38

Even though he exuded an air of boredom, his voice itself was sincere.

“Hmm.”

I looked down at the colorful sample dresses hanging on the long rack.

Though all of them were expensive and extravagant, none of the dresses particularly caught my eye.

“I’ll take some more time to think.”

“Yes, understood.”

Madam Tilda, after exchanging pleasantries with Dante and me, left the room.

Servants carried the long rack with dresses outside.

Simultaneously, a jeweler who had been waiting outside entered.

He was a middle-aged man with a sturdy build.

“Marquis Openhauer, and Lady Leferian, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Still young and fresh-looking, the jeweler humbly bowed deeply to Dante and me.

Well, that’s probably because Elze from the original work has overwhelming sales, I suppose.

Madam Tilda, even with Elze from the original work causing a scene in the dressing room several times, continues to do business with us.

“The first item I’ll show you is this star sapphire ring. It’s a 20-carat piece mined from the Ringcon Mines…”

Starting with that, earrings, bracelets, rings, hairpins, and numerous jewels were presented.

‘Not bad.’

I thought with a contemplative gaze as I looked at the dazzling jewels.

Having lived a luxurious life until now, I had developed a somewhat discerning eye for objects.

And the jewels the jeweler brought out were all truly top-notch.

‘It seems not bad.’

I thought Dante might share a similar sentiment.

“Should we just buy them all?”

Seeing him propose like this, the jeweler’s eyes sparkled for a moment.

“Wise decision, indeed!”

It seemed that, at this moment, the jeweler’s greed for sales was even greater than the fear of the young boss who had conquered the Empire’s underworld.

The jeweler spoke passionately.

“Although it may be lacking, I have carefully selected only the gems befitting Lady Leferian’s reputation!”

Well, I had no intention of refusing jewelry.

Although it might be a bit cumbersome to convert them into cash, precious metals had the advantage of being small and valuable.

Later, when I escaped from this damn boarding school, they would undoubtedly come in handy.

Moreover, Elze from the original work was fundamentally a luxurious and foolish villain…

“It’s fine, Marquis. Thank you.”

I lowered my eyelids gracefully.

“All the gems are so beautiful. I’m having trouble deciding which one to wear for the debutante ball.”

“Is that so?”

Dante, who was responding nonchalantly, showed a momentary change in his eyes.

At the same time, he reached out and picked up a necklace.

Rustle…

A platinum chain poured out of Dante’s grasp.

At the end of the chain, a large topaz pendant reflected light and sparkled.

“In that case, I would like you to wear this necklace.”

“Oh my, did you personally choose this for me, Marquis? I’m delighted…”

I deliberately blushed my cheeks and looked up at Dante.

At the same time, I quickly turned my head.

‘Topaz.’

Although it is an extremely beautiful gem, in reality, it is somewhat inferior in terms of price compared to other gems.

But why did Dante choose topaz?

Is it a sign that he doesn’t want to invest that much in me?

However, simply interpreting it that way doesn’t make sense, as buying all the gems brought by the jeweler involves a considerable expense…

Or maybe it’s just a suggestion for me, who is nothing more than a lover, to understand the theme with an appropriate gem?

“Yeah, I like this topaz.”

Dante looked at the topaz pendant with a satisfied gaze.

“It’s similar to the color of your eyes, isn’t it?”

I was momentarily speechless.

‘So, did he choose that just because it seemed to suit me well?’

And it was Dante of all people?

Just then, Dante tilted his head with a satisfied smile, turning to look at me.

“You?”

“Oh, yes.”

I suddenly came to my senses and reflexively smiled.

“I didn’t expect you to choose so carefully. I’m really touched.”

“Is that so?”

Dante, who had been looking at me with a dubious expression, shrugged his shoulders and stepped back.

“Well, let’s just buy all these gems. My secretary will take care of the payment.”

“Understood, Marquis!”

The jeweler left with a cheerful smile.

At the same time, Dante spoke to me.

“Shall we have lunch then? You said you skipped breakfast this morning.”

“…”

I struggled not to show my annoyance outwardly.

Lately, Dante had been upset every time he saw me without eating.

I knew that if we looked at each other and ate together, it was highly likely that he would offer me food again…

“Yes, let’s go.”

I smiled and nodded.

And as we turned away, my gaze suddenly reached outside the window.

The roses blooming in the garden of the annex were dazzlingly red.

At the same time, a voice whispered in my ear.

[These roses resemble the lady’s hair color.]

A voice, still youthful and somewhat husky, just crossing the threshold of adulthood.

In that moment, my chest felt as if I had swallowed a large rock, making it difficult to breathe.

“…”

Thud.

I closed the door.

The roses that painted the view in red disappeared as if erased.

* * *

Inside the dark cell where no light penetrated.

Lucian sat huddled in that spot, gazing through the iron bars at the garden beyond.

The vividly blooming red roses were bathed in sunlight, shimmering brightly.

As he continued to stare at that scene.

His vision blurred for a moment.

“…”

Lucian tightly shut his eyes and opened them again.

Under his eyes, a deep shadow had somehow cast its presence.

“Annoying.”

A faint irritation was embedded in his muttered words.

It was an unavoidable problem.

Lucian hadn’t slept properly for the past few days.

In fact, saying he hadn’t slept properly was too subtle; more accurately, he had stayed up the whole night.

Lucian ruffled his bangs, narrowing his eyes.

‘Come to think of it… I haven’t met Lady Lepherian even once recently.’

At least, she showed up three times a day for meals.

Recently, Elze had been disappearing completely.

Now, even that figure seemed vague, as if he had once glimpsed an illusion.

Listening casually to the maids, it seemed the Marquis Offenheir was personally organizing Elze’s debutante party.

For some reason, the Marquis seemed to be quite concerned about her debutante party.

‘Well, from Lady Lepherian’s perspective, it’s not such a bad thing.’

She’s already twenty years old.

It was somewhat late for her to have a debutante party.

In such a situation, if the Marquis organizes her debutante party, not even an event at the Imperial Court, but something directly under her name.

For her debutante party instead of the Imperial Court’s debutante ball.

To make such a decision, she must be paying considerable attention to Elze.

‘Well, it’s not a bad thing for Lady Lepherian.’

Considering her position, the debutante ball was more important than I thought.

Even those who subtly ignored Elze due to the debutante issue might become speechless.

The maids mentioned that the Marquis was putting quite an effort into Elze’s debutante party.

‘What’s the reason for this frustrating feeling?’

It felt as if I had swallowed gravel endlessly, and my chest was congested.

However, at that moment.

Knock, knock.

A brief knock echoed.

Lucian tensed up and turned towards the door.

Clang, clang!

The sound of metal clashing reverberated.

Creak…

The door opened, revealing a neatly dressed man on the other side.

Well-groomed hair, composed gaze.

His immaculate suit evoked the image of a high-ranking administrator.

“Hello, Duke Kalleid.”

The man courteously greeted Lucian.

Lucian remained silent, facing the man.

The day after meeting Marquis Offenheir.

This man had visited Lucian for the first time.

[I am Liam. I am Marquis Offenheir’s secretary.]

The man calmly met Lucian’s gaze.

[For the time being, instead of Elze, I will take care of Duke Kalleid.]

Precisely, it’s written as ‘take care,’ but it probably means ‘manage.’

Lucian didn’t delve into that part and asked something else.

[Where is Lady Lepherian?]

[Well, it doesn’t seem like something you need to know, sir.]

However, Liam maintained a calm gaze.

“Duke.”

At that moment, a voice calling him made Lucian snap back to attention.

Liam, who had approached step by step, looked down at Lucian.

“Have you slept well, sir? How about your meals?”

It was an extremely businesslike attitude.

As if evaluating the condition of a possession, checking for any scratches or decrease in marketability.

Lucian responded reflexively.

“Not bad.”

“…”

Liam, who had been closely studying Lucian’s face, immediately turned his head.

“Oh, are you lying.”