Chapter 19
The engagement ceremony was now only a month away. After finishing her jewelry designs, Adelaide began processing the crystal gemstones the Duke had brought her.
“Adele, I think you should get some rest.”
Luna’s face was filled with worry.
“He even moved the engagement date forward for me. If I want to finish everything in time, I’m running out of time. I guess I got more ambitious with the designs than I expected.”
Adelaide replied while delicately moving her tools. From Luna’s perspective, Adelaide’s skill surpassed that of most craftsmen in Lumegria.
“If the jewelry really turns out exactly like these drawings, it’ll be unbelievably popular. Won’t it sell like crazy?”
“I really hope so.”
“I can guarantee it. It’ll definitely sell well. The designs are amazing, and the location is absolutely perfect.”
“Haa… true. I never expected the Duke to go that far for me.”
Adelaide sighed as she recalled what happened a few days earlier.
A few days ago.
The Duke had taken Adelaide out to the shopping district.
“Where are we even going? Why won’t you tell me anything?”
No matter how much Adelaide grumbled, the Duke kept his mouth firmly shut.
“We’re here.”
The carriage stopped in front of the plaza at the center of the shopping district.
As Adelaide stepped out in front of an elegant building, her eyes landed on the sign:
Celestial Jewelry
“Hm? No way!”
“Do you like it?”
“Wow, ‘Heavenly Jewels’? Isn’t the name way too cool?”
Excited, Adelaide hurried toward the shop entrance.
“Welcome, my lady.”
“Huh? Marcus?”
The shop door opened, and Marcus appeared wearing work clothes.
“This is the place the Duke prepared for you, my lady.”
Adelaide stepped inside.
“Wow!”
The soft glow of crystal chandeliers welcomed her first. The light scattered gently from the ceiling, embracing the entire space as if it contained starlight itself.
“It feels like this place was waiting for me.”
Adelaide whispered as she ran her fingers along the edge of a display case. The showcases lining the walls were decorated with deep purple velvet inside. Once Adelaide’s jewelry was displayed there, the shop would finally be complete.
“The height is perfect. Whose idea was this?”
“Mine, my lady.”
Marcus confidently raised his hand. The showcases had been designed low enough that customers could comfortably view the jewelry even while seated.
“The sofas are so elegant. So that’s why you kept asking me what colors I liked, huh? Sophia was helping too, wasn’t she?”
Adelaide asked teasingly.
“Haha, yes. That’s right.”
Soft cushioned sofas sat in the center of the shop. Small tables beside them were perfect for teacups.
“Wow, we could even hold tea parties here.”
Near the windows, crystals of various sizes were displayed. Sunlight pouring through the windows struck the crystals and scattered rainbow-colored light throughout the room.
“You could even change the atmosphere according to the seasons. Small flowering plants in spring, snowflake decorations in winter…”
“Marcus, you have incredible taste.”
The wooden furniture placed between the showcases added a classic sense of weight and elegance. Marcus proudly explained that the appraisal counter was made from a hundred-year-old walnut tree.
“Mmm. This scent is wonderful. What fragrance is this?”
“Lavender. I got a little information from Luna.”
Apparently Luna remembered Adelaide once saying that the scent of lavender helped calm her down and had secretly told Marcus.
“It’s subtle instead of overpowering. I love it.”
“Now, please come this way.”
Marcus guided her to a cozy corner of the shop.
“You can take private consultations and custom orders here.”
The space contained soft armchairs and a small round table, partially hidden behind curtains for privacy.
“Right. A space like this is definitely necessary.”
Tiny crystal lights installed across the ceiling resembled constellations in the night sky. Even though it was a jewelry shop, the atmosphere didn’t feel cold at all. Instead, the soft fabrics, gentle lighting, and delicate fragrance made it feel more like a warm reception room.
“I absolutely love it! It’s perfect!”
After looking around the store, Adelaide clapped her hands and beamed brightly.
“What do you like most?”
Without hesitation, Adelaide pointed at the ceiling—the crystal chandelier that had welcomed her the moment she entered.
“It’s a light that makes anyone who walks in here feel like the main character. I really love it. Thank you, Marcus.”
“Haa… I lost.”
“Huh?”
“The chandelier was the Duke’s idea.”
“Really? The Duke’s?”
Startled, Adelaide turned toward the Duke. He still stood there with his usual cold expression, but the tips of his ears had turned slightly red.
“Thank you, Duke. I really love it.”
The Duke found himself captivated by Adelaide’s bright smile. Unaware of his gaze, Adelaide couldn’t hide her excitement.
Celestial Jewelry… I finally have a jewelry store with my own name on it. And in this strange world, of all places.
“Still?”
“Yes. She’s in the workshop.”
The Duke frowned slightly and stopped walking. It had already been an entire week since he’d last seen Adelaide.
Maybe I shouldn’t have shown her the store so soon.
The Duke had purchased one of the most expensive properties in all of Lumegria and remodeled it into a jewelry store. Seeing Adelaide love it far more than expected had given him a strange sense of satisfaction he’d never felt before.
She certainly has passion.
Perhaps because of that, Adelaide no longer appeared even at breakfast. Through Sophia, she merely sent word that he should eat alone for the time being. Normally he wouldn’t have cared, but strangely enough, it bothered him.
Why does this keep bothering me…?
That night.
For the first time, the Duke visited Adelaide’s workshop. He hesitated briefly outside the door before finally entering.
“You have an unusual way of handling crystals.”
After watching Adelaide work in silence for quite some time, the Duke finally spoke.
“Oh my goodness, you startled me.”
Adelaide looked at him in surprise. He had never once visited the workshop before.
“Have you never heard of knocking?”
“Who taught you?”
At the Duke’s question, Adelaide tilted her head slightly.
“Taught me what?”
For the first time, the Duke was asking about Adelaide herself.
“How to design and process jewelry. Does a count’s family teach their children such skills?”
“Is there some rule saying daughters of counts should only drink tea? We have to do something if we want the family to survive.”
“So you learned it yourself?”
“Can’t you tell just by looking?”
Even while speaking with the Duke, Adelaide never stopped moving her hands.
“…… Let’s have breakfast together tomorrow morning.”
“Huh?”
Adelaide looked up to ask again, but the Duke had already left the room.
“What’s gotten into him all of a sudden?”
“Luna, Sophia! Come over here!”
Adelaide called out loudly from the workshop.
“Alright, try this on.”
Adelaide placed the first completed necklace around Sophia’s neck. Tiny crystal fragments were arranged delicately along a thin silver chain. At the center sat a blue-tinted moonstone set within a rounded dome design.
“What do you think?”
Whenever Sophia turned her head, the light swirled naturally around her.
“Wow, it’s so beautiful. Why does the light spread everywhere like this?”
Luna moved around excitedly while staring at the necklace. No matter where she stood, the sparkling light remained visible.
“Miss Sophia’s complexion looks brighter too!”
Adelaide nodded in satisfaction.
“I’ve never seen jewelry this beautiful before, my lady.”
“Oh, that’s way too much praise.”
This time, Adelaide handed Luna a pair of earrings.
“Alright, Luna, try these.”
The earrings were crescent moon-shaped studs that fit closely against the ears.
Tiny rice-grain-sized moonstones were set inside the delicate crescent outline, matching the necklace as a complete set.
“What do you think?”
Luna tilted her head slightly in front of the mirror. The moonstones scattered soft glimmers of light.
“They’re so small, but their presence is really strong.”
“I intentionally made them small. They’d look good with long hair down, or for quieter formal events. At the last ball, I noticed most earrings were way too large.”
Luna clasped her hands together in admiration.
“If they’re earrings like these, I’d want to wear them every day.”
Adelaide carefully observed both of their reactions, committing them to memory.
“Perfect! These two pieces will become Celestial Jewelry’s first collection.”
“The necklace will be called Moon Veil, and the earrings Crescent Dot. No matter who wears them, they’ll brighten that person’s face.”
Sophia and Luna’s eyes sparkled at the same time.
And so, Adelaide’s jewelry was completed piece by piece.
That night.
Adelaide was in the workshop again, focusing on the final stages of production.
“You should stop for today and get some rest.”
“Knocking, Duke.”
“I did.”
The Duke set down a teacup on the worktable.
Adelaide looked back and forth between the Duke and the teacup in surprise.
Normally, he would have sent Sophia to do something like this. Bringing tea himself was unimaginable.
“Thank you. I’m almost finished anyway.”
“You look tired.”
At the seemingly casual remark, Adelaide’s expression twisted slightly.
Seriously, what’s gotten into him lately?
Sensing her gaze, the Duke spoke again.
“Sophia said you’ve been losing weight.”
“Oh, that’s only because I haven’t been visiting Milton for snacks lately while working.”
Adelaide laughed as she answered. While secretly investigating Rachel, she had often wandered around the mansion and stopped by the kitchen whenever possible to sample the chef’s desserts and critique them. Ever since she started making jewelry, she hadn’t been able to visit for quite a while.
“Milton said he misses you as well.”
“The news spread that far?”
The Duke searched through his pocket and placed a small bundle beside the teacup.
