~Chapter 39~
“I bargain so I can figure out the real market price,” Ruby explained.
“The real price?” Raphel asked.
“Yes. The lowest price a merchant is willing to sell at—that’s the actual value of the item.”
What she said made sense. A merchant might claim they were selling at a loss, but if it were truly a loss, they wouldn’t sell at all. Even if the profit was small, there was still some gain. That meant the true price of the necklace was the amount Ruby had bargained it down to.
Raphel was stunned. This little girl was calculating such things? According to her papers, she had only just turned ten. At first, when Lux’s granddaughter suddenly appeared, he had suspected she might be a fake. But now… he was starting to think she really had inherited the grand duke’s blood.
By the time they finished shopping, Raphel’s arms were heavy with bags. Ruby had bought all sorts of jewelry—each piece bargained down from the merchant’s starting price. Even so, since she bought many, the total cost was still high. Raphel secretly thought, So she’s grown indulgent since becoming the grand duke’s granddaughter.
The carriage carried them back across the sunset and returned to the lord’s castle.
Waiting at the entrance were Calix and Sasha, who rushed over.
“Sis, you’re back?”
“Unniya!”
Ruby climbed down with Raphel and brought out the packages. Then, one by one, she handed them out.
“This one’s for you, Calix. And this one’s for you, Sasha.”
Finally, the last toy went to their baby sister.
“And this is for Maria.”
When everything was given away, Ruby had nothing left for herself. Calix and Sasha, too absorbed in their presents, didn’t notice—but Raphel, watching from behind, certainly did.
“Thank you, Steward Raphel,” Ruby said cheerfully. “It was much easier carrying the gifts for the kids thanks to you.”
“You’re welcome… but, Miss Ruby, you don’t have one for yourself?”
Ruby smiled softly. “I’m fine. Everyone here at the castle takes such good care of me already. I don’t need anything extra.”
Strictly speaking, that wasn’t true. While she had worn plain clothes for inspections outside and never received any special outfits inside the castle, she acted as if she lacked nothing. Her eyes stayed fixed on her siblings’ happy faces, full of quiet joy.
Raphel’s chest tightened. She had no desire for herself, giving everything to her younger siblings. Perhaps losing her parents so early had forced her to grow up too quickly. It was admirable—but also a little heartbreaking.
When Ruby and the children retired to their rooms, Raphel went straight to the duke’s study to report on the outing. Lux looked up from his work, finally setting down his pen.
“So? How was the excursion?”
“She asked to see undeveloped land, so I brought her to the largest barren field nearby.”
“The wasteland?”
“Yes. She also asked about what surrounded it.”
Lux gave a small nod, as if he already guessed her intentions.
“And?”
“She went to the market and bought jewelry. Bargained the prices down, too—quite cheaply, in fact.”
“She bargained?” Lux’s voice sharpened in surprise.
“Yes. She was very skilled at it.”
To the grand duke, bargaining was something done only for big business deals. For small goods? There was no need to pinch coins.
“Is her allowance too small?” Lux asked, frowning.
“No, I told her she had plenty of money. Still, she haggled every price down.”
“Why?”
“She said it was the only way to find out the real market value.”
That was something he had never considered. Lux knew merchants often raised prices, but he’d never cared enough to find the true figure—money wasn’t scarce for him. Yet Ruby not only had intelligence but also practical resourcefulness. Perhaps her commoner background had given her such skills. She used her strengths wisely to solve problems.
Lux’s expression softened ever so slightly.
“Good. Continue supporting her.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Raphel bowed, then hesitated. “There was one other thing… Ruby bought many pieces of jewelry, but every single one she gave to Calix, Sasha, and Maria.”
“And for herself?”
“Not a single item. She said she didn’t need anything.” Raphel hesitated, then added, “She truly seems to care deeply for her siblings.”
It was pure admiration—unusual for Raphel, who rarely spoke with emotion.
Lux stroked his chin, repeating the words.
“She puts her siblings before herself…”
“A remarkable young lady,” Raphel said honestly.
“But she’s still only ten years old,” Lux muttered.
“Yes. Though she’s so mature for her age that one forgets it.”
Lux, too, often forgot. He recalled the moment Ruby had taken his hand to walk through the market—looking every bit like a true ten-year-old.
After a pause, Lux spoke.
“Raphel. There’s something I want you to do.”
***
The third morning in Cardonia dawned bright.
Ruby had slept deeply this time, shaking off the exhaustion of the previous day. The dark circles under her eyes were gone. She dressed herself in a comfortable one-piece dress—today she planned to tour the territory with her siblings.
As she left her room, she heard Calix’s startled voice from the lobby.
“Wow!”
Hurrying downstairs, Ruby found Calix and Sasha circling a huge pile of boxes stacked in the center of the hall. Each box was tied with ribbons, like gifts. They were so tall that only then did Ruby notice Raphel standing on the other side.
“Good morning, Steward Raphel.”
“And to you, Miss Ruby. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, very well, thanks. But… what are all these?” Ruby asked, circling the boxes curiously. Calix and Sasha looked ready to pounce and tear the ribbons off.
“Why don’t you open them?” Raphel said with a faint smile, gesturing to the pile.
“Me?”
“Yes, you. You should be the one to open them.”
“What about me?” Calix asked.
“Sha-sha too?” Sasha added, eyes sparkling.
Raphel shook his head firmly. “No. Only Ruby may open these.”
“Why not?” Ruby asked, a little uneasy now.
“Because they only have meaning if you open them.”
“What are they?”
“Go on. Open one and see.”
Suspicious, Ruby picked the nearest box, carefully pulling it free without toppling the pile. She untied the ribbon and opened it—inside was a beautiful dress, just her size.
“…What is this?”
“Try another,” Raphel said.
The next box held glossy enamel shoes, perfectly her size. Another contained fine jewelry. Every box held something expensive, all clearly meant for Ruby.
“Why are there so many things for me?” she asked in confusion.
Finally, Raphel smiled.
“All of these are gifts. From Grand Duke Lux—meant for you, Miss Ruby.”
