The General's Wife Wants to Leave-Chapter 161: The symbol of the union

Sitting alone on the edge of the bed, Joanna stared at the brown-colored leather pouch that lay on the table next to her bed.

She lost count of how much time had passed since she sat there with her eyes fixed on that object. She only remembered that she was still in that position right after she finished all her nightly routines and was ready to call it a night.

Wedding ring. It was the subject that had never come to her mind in the slightest, even after holding the status of a married woman, as if she forgot that she was married or was oblivious about what was supposed to be part of a wedding ritual.

She, however, could not help but admit that she would probably have thought about that if her mind was not occupied by the aftereffects of the dream that she had that night. And still, it was the nightmare that occupied most of her mind, taking control of her every action against her marriage.

Feeling that there was no need to ponder too long over something that was useless to ponder about as it already happened and was hard to tame no matter how hard she tried, Joanna was aware that what was said by the General regarding the wedding ring to her when they were in the carriage was right.

Marriage between kingdoms was common on the Maldava continent and was generally carried out for political purposes that benefited each party. And as the sovereigns’ subjects, regardless of how noble the social status that one held, if the sovereign chose them to show their loyalty for their homeland, no one had any power to decline.

With regard to Archess and Terra, which held not far different traditions regarding marriage and had built a deal of agreement in the political marriage, once the marriage was arranged, the bride, who was already betrothed to the groom, had to be sent off to the groom’s homeland. And she had to go there right after the marriage certificate, which was the official statement and became evidence of the legitimacy of the marriage, was officially issued with the seal of the two kingdoms.

When the bride arrived at the groom’s residence, the wedding procession would be held based on what became the custom that came from the groom’s side.

Generally, the wedding ring, which had not only become the symbol of the union between husband and wife but was also used to represent the existence of the marriage in public eyes, would be given to the bride by the groom. And the wedding ring was only worn by the bride.

The dowry would be presented to the groom. The wedding banquet would also be held then, and it could be held before or after the relationship as husband and wife was consummated.

However, political marriage did not happen without consequences since it was generally arranged without the willingness of the two parties, who mostly came as strangers. In other words, it was a marriage that was much more about business arrangements than loving relationships.

Although the marriage was legalized by the royal certificate, how each party treated each other could not be generalized to be the same in each case.

On certain occasions, recalling how women had no choice about whether they would marry or who would become their husband, and they might not even have laid eyes on the groom before the wedding day, the bride would be regarded as fortunate or made for each other with the groom if the groom treated her well, even though they were strangers to begin with.

It was then that the wedding ring played its role as a sign of how much the groom valued the bride and their marriage. In other words, the wedding ring was the authority of the groom, and it was commonly given when he accepted the bride as his wife.

Therefore, the bare fingers of the married women represented how their husbands treated them. It could be said that the bride was at the groom’s mercy.

Another fact to consider about the marriage between Terran and Archessan was that, even though the wedding procession had not been completed yet, as the wedding ring had not yet been given to the bride, aside from the marriage consummation that had not yet happened, the bride was still regarded as the groom’s wife, and she could not have any relationship with any men, except for the groom himself.

Since the bride was betrothed to the groom, which was then legalized by the marriage certificate that was issued, the bride was bound to the groom as a wife. And the bride’s status as wife would end only if the bride and the groom agreed to divorce or if the groom divorced the bride on one side, regardless of whether the wedding procession was completed or not.

Hence, since the bride was bound in a marriage where mercy was held by the groom, as it was an unavoidable fact that had unfairly long occurred and been implemented in several kingdoms on the Maldava continent, wasn’t the ring the General prepared for her making her regarded as a fortunate married lady, although she had become a pawn for political affairs between Archess and Terra?

It had also reminded her that without the wedding ring on her finger, as long as she held a status as a married woman and someone’s wife, not only did she put shame on herself but also her father and the de Lara.

A heavy sigh escaped from Joanna’s lips at the realization. freewebnσvel.cѳm

Taking the pouch that had been used by Canillas to keep the ring that he had prepared for her, Joanna pulled the string open.

Slipping her fingers into the pouch to take out the ring, Joanna’s brows suddenly knitted.

Dragging the candle stick where three candles burned brightly on the table, Joanna brought the pouch next to it, as she wanted to see and confirm that what her fingers found was right.

Resuming what she previously did after she got confirmation through what she saw, Joanna was back to slip her fingers inside the pouch, but not the ring that she took out from there and was on between her fingers. Instead, it was a small piece of paper.

With a frown, Joanna unfolded it, only to find what was written on that paper.

’Happy belated birthday, my dear wife, Joanna.

Of all the abundant wishes, I will tell you only these two. Be healthy and happy.

Your husband, Canillas.’

As Joanna finished reading the letter, where not many words were written in rough handwriting, she found her hands slightly trembling. She also felt that it was hard to take a breath, as if there were something squeezing her heart.

Staring into the letter for a few more seconds, Joanna placed it on the table before opening her left palm and carefully pouring in the contents of the pouch.

Aside from the ring that her husband showed her in the carriage, there was another item that was currently resting on her palm.

A bracelet.

For an unknown moment, Joanna fixed her eyes on the two items. One was a sturdy and solid gold ring, and the other was a chain gold bracelet. Both were plain and simple, as they were not bejeweled jewelry. But to Joanna’s astonishment, they were to her preference.

It made her wonder if he knew what she liked—that she preferred something modest and simple.

As if that wonderment was not enough to astound her, another wonderment came across her mind. The bracelet was highly likely prepared at the same time and a long time ago, before he left for Terra, just like what he told her about the ring that was supposed to be on her finger a long time ago if she did not leave Archess.

And as if having an understanding of the man who had never let her heart calm even for a bit since she was bound in marriage with him, Joanna was somehow certain that the bracelet was not bought here in Terra but in Archess, his homeland, although there were possibilities that could be thought of for him to obtain it when he was in Terra.

Having her eyes fixed on the two items on her palm, Joanna then looked up, blinking fast several times as she suddenly felt her eyes burn.