181: Reputation

Reputation

When Emily set her foot on the ground, her gaze was drawn to the stones lining the road. They were arranged in a geometric pattern that extended all the way to the outskirts of the town, and she followed the design with her eyes as far as her sight allowed her. 

And while Emily observed the unfamiliar surroundings with fascination, the townspeople stared at her with curiosity. 

"Who is that woman standing with King Raylen?" One of the onlookers whispered to another woman beside her, "I don't think I have ever seen her around here before."

"Her clothes look strange," the other woman murmured behind her handkerchief. "Do you think he brought her from a different land?" 

"It seems like the king's tastes span the entire spectrum of the rainbow," remarked the first woman while scanning the young lady beside their king. "What on earth is she wearing?" 

"It is said that blood encompasses a wide spectrum of flavours," Raylen's blue eyes shifted to the women, who stiffened at his words. He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he watched the women bow.

"Good morning, King Raylen. Good health to you!" greeted one of them, before they hurriedly scurried away. 

Emily had been engrossed in admiring the town's architecture and hadn't caught the conversation between the women or the hushed exchanges among the other onlookers. It was only when she heard Raylen threatening the women that she asked, "Why are you scaring them? Did they say something?" She watched the two women glancing back at them as they walked, only to hasten their footsteps, swiftly disappearing into the crowd. 

"I enjoy scaring people; it's akin to shooing away crows," Raylen responded nonchalantly. Extending his hand forward, he inquired, "Shall we?" 

The coachman steered the carriage away from the road to park it elsewhere while Emily and Raylen began walking, with their servants, Westley and Julia, trailing behind them. And as they walked, it took Emily seconds to notice that people's eyes were fixed on them. 

"It is a pleasure to see you here, King Raylen! A good morning to you!" a courageous man greeted Raylen, and soon the others chimed in with their own greetings. Yet, the exchanges didn't end there, as people's gazes shifted towards Emily, curiosity evident in their eyes as they wondered who she was and what she was doing beside Raylen. 

"I feel like an exotic animal at the fair," Emily muttered, seeing how people continued to stare at her, particularly her attire. In contrast to the subdued clothing worn by the locals, her dress was vibrant and eye-catching, making her feel completely out of place. 

"Now, you are attempting to put words into my mouth, Princess," Raylen chuckled upon receiving a pointed look from her. "Everyone is wondering who you are and what your relationship with me is for you to have the privilege of walking beside me." 

Emily, accustomed to being the centre of attention, didn't shy away from it; instead, her eyes met the gaze of each person openly staring at her as she passed them by, who, in response, only ended up whispering even more fervently to their companions next to them. She inquired, "What are they talking about?" 

"I didn't know you were into gossip," Raylen commented with a click of his tongue, which made Emily smile, the one she often wore in public to put people at ease. 

"When it concerns me, yes. Aren't you?" Emily asked him as they continued to walk down the pavement. 

"I have a keen interest in everything and everyone. You never know what might prove useful," Raylen replied with a pleasant expression. He added, "They are wondering whether you are my new toy."

Emily's eyes widened at his words. She responded with a laugh, "That's preposterous." However, upon noticing his serious expression, she grew concerned and said, "This is not good. At this rate, my visit here will be meaningless." Any decent and worthy man would misinterpret their relationship and keep his distance from her.

"Everything will become clear tomorrow when we attend the gathering—that you are merely staying at my castle," Raylen assured her with a smile. However, this time, the smile on Emily's lips fell. "Rest assured, no one will dare to sully your name if that is what you are worried about."

That was true, because no one could go against the king himself. Yet, it didn't sit well with her that people were questioning whether she was his latest plaything. She distanced herself from him, prompting the man to raise his eyebrows. 

"What are you doing?" 

"Making sure people understand that we are not together in that way. It doesn't hurt to be careful," Emily stated before shifting her gaze forward. 

They finally reached their intended store, and as Westley opened the door, a gentle chime sounded from the bell above it. Emily followed Raylen inside the shop, her gaze drifting over the mannequins draped in beautiful dresses. One after another, the fabrics were neatly displayed on the wall racks, transitioning through an array of colours. 

Having never been to a tailor shop before, as they always came to the palace, this experience was entirely new to Emily. The expression on her face radiated pure joy, much like that of a child's. 

"Greetings to you, King Raylen," said an old man who was there with his daughter. 

"Mr. Lanzo." Raylen offered a courteous nod to the elderly man and then greeted the woman, who only looked older than him in appearance, "Mrs. Ruiz. Looks like you are done shopping here?" His smile was warm and pleasant. 

The woman greeted him with a polite bow and replied, "Just a moment ago. Are you here to meet Mr. Hatt? I assume you are not here for tailoring purposes." 

"Actually, I am. But not for myself," Raylen smiled before turning to look at Emily, who had only returned to his side. "It is for this young lady." He paused before addressing Emily, "Allow me to introduce Mrs. Ruiz, who is the one hosting the gathering with her husband."

Emily greeted the lady with a respectful bow, and in return, the lady reciprocated with a smile. "It is good to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Ruiz."

"I don't believe I have had the pleasure of meeting this lovely lady before," Mrs. Ruiz remarked, turning to look at Raylen. "Is she your, ah…"

"This is Emily. She's my distant niece," Raylen stated with such a composed and convincing expression that it made Emily blink in surprise for a second. "Her family entrusted her to my care, and I hope you will be of assistance to her." 

"I find it surprising that she hasn't been courted by any gentleman yet," the old man remarked. 

Mrs. Ruiz nodded in response to Raylen's words. "Of course, I will be sure to introduce her to the most promising prospects who will be in attendance tomorrow. In fact, how about you come meet me at our mansion when you arrive tomorrow?" 

"That is very kind of you, Mrs. Ruiz," Emily thanked the woman, who responded with a smile. 

"We will anticipate your arrival tomorrow, then. Have a good day," Mrs. Ruiz said before leaving the shop alongside her father. 

"Distant niece?" Emily asked him, not knowing what Raylen was up to. He was truly embodying the essence of a demon, she thought to herself. 

"You were worried about your reputation, and I am worried about mine," Raylen remarked.

"You don't think people will figure it out when I use my full name?" Emily asked him with a frown. As their gazes locked, she couldn't help but notice his blue eyes that reminded her of the crystal-clear water. 

"Mrs. Ruiz is one of the highly esteemed women in the Storm Kingdom, and her connections and influence extend far when it comes to swaying families to approve of a young man or a woman. I thought you didn't want any blemishes on your name during your stay and throughout the lengthy weeks of the upcoming gatherings that are going to begin tomorrow?" Raylen questioned her. He then added, "Technically, we might be distant relatives. Your brother and I are archdemons, and given that you are Dante's sister, one could even consider you my niece." 

"That's like saying that the Devil is Brother Dante's and your father, and that all the other demons are my brothers and sisters. No, thank you," Emily replied curtly, happy and content with the family she had at present. 

Raylen shifted his weight onto one leg and regarded the woman with amusement. He inquired, "Why not use this opportunity to step out from your family's shadow? Haven't you ever wished to have your own free will to do whatever you desire, without having to carry the weight of burdens and expectations on your shoulders?" He raised one of his eyebrows. 

As annoying as Raylen was, his words struck something deep within her. Emily looked away from him while he, akin to the devil, whispered to her, 

"To be a woman of your own standing and firmly grasping the reins of your life. It does seem enticing, doesn't it?" 

From the day she was born, Emily had borne the mantle of a princess while being expected to set an example for her siblings. Certain actions and behaviours had been forbidden to her, and she had adhered to these restrictions dutifully, following them as if they were written in a guidebook. However, no guidebook had prepared her for the heartbreak that had violently consumed her like a blazing inferno. 

"King Raylen, how fortunate I am to be meeting you here today," another woman in her mid-forties said as she approached them in the shop. 

"The fortune is all mine," Raylen responded with a polite bow and smile, and the way he behaved led Emily to believe he was well-liked by many people, thanks to his false demeanour. "How have you been doing, Lady Paige?"

"Healthier than the last time," the woman laughed, and her eyes fell on Emily. "I heard that she is your niece?" 

The woman had overheard their conversation because she had been in the shop when they were talking to Mrs. Ruiz and her father. Emily returned the woman's smile with one of her own. 

"What is your name, dear?" Lady Paige inquired politely. 

"It is Emily," Emily replied. 

"Just Emily? Or Emily Storm?" Lady Paige ventured, recalling Raylen's mention of them being distant relatives. 

"It is Emily Thorn," Emily responded, and the woman nodded with an expression of enthusiasm. 

"I should get going now, My King! Lady Emily," the woman said with an air of anticipation before exiting the shop. 

As Emily turned to observe the woman leaving, she heard Raylen chuckle. He remarked, "Cacti would have been more unique." She shot him a disapproving glare. Instead of entirely discarding her family name, she had chosen to keep half of it, just like Anastasia had done in the past. 

"Why not Storm?" Raylen inquired.

"It belongs to you. I have one of my own," Emily replied to him in a low voice, mindful of the other patrons in the shop. 

Raylen hummed contemplatively before saying, "Perhaps it doesn't matter which name you choose. There are some perverse people who regard certain close connections to be quite tempting, much like forbidden fruit, you see. Such things can be incredibly enticing, and some simply cannot resist taking a bite."

Emily's eyes narrowed, and she warned him, "Don't think that just because you are an archdemon or the king of this place, I am scared of punching you." 

Raylen's smile widened, his eyes sparkling with a challenging gleam. He said, "I would definitely like to see that. Although, for someone who hasn't done any physical labour until now, you might bruise as easily as a peach, Princess." 

Someone at the desk cleared their throat, and when Emily turned her gaze towards the individual at the counter, she noticed a man with a low ponytail and glasses resting on his nose. The man appeared to be the owner of the establishment, as he cast a meaningful glance at Raylen. 

"How rare of you to bring me a patron, Ray. And this one doesn't look like your usual type either."  1

"Emily, meet Paxton Hatt, a fellow demon from Hell. Paxton, meet Dante's sister," Raylen introduced them. "She requires gowns and dresses for the upcoming gatherings." 

Emily bowed at the man, who initially stared at her with a look of disbelief before composing his expression. Mr. Hatt turned to the side and called out, "Blaire! Help Lady Emily in selecting dresses from the inner room." He then turned back to Emily and said, "At the moment, all the finest gowns and dresses were purchased three days ago due to the gathering. However, there may be a few pieces which might interest you, while the rest will need to be tailored to your specifications."

"I can wait," Emily responded, and the man nodded. 

"We will take your measurements and tailor the ones that best suit you," the tailor informed her. "You can follow Blaire." 

After Emily disappeared behind the door with the shop assistant, Mr. Hatt turned to look at Raylen, who had taken out a cigar only to place it back in its case. The tailor asked, 

"Why are you chaperoning Dante's sister, especially one who is an earthling?"

"Returning a favour from the past," Raylen remarked, his lips twisting at the thought. It was thanks to Dante that he was able to get to the living realm. He continued, "Let us see what you have in store." 

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