Chapter 9: Crystals
"You are," Soleia corrected through gritted teeth. "Did you think that your fief is rolling in riches?"
Crystals didn't come by easily. The royal family had an absolute monopoly over the sales and distribution of these magical stones― after all, the feats and wonders that could be accomplished with its help weren't something King Godwin wanted to share with his citizens.
Besides, the common folk didn't have any ability to harness the stones' magical properties― giving them these crystals would be as useful as giving them to the livestock. Even the ugliest, smallest, and most clouded stone would still cost the average citizen an arm and leg through the black market.
However, Soleia wasn't as poorly off as the common folk, even if she, like them, couldn't channel any powers with these semi-precious stones. She had dismantled some of her jewelry and sold off whatever she couldn't use.
"Then how did you get your hands on these?" Orion arched a brow, staring down at her, unimpressed. "Or is my fief poor because you decided to squander funds on these trinkets―"
"You might be destitute, but you should be grateful that I'm not. If not, we would all be sleeping in the stables tonight," Soleia said with gritted teeth, as she immediately reached out to swipe the aquamarine from Orion's hands, enraged at his insinuation.
When their fingers brushed against each other, Soleia withdrew her hand quickly. She felt it again― that zap that caused the hairs on her arm to stand as though she had been struck by lightning. This time, Orion's eyes lit up with amusement, watching her as the corner of his lip quirked up just ever the slightest.
She reminded him of a kitten he had as a child.
"Right," he said with a lazy drawl in his voice, but there was a sharp glint in his eyes. "Your father must have given you a lot of money to support your little hobby. Can't have his daughter spy on a man without her jewels, isn't that right?"