Upon arriving at the Royal Palace, Velin jumped down from the carriage. Most of the people within sight bowed their heads in greeting.
After nodding to let them know they could be at ease, Velin approached a low table, picked up a pastry, and popped it into his mouth, savoring it. It tasted excellent, so he simply picked up the whole plate and ate as he walked.
Everyone else smiled warmly at the sight.
Had someone of low birth and little strength picked up an entire plate, they would have felt nothing but contempt. But when someone of noble standing and great power did so, they sincerely felt he was being refreshingly genuine.
Beneath a large tree, Velin handed the empty plate to a maid nearby, then caught a drifting Yilan Flower petal and held it to his nose. Its fragrance was sweet, delicate, and lingering.
"Uncle."
Hearing the greeting, Velin turned around. He smiled at Valient and Talisha as they approached. "Strictly speaking, now that you've married Talisha, you should be calling me your uncle on her side, though calling me your uncle by marriage isn't wrong either."
"Uncle Velin, Valient said you left the Underground World in your territory to me?" Talisha asked softly, looking at him.
"And Yolia Island," Valient added.
"That's right." Velin nodded with a smile. "That's my dowry for you. You can use it however you like. The decision is entirely yours."
Talisha's eyes widened in disbelief. "Uncle, doesn't that mean you're losing out terribly?"
Velin stepped forward, took Valient's left hand and Talisha's right in his own, and joined them together. Then he smiled at Talisha. "You played a part in our family's rise. The Underground World and trading island I'm giving you now may seem immensely valuable to you, but to me,