumasilian custom, he was now formally a man. It didn't take long for Cassandra to dress herself more simply as she took a seat beside Valamar, joining him in enjoying the view.

"I saw some good leaves in the kitchen on the way here, good for some tea. Would you like me to make you a cup, my lord?" Cassandra asked her husband

"You know how to make tea?" Valamar asked slightly in disbelief

"Of course I do? Why wouldn't I know?"

"It's fine, Cassandra. I remember now how much my mother loves making my father tea as well, though right now I don't really think I want a cup. Thank you for the offer though..."

"Anyways, I really am curious right now, my lord." Cassandra said as she looked to her husband with a curious expression "What exactly is the story behind this house and this 'tradition' of taking a spouse to this house."

"Interesting story, actually. It all started from King Valadar the Just from when he was just married to his wife..."

"It seems all the stories you've told me so far involve King Valadar in one way or another..."

"Which only serves testament to how much of an impact he made. You should recall how bad the relations were between him and his mother."

"Of course. He hanged her, right?"

"Yes, now this was before he became king. He and his wife chose to marry in a small chapel not too far away from here. The only ones in attendance were his father-in-law, the Emperor Alexios XIII, some of his brother-in-laws, his younger brother, and a few other close friends. He barred his mother from his wedding and in fact kept it a secret from her."

"I'm amazed how that's possible. How did the Emperor of Auros get there without alarming anyone?"

"He was in Rumasil on the pretext of an Imperial visit. Queen Helena never even knew her son was betrothed to the Imperial Princess! She always wanted for him to take a wife from the Gissario, but understandably, he wasn't too fond of the idea. And so after the wedding, instead of spending the first nights at the palace as per previous tradition, he spent it in this lakeside manor..."

"It sounds romantic... well not with the part about the whole 'feud with his mother' thing... But what about the lake house itself?"

"It was originally a villa owned by a rich merchant. Valadar had spent his personal allowance to buy the Villa. And since then, all royal couples went here after their marriage, from his son, King Valadrian VI and his wife Queen Celestyna Wladwiqi, to his son, my grandfather and ompung, and then to my father and mother, and now to us..."

"It is a very pretty house... I wouldn't mind living here with just the two of us..."

"For two years after his marriage, King Valadar the Just did just that. In fact, my great-grandfather Valadrian was born in this very house, in the very room that acts as our chambers."

"Imagine that... Us living as a happy family in this house, living simple lives..." Cassandra's mind started to picture a harmonious painting of her future

"Well, that would mean I'd have to get real honest work if we're going to live a simple life..." Valamar chuckled to which Cassandra followed with

"I don't think a farmer's wage or any labourers' wage for that matter could hope to afford the costs of living here."

"A merchant could. It was a merchant's house before..."

Cassandra laughed even louder than before to which Valamar only looked at her with a confused smile. "Did I say something odd?" he questioned his wife

"I honestly can't help but feel a little amused, my lord..." Cassandra said after regaining herself "My husband, a merchant... hahahaha..."

"Weren't you Florentinians descended from merchants? I can hardly imagine a country whose people have bigger purses than yours."

"The Avenezians are the merchants, the Lusinians the seafarers, the Latinians are the warriors, the Crotinians are the mercenaries, the Atenians are the scholars, the People of Niasia are the godly men, whilst we in Florentia are are naught but simple bankers..."

"The seven Great Cities of the Adventierri... I didn't know they each had their expertise..."

"Each of the seven cities are represented by the seven coins on the Flag of the Adventierri Union, arranged like a six-petaled flower."

"Well, maybe I at least have farmlands to my name. That's where the Valamen family get their personal fortunes from... And a brewery..."

"Was that where the drinks in our party came from?" Cassandra asked

"Yes. Was it good?"

"It was delicious! Almost as good as the wine from Crotinia."

As the two spent more time there chatting with each other and all in all enjoying the scenery, Valamar noticed he was getting more tired. He yawned quite a bit before he began to doze off. He was suddenly awoken not a few moments later by Cassandra.

"My lord, it isn't good to rest out here in the cold... You'd get ill." She said with a worried tone

"It wouldn't be the first time I fell asleep on a chair next to you, dear."

Cassandra immediately blushed as she remembered that day she woke up next to him on the palace deck.

'Well at least now we have a proper bed for just the two of us to sleep in together..." As the words left Cassandra's mouth all of a sudden her face began to flush greatly. Valamar immediately looked at his wife with worry as he held her face and it was hot.

"Are you alright, dear?" He said worriedly "What's wrong?!"