CHAPTER 37
“Please flaunt these gifts cleverly, as if you received them from Alex, to provoke the Countess of Macquarie.”
It was a difficult request for Nina, who had to lie and had never once boasted or shown off in front of others.
“Don’t I look weird? I dressed up way more than usual…”
Nina murmured nervously, instinctively hunching her shoulders.
“Not weird at all.”
Claire gently straightened Nina’s shoulders and replied clearly.
“You look beautiful.”
Nina’s cheeks flushed pink. She shyly responded,
“…Lady Ravello, you look especially beautiful today. I mean, you always do, of course.”
“Thank you.”
Claire smiled softly and brushed her hair over her shoulder.
The brilliant daffodil-shaped necklace around her elegant neck immediately caught the eye.
“Actually, I’m wearing a rather special piece today. What do you think? Does it suit me?”
She tilted her head slightly to better show her earrings and raised her voice.
Nina nodded immediately.
“Of course! It suits you so well!”
“I’m glad. His Highness gave it to me as a gift.”
People around them subtly began to murmur.
“Wow, I heard Lady Ravello gave His Highness an armful of gifts last time…”
“And now he’s giving her jewelry back. He must really care for her.”
Though they tried to whisper, enough people were talking that even Claire could hear.
Once she had gathered sufficient attention, Claire smoothly passed the spotlight to Nina.
“Lady Merrison, your outfit and headband today are such a lovely match.”
“R-Really?”
Even as Nina responded awkwardly, Claire continued the conversation effortlessly.
“Your necklace is shaped like a clover, and it’s really cute. Is it a matching set with your earrings?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“You have such a good eye to pick something that suits you so well.”
“Ah… actually, it was a gift too.”
Claire feigned surprise.
“Really? It suits you so well. Must’ve been from someone who cherishes you dearly.”
Nina shyly nodded.
In truth, the one who gifted it to her was Claire herself—making Nina feel naturally bashful. But to others, she looked like a woman blushing from thoughts of a lover.
“Seems like we both have partners with great taste.”
Claire added smoothly, planting a subtle seed.
Just as people had associated her earlier words with Theodore, she wanted them to link Nina’s words with Alex.
Soon after—
“Oh, I’m so jealous. Lady Merrison must’ve gotten hers from her fiancé too.”
Someone, oblivious, confidently assumed.
The Countess of Macquarie, who had been observing them, suddenly froze.
Her eyes narrowed sharply at Nina, filled with jealousy and envy.
Noticing the change in her expression, Claire spoke up,
“I’m really glad my uncle’s fiancée is Lady Merrison. It’s rare to find someone who matches so well.”
“I feel the same way.”
“Did you know? During our last dinner, my uncle actually said—”
Claire stopped mid-sentence, covering her mouth and whispering the rest into Nina’s ear.
The Countess clenched her skirt under the table. She was dying to know what they were saying.
What in the world did Alex do?
“Oh my goodness, really?”
Nina’s cheeks turned red, and she fidgeted, clearly overwhelmed.
The Countess’s curiosity only grew.
Could it be… he’s suddenly started having feelings for Lady Merrison?
Her suspicion of Alex grew deeper.
“That’s why they say, when someone’s in love, they spare neither time nor money.”
Claire, having noticed the Countess’s reaction out of the corner of her eye, recited sweetly and smiled.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if a ring was gifted soon. After all, it is the ultimate symbol of love between a man and woman, isn’t it?”
At that final jab, the Countess’s complexion turned ashen.
Claire already knew the Countess had never received any jewelry from Alex.
When Alex and Nina were on distant terms, perhaps it wasn’t a problem. But now? It would be unbearable.
The Countess would now desperately want proof of love—something tangible—especially after suppressing her feelings all this time.
“Countess…?”
The others in her party called out, but the Countess of Macquarie abruptly rose and stormed off.
Claire watched her furious retreat and smiled subtly to herself.
The sound of those stomping footsteps echoed like confirmation of her perfect success.
A quiet inn on the outskirts of the capital.
Bordering the forest, this place was discreetly popular for secret meetings and affairs.
Alex Ravello entered the inn, fully cloaked so his face couldn’t be seen.
“I’m here to see Rose.”
“Third room on the left, second floor.”
Following the instructions, he went up and knocked.
Tap tap tap, tap tap, tap tap tap. Eight knocks in a coded rhythm.
Click—the lock opened.
Alex slipped inside quickly and relocked the door. Removing his cloak, he was met with the furious face of a woman.
“Fiona.”
Her name was Fiona Macquarie.
The Countess of Macquarie—and the woman with whom Alex was having an affair.
“Be honest, Alex. You’ve fallen out of love with me, haven’t you?”
Tears welled in the Countess’s eyes as she glared at him.
Alex let out a tired sigh.
“What nonsense is this?”
“Then why did you give Nina Merrison Marco Bazar’s jewelry?!”
“I told you, I didn’t! How many times do I have to say it?”
Alex looked like he was about to lose his mind with frustration.
Marco Bazar was an elite jeweler, so exclusive that one had to pay just to summon him. His jewels were high in both quality and price.
Nobles only called on him for special occasions or to prepare particularly meaningful gifts.
Alex had seen him only once, for his parents’ anniversary. Never since.
But rumors had started last week claiming Alex had gifted Marco Bazar’s jewels to his fiancée.
Much of this came from Darling Dress Shop, where Marie—under Claire’s orders—had exaggerated the story to customers.
Already fuming after seeing Claire and Nina at the dessert house, the Countess lost her temper and bombarded Alex with letters.
Panicked by her escalating behavior, Alex arranged today’s meeting to calm her down in person.
“Don’t lie! Someone even saw Marco Bazar visit your family estate!”
“The bastard was there to see my half-brother’s illegitimate daughter, not me!”
“Then how do you explain Lady Merrison wearing those jewels right after your family’s maid visited her estate?”
“She either bought them through my half-brother’s daughter or received them from her as a gift.”
Alex, by accident, hit the truth. But the Countess remained unconvinced.
Thinking that he had given expensive jewelry to his young fiancée while offering her only sweet words…
“You said you loved me… How could you do this to me?!”
The Countess collapsed into sobs.
She had always carried a fear deep in her heart.
Even when Alex and Nina didn’t get along. Even when he held her and whispered love.
In the end, Alex would marry Nina. And she, the Countess, would be discarded.
“Fiona, I’ve told you a thousand times. Nina Merrison is way too prim and dull for my taste.”
Alex ruffled his hair in frustration as he tried to soothe her.
“…Still, you might change your mind.”
“Leave you? I love you. Nina is just someone I’m using, that’s all.”
Alex knelt on one knee and gazed into her eyes.
Reddish-brown hair, gray eyes, handsome features.
Though not as striking as his older half-brothers, Alex had a decent face.
Though his sharp eyes gave him a slightly sly look.
“Come here, Fiona.”
“Alex…”
The Countess leaned into his arms as if enchanted.
To her eyes—clouded by infatuation—Alex was the most beautiful man in the world.
The one who reached out to her when she was withering in a loveless marriage to an older man—a savior.
“I love you, Fiona.”
“Mmm… Alex…”
He kissed her, whispering sweet words of love.
She was convenient—easily soothed by empty promises without spending a dime.
He hadn’t come to listen to her whining. His true purpose, as always, was just to spend the night.
As he moved to guide her to the bed, she shifted slightly, pulling away.
“Fiona?”
“I’m still too jealous. Can’t you get me something from Marco Bazar too?”
Her tear-filled eyes made Alex’s brows furrow.
“Ugh, what’s gotten into you? You know how tight things are for me right now.”
He quickly composed himself and rubbed his forehead with an exasperated look.
Marco Bazar’s jewels were expensive—far too much for a secret lover.
“Remember how much I struggled after that failed investment last year?”
“Of course I remember… But I’m not asking for a dozen, like Lady Merrison. Just one. Just one.”
Unusually for her, the Countess insisted.
She had always refrained from greedy requests, mindful of her status as a married woman. Though she did sometimes torment Nina out of jealousy, she’d never made dangerous demands.
But the image of Nina wearing jewelry… it pushed her over the edge.
Even if it wasn’t actually from Alex, she wanted something from him.
A symbol of love—like Claire had mentioned.
“Alex, I want something that reassures me that you’ll keep loving me. Something to help me feel secure.”
Even if, in the near future, Nina received a ring and married him—she wanted something to comfort herself.
“Please, darling?”
She clung to his arm, pouting, her curvy body tempting him.
Alex stared at her with greedy eyes and answered half-heartedly,
“Ah, fine. I’ll try.”
“Really? You promise?”
“Y-Yeah. Promise.”
The Countess beamed with joy.
Deciding to deal with the aftermath later, Alex focused on the desire right in front of him.
