Published at 6th of September 2023 11:46 am

Chapter 497: Exchanging Gifts [I]

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“This….” Aditya’s eyes widened as he gazed at the gift that Amber had prepared for him. Spread out on the table were many ancient books, their covers worn with age but rich with history. The gold and silver inlays gleamed faintly in the soft lighting of the room, giving them an aura of reverence and wisdom.

“These are some ancient books,” Amber began, her voice quivering with uncertainty. “These books are full of legendary tales of adventures of powerful Emperors in the past. Since His Majesty is into reading books, I thought you would like it.” Her words were hesitant, and her eyes remained fixed on the floor. Amber’s body language was a stark contrast to her usual confident demeanor. She looked vulnerable, nervous, and uncharacteristically unsure of herself.

This was a new experience for Amber, the first time she had ever bought gifts for anyone, let alone for someone as important as the Emperor. Her heart pounded in her chest as a wave of insecurity washed over her. She knew deep down that her gift could not compare to the extravagant offerings that others might present to Aditya. She was not wealthy enough to afford expensive gifts, nor had she stumbled upon any rare artifacts or weapons that might suit a ruler of his stature.

After much consideration and seeking the counsel of Aditya’s personal butler, she had decided that these old and ancient books would be the most appropriate gift. They were stories from bygone eras, filled with wisdom, adventure, and lessons of leadership. But now, as she stood before him, presenting her carefully chosen present, doubt gnawed at her, making her question her decision.

She felt like she had made a mistake. Her gift was simple, modest, and unassuming. It lacked the grandeur and flair that would be expected of a gift for an Emperor. Amber’s mind raced with thoughts of rejection, fear that Aditya might not like what she had chosen, concern that she had failed to meet his expectations.

Aditya continued to stare at the books on the table, his eyes reflecting a thoughtful curiosity. His gaze then shifted to Amber, who was standing before him, her body visibly tense and her little fist tightly clenched. Her head was lowered, and he could sense her apprehension, the fear that her gift was inadequate.

“Your Majesty, if you don’t like my gifts, then you don’t have to accept them. I will take them back,” Amber said softly, her voice trembling with uncertainty. Her words were filled with self-doubt, and she seemed convinced that she had made a poor choice in gifting the Emperor a collection of old books. She reached out to take them back, a look of resignation in her eyes, but Aditya’s hand shot out, gently but firmly holding her wrist and stopping her.

This unexpected gesture made Amber raise her head, and her eyes met Aditya’s. What she saw in his expression was not disappointment or disapproval but a genuine interest and appreciation.

“I like your gift,” Aditya said, his voice calm and reassuring. “I always had an interest in knowing more about the history and various empires that existed throughout time. I am going to read them when I have some free time.” His words were sincere, not merely spoken to placate her or to offer false praise. The titles of the books had already piqued his curiosity, and he truly felt a growing desire to explore the contents within their pages.

Hearing his words, Amber’s eyes widened, and a wave of relief washed over her. The uncertainty that had been gnawing at her began to dissipate, replaced by a newfound confidence that her gift was not only accepted but truly appreciated.

Aditya gave her arm a firm but gentle squeeze, a physical affirmation of his gratitude. He then offered her a sincere and warm smile, his eyes twinkling with genuine affection. “Thank you, Amber,” he said, his voice filled with sincerity. “These books mean a lot to me. I know you put thought and care into choosing them, and I truly value your effort.”

Aditya’s eyes moved across the collection of books laid out before him, taking in the names and the varied subjects they covered. Each title seemed to promise a unique journey into the realms of history, mythology, and wisdom. Amber had carefully chosen a wide array of topics, and Aditya found himself intrigued by every single one of them.

1. “Chronicles of Elarian Might”

2. “The Astral Prophecies of Seraphis”

3. “Tales of the Dragon Lords”

4. “The Silk Diaries: Journeys through the Empyreal Roads”

5. “Gems of Turion Wisdom”

6. “The Rise and Fall of the Obsidian Empire”

7. “Songs of the Sea Kings”

8. “Sorcerous Traditions of the Arcanum Realms”

9. “The Golden Bestiary of Arcturus”

10. “Canticles of the Moon Priestesses”

11. “The Labyrinthine Atlas of Eldara”

12. “Histories of the Scarlet Warlords”

With a graceful wave of his hand, Aditya magically transferred all these books into his storage, a place where they would wait for the time when he could delve into their pages. He felt a longing to begin reading immediately, the anticipation growing within him. He could lose himself in these books, traveling through time and space, learning, exploring, and growing.

Amber watched Aditya’s actions with a smile on her face, her heart filled with joy and satisfaction. She had seen his genuine interest and excitement, and she knew that her gift had been a success. Her efforts, the long journey to the Westnia Continent, the battles with grave robbers, the search through ancient abandoned libraries and various ruins, and even the considerable expense for rare volumes like ‘The Labyrinthine Atlas of Eldara’ and ‘Sorcerous Traditions of the Arcanum Realms,’ had all been worth it.

The smile on Aditya’s face, the spark in his eyes, were more than enough to make her feel proud and happy. Her gift had not only pleased the Emperor but seeing him, she felt a strange sense of joy. She had not chosen the most extravagant or luxurious items; she had chosen thoughtfulness, care, and understanding of Aditya’s interests.

‘Especially after I spanked her ass…cough!…..I don’t know if we are still close friends or more than that…..’ Aditya clearly remembers how loudly moaned when he spanked her.

Cough!

‘I shouldn’t about it.’ Aditya tried his best to not think about that night’s event. He truly had no intention of expanding his harem. He already had 5 girls as his fiances. Maybe if thinks work out between him and Amber then maybe the number will increase.

‘As for Sasha’s mother…….cough! Cough!……I shouldn’t think about it.’ Aditya clearled his head and looked at Sylvie who had a small smile on her face.

Aditya reached into his pocket and pulled out a stunning white ring, adorned with a bluish-white stone that sparkled in the room’s light. As he extended his hand, offering the ring to Sylvie, her eyes lit up, and for a brief moment, they reflected the brilliance of the ring. A teasing smile then played on her lips, and she couldn’t resist the opportunity to jest.

“Your Majesty, you’re giving me a ring…” she said, her voice dripping with mock astonishment. “By any chance, are you proposing to me?”

The room seemed to freeze at her words. Aditya suddenly felt the temperature drop, and a nervous sweat began to form on his brow. He looked around and was met with the narrowed eyes of Riya, Lara, and Sasha. Each of them had a dangerous glint in their eyes, and he felt a sense of suffocation as if three deadly assassins had placed their swords against his throat. One wrong move, and he might find himself in peril.

The situation was fraught with tension. Riya, Lara, and Sasha were unofficially engaged to Aditya, and yet they had not received any engagement rings from him. They had patiently waited for their turns, and seeing him present a ring to Sylvie first, their jealousy was ignited. The very symbol of commitment that they yearned for was being offered to someone else, and the injustice of it stung them deeply.

Once Aditya mets Riya’s parents, then he was planning on holding a engagement ceremony. And then he would give ring to Lara and then Sasha. That’s what he had thought and the girls seems to have no problem but now seeing a ring, it appears everyone has misunderstood.

With a sudden movement, Aditya lightly brought his right palm down on Sylvie’s head in a gentle chop.

“Ouch!” she cried, her mischievous smile replaced by a look of surprise. The room echoed with her exclamation, and the tension of the moment was momentarily broken.

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Aditya admonished, though his tone was more playful than angry. “This is not an ordinary ring. It’s called the ‘Eldenleaf Band,’ an artifact imbued with special enchantments. One of its unique features is the size manipulation function, allowing it to adjust to the size of your fingers.” He handed the beautifully crafted ring to Sylvie, its design inspired by nature and resonating with elvish elegance.

Sylvie’s eyes widened as she took in the complex details of the Eldenleaf Band. She could feel the magic emanating from it, and her curiosity was piqued. What other functions did this unique artifact possess?

Aditya seemed to read her thoughts, and he handed her a piece of paper, carefully extracted from his own storage ring. “You can read about all the functions of this artifact here,” he explained, watching her eyes skim over the paper.

Sylvie’s eyes sparkled as she read about the Eldenleaf Band’s abilities.

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