Chapter 69
The Marquis of Desmond urgently extended his hand toward his attendant.
“Huh?”
The attendant made a confused sound, clearly unable to grasp what the marquis was trying to do.
Growing impatient, the Marquis of Desmond yanked at the servant’s jacket and pulled out a small box from his inner pocket.
“Here! Look at this!”
The Marquis puffed out his chest and opened the box confidently.
Inside was the very gem that Nadia had predicted would appear here today.
As soon as the jewel caught the light, it scattered dazzling brilliance in every direction. It was a pink diamond—transparent, vivid, and radiant like a flower petal.
Its size, luster, and clarity—nothing about it fell short of perfection.
“Couldn’t that be fake too?” someone asked.
“Fake?! Don’t be ridiculous!” the Marquis barked.
A few nobles who prided themselves on their keen eyes craned their necks, eager to get a closer look.
“He seems so confident. Surely he wouldn’t lie about that, right?”
“If even that turns out to be a lie, his family really will be ruined…”
“If I had that gem, I’d make it into a necklace for my daughter’s wedding. Everyone would envy her!”
From the murmurs around, it seemed the crowd believed the Marquis’s claim.
Only Nadia remained calm, smiling faintly as she fixed her gaze on him.
‘Is that woman crazy? She must know it’s her diamond—why is she so relaxed?’
There was no name carved on the diamond, so claiming ownership would be difficult.
The calmer Nadia appeared, the more uneasy the Marquis became.
“Are you sure that diamond was mined from the Desmond estate?” she asked.
“If you doubt me, have it appraised,” he snapped.
“You misunderstood me,” Nadia replied coolly. “I don’t doubt its authenticity. I’m asking whether it truly came from your mines.”
“…Are you suggesting it came from that pathetic Hess estate instead?”
“It’s possible.”
“You insolent child!”
“The one without shame here isn’t me, Marquis Desmond.”
Her voice was as clear and beautiful as a jade bead rolling on a silver tray. Without even raising it, her tone commanded everyone’s attention.
The crowd turned toward the source of that voice—Emperor’s mistress, Tasha.
Tasha had let her long silver hair flow freely and sprinkled shimmering powder through it, making it gleam like gemstones under the light. Despite her vivid sapphire-blue gown, nothing about her seemed excessive—she was a walking masterpiece.
Everyone in the room knew well how many serpents that delicate, beautiful woman kept coiled beneath her throat.
The Marquis of Desmond’s voice trembled as he called out, “Madam Tasha.”
That was how people addressed her—Madam Tasha—for she had no title or known family name.
Click, click. Her heels echoed as she strode gracefully to the center of the ballroom.
Three steps behind her followed a man in a servant’s uniform.
At first, the Marquis looked puzzled, but when he saw the servant’s face, he nearly fell backward in shock.
“So, you do recognize him,” Tasha said softly, her tone dripping with mock sorrow. “How tragic.”
Her eyes glistened as she brushed away a tear. Despite being the mother of an eighteen-year-old, she looked disarmingly youthful.
“A few days ago, this servant came to me and confessed everything,” she said. “He admitted he’d secretly stolen jewels brought in by Baron Hess. When I asked why he’d done something so wicked, he said he’d been threatened—his sick son was being held over his head.”
Tasha sighed dramatically, like an actress performing on an opera stage.
“I’m a mother too, Your Graces. I could imagine how much pain that must have caused him. That’s why I wanted to believe in the Marquis of Desmond’s innocence. I didn’t want to think he was capable of such cruelty.”
Her voice quavered pitifully as she slowly shook her head.
The story sounded sorrowful enough—but everyone knew that threatening an imperial servant and stealing property from the palace was an act of high treason.
The Marquis paled, frantically waving his hands.
“No! Never! I—I had no reason to do such a thing! That gem did come from my mine, I swear it!”
Just then, a royal herald’s voice rang out.
“His Imperial Majesty, the Eternal Sun of the Empire, enters!”
The bustling “stage” of their little opera froze immediately. Everyone bowed low in unison.
The Emperor entered with a booming laugh.
“Ah, everyone! Thank you for coming! Thank you!”
He first approached his mistress, gently helping her rise to her feet. A tear rolled down Tasha’s pale cheek.
“Tasha?” he murmured, his tone tender as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
It was clear now why the Empress had chosen not to attend tonight’s event.
Even if she no longer loved her husband, who would want to watch such a pathetic display?
The noble ladies hid their disapproval behind their fans, clicking their tongues quietly, while Tasha whispered in a soft, trembling voice,
“Your Majesty, I think I should withdraw now.”
“Now, now, where do you think you’re going? The ball has only just begun. You’re the prince’s mother—you must stay.”
Tasha gave a sorrowful smile.
“Perhaps… but I don’t think the Marquis of Desmond feels the same way.”
“The Marquis?”
The Emperor’s gaze darkened as he turned to Desmond.
Watching him, Nadia couldn’t help but let out a faint, disbelieving laugh.
The audience was completely absorbed in this absurd farce. No play or opera could ever draw such attention.
Nadia tightened her grip on the “card” she’d been holding back—her trump card.
She had planned to reveal it once the argument with Desmond reached its peak, but Tasha’s sudden appearance had thrown off the timing.
Still, the way things were unfolding now… perhaps this was an even better opportunity.
No need to rush, she thought. It seems the climax is just around the corner.
Her throat was dry as she swallowed nervously.
Meanwhile, the “actress” on stage delivered her most passionate performance yet.
Each time Tasha blinked her tearful eyes, her pitifulness grew even more radiant.
“Your Majesty,” she said softly, “I’ve tried to deny it, but you were right all along. When I first saw the Red Diamond, I was overcome with greed. But it was far too precious for someone like me. So… I privately asked the Marquis of Desmond for a favor.”
“What kind of favor?”
“I told him I didn’t dare ask for a Red Diamond—but if he ever found a pink one, I would be grateful to have it. I thought that much wouldn’t trouble Your Majesty.”
Tasha’s eyes brimmed again.
“The Marquis wrote back, saying no pink diamonds had been discovered. But seeing how he protests now… perhaps that letter was a lie.”
“Do you still have that letter?” the Emperor asked.
“My maid likely kept it safe, Your Majesty. Oh, why would the Marquis do such a thing? Could it be… because he thought me too lowly, like so many others do?”
The Marquis of Desmond was cornered. His face was so pale he looked carved from marble.
“N-no! No pink diamonds were found!”
Tasha tilted her head sadly.
“Then, Marquis… what is that pink diamond you hold now? Did you truly threaten a royal servant to steal it?”
“T-that’s not true either!”
“Really? If it’s not that, and it’s not the other… then what is it?” she asked innocently, her voice laced with feigned confusion.
The Emperor clicked his tongue in disgust, resting his hand on Tasha’s shoulder.
“Take the Marquis of Desmond for questioning.”
He hadn’t explicitly ordered him dragged away, but everyone knew the Marquis had no choice now.
The petty accusation had turned into a royal scandal—but even if no one cared about the theft anymore, the ensuing investigation into the Marquis’s finances would uncover every crime he’d ever committed.
And now—this was Nadia’s cue.
“Your Majesty,” she said, dropping to one knee and bowing deeply. “This humble one begs your audience.”
As the daughter of a baron—and merely an adopted one at that—speaking directly to the Emperor was a dangerous risk.
The Emperor sighed, clearly bored, and took his seat. He didn’t speak, but he didn’t wave her off either. That was enough.
Perfect.
Nadia motioned discreetly to a nearby royal attendant. She handed him the small box she’d been clutching all this time. The attendant carried it straight to the Emperor.
“What’s this?” the Emperor asked, not even opening it yet.
Nadia smiled faintly.
“It is the Heart of the Dragon, Your Majesty.”
