DIJD 18

Chapter 18

Marcus spoke carefully.

“Shall I look into it?”

“Lunabel Kristi.”

“You already checked?”

“When I was young, my father introduced her to me. He said she was from one of the few remaining mage families, and even arranged for me to meet her father. She looks just like him.”

“The previous Duke did that? What if the royal family finds out?”

“Perhaps he was supporting them in secret. I heard the mage families were wiped out, but I’ve now met someone who is supposedly one of them.”

“Then isn’t that even more dangerous?”

The Duke shook his head lightly.

“The royal family believes mages no longer exist. It won’t be a problem.”

He paused, gazing out the window.

“But I don’t understand why she ended up selling goods on the street.”

Sunlight poured through the windows, gently covering Adelaide’s worktable. She was carefully sketching jewelry designs one by one.

“Rosenfeld Trading Company?”

After a brief hesitation, Adelaide recalled Luna’s earnest request.

“Adelaide, let’s be friends when it’s just the two of us.”

So this time, she spoke informally.

“You know Luna too?”

“Of course. It’s the most famous trading company in Lumegria.”

“The broken crystal Luna is looking at… this one?”

“That? Either Rosenfeld Trading Company… or Lumegria itself is involved.”

“What? Lumegria?”

“Yeah. It says so on the documents. I don’t know why a country name is written there though.”

“Oh, that refers to the royal family. Lumegria is the name of the royal house.”

“Oh, so that’s how it works? Then does the royal family also process gemstones and make jewelry?”

“In this country, the royal family is the most skilled in jewelry craft. They are the founders of the nation.”

Adelaide found this interesting.

“Wow, I didn’t know that. Then either the royal family or Rosenfeld Trading Company is behind this… but neither seems to have a clear motive. They could’ve just made special tools for gemstone processing.”

“True. Both are famous for jewelry.”

Luna examined the broken crystal closely.

“Also, we don’t even know if they directly did it, or just manufactured and distributed the tools. But it’s clear—someone made specialized equipment.”

In the workshop, Adelaide chatted with Luna while focusing on her designs. She drew far more bold and free-spirited designs than she ever could in her previous life.

“Ah… this feels so good. I don’t care what anyone says, no deadlines, no collections… I don’t remember the last time I just designed freely like this.”

Having someone she could talk to about her “Korean life” made Adelaide feel lighter and more grounded.

“Luna, look at this. What do you think?”

“Wow, it’s beautiful. Can this really be made into jewelry?”

“Of course.”

“That’s amazing!”

Luna sincerely admired Adelaide’s skill.

“But Adelaide… why are the people involved all connected to the royal family?”

Luna turned the broken crystal over again, revisiting her earlier thought.

“I don’t really know. But recently, the Duke’s business hasn’t been doing well either. I think it might be because of what I did at the ball.”

“The ball? What happened?”

“I broke the ‘Tears of the Moonlight’ at the royal ball.”

“What?”

Luna shot up in shock.

“Oh, don’t worry—it was fake.”

“Fake?! That’s even more shocking!”

“Right? Who would swap a royal jewel like that? And then the Duke’s fiancée breaks it… of course they’d be angry. Maybe that’s why someone is interfering with his business.”

“The royal family?”

“Or Rosenfeld Trading Company.”

“This is strange…”

Luna tilted her head.

Knock knock.

A knock came at the door.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Rachel. Miss, it’s time for afternoon tea.”

Rachel couldn’t enter the workshop directly, so she called from outside the bedroom.

“I’ll be there soon.”

Adelaide and Luna exchanged meaningful looks. Adelaide leaned casually on the sofa and accepted the tea Rachel brought.

“This tea helps restore energy. I thought you’ve been working too hard lately.”

“Thank you, Rachel.”

Then—

“Miss!”

Sophia rushed in urgently.

“Sophia? What is it?”

“Haa… the Duke… the Duke said…”

“Calm down. Breathe slowly.”

Sophia steadied herself.

“Phew… the Duke said to move up the engagement ceremony!”

“What?!”

Adelaide shot up in shock.

At the same moment, the teacup slipped from Rachel’s hand.

Clang!

The sharp sound of shattering porcelain echoed. Everyone turned toward Rachel. Unlike usual, she looked strangely frightened.

“I-I’m so sorry.”

Rachel hurriedly cleaned up the broken pieces.

“I got startled…”

Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up the shards.

“It’s okay, Rachel. I was surprised too.”

Adelaide said gently, deliberately kind.

“There must be so much to prepare for the engagement… I was just surprised he suddenly moved the date up.”

Rachel’s voice shook faintly.

Adelaide quietly studied her expression.

“I see. That is strange. Sophia, what exactly did he say?”

“I don’t know the reason either, but that’s what he said.”

“I’ll go ask him later. Rachel, the tea was good.”

After Rachel left, Luna quickly brought over herbal tea she had prepared.

“Please drink this. The poison has been significantly neutralized through consistent treatment.”

“Thank you, Luna.”

“But why did Rachel react so strongly to the engagement being moved up?”

Luna lowered her voice.

“Do you think… she might secretly like the Duke or something?”

“Come on, that’s impossible.”

Sophia dismissed the idea immediately. Adelaide fell into thought, then spoke quietly.

“Keep an eye on Rachel. Let’s meet on Saturday night, under the last tree in the garden.”

“Yes!”

“Yes, Miss.”

Adelaide went straight to the Duke’s office. She had become comfortable entering it freely now.

Marcus offered her snacks brought from overseas.

“These are really good!”

“I’ll bring more next time.”

“Really? Thank you!”

Adelaide seemed more interested in the snacks than the Duke.

While eating, she asked,

“Why did you suddenly move up the engagement ceremony?”

The Duke replied calmly while sorting documents.

“What does it matter when it happens? It’s just a formality.”

“Then why move the date up?”

“You said you wanted to start a business, didn’t you? Being the Duke’s fiancée is more advantageous. It’s simply the fastest way to give you protection.”

Adelaide looked both surprised and slightly touched.

“You even thought of that? You’re really a businessman through and through.”

She tilted her head.

“Ah! So what—did you set it to match the jewelry sample completion date?”

The Duke didn’t answer, but his expression confirmed it.

“I knew it! You’re more thoughtful than I expected.”

She cheerfully placed a snack into the Duke’s mouth.

“Alright! Let’s move up the date. It’ll be busy, but we’ll manage somehow.”

She agreed without hesitation and left the office smiling.

“……”

The Duke chewed the snack she had fed him, then paused.

“…Dalgun.”

Marcus, watching, spoke casually.

“You two seem very close. Feeding snacks like that.”

“Shut up.”

“Yes, yes.”

Bang!

The King slammed an empty jewelry box onto the table. It cracked under the impact.

“Is this your so-called ‘perfect solution’?! You expect me to prove legitimacy without the ‘Tears of the Moonlight’?!”

Cain Rosenfeld stood silently, head bowed, enduring the King’s rage.

“My apologies, Your Majesty.”

“Apologies? I’m tired of hearing that. A fake that even a duke’s fiancée could expose instantly—what has become of the royal family’s dignity?!”

Rosenfeld’s eyes briefly sharpened, but he did not show it.

“You said you created tools to destroy crystals… and this is the best you could do? I warned you not to interfere with Duke Karsiten!”

Rosenfeld bit his lip under the cold mockery.

“Your incompetence may cost you your usefulness.”

The royal heirloom, the “Tears of the Moonlight,” had already been missing for a long time. Only an empty jewelry box had been passed down for generations.

Nobles constantly demanded to see it as proof of legitimacy. While other royal artifacts were displayed, the Tears of the Moonlight could not be revealed.

Finally, Rosenfeld spoke carefully.

“Your Majesty, this may actually be an opportunity.”

He continued cautiously.

“Nobles have been demanding to see it for years. If the real one were shown, it would become a target for thieves.”

A faint smile formed on his face.

“So we say it was intentionally replaced with a fake. No—better, we make it look that way. The public will believe the royal family took every measure to protect the heirloom. In the end, your majesty’s authority will only strengthen.”

The King narrowed his eyes.

After a long silence, he scoffed and stood up.

“Hah. Still full of tricks. Very well—turn it into your ‘careful royal strategy’.”

Rosenfeld bowed deeply.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“But remember this. I only tolerate you because I have no other use for you.”

With that cold warning, the King left the audience chamber.

Left alone, Rosenfeld clenched his fist tightly.

“…One day… I will do it myself…”