Chapter 13
A moment later, the door to Adelaïde’s bedroom swung wide open.
“My lady!”
Sophia entered, carrying a large box.
“What’s that, Sophia?”
“His Grace sent it.”
“Again?”
Adelaïde closed the book she was reading and approached the box.
“Hurry and open it!”
As she untied the red ribbon, a silk dress the color of soft pearls was revealed. Delicate embroidery and lace shimmered like moonlight.
“It’s truly beautiful. I think it will suit you perfectly, My lady.”
Adelaïde, momentarily speechless, gazed at the dress for a long time.
“You’ll shine even brighter if you wear the jewels His Grace gifted you.”
“Jewels?”
An image of herself in the dress flashed through Adelaïde’s mind.
‘Rubies would be too heavy for this silk. It needs a clear luster, like moonlight.’
Adelaïde’s eyes sparkled. A silvery glow spreading gently along her neckline, tiny pieces that would twinkle like stars at the tips of her ears—The images formed in her mind.
“Sophia.”
“Yes, My lady?”
“Do you think I could make the jewelry to go with this dress myself?”
“But you have the ones His Grace gave you?”
Sophia’s eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly smiled and nodded.
“I’ll ask His Grace for you. I’m sure he’ll permit it.”
A short while later, Sophia returned, panting.
“His Grace said you may use as many crystals as you wish. And to let him know if you need any other gemstones.
A smile spread across Adelaïde’s lips at Sophia’s words. From that day on, Adelaïde shut herself away in her workshop. She hung the dress by a sunlit window, studying its light countless times as she selected gemstones and adjusted their angles.
“It can’t be too flashy. It needs to be natural, like flowing moonlight.”
Adelaïde meticulously cut tiny, starlike facets into the gemstone and carved a curve in the center, like a falling drop of water. She ground the stone until her fingertips grew numb. As time passed, it slowly began to reveal a moonlit luster.
The next day, Adelaïde remained at her workbench, skipping her meals. Sophia came in with a tray of food and sighed.
“My lady, you’ll collapse at this rate. You are more important than any jewel.”
“Just a little more. Once I finish polishing this part, I’ll be halfway done!”
Adelaïde answered without taking her eyes off the gemstone. The clearer the light the stone emitted, the brighter her own eyes shone. News of Adelaïde sequestering herself in the workshop reached the Duke’s ears.
“Still?”
“Yes. It has been three days now. Sophia brings her meals, but she barely touches them.”
The Duke set down his pen and gazed out the window for a moment. His expression was indifferent, but his gaze was heavy.
‘…Just what kind of incredible jewel is she trying to make?’
“Tell her there’s no need to push herself so hard.”
“Understood.”
After a week, faint shadows had appeared under Adelaïde’s eyes. But the movements of her fingertips remained sharp and steady. The moment she applied the final polish, the jewel emitted a tranquil, silvery light, as if it held the moonlight within.
“Done!”
A satisfied smile bloomed on Adelaïde’s face.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
Knock, knock.
Click!
The moment the knock sounded, the door flew open. Adelaïde stepped into the Duke’s office, catching her breath.
“Welcome, My lady.”
“Ah, Marcus, you’re here too.”
Adelaïde gave Marcus a light greeting and then presented the jewelry to the Duke. In her hand was an exquisitely crafted set of jewels.
“It’s a moonstone pendant, cut into the shape of a teardrop. I’ve added facets to each of the smaller stones so they glitter like starlight. It gives off a soft glow, as if moonlight is trickling down. The earrings are also teardrop-cut but smaller, and around them—”
“This… you made this, My lady?”
“I’ve surrounded them with tiny gems so it looks as if stars are embracing the moonlight. What do you think?”
The Duke’s gaze wavered for a moment. The light-filled moonstone reminded him of the dress he had gifted her. Marcus swallowed hard and took a step closer to Adelaïde.
Adelaïde smiled and nodded. The Duke said nothing, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the jewelry for a long time. Satisfied with the two men’s reactions, she left the office. As soon as the door closed, Marcus spoke excitedly.
“It would be fit for the royal family!”
The Duke was silent for a while. The delicate light of the necklace and earrings he had just seen still shimmered before his eyes.
“I didn’t know the young countess was this skilled.”
On the evening of the ball, Adelaïde sat before her mirror. The maids moved about busily, combing her hair up. Her soft, silvery hair was elegantly pinned up.
“For the hair ornament, please use small gems, nothing too flashy!”
“Yes, My lady.”
Adelaïde’s skin glowed white, and a subtle rosy tint colored her cheeks. Sophia carefully unfolded the dress. The soft, pearlescent silk cascaded down.
“You can put on the dress now.”
The moment Adelaïde put on the dress, her captivating aura deepened. Finally, when the necklace and earrings she had made herself were in place, they harmonized with the dress, emitting the same light.
“Thank you, Sophia.”
“Oh, my lady. You look so beautiful.”
Sophia’s eyes were filled with admiration.
“There, all done. Truly, it’s perfect.”
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Adelaïde also nodded in satisfaction.
‘I’m really going to a ball.’
It was the first ball she had ever attended in this life, and her first time leaving the ducal residence, so her heart fluttered with excitement.
Each step she took down the stairs was careful. Beneath the lights, her necklace and earrings swayed gently, emitting a soft glow. The Duke, who was waiting in the hall, looked up toward the stairs. At the sight of Adelaïde, so dazzling she was almost unrecognizable, his coldly composed expression subtly crumbled.
“How do I look? Does it suit me?”
Adelaïde asked, her eyes full of anticipation, but the Duke averted his gaze and replied nonchalantly.
“It fits.”
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
Adelaïde grumbled as she took the Duke’s hand and climbed into the carriage. She no longer felt as uncomfortable around the Duke as she had at first, but being alone with him in such a small space was still awkward. The Duke sat in silence, his gaze fixed out the window.
“Sigh…”
Clatter.
‘Couldn’t he at least say something…’
In the quiet air, the distance to the royal palace felt endlessly long.
The carriage slowly came to a stop. Adelaïde let out a small sigh and carefully moved her legs to step out of the carriage. Her jewel-adorned shoes were gorgeous to look at, but more uncomfortable than she’d expected. The high heels made her ankles begin to ache.
‘What should I do? Do I have to keep standing like this?’
Just then, the Duke glanced over. A deep blue suit soon entered Adelaïde’s vision.
“Hm?”
Adelaïde looked up at the Duke. He was holding out his arm to her without a word.
“Inside, there is a lounge where the young ladies can rest. We still have some time, so it would be best for you to rest for a bit.”
At his unexpected words, Adelaïde looked at the Duke with slightly surprised eyes. After a moment’s hesitation, she carefully took his arm. A firmer texture than she expected traveled up from her fingertips. As she leaned on his arm, the weight on her feet lessened considerably, and the pain in her ankles eased a bit.
‘…Maybe he isn’t just a cold person?’
Feeling a subtle emotion, Adelaïde tilted her head slightly. She could feel the Duke’s gaze land on her hand. For an instant, his eyes seemed to flicker. He quickly looked away and naturally matched his pace to Adelaïde’s.
‘Why is he suddenly being so kind?’
Before Adelaïde could hide her bewilderment, they had already reached the entrance to the ballroom.
Upon arriving at the entrance, the Duke immediately called for an attendant.
“Please escort the young lady.”
His meticulous consideration felt unfamiliar, and Adelaïde glanced at the Duke once more. His face was still expressionless, but he looked a little different than before.
“This way, please. This is the lounge where the young ladies may rest.”
Following the attendant into the room, Adelaïde was met with an unexpected scene.
‘Sigh, there’s always a group like that wherever you go.’
Adelaïde didn’t know anyone here besides the Duke. Hoping no one would notice her, she quietly sat in a corner. As she carefully massaged her aching leg, she heard a sharp voice.
“My goodness, a fake in Lumegria?! She must have no sense of shame!”
“What? A fake? But I bought this from the jeweler you introduced me to.”
“Which means you were swindled. I don’t know why you even have a head on your shoulders.”
Adelaïde naturally listened in on the conversation.
‘Ooh, that’s some high-level sarcasm.’
As the fight unfolded before her, she started to find it interesting.
“Vivian, it was definitely the jeweler you introduced. I even mentioned your name when I went. So why are you doing this to me?”
“Why are you taking it out on me? You’re the one who can’t even tell real jewels from fakes. Shouldn’t a noble of Lumegria be able to tell the difference? Blame your own incompetence, not me.”
“What? Incompetent? How is anyone supposed to tell the difference? Could you?
“You get swindled because you’re a fool. This is why I told you to cultivate some refinement, but you just run around all over the place.”
“Aha, so that’s it? You did this because I’m more popular than you? You must be bitter that I’m getting invited to tea parties you’re not.”
“Popularity? Are you suggesting I’d be jealous for such a petty reason?”
“You’re just jealous. You’ve been acting this way ever since Baron Theodore’s son invited only me the other day. Am I wrong?”
‘A love triangle?’
Adelaïde picked up a chocolate from in front of her and settled more comfortably in her seat.
