For a moment, I said to Janet, who was standing near me.
“Do you want to sit down?”
“Yes?
But I have to continue accompanying the Duchess...”
“I simply don't like eating alone.”
In response to my offer, she sighed and sat down.
I felt bad for forcing her to stand, but she seemed relieved.
And I have something to ask her.
With a knowing smile, I spoke to Janet.
“By the way, Janet, you mentioned that you came to the palace 11 years ago?”
“Yes, that's true”
“Were other servants also hired around the same period?”
“Commander Chester, the Knight Commander, was here before me, and Master Zenon, the Adjutant, came two years later.”
“Ah, at the time of the Duke’s inauguration.
If memory serves, Zeno was also on the battlefield.”
“Yes.
Master Zenon served as His Excellency’s advisor on the battlefield, gained recognition and eventually became an adjutant.”
Counselor...I get it.
So, this is how a fallen noble could become Eric's assistant?
Currently, Zenon is two years older than Eric.
If Eric came at sixteen, Zenon must have joined at eighteen, which is really suspicious.
I asked Janet again.
“How did everyone come to work in this palace?”
“I was a mercenary, and the Master tested me for my abilities.
I believe Captain Chester was recommended by the former Knight Commander.
Master Zenon became the Master’s Knight Companion, thanks to a recommendation from Count Schultz.”
Count Schulz...a family known even among the nobility.
Perhaps investigating Zenon's background will be more difficult than she expected.
I have to send Sardin to the Information Guild soon.
But not now.
“By the way, why are you asking about that suddenly?”
“Well, you're the Duchess's maid now, aren't you?
I thought I should at least know your background.”
“I understand”
I felt uncomfortable under Janet's scrutinizing gaze, full of suspicion.
Then a waiter approached us carrying a silver plate.
“Excuse me”
Beautifully decorated appetizers were placed in front of us.
I took one of these and encouraged Janet to do the same.
“Appetizers are here.
Let's eat.”
She hesitated for a moment before tasting the appetizer, her face blushing slightly.
Every time a new dish arrived, Janet would happily empty her plate with a smile of satisfaction.
It is satisfying in many ways.
For a moment, while the dessert was being served, Janet asked quietly:
“Ma’am, will you go home after eating?”
I shook my head, smiling.
“No, we'll go to the jewelry store next.”
After I finished my sentence, I enjoyed the lemonade in my mouth.
It gave me a refreshing, sour sensation.
But what's coming soon will be much more exciting than that.
Today, as usual, the leading jewelry store in the region, “The Shining Stone,” was filled with noble women wanting to buy gemstones.
But in the exclusive VIP lounge, where no one was allowed to enter, familiar faces were exchanging secret conversations.
“I heard that Glen bought a necklace for Ms.
Jasmine recently.
But it seems that it was the same necklace he gave his mistress.”
“Oh my God, this is incredible!”
While they were gathered around the table, discussing shopping and gossiping, someone entered the store, attracting the attention of the ladies.
“Isn’t that the princess—no, the Duchess of Brant?”
“I heard she bought a ruby necklace on her last visit, but why does it look...?”
Unlike the day she had visited the jewelry store previously, Cornelia was dressed simply.
The main difference now is her facial expression.
Instead of the faint smile she had then, she now had a deadpan expression.
Cornelia's dedicated sales representative and Shining Stone's manager quickly approached her.
“Duchess, it has been two days.”
“Oh, you”
When the principal saw Cornelia's indifferent face, she swallowed her saliva and spoke.
“The Jade bracelet you entrusted us with is still being made.
May I ask you what brings you here today?”
Cornelia sighed, and took something out of her pocket.
When the director saw him, she gasped in amazement.
“How could this…?”
The precious ruby pendant from this store is now in a state of disrepair, damaged beyond recognition.
With a dry voice and a hard, uncompromising expression, Cornelia spoke.
“You were wrong”
In the end, the principal remembered the words she said that day.
Honestly, it was confusing.
No one would expect a ruby necklace to end up as luxurious as this, as a human being.
When dealing with nobles, one must always keep in mind that they may respond as they please.
You may criticize him harshly and ask for compensation or an apology.
Returning a contract in this case indicates possible dissatisfaction, so there is no need for pride when dealing with nobles.
“Madam, I made a mistake…”
As she quickly knelt down to beg for forgiveness, Cornelia interrupted her, saying:
“I don't know what you think of me”
Cornelia handed the ruby necklace to the director, and spoke again:
“Repair this necklace like new.
I will cover the repair costs.”
Ah, she wants to fix it.
Once the manager was satisfied with her response, he accepted the contract.
But I can't relax now.
Wealthy nobles usually disposed of damaged items rather than repairing them, so the current situation was unusual.
There is a possibility that she is trying to find a flaw.
In any case, he must protect the store's reputation.
It was necessary to find a way for the guest, the Duchess of Brant, to leave without any further incidents.
The principal quickly addressed Cornelia, staring at her.
“It seems that our contract was not to the grand lady’s taste.”
His words sparked an atmosphere in the VIP lounge.
It is understood that Shining Stone's VIP clients were individuals of great wealth and high social status, often purchasing luxury jewellery.
The news that Mrs.
Brant had ignored the necklace presented to her by their favorite store was not received well.
Would Grandmother Brant dare spoil a gift prepared by her daughter-in-law in this way?
Just because she didn't like the necklace?
Despite the influence of the Brant ducal family, their arrogance knows no bounds.
However, opinions varied, especially among the nobility.
“Well, we don't have all the facts.
Isn't it too early to draw conclusions?”
“Right.
There has to be a reason.”
As they engaged in a heated discussion, the headmistress found herself preoccupied with Cornelia.
“We will fix it for free.
If you want, we can also modify the design.”
The director swallowed hard and looked at Cornelia, hoping that she would accept the offer without difficulty.
This way, even if she was a princess, she couldn't complain after being assigned to repair.
That's why the headmistress expected Cornelia to simply agree.
But…
“There's no need for that.
The necklace's fine.”
“What?
But the eldest lady...”
“I heard that my mother-in-law prefers rubies.
Whoever said that was someone she trusted, like her daughter, so it must be true.”
With a bitter smile, Cornelia stared at the contract in the principal's hand.
“But my mother-in-law tore up the necklace I gave her.
It’s not that she didn’t like the gift I gave her.”
The principal in front of her and the noblewomen watching couldn't hide their expressions upon hearing Cornelia's words.
It was understandable, the situation was the kind that anyone who had married outside their family could sympathize with.
Moreover, even if the Venerable Princess made such comments, it was obvious how provocative the Grand Lady was.
“The princess is also facing difficulties in her married life.”
“Certainly, her mother-in-law’s personality is not ordinary.”
While many watched the princess with a mixture of sympathy and understanding, someone spoke up.
“But, didn’t Grand Lady Brant hate rubies… wasn’t it the other way around?”
“Exactly.
From what I know, she hated Sapphire, especially because of the incident that happened during the selection of the Crown Princess.”
When Cornelia heard this, she whispered to herself.
"I see.
I hated Sapphire.
But why did that girl…?" With a pale face, Cornelia put down some gold coins.
“That's enough work.
Send him to the palace when you're done.”
"Yes, yes?
Wait a minute, Duchess!"
The manager quickly caught up with Cornelia, but she had already left the jewelry store.
Oh, I was going to ask about the jade bracelet...
However, it was not polite to follow up and ask someone who had just left about such a trivial matter.
“Yes, she ordered me to send the jade bracelet after completing the contract.”
After coming to this conclusion, she returned to the VIP lounge of the jewelry store with a sigh.
“That thing now...was it about Lady Arjen?”
“Yes, the princess came with her cousin last time.
Even Sapphire was her recommendation!”
One of the listening noblewomen spoke up: “My God, by gathering and saying such things, it is clear that Lady Arjin deliberately wanted to cause trouble for the princess.”