The commercial center of the port was hectic and noisy. Vendors shouted offering their products and capturing the tourist's attention. The smell of food coming from the tents were also strong competitors for attention. In addition, the products sold were beautiful and flashy, making such demand justifiable.
Lucian had fun hopping between the stores and seeing what was displayed in stalls and shop windows. The pieces of clothing, alone, were attractive as if launching a new fashion. The shops of accessories and weapons were also the most visited, to the point that some show their blacksmiths working diligently in forging swords and other weapons for knights.
"My goodness!" Lucian sighed as he watched the blacksmith hammer over the hot iron.
It was simply impossible not to be enchanted, and also very difficult not to give in to the temptation of spending some gold coins on trinkets. Lucian even wanted to buy some souvenirs of his excellent honeymoon. The problem was that everything there was at an absurd price! Even an iron sword with simple labor cost more than forging a sword made in the capital itself.
The souvenir would have to stay for later, Lucian did not want to waste the gold coins so lightly.
"Oh, Your Grace! Your Highness! Come and taste this delicious savoury pie!! It's the specialty of port!!" Shouted a lady saleswoman to the couple.
Despite the effort, which was almost nil, of Magnus to control his husband, Lucian walked quickly across the street to go to the saleswoman. His mouth salivated when he saw the pies that seemed to have just come out of the oven. That aroma could carry him like a cartoon character, already imagining giving some bites.
"That delicious smell! What's the filling of the pie?"
"We use fresh meat from northern farms. The seasoning used is the specialty here, accentuating the flavor of the meat. We also have fish-flavored pies, caught by our fishermen. Would you like to try it, Your Highness?"
"Oh, I do! How much does a piece of meat pie cost?"
"50 gold coins, Your Highness."
"How expensive" growled Magnus taking the lead. "Are the vendors in this city eager to stick the knife in our pockets?"
The woman was slightly frightened by the Grand Duke's abrupt speech, and looked at Lucian nervously. The prince only smiled slightly and pulled the sleeve of the dark coat of the husband, trying to remain friendly and not make the poor seller's nervousness worse.
"Calm down, Magnus. If this is a port city and with intense movement of tourists, it is expected to be expensive."
"Before it was not so expensive. A piece of pie could be bought for half that price. The low price is precisely what makes the Port of Baydenn the best place to shop."
"Oh... I get it" whispered the lady as she relaxed her shoulders. After checking that no one would be snooping her conversation, she leaned towards the two of them as she whispered, "You're not mistaken, Your Grace, the price of all stores has increased in the last year. Still, many nobles like to spend their fortune regardless of the price to be paid."
"Really?" Lucian whispered, but the expression on the woman's face seemed to disdain his surprise. As one who wants nothing, the prince turned to the Grand Duke "Is this city under the care of any of my brothers? I have heard that all of them have some territory or property to be administered."
"Of the seventh prince. It was the only thing that remained to him, since his bad administration in other projects caused the Emperor to leave him only with the Port, which practically supports itself."
Not that it was a big surprise for Lucian, after all the eighth prince himself had only one diamond mine to take care of. Still, due to his own incompetence, the mine was administered by Cassander when Lucian ceased to perform various duties as eighth prince.
However, considering all the political battle in which his brothers played, Lucian hoped that they would all have some kind of success in managing their assets. Who would have thought that filthy-mouthed alpha has had other possessions confiscated?
Now Lucian wanted to know more of that gossip.
"Wow, I'm surprised my brother has hidden this news from me" pretended Lucian, making his husband frown lightly when the prince turned to the seller again, This time, looking genuinely concerned "Is the seventh prince mistreating the residents here?"
"But of course not, Your Highness!"
"I understand that you may feel oppressed, but I can only imagine how hard it must be for the workers here to survive."
Lucian's charade could not fool Magnus, who was already used to see his fake innocent mask, however, the poor saleswoman fell into his lie. There were clear signs of weariness in his countenance, Lucian had recognized that in his other life he himself had them. He only had to play with his slightly shaken psychological state and touch his wounded ego a little to get his favor.
"Ah, Your Highness... Indeed, we are surviving at the expense of the nobles, but we know that this will not last long, because other cities can sell at a lower price" The lady looked at the pie and sighed "Since the Count of Shad increased taxes this year, we have to deal with competition that takes advantage of the situation."
When the lady mentioned the tax increase, Magnus became interested and leaned slightly.
"Increased the Taxes?"
"Yes, Your Grace. Because of the increased movement in the port, the Count has raised our taxes. He says it is a way to invest in our city. But honestly speaking, I did not see anything different. Just more people loading and unloading the ships."
"I see..." Magnus took sixty gold coins and handed to the woman, bringing back a shine in those tired eyes. He also took the pie and handed it to Lucian "Thank you for the pie. Have a good day, my lady."
His distant way of buying a pie, despite his charitable act, made the seller's cheeks red. Lucian bit the pie and sighed delighted with the taste. He waved gently and then followed Magnus to continue walking around the mall.
"So the Count, responsible for the administration of the port increased the tax of residents..."
"Had you ever heard about it?" Asked Lucian, while he chewed the pie.
"Humpf, the nobles are always complaining when some commoner points the knife at their neck. The high price certainly displeased them very much, but the seventh prince only said that it was something momentary and would soon pass."
The prince chuckled at Elyon's lame excuse and continued walking through the mall. Although the omega seems to collect information and observe how the business situation was, Magnus did not cease to be a participatory husband in leisure. He bought some trinkets to present Lucian, accepted to taste food in stalls next to him and even got a new coat of the prince.
The two definitely had fun walking around the shopping center, contrary to the initial desire not to spend their precious gold coins.
Despite the problem of taxes, Lucian could understand why that city was so attractive. The salty smell of the sea, the sound of people and the sea, go to the pier and see ships in the distance... definitely there was a place that held attractions very different from the capital.
Lucian even felt... free.
He completely forgot his worries and fears as he walked and watched the shop windows. Lucian really enjoyed the ride alongside Magnus, which left the omega happy and relieved to see a genuine smile on that face.
At night they returned to the hotel, where finally Lucian would see the suite. As if nothing in that city had already impressed him, his day was closed with a golden key to see a large and beautifully decorated room. Of course, the Grimwood Mansion was bigger and had even more decorations, but for a hotel that was beyond expectation.
A fireplace and a set of upholstery where Lucian already saw himself having a moment of cuddle with his husband. A wide bed with enough pillows for him to stick in the middle of them and sleep until late... even the bathroom was large and magnificent!
"My gosh, this place is really wonderful!" Lucian whispered walking through the room and stopping at the window to realize that they had a view of the sea "We can always come back here, to celebrate the wedding anniversary. What do you think?"
Magnus took off his coat and hung it on the back of a chair, then walked to the window where he stood next to the alpha watching the sea view.
"So you like places with beautiful landscapes?"
"It's the first time I explore beyond my palace" Lucian touched the glass and smiled genuinely "This world is so vast and mysterious, makes me question what else there is to be seen."
"Is that what you want? Survive to see the world?"
The question caught Lucian off guard and brought with it an anguish that days ago he forced himself to ignore.
What would happen next?
When they survive... what would happen?
Would Lucian return to your world? Would he have to leave behind Magnus and the rest?
He was trying to find the reason for his coming into that world. Of trying to understand what it was necessary to do. How? Why? But there was also the doubt that made his heart tighten with a little anguish.
His fingers clenched against the window. The smiling countenance was gone, giving way to a gloomy expression.
"I'd love for that to be true, but..."
Before even Lucian could finish his speech, Magnus held his chin with the tips of his fingers turning his face. The kiss that the Grand Duke gave him was sweet and gentle, without malice and only a sweetness that hardly Magnus Grimwood would give.
As he lean back, Lucian blinked a few times stunned by the sudden but not unpleasant kiss.
"There is no "but" for us, Lucian. There are only facts. We will do that then. Every year, we will come back here to celebrate our greed. Even if I have to spend my fortune and army to invade this place and make it yours."