Chapter 7
As soon as the banquet ended, the Duke headed straight for his office.
“Marcus!”
Marcus’s head snapped up at the short, sharp tone.
“The emerald bracelet given to the young countess… She told me that it’s a fake.”
The Duke’s eyes glinted fiercely.
“A fake?”
Marcus’s eyes widened.
“This is the Karsiten ducal estate, of all places. No one would dare pull such a prank. Not unless they have a death wish…”
But the Duke’s expression seemed to have already moved past suspicion to certainty.
“Investigate Emilia. To dare pull a stunt in the ducal residence.”
Marcus blinked.
“So it was her, not the jeweler?”
For several days after her first dinner with the Duke, Sophia had been attending Adelaide.
“Sophia, wasn’t Emilia assigned to me?”
“Circumstances have changed. I will attend to you with the utmost care.”
“I certainly don’t mind, of course.”
Adelaide nodded, but a small question formed in the back of her mind.
‘How strange. It’s not just Emilia; all the maids who were whispering have disappeared too. Did something happen?’
Sophia, who was brushing Adelaide’s hair, shared some pleasant news as if she had just remembered.
“Your room will be completed by tomorrow, my lady.”
“Really? That’s wonderful.”
‘I just wish they’d hurry up with my workshop… Surely that ice-cold Duke wouldn’t just pretend it never happened, would he?’
*Clomp.*
*Clomp.*
The footsteps descending the stairs were strangely light, accompanied by a hum. Marcus inhaled the cool air of the stone staircase and muttered.
“Emilia, Emilia. If you let your tail get too long, it’s bound to be stepped on.”
As the knight opened the barred door, the foul stench of rusted iron and blood rushed out. Someone let out a long groan from within the darkness.
“Did she talk?”
“Not yet.”
“Well, now…”
Marcus strolled leisurely into the cell.
“Oh, Emilia. It would have been better if you’d confessed to the knights. Why wait for me? You’re getting my hopes up.”
Emilia and the three maids, all bound by ropes, groaned in unison.
“Shh, quiet now.”
*Clink.*
A green light glinted in Marcus’s hand. It was the bracelet. Emilia managed to raise her eyes.
*Clang!*
The emerald bracelet clattered across the cold stone floor.
“It was a rather fine fake. Neither I nor Sophia noticed. But what can you do.”
Marcus leaned in close, his smile widening.
“You couldn’t fool the Duke’s fiancée.”
Emilia’s eyes trembled violently.
‘No way. That country bumpkin figured it out?’
“Why so surprised? Did living in the ducal residence make you think you were the Duchess? You should have known your place. How dare you do such a thing to His Grace’s fiancée?”
Marcus’s tone changed in an instant. The maids flinched at his chilling voice, their shoulders tensing. Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed on the stone floor, drawing closer.
“Commander, His Grace is coming.”
The knight had barely finished speaking when the Duke of Karsiten entered the cell with slow, deliberate steps. A frigid air filled the space.
“What was your motive?”
At the low, resonant voice, Emilia slammed her forehead against the floor.
“P-please spare me, Your Grace. I only did it for your sake…”
“You tampered with an engagement gift, and you expect forgiveness now?”
Emilia’s hands trembled at the Duke’s blade-sharp question.
“I-I didn’t think you would find out. It was all for you, Your Grace. There are many young ladies from far greater families in the capital. Why her, of all people, a lady from a failing house!”
For a moment, the Duke’s eyes flashed with a cold light.
“Since when does a maid presume to judge her master’s fiancée?”
Emilia cowered, bowing her head.
“Marcus!”
At the Duke’s short summons, Marcus stepped forward.
“Emilia Herbert. Age 21. Came with a letter of recommendation from the House of Marquis Montmorin. She has persistently disparaged the young countess within the residence and has repeatedly behaved with insolence.”
Marcus continued his report, flipping through a document.
“It has now come to light that she swapped the engagement gift, the emerald bracelet. It was also Emilia who deliberately delayed the preparation of the young lady’s room.”
A short, heavy silence fell.
“Banish them. And ensure that no noble house in the capital will ever take these four in.”
The Duke’s voice was lower and more resolute than ever.
“And…”
The Duke’s gaze fell upon the bracelet.
“Appraise the value of the original emerald bracelet I ordered. This maid will repay it herself. If even a single coin is missing, your hands and feet will not remain intact.”
Emilia’s face went deathly pale.
“Y-Your Grace! Please. I was wrong.”
The maids wept and begged, but the Duke didn’t even blink.
“Do not make me repeat myself.”
At a gesture from Marcus, the knights moved swiftly to gag the maids. They could not even offer an excuse. Weeping, Emilia and the other maids were dragged away.
“What did the appraiser say?”
“He said it would be difficult to tell the difference.”
“She truly has a remarkable eye.”
The corners of the Duke of Karsiten’s mouth lifted ever so slightly.
“Oh, my!”
A gasp of admiration escaped Adelaide’s lips. She took a step into the spacious room. The pale cream wallpaper created a warm atmosphere, and soft, sky-blue curtains fluttered gently. On one side of the bedroom stood a large bookshelf and a comfortable sofa.
“His Grace paid special attention to this. He heard that yours is a family of book lovers.”
Adelaide’s eyes widened at Sophia’s words. It seemed there was a human side to him behind that icy expression.
“Thank you, Sophia. I love it.”
“Oh, my lady. I’m so happy to hear you like it.”
Sophia smiled warmly as she showed her around.
“This is the space for your dresses. Next to it is the bathroom. And as for the room attached to the bedroom, I think it’s best if you see it for yourself.”
“There’s more?”
She couldn’t imagine what else there could be after being given such a large and beautiful room.
“Come, this way.”
Following Sophia, Adelaide couldn’t hide her delight.
“Wow!”
The exclamation escaped her lips automatically. The workshop that unfolded before her eyes far exceeded her expectations. It was an ideal space she hadn’t even dared to imagine in her dreams.
“Did he really prepare all of this?”
Her eyes glistening, Adelaide looked around again and again. Bright, natural light poured in through a large window that took up an entire wall. It was the perfect light for observing the finest details of a gemstone. A workbench placed by the window immediately captured her attention.
“Is this marble?”
Adelaide walked over to the workbench and ran her hand over the smooth marble. A jeweler’s microscope and an array of precision instruments were neatly arranged on its surface.
“Is this… a Silver-Level Cutting Kit? Unbelievable.”
Adelaide’s gaze carefully swept over each tool. Beside the workbench stood a sturdy set of drawers. Inside, delicate gem-cutting tools were organized by type.
“These are all custom-made!”
Even to a gem expert’s eye, the tools were flawless.
‘This isn’t even the modern era. How can they have so many precise tools?’
The crystal-specific cutting tools, in particular, were so rare that even Adelaide had seldom seen them in person.
“There’s even a safe!”
As her gaze shifted to the safe in the corner of the workshop, Sophia nodded.
“Of course. His Grace has provided rare gems and raw stones, so naturally, a safe is needed to store them.”
“Now that’s welcome news!”
Adelaide beamed and walked over to a large chalkboard on the wall. Seeing the board, which would allow her to jot down notes as she worked, Adelaide marveled at the thoughtfulness of whoever designed the workshop.
“It’s like a master jeweler designed this room!”
Unable to contain her joy, Adelaide sparkled as she looked around. Sophia watched her with a pleased smile.
“It’s truly perfect!”
Adelaide was already beginning to imagine all the things she could do in this workshop. Restoring the broken crystal, of course, but she could probably even research new processing methods.
“Just how much work does he expect me to do, to prepare something like this?”
The Duke’s thorough preparations were now almost frightening to Adelaide.
“To create something so perfect in such a short time… he really is amazing.”
“That’s the Karsiten ducal estate for you.”
She had to admit it was true. Adelaide nodded.
“I’m so pleased that you like it.”
“More than words can say… Thank you so much, Sophia.”
Overcome with emotion, Adelaide threw her arms around Sophia in a hug. Surprised for a moment by the unexpected gesture, Sophia returned the embrace with a bright smile.
“Oh, there’s one more thing.”
“There’s more?”
Sophia briefly went into the bedroom and returned with a box.
“Would you like to open it?”
“What’s this?”
Adelaide tilted her head and opened the lid. Her vision was filled with a brilliant light.
“His Grace said it’s a prize for getting the answer right.”
“Ah, so that’s why?!”
Inside the box lay a matching bracelet, necklace, and ring, all made of emeralds. Each gemstone seemed to hold the light, shimmering serenely.
“Even if I did get the answer right, to give me another set of top-quality gems like this… just how…”
…rich is the Duke? Adelaide swallowed the rest of her thought. Seeing Adelaide stare at the jewels for a long moment, Sophia asked with concern.
“Do you not like them?”
“Of course not. I was just staring, because I was lost in their beauty.”
Adelaide was incredibly pleased with the workshop, which was far better equipped than she had expected. In contrast to his cold demeanor, the Duke’s quiet thoughtfulness began to thaw Adelaide’s frozen heart, just a little.
The night Adelaide was given her workshop, she lay awake for a long time.
“Ugh, I can’t take it anymore.”
Throwing back the covers, Adelaide shot out of bed and headed for the workshop.
