CHAPTER 316: CHAPTER 316 FAVOR

The night had been a triumph for the Rice Clan, their prestige rising higher than ever before, but for Riley and Aurora, time together was a rare luxury.

After their initial meeting, the days passed quickly, filled with duties and endless preparations.

Everyone in both clans was busy—servants running about, elders in constant discussion, and even Riley himself pulled into countless matters.

Weeks slipped by, and before either of them realized it, the wedding day had arrived.

Riley caught sight of his bride once again beneath the bright lanterns of the great hall.

Aurora was breathtaking. She wore a crimson dress embroidered with golden threads that shimmered like fire with every graceful step she took.

The veil covering her face only seemed to enhance her beauty, leaving his imagination to fill the gaps.

To Riley, she was not only beautiful—there was strength and dignity in her bearing, yet at the same time a trace of vulnerability that stirred something deep within him.

The marriage festivities were grand, stretching for three days and three nights.

Banquets filled with music and laughter, contests and ceremonies, endless wine and food—it seemed as though the entire region had gathered to celebrate the union of the two great clans.

Riley played his part with a calm, composed smile, but inside he was quietly waiting for the moment when all of this would end, when he would finally be alone with the woman who was now his wife.

That moment came only on the final night.

The guests had dispersed, the music faded, and the last torches outside burned low.

Aurora was escorted to the bridal chambers, but to Riley’s mild surprise, she was not alone.

Standing slightly behind her was a young woman dressed in simple yet neat garments—her maidservant, Edith.

Riley immediately understood.

It was tradition in these lands that a bride’s personal servant often accompanied her on her wedding night.

Some grooms would claim both as part of their household from that very evening.

He could see the nervousness in their eyes—Aurora’s fingers clutched tightly at her sleeves, and Edith, though trying to remain composed, trembled almost imperceptibly.

Both women were clearly bracing themselves for what might come next.

Riley’s voice was steady as he broke the silence. "Your name is Edith, if I’m not mistaken."

The maid startled at being addressed, then quickly bowed her head.

"That’s correct, Master Riley," she answered, her voice faint, betraying her unease.

Her eyes darted upward for a moment, and when she saw the young man shrugging off his outer robe, revealing the defined muscles of his body, her breath caught in her throat.

Aurora’s lips parted slightly, but she said nothing, simply watching him with wide eyes.

She, too, was expecting the same thing—that Riley would follow custom.

Instead, Riley paused, then spoke in a firm yet gentle tone.

"Go to the room next to this one, Edith. Nothing is going to happen tonight."

For a moment, Edith froze, as if unsure she had heard him correctly.

Relief and disbelief mingled on her face before she bowed again, deeper this time, and almost stumbled in her haste to obey.

With a quick glance at Aurora, she slipped out the door, leaving the newlyweds alone.

Riley removed the rest of his garments and climbed onto the bed, not with hunger in his eyes, but with the weariness of a man who had carried the weight of three days of ceremonies and endless expectations.

It was already deep into the night, well past the third watch.

He could see the exhaustion in Aurora’s posture too—the long hours of rituals, greetings, and performances had clearly worn her down.

"Come, wife," Riley said softly, patting the space beside him. "Let’s sleep."

He did not wait for her reply.

Closing his eyes, he allowed the silence of the chamber to settle around them, his breathing soon steady and even.

Aurora stood motionless for a long while, her heart racing.

She had been prepared to face anything tonight—to be claimed, to be shared, to surrender as countless brides before her had.

Instead, Riley had given her something she had not expected: peace.

Slowly, almost uncertainly, she approached the bed.

As she slipped beneath the covers, she found herself listening to the quiet rhythm of his breathing.

For the first time that night, the fear in her heart gave way to a fragile sense of safety.

She turned her head slightly, studying the handsome man who was now her husband.

He was already asleep, his face calm, as though the storms of the outside world could not touch him.

Without realizing it, Aurora’s lips curved into the faintest of smiles.

For tonight, at least, she could rest.

***

The night had slipped away quickly, and when the first light of dawn crept through the lattice windows, Aurora stirred awake.

She was unused to this place, and the unfamiliar stillness of the Rice Clan’s estate made her rise earlier than she normally would have.

Quietly, she washed, combed her long dark hair, and dressed in fresh robes of pale silk.

Her movements were graceful but carried a faint nervousness, as though she were still trying to settle into this new role as wife.

Today marked a small but significant change.

The Osprey Clan’s delegation would be returning home, leaving Aurora behind in the household that would now be hers.

With Edith as her sole companion, she would remain here as Riley’s bride.

The thought gave her a strange feeling—half trepidation, half resignation.

The absence of her parents made the parting easier to endure, though it also deepened the sense that she had been truly severed from her old life.

Two hours later, after a brief walk through the estate gardens with Edith, Aurora returned to her chambers.

To her surprise, the bed was empty.

The place where Riley had lain last night was cold, and there was no sign of him anywhere nearby.

A flicker of unease passed through her chest.

Though they were husband and wife now, she realized she still knew almost nothing about him.

"Where could he have gone?" Edith murmured softly, glancing around.

Unable to ignore her curiosity, Aurora sought out one of the household staff.

She found a middle-aged man working diligently among the rows of herbs and flowering shrubs that filled a quiet courtyard. Approaching him with calm dignity, she asked,

"Do you know where Master Riley is?"

The man immediately set down his tools and bowed respectfully.

"Good morning, Lady Aurora. Master Riley should be in his study at this hour. If you wish, I can take you there myself."

Aurora inclined her head politely. "Please, and thank you."

The man smiled faintly, pride shining in his expression as though speaking of Riley was an honor. "Of course. This way."

He led them down a winding path that took them through increasingly secluded parts of the clan’s residence.

The noise of servants faded the farther they went, replaced by the gentle rustle of bamboo in the breeze and the distant trickle of water from a hidden spring.

The walk stretched longer than Aurora expected—nearly two full minutes of weaving through shaded corridors and narrow passageways until, at last, they came to a halt before a tall wooden door reinforced with dark iron fittings.

The man gestured toward it but did not step closer. His voice lowered, as though even speaking too loudly here might be a transgression.

"Lady Aurora, this is Master Riley’s study. But I must warn you—he prefers not to be disturbed while inside. He values his solitude greatly."

He bowed once more, his tone respectful yet firm, then excused himself, leaving Aurora and Edith standing alone before the door.

Aurora’s hand lingered in the air, her fingers brushing lightly against the smooth grain of the wood.

Her heart beat a little faster. What was he doing inside that required such secrecy?

Why build his study in such a hidden corner of the estate, away from all the noise and life of the household?

Edith shifted uneasily beside her. "My lady... should we really disturb him?" she whispered.

Aurora’s lips pressed together as she considered.

A part of her wanted to turn back—after all, she barely knew her husband, and already she was being warned against intruding.

But another part of her, stronger, more curious, urged her forward.

She had been bound to this man by marriage, her future now entwined with his.

If she could not even step into his study, what kind of life would await her?

Slowly, she drew in a breath, her knuckles tightening against the doorframe.

She would have to decide.

In the end, curiosity won. Aurora steadied herself, her hand resting on the door as she spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Riley... I’m here."

She expected silence, perhaps no response at all.

But to her surprise, only half a breath later, a calm voice drifted from within the room.

"Come in, wife."

It was none other than her husband Riley.