Chapter 16
“Diamonds are the hardest of all minerals. Not even steel can scratch them. As people of Lumegria, you must all be aware of this fact, correct? And yet, as you just saw, it shattered to pieces merely from being dropped on the marble floor.”
Her calm explanation continued.
“That would be impossible if it were real. If you wish for a more precise confirmation, have the fragments appraised. It will exhibit double refraction, not single refraction. That will be definitive proof that it is an imitation, not a diamond.”
At Adelaïde’s unwavering explanation, the nobles were lost in shock, and the Duke could not look away.
‘Intriguing.’
Confidence radiated from Adelaïde’s every small gesture. Her charm wasn’t merely due to her beautiful appearance. There was something else, the Duke thought, something intensely compelling about her.
“Silence!”
The king, who had been observing the situation quietly, finally rose from his seat. His face was flushed with anger.
“To think the ‘Tears of the Moonlight’ is a fake! Form an investigative committee at once. The Royal Guard will interrogate the one responsible for the jewel vault! This ball is over.”
The king’s gaze, fixed on his royal advisor, glinted fiercely. But when he turned to face Adelaïde, a benevolent smile appeared on his face.
“You have done something truly remarkable.”
As the king approached, Adelaïde, startled, took a step closer to the Duke.
“I hear you are the fiancée of Duke Karsiten. I shall invite you to the palace next time.”
After looking at Adelaïde with a meaningful gaze, the king promptly turned and left. Rosenfield followed him, and even as he hurried after the king, he never took his eyes off Adelaïde.
“What’s with him? Why is he staring so intently?”
Adelaïde’s low murmur reached the Duke’s ears. The Duke silently followed Rosenfield’s retreating figure with his eyes for a long time.
That night, after returning from the ball, Adelaïde lay in bed, tossing and turning under the covers.
“I’m crazy, absolutely crazy. Why did I have to go and act all righteous over another country’s treasure!”
Countless gazes floated through her mind. Rosenfield’s cold stare, the king’s sharp warning. They all echoed in her ears.
“Adelaïde, have you forgotten how much trouble your petty sense of justice has caused you in your life? I just hope I haven’t caused unnecessary trouble for His Grace.”
She ended up sighing repeatedly, only falling asleep as dawn broke.
The next morning, sitting at the sunlit dining table, Adelaïde yawned repeatedly.
*Yawn.*
“Are you tired?”
The Duke’s voice was no different than usual.
“You don’t seem tired at all.”
Adelaïde replied sluggishly, but the Duke was as composed and impeccable as ever. His expression was still cold, but a strangely gentle light flickered in his eyes.
“My lady, this tea is good for fatigue.”
Rachel set down a warm teacup. Just as Adelaïde was about to thank her, Sebastian approached in a hurry.
“Your Grace, Marcus is here. He says it’s urgent.”
The Duke’s eyes sharpened.
“Send him in!”
A moment later, Marcus bowed politely to Adelaïde before going straight to the Duke. Marcus’s face was grim as he whispered in his ear.
“On the trade route…”
“I’ll go at once.”
“Huh? Did something happen?”
The Duke rose from his seat.
“I’ll tell you when I return.”
Leaving only that short reply, the Duke hurried away.
Three days later.
The Duke returned to the residence, his face etched with deep fatigue. Adelaïde offered him a warm cup of tea and asked cautiously.
“Did you have a safe trip?”
The Duke lifted the teacup instead of answering.
‘Judging by his face, things didn’t go well.’
Adelaïde watched the Duke’s expression, hesitating for a moment before speaking.
“There’s a problem with your business, isn’t there?”
The Duke’s hand paused.
“Everyone was worried. So I’ve been thinking…”
Adelaïde took a breath and looked at the Duke.
“What about making and selling jewelry?”
The Duke’s gaze slowly turned to Adelaïde.
“I’ll design and craft them myself. At the last ball, the young ladies asked where I bought my jewelry. Lady Lydia even said that any jewelry I make would sell like hotcakes.”
The Duke still said nothing, merely watching Adelaïde. Growing anxious, Adelaïde’s words came faster.
“Even you acknowledged that my skills are extraordinary, Your Grace. Besides, at a time like this, it will surely help your business.”
Adelaïde continued, her eyes growing more earnest.
“It requires almost no initial capital. We already have plenty of raw gemstones, and if I handle the cutting and crafting, it cuts down on labor costs. As for sales, word of mouth alone should generate a quick response. We can start small, gauge the reaction, and gradually expand.”
The Duke stared at her silently for a while. A moment later, he uttered a single, low word.
“…Intriguing.”
A bright smile spread across Adelaïde’s face. But the Duke’s next words were cold.
“But you are the Duchess. To suggest you’d run a business yourself is absurd.”
“Oh, come on. I’m not the Duchess yet.”
Adelaïde laughed playfully, but her expression soon changed again.
“Your Grace, this isn’t something I’ve brought up on a whim. It’s something I’ve dreamed of for a long time. Since… since I was in Solaris!”
‘Well, it’s not a lie. It’s been my dream since I was young. Besides, I’ll need money if I’m going to divorce him and go back to Solaris anyway.’
When the Duke didn’t readily agree, Adelaïde grew impatient.
“I even have the workshop you provided. What better conditions could there be? I’ll handle everything. You just need to open a jewelry shop for me, Your Grace. If it does well, I can just handle the designs and leave the crafting and cutting to someone else. Then I can fully perform my duties as the Duchess.”
Adelaïde’s eyes shone as she wore a confident expression. The Duke watched her in silence for a long time before his stiff expression slowly softened.
“…It doesn’t seem likely to fail.”
“Right?”
Adelaïde smiled meaningfully as she looked at the Duke.
“So, about that.”
The Duke’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
“Making and selling jewelry is more trend-sensitive than you might think.”
“And so?”
“We need to do some market research. What designs are in fashion, what gems the nobles prefer, which shops are our competition, what location would be best. I need to see and judge for myself!”
The Duke narrowed his eyes and asked.
“So you’re saying you were waiting for me for this?”
A cold smile flickered across the Duke’s lips.
“Of course. If you just give me permission, I’d be happy to go with Marcus, Sebastian, or even Sophia. But since this is a business that will increase your wealth, Your Grace, wouldn’t it be most reliable if you came along?”
“Let’s go.”
“Huh? Right now?”
The Duke stood up.
“W-wait a minute! Women need time to get ready! Fifteen—no, just thirty minutes!”
Adelaïde scrambled out of the office.
Exactly thirty minutes later, the carriage was heading for the capital’s busiest shopping district.
“Wow!”
Adelaïde’s eyes sparkled as she looked out the window. The capital of Lumegria was much larger and more splendid than she had imagined. Shops lined the streets, and though the avenues were bustling with people, they were well-organized. The air was filled with vibrant energy.
The Duke pointed out the window.
“That is the largest jewelry shop in the capital. I’m told a man named Kredne is the owner.”
Adelaïde’s gaze was fixed on the ornate sign.
“May we go inside for a moment?”
“By all means.”
The Duke led the way and opened the door for her. The inside of the shop was dazzlingly bright. Enormous jewels sat atop every glass display case.
“Welcome.”
A portly man approached them. He wore a shiny silk vest and a large gold necklace.
“Duke Karsiten, what an honor to have you grace us with your presence.”
Kredne bowed with an exaggerated smile. Soon, his gaze shifted to Adelaïde.
“And this must be… your fiancée. A pleasure. My name is Kredne.”
Adelaïde simply gave a slight nod. Kredne was already scrutinizing her necklace.
“Hmm, interesting.”
He smiled knowingly and lifted a jewel from a display case.
“Behold. This is my latest creation. Look at the size of it—as big as my palm. A ruby is at its best when it’s big, wouldn’t you agree? Every noble lady should own at least one piece of jewelry this large.”
Adelaïde tilted her head, looking at the jewel.
“It certainly is large. My neck would break.”
“W-Well, it is a bit heavy, but one must endure for this level of size and splendor.”
Kredne’s and Adelaïde’s eyes met in mid-air. The atmosphere around them instantly grew tense. The Duke watched the scene unfold silently from the side.
The Duke and Adelaïde left and visited a few other jewelry shops. Young noble ladies sipping tea on a nearby outdoor terrace spotted them and let out small shrieks. Gazes were drawn to them and whispers followed, but no one dared to approach easily.
‘This man must not know how famous he is.’
Conscious of the stares following the Duke, Adelaïde decided it was time to wrap up the market research.
“This should be enough to get a general idea of the trends. It seems noblewomen these days prefer simple designs with a single, fingernail-sized sapphire at the center, leaving the surrounding area looking empty. They only seem to care about size and luster.”
Adelaïde paused, as if in thought.
“It seems the trend is to use only one type of gemstone. It’s a bit monotonous, but I suppose it looks brilliant from a distance. It would be much nicer to mix them for more intricate designs…”
The corners of her mouth lifted slightly.
“We’ll have to show them something completely different.”
As Adelaïde sorted through her findings, her gaze was suddenly drawn to a corner of the street. A faint blue light flickered.
‘That color looks so familiar…’
Adelaïde unconsciously started forward. It was as if someone were calling to her.
