Chapter 52
“Oh my. What a beautiful bracelet, Ximena.”
“Ah… this is…”
“Can you give this to me? With a sponsorship contract, you’re supposed to give me what I want. And this is what I want.”
When I said that, Ximena’s blue eyes darkened abruptly.
Still, she wasn’t so oblivious as to not remember our conversation yesterday, and she stammered as she spoke.
“I… I, and our theater troupe, can give you everything we have. But, um… this isn’t really mine.”
“Not yours, even though it’s on your wrist? I’d be a little upset if someone else were your sponsor.”
“No, it’s not like that…”
“Then whose is it, if not yours?”
Perhaps because my habit of playing the villain remained in me, I pressed her quite sharply.
Ximena said nothing, her gaze fixed on the man who had given her the bracelet.
“Who are you staring at?”
Because Ximena stared at Mateo too intently, Laura snapped at her, clearly annoyed.
Feeling the jab, Mateo got unnecessarily irritated.
“Promises are always important in the Lordship of Sephardi. Sponsorship promises are no different. This belongs to you—so why hesitate? Why not give it?”
Only then did Ximena, with trembling hands, take off the bracelet and place it on my wrist.
I looked at the bracelet on my wrist and said,
“Thank you, Ximena. And thank you to your father as well.”
“Thank me? What is there for you to thank me for?”
Mateo looked at me with a deeply furrowed brow, his face full of nervous irritation, unsure where to direct it.
I deliberately smiled.
“You gave this to me with the judgment of the Blade of the Sephardi Sun. I have to thank you for that.”
That’ll sting a little, you adulterous man.
Or should I call you a failed adulterer?
After the play ended, the audience dispersed to their assigned rooms.
Having had tea, a park outing, and a play, it seemed the nobles had quite a taxing schedule.
While the troupe cleared the stage and changed costumes, I received a guest in my reception room.
“The eldest lady of the vast Betis River and the sun-blessed Lordship of Sephardi.”
It was Ximena, diligently calling Maribel’s formal title as she had learned.
“Ximena, the pride of my theater troupe. Sit. Would you like some tea?”
After a few steps, Ximena finally sat before me.
The tea smelled delightful, yet she didn’t dare touch it, clasping her hands over her dress as she asked,
“Um… could it be there’s been a big misunderstanding? I… I explained everything yesterday. I didn’t want to give it, that’s not why I acted that way at first… but I don’t know what’s happening now…”
“Ximena, you’re worse at speaking than when you’re drunk.”
At that, Ximena lifted her head and opened her mouth slightly.
Her face, a mix of fear and confusion, was rigid.
“There’s nothing to be so afraid of. Yes, you’re right. I heard you. This was a gift from my father to you, right?”
“I… I’ve committed a grave sin.”
“Wait, what? Why would you say that? What grave sin did you commit?”
Her eyes glistened with tears as she looked at me.
I thought for a moment and then chuckled softly.
“You don’t think that trying not to become my father’s mistress—a married old man whose tastes I don’t share—is a sin, do you?”
“To speak such irreverent words and trouble my mind… and also… I… the sun of Sephardi…”
The sun’s dead.
What kind of sun does a man hitting on a young girl have?
I looked at the fake amber sparkling on the gold bracelet around my wrist.
“Ximena, aside from wanting to stage a great play, was there anything else you were trying to do?”
“…”
“If that man tries to contact you or approach you, you can use me as an excuse.”
“But… he is your father, the great Lord of Sephardi,”
“It seems quite obvious who really did wrong. Am I wrong?”
I cut her off.
Ximena let out a long sigh, her delicate lips moving slightly.
“I have nothing to give. Even though you’ve helped me and my troupe like this…”
“That’s just your thinking, actress.”
“Eh?”
“I need you quite a bit. Your beautiful neck, arms, hands, ears. All of it.”
I closed my eyes briefly and looked at Ximena’s fair, delicate body.
Feeling my gaze, she pressed her lips together and muttered resolutely,
“I must perform the play. I don’t know when, but once it’s over, you may take whatever you want.”
“No, why say something so frightening? I only meant to borrow it for a moment.”
To make money, one must run a business, and for business, advertising is necessary.
And the most effective marketing is star marketing.
After the brief meeting with Ximena, I left the room.
With the proper tools for crafting, I needed to replace the fake jewels quickly, and I also had to meet Manu.
As I hurried down the stairs, I ran into Arius in the same spot where he had once received me.
He looked at me without much surprise.
“Lady.”
“Oh, Duke. Why are you still here…? Have you perhaps lost your way? I just stepped out for a short walk.”
Even though it was my Palacio, I felt awkward about going to the underground workshop, so the words just slipped out.
Arius seemed unconcerned and said,
“Did you order the names of the play’s characters to be changed?”
“Ah, yes. You must have noticed yesterday.”
“Can you tell me why?”
Though it appeared accidental, it wasn’t, and it wasn’t a big secret either.
I smiled lightly and replied,
“I want many people to see this play. Truly, many people. Believe me, Duke, if I said I wanted everyone in Napa to see it?”
“A remarkable sponsor. But how does that relate to changing the characters’ names?”
“Those who see the play will wish Gabi and Karl happiness. Thinking that, I’m very happy as their elder sister.”
“Well, that first makes me think the royal family’s prestige and popularity would rise.”
“Does that trouble you, Duke Romero?”
“No, it’s not a problem. I’d appreciate it if you forgot it.”
His words were too fast, almost spat out.
Ah, right. Arius still suspects. He believes his family was wiped out by the royal family’s conspiracy.
‘Perhaps Pedro already said as much.’
Whether by doubt or lies, it didn’t matter.
What mattered were the consequences of Arius’s beliefs.
Even if the royal family’s popularity grew and the Napa Empire’s unity increased, Arius’s revenge would only generate public backlash, and success would still end in disaster.
That had to be prevented.
“D-Duke Romero.”
“What did Prince Eskia say?”
Our timing overlapped.
I frowned briefly. Wasn’t it my turn to ask what that Pedro brat had said?
Arius looked at me, expecting an answer.
“Prince Eskia? When…”
“At the princess’s tea earlier. She disliked the peacock but wanted to see it, so she left her seat. Pedro followed her.”
Ah, she dislikes peacocks.
She made that excuse before to avoid tea time.
His eyes were filled with some discontent as he looked at me.
It wasn’t something to boast about, so I just shrugged.
“Oh, that… he did say something. But why are you curious?”
Had Pedro already sown discord?
Still cautious, I asked, and Arius hesitated before finally speaking.
“Didn’t you say Prince Eskia was unpleasant?”
“That’s hardly new… oh, were you perhaps worried about me?”
“Just warning you because Prince Eskia can be persistent.”
“Oh, what joy. That doesn’t mean you weren’t worried!”
“…I was asked to provide protection at the time.”
“But didn’t that end yesterday? You weren’t my bodyguard, just asked to help for a moment.”
Teasing him a little, Arius’s handsome face stiffened and the back of his neck turned red.
