Chapter 12
“…You have a good eye for gemstones.”
Adelaïde said with a smile.
“A gemstone reveals a completely different face before and after it’s cut, depending on how it holds the light, and from what angle you view it. Just like a person.”
A brief silence fell between them. The Duke lowered his gaze back to his documents, but his mind was inexplicably drawn to her clear, honest eyes. An unexplainable discomfort rose in his throat.
“What would you do in such a situation?”
Adelaïde answered without hesitation.
“I would have to request a formal appraisal. I’d demand the royal family’s official appraiser be present and have it publicly reviewed and re-evaluated.”
He seemed to nod nonchalantly, but his eyes held a hint of admiration.
“I will report your opinion at the next council of nobles…Thank you.”
Adelaïde’s eyes widened as she stared at the Duke.
‘Did he just say thank you? He did, right?’
The corners of Adelaïde’s mouth lifted on their own. The Duke, looking a bit awkward, avoided her gaze, rose from his seat, and sat at his desk, picking up a document. He wore his usual stoic expression, but for some reason, Adelaïde’s heart was pounding. She took a deep breath and headed for her workshop.
‘Why is my heart racing over something like this?’
The moment she opened the workshop door, feeling a sense of pride, Adelaïde froze. The neatly arranged documents and tools were slightly out of place. The window was shut tight, and no one but her was supposed to be able to enter.
‘Could it have been His Grace?’
She shook her head.
‘We were just together. Besides, with his personality, he would have asked me outright rather than snooping around like this.’
And yet, there were clear signs that someone had been there.
‘…Am I just being paranoid? I’ll know if I check.’
As Adelaïde tidied her workbench, she left a small mark among the documents. She pressed down on a corner, folding it slightly, so she would know immediately if someone unfolded it.
Two days later.
Returning to her workshop, Adelaïde’s gaze turned cold. The folded mark on the paper was gone, and the neatly stacked documents were once again misaligned. Her heart pounded with tension, but a strange smile spread across her lips.
“Now I’m sure. So, shall we find out who it is?”
After that, she deliberately stayed away from her workshop for longer periods, extending her walks, but no other traces appeared.
One afternoon, it was time for tea. Rachel brought the tea as usual. A gentle aroma filled the air, but Adelaïde’s gaze was fixed not on the glass teacup, but on Rachel’s fingertips. A faint tremor caught her eye.
“Hmm, the aroma seems a little different.”
“I tried adding a new herb.”
“It tastes even better!”
“I’m glad it suits your palate.”
Rachel’s smile was natural, but Adelaïde couldn’t shake her suspicion. After Rachel left, she lifted the glass teacup and saw that a powder that hadn’t been there before had settled at the bottom.
‘Hah, my suspicions just keep growing.’
Adelaïde shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought.
A few days later.
After a walk, Adelaïde happened to see Rachel entering her room and followed her without being seen.
‘What on earth is she looking at so intently?’
Rachel was peering into the teacup Adelaïde had left unfinished. Her sharp gaze, as if she were confirming something, made Adelaïde stop in her tracks.
‘Not yet. I only have circumstantial evidence. I need physical proof!’
That night, back in her workshop, she remembered a small pouch she had kept in a drawer. It was something she had found in a crack of an old herb box while organizing the Count’s family’s library.
“That’s right! I have that!”
When Adelaïde opened the pouch, a fine white powder drifted out. This powder turns transparent after a certain amount of time, hiding all traces. She never thought something she’d kept for fun would be used like this.
“I’ll sprinkle a little more in front of the safe… Phew, this should be enough, right?”
That day, she deliberately left the lights on and stayed awake late into the night. She even left her door wide open, sitting in the quiet stillness, feeling the breeze from the window.
‘I have to make sure no one comes near until the powder turns invisible.’
Just as a suppressed yawn escaped her, she heard quiet footsteps. Adelaïde turned to see the Duke emerging from the darkness.
“Are you sleepy?”
His low, firm voice resonated. His unexpected appearance made Adelaïde’s eyes widen. She quickly straightened her posture.
“I’m just a little tired.”
The Duke looked at Adelaïde for a moment before speaking in an indifferent tone.
“There’s no need to overwork yourself on the restoration.”
Adelaïde was so surprised she was momentarily at a loss for words.
“Pardon?”
The Duke’s voice was still cold, and his gaze was as impassive as ever, but there was a clear undercurrent of concern. He said no more, turned his back, and left the room. Adelaïde remained frozen for a moment, staring at the spot where the Duke had stood. This unfamiliar side of the man who had always been so cold quietly seeped into her heart.
‘…Was he always capable of saying things like that?’
A couple more days passed, and night fell again. Adelaïde lay in bed, staring at the ceiling with her eyes wide open.
‘When is this person going to show up? Please, let it be today. I’m dead tired.’
Her eyelids felt as heavy as lead, but she forced herself to stay awake, listening intently. She could clearly hear the sound of the wind rustling outside and even the creak of the window frame. As she focused, her eyes eventually fluttered shut.
A little after midnight, a subtle, broken sound came from the end of the hall.
*Tap, tap.*
Someone was approaching slowly, muffling their footsteps. But Adelaïde was already fast asleep.
The next day, as the dawn light seeped through the cracks in the window, Adelaïde shot up with a start.
“I fell asleep!”
Her heart sank. Adelaïde rushed to the workshop. She took out a small bottle and lightly sprinkled a blue reagent on the floor around the safe. The transparent powder slowly turned cloudy and solidified.
“Oho, finally!”
Faint footprints were visible in front of the safe. The unique shape of a heel was clearly imprinted. Kneeling and staring intently at the trace, a cold smile spread across Adelaïde’s lips. She slowly rose to her feet and whispered under her breath.
“Rachel, I don’t know why you’re doing this, but you’ve seriously underestimated me.”
Adelaïde tiptoed quietly. At the end of the corridor, she saw Rachel’s back. She was heading somewhere with a basket full of herbs.
‘Now’s my chance. I have to see where she’s going.’
Just as she tensed up, a tap on her shoulder made her freeze.
“You scared me!”
“My lady, what are you doing here?”
It was Sophia’s voice. Adelaïde quickly pulled her behind a door.
“Shh, be quiet!”
“Why? Is something wrong?”
Sophia lowered her voice as well. Adelaïde put a finger to her lips and peeked her head out. Rachel was still bustling about.
“It’s Rachel. It looks like she’s on her way back from buying herbs, but why do we have to hide, my lady?”
At Sophia’s curious question, Adelaïde let out a small sigh.
“Can you keep a secret?”
Sophia’s eyes sparkled.
“A secret?”
“You can’t tell His Grace, either. Can you promise?”
“Of course! I’ll never tell a soul!”
Adelaïde hesitated for a moment before leading Sophia to the workshop. As she explained what had been happening, Sophia covered her mouth, her eyes wide with shock.
“Really? In that case, you must tell His Grace and have Rachel thrown out immediately!”
“Not yet.”
Adelaïde shook her head.
“Why not? To disobey an order and enter your workshop without permission… That’s unforgivable. Such behavior is absolutely not tolerated in the Karsiten ducal estate!”
“But… I don’t know why Rachel is doing this. She’s only known me for a few days.”
Sophia tilted her head, looking puzzled. Adelaïde was lost in thought for a moment, then gave her a meaningful look.
“That’s why, Sophia.”
“Oh no, you can’t.”
“I haven’t even said anything yet.”
“I can tell just by the look in your eyes, my lady.”
“Don’t be like that. Will you join me, Sophia?”
“Me too?”
“We share a secret now. We’re in the same boat, you and I.”
When Adelaïde gave a playful wink, Sophia blushed and nodded.
“I suppose I have no choice. Alright, my lady! Let’s uncover the truth!”
Adelaïde and Sophia clasped hands, their expressions full of grim determination.
~~~
“It seems the young countess has started an interesting game with Sophia.”
“A game?”
“Well, a detective game of sorts, shall we say? Should we tail them?”
“Why bother? Just leave them be.”
“Aren’t you even curious?”
“With Sophia there, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“True. After all, Sophia is the kind of person who would lay down her life for you, Your Grace.”
The Duke seemed unconcerned.
A few days after that incident, at the breakfast table.
“Your Grace, my lady, an invitation from the royal family has arrived for you both.”
Sebastian Sterling presented a silver tray. The envelope, decorated with gold leaf, bore the royal crest.
“You must attend.”
Sebastian added as he filled the Duke’s water glass. Knowing the Duke loathed balls, the butler had no choice but to step in.
“Is it time for that ball already?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Adelaïde opened the gold-leafed invitation with a curious look.
‘An invitation I’ve only ever seen in books.’
“It says they’ll be unveiling the ‘Tear of the Moonlight.’ But what is the ‘Tear of the Moonlight’?”
“It is a symbol of the royal family and their oldest jewel. As this will be its first public unveiling, it has captured the attention of the entire nobility.”
At the Duke’s words, Adelaïde’s eyes sparkled. Rare jewels always made her heart flutter.
“Do you wish to see it?”
“Of course!”
“Then we shall attend.”
Adelaïde beamed at the Duke’s concise reply. Watching them, a gentle smile spread across Sebastian’s face. He was the first to realize that a small crack was forming in his master’s long-closed heart.
