~Chapter 60~
As Ivan watched Ruby, he was once again surprised by his own feelings. Ivan had always been the type to act indifferently toward others, but seeing Ruby’s trust in him made him feel like she was something special.
They entered deeper into the warehouse, and the valuable pieces of jewelry that Barker had mentioned slowly came into view. Some of the items were traditional styles from other countries, and many had a long history behind them.
Barker, with a sense of pride, introduced a necklace that shone brighter than all the others.
“This is the Queen’s Tear, made from a gemstone from the Hazet Kingdom.”
“Hazet? Isn’t that the kingdom that fell before the Baldur Empire was established?” Ruby asked.
“Correct. This necklace is believed to have been made during the height of the Hazet Kingdom’s power, but after the kingdom fell, it was discovered, and it was named the Queen’s Tear.”
The necklace was stunning, adorned with diamonds so finely set that it seemed to cover the entire neck. It was hard to take your eyes off it. If this were put up for auction, it would fetch an incredible price.
The warehouse of the Land family was filled with such priceless items, and the children couldn’t hide their amazement.
“There are so many amazing things!” Calix exclaimed, his excitement evident.
“I really want one of these!” Sasha said, expressing her desire for the jewelry.
“Well, it’s not too bad to look at,” Sennis remarked, maintaining her composure.
“Indeed, there are many precious items. It feels like I’m seeing the history of the Baldur Empire itself,” Sennis added, clearly impressed.
“Thank you for the kind words,” Barker said, bowing in gratitude.
The one most moved by the collection was Ruby. Every time Barker showed her a new piece, ideas flowed in her mind about creating her own pieces of jewelry. She felt like going straight to the workshop to discuss them.
“Thank you so much, Mr. Barker. This has been such a meaningful experience for me,” Ruby said with genuine gratitude.
“It’s nothing. If you wish to come again, you are always welcome to visit,” Barker replied, subtly hinting at another invitation.
Ivan shot a hostile glance at Barker, though he didn’t even realize what kind of look he was giving him.
“It’s alright. I’ve already seen so much today,” Ruby smiled and gently declined Barker’s invitation.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go, but she didn’t need to revisit something that she had already seen so many times. Barker, though a little disappointed, accepted her response. On the other hand, Ivan felt a strange sense of relief from Ruby’s refusal.
Ruby turned back to Ivan and held Calix’s hand.
“Well, kids, we should thank Mr. Barker for showing us this,” Ruby said.
“Thank you. It was great,” Calix said politely.
“Thank you!” Sasha added cheerfully.
To Ruby’s surprise, the siblings were well-behaved, which made her feel relieved.
“Next, should we head to Cardonia Territory?” Barker asked, unwilling to give up on the idea of visiting the region.
Ruby, having previously mentioned this plan, responded positively. “Yes, let’s make a plan and go together.”
Barker looked at Ivan as though asking if he had time for the trip.
“I can make time for that,” Ivan responded, though Ruby noticed a slight tension in his voice when he thought about the trip with Barker and Ruby.
“It’s exciting to think about Cardonia Territory,” Sennis said, looking eager.
“I hope it suits your tastes,” Ruby replied, smiling warmly.
“If the timing works out, we’ll also meet your siblings there,” Ruby added, extending the invitation to Sennis and her younger siblings.
Sennis, kneeling down to Calix and Sasha’s level, smiled warmly. “Alright, I’ll look forward to it.”
Ruby was pleased to see how Sennis was connecting with her younger siblings.
“Then, we’ll meet again soon,” Ruby said, signaling the end of their conversation.
Ivan, before boarding his carriage, approached Ruby.
“Has everything been prepared for Cardonia’s artistic district?” Ivan asked.
“Yes, all the workshops are set up, and production of local specialty products has already begun,” Ruby replied confidently.
“That’s a relief,” Ivan said, happy to hear the progress.
“I’m a little nervous, though. I’m excited to show you the transformation of Cardonia,” Ruby said, expressing some of her own unease.
“You?” Ivan repeated, surprised. He had never seen Ruby nervous before. She always seemed confident and composed.
“Yes, there are times when I’m not entirely confident,” Ruby admitted.
“That’s unexpected,” Ivan replied, looking at Ruby with genuine surprise.
“You don’t have to be nervous. If it’s something you’ve worked on, I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Ivan reassured her, his words making Ruby’s heart flutter.
“Thank you for believing in me, Your Highness,” Ruby replied, touched by his confidence in her.
“Your abilities are obvious,” Ivan said with a soft smile.
Ruby was so used to facing challenges head-on that hearing Ivan speak so kindly felt strange to her. It was clear that Ivan had been watching her work closely and had confidence in her.
Barker came over to them, signaling that it was time to leave. “If you’ve finished your conversation, shall we head to the carriages?”
“Alright, thank you for today,” Ruby said, her gratitude still evident.
Barker closed the carriage doors with a polite bow. “Please have a safe journey.”
As they rode away, Ruby asked her siblings, “Did you enjoy yourselves today?”
“Yes! It was so much fun!” Sasha replied excitedly.
“And you, Calix?” Ruby asked.
“Well, I think there are some people I should keep an eye on,” Calix muttered.
“Who do you mean?” Ruby asked, confused.
“It’s nothing. You don’t need to worry about it,” Calix replied, brushing it off.
Ruby didn’t press him further, but she couldn’t help but think about the interactions between Barker and Sennis.
‘I’m sure they’re interested in each other,’ Ruby thought, arriving at a conclusion.
She smiled to herself, feeling quite proud of her ability to notice things others might not. It seemed like Barker and Sennis were becoming more comfortable with each other.
Later, Ruby couldn’t stop thinking about the upcoming visit to Cardonia Territory and how it might affect everyone involved.
