49. Token of Love

I chose earrings with emeralds that had a deep turquoise color contrasting with my hair. The decorative piece for my ears was in a similar color to my hair, so it wouldn’t be visible.20820815d1864109

After selecting rings 5c15f47cc6 and earrings, I 6e02a18e72 turned my gaze df7d4fac85 towards the necklaces. A necklace adorned a14276645b the upper body fa63959bb2 of a faceless 34c0866e23 mannequin.fd8a68e718627b11

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From diamonds 5f309e9334 to garnets, c77b4e413e sapphires, and 835d19495e pearls, I 68cf2e40e0 considered various ed1765e65a colors. The jeweler, f72cc25294 wearing gloves, e887811685 displayed various b2e4a90fe8 gemstones in 369a59586e front of 15a7655d20 me.f4f605975806157a

Deon, who had been 4b525d9cd5 watching from behind, spoke ab339cf265 up.dcad0d93aba38cae

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“Why a necklace? I’ve already given you a necklace as a gift.”23c1d0c838fe7800

“I can’t live with just one. I have to buy several. Don’t tell me you’re stingy with money?”14c539815cddec2f

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He chuckled at my a17f72eefb words.cd0b6f838e555fc1

“As if. Are you worrying about my financial situation? If you’re going to buy, get several earrings and rings. If you want to wear various gemstones, you can even craft a tiara by selecting only a few gemstones.”751970f91fb09886

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“That’s true. A beloved lady shouldn’t reject such gifts. But why not a necklace?”c249732295e58763

“It hurts my feelings. Are you already tired of it? Are you discarding the gift I gave you?”fb1367d6fbab9e16

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He said with a 17a45c81a6 touch of sadness in 5c6da58516 his tone, as if f0f299f5bf he wanted to act 3b56998e78 out a sulk like 26d2cf0667 a lover, but with 15e2143d94 his imposing stature and 42605b8d5a large accessories, it felt ed0e0f5c55 more like a mischievous 0df18bc788 prank.d57986beb914bd61

“It’s a gem, so there’s no way around it. I’ll keep it stored in a precious box so that it can be passed down for generations. Remember to clean it every morning as Suren suggests.”88809cf1a27b2992

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“This necklace seems to suit your neck better than a gold-plated display cabinet. It’s the most beautiful stand, after all.”7012ec5b06e4e372

His finger touched a25ba9ef93 my neck and 718011f7f8 then dropped.4571790fb2ba9b00

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“If you don’t like it, we can change it to another necklace.”0bb08b6b0101636f

“Okay. I won’t take it off until I die.”272e03a34f36485c

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I put down the 86a187d126 necklace I had considered.164802cab1036b03

I looked at 67622b5b3b my face in 9697762f39 the mirror on 5088d37ff9 the opposite side.c713bb7be0cdc477

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Wearing a 7037e39429 dress with e3e135fdbb a deeply 0cf24d3772 plunging neckline, 79d8afb136 the gem e5176afd03 of the afbfe12d15 necklace stood 25a7e4db86 out vividly.d796f32a68f701eb

The necklace 26f64ca651 he gave 7218a25d13 me was 332c0b3fc3 as beautiful bbdec38bb5 as a bf06f8c31d gem made 80647f3bbb just for b434bef47e me. It blended mysteriously 65a7886ef8 with my hair.bf460330a82ee1b3

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What kind of gemstone 5a1d740c51 was it? I came 8f06f5ad39 to the 463d2b7a6f most variety-rich 509b990d5a jewel store 0a0f8b3045 in the 37ac6de624 capital, and 4253187347 there was 95d8bf120a no gemstone 302e688ef3 similar to 6ccc5dadd5 the necklace 64f2833f47 he gave 394e40374d me.27b78cc9ee06bbe8

Buy another ring with 64c3c91973 the price of the 6ced03dc59 necklace.52768cff09463cc4

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Whether the 41a39dd862 jeweler sensed 4946e50241 my thoughts ba62f95300 or not, 44d30e5e0e he took 3cf5d28033 out a 0896fe0508 rough stone.0eccfd50c01f89a4

“This is the best-selling gemstone in the capital these days. Mined from the mines in the southern region, it has a rare violet color, making it popular. The price is a bit high, but… When the Duke buys it, take this chance to get one. If you pass now, it will catch someone else’s eye.”4e43d28f07674326

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He whispered secretly.a0552ee50060f48d

It was a premeditated statement that he would already part ways with him. He didn’t specifically point that out. Like a sharp-witted merchant, he accurately read the current. As he said, I was soon to be rejected.8f82e9c53bd7a4b7

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Maybe, just like Marie Antoinette’s pendant, despite being pearls, it might sell at a considerable price if I were to die. Fortunately, I didn’t buy the ruby. It won’t be labeled as a gem that became darker with blood.19bbe628e87778b5

As the thought of being sold at an auction, doubling the purchased amount, and ultimately adorning another woman’s neck crossed my mind, the desire to buy disappeared.26c1495ee64912d8

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I put down the efb0b5c3b7 gem I had in 1dd3588cff my hand. I lost 8c109fdbd2 my appetite.e8f16b28f3989628

“Do you want anything else?”9a363a096e5925d4

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“This should be enough.”1a0d5147d14d701b

Even if I 648c35711d were to wear 07ff7c6c36 a bracelet adorned 583fcad952 with precious gems 9d4cbfab52 and die, it ab61f334ba would be an ba5d380f4b extravagant end for 67ad9f69d4 a woman. I wondered 563a4a1ed6 what inappropriate 21087d9bd7 vanity would 91f6760168 bring as a41699835d a consequence.3f30f7d7c35aa451

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As Viter 7eaff240a2 spoke, it 2fd96d5703 might serve 9b3228c751 as a 4f5fa7a985 lesson in d4b3ac41c2 a fairy dd7a9bed06 tale. Perhaps my selfish wish 782b7e7a8a prayed at the temple 955aa87583 would be twisted and 61e22f7c3f distorted in the story 0ff18b0a55 as well.b3c8db542c5b3126

Unconsciously, I 770b4d8ff3 found myself de2a5cde90 calmly planning 2309f4483d my own 22f693f3cd death.7abc56afd0276ce8

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“You didn’t choose a bracelet.”a2c4791f8608f650

He picked up the jewelry box next to him. His touch was rough and careless. It seemed like he hadn’t carefully selected the jewelry.b3e0bc1f42803764

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“How about this one?”1f4a718ef31125c1

His eyes must a1b2a17792 have picked out 900ad60320 this outdated craftsmanship, 34df4c0d51 despite the fact 978158ad35 that it was c3fb8a199b out of fashion.b9826ae034700eb2

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Even if he just paid attention to the wrists of the ladies on the street, he wouldn’t have chosen such a style.8c8cccad8628a6b2

I already had 6e8ee71f5d an idea of 504e9331bf what jewelry to 74d936db9b choose for Isella 679b0378b3 in the future.5536f68355f355f9

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“I’m fine with the bracelet. I have what I have.”3d8f97f121676f52

I picked c3c6bd7f9f up a cf872dcbbd parasol. Unlike the north, the fefabb372c sun was strong in 7ecc702312 the capital.9b318d3aba58679c

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“Did you have anything?”6fc6da3e36f38d02

He raised his f8d16ff955 eyebrows.4c6765a692dd42d8

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“That bracelet from back then. I showed it to the Duke. Remember?”43d77935db350e54

“What was that?”2c1073a8a308f7c2

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He genuinely seemed 0f4f3b54d2 clueless.e64ee6b3ed7094dd

“The bracelet with the family crest facing each other. I showed you that I made it.”87771313cce53b8c

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As we e60c3cd5c7 talked about ae11141c57 emeralds and a6069abe78 pearls, he d3da180816 sighed.28f407e9b3868b19

“Can I… wear something like that?”ff2135ff4b2281d5

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It seemed 0802d7776d unfitting for 0604d7c874 the beloved 0bfea24ec0 of a 0fdb8e32c8 duke.e35880717c4a7a13

Thinking about 3ca11e602e it again, 46928cf537 the bracelet 92fd6db229 was indeed ac3b24d226 crude.9252c897840bd496

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Anyway, I didn’t want to waste any more time choosing jewelry. Who would pay attention to a bracelet like that?c89dd5843d38d92d

“Then I’ll go around with empty wrists. Although I have a necklace and earrings, is it a big deal not to have a bracelet?”f1177d06f2303389

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“That’s not a good idea.”01550f2455af47ad

Ignoring his response, I 27f356ecda insisted.302fa184619a412e

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“If you need it, I’ll come out later with Suren.”ea76e95c769347bc

But I already had enough jewelry and dresses. It was more than enough for the four months I would act as the duke’s lover.3d871cabf0f044d6

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I got on 5ec9f827f9 the carriage. Finally, it was a 93c20633cd chance to taste the c4dfa68c47 famous desserts from that 01d3031f46 shop.6f58a5c66a3f15a4

I picked up the 2791c7bb9a paper bag I had f04bb868ba pre-ordered. The paper had the 427a23221a unique logo of the 60b441bb3b shop printed on it. They even paid attention c87f84d19e to this. Their pride fb7c91e194 was remarkable.cfa174af48724665

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I took a bite. The outside was eb3861b16a an ordinary macaron.039206ad053072aa

However, the filling inside a7e9448176 was different from a cf7623ed0e regular macaron. It was thick, e6bdda1339 crunchy, and crumbly, 199cc5c8af as if honey 1bc3fdd8a3 had been infused.59a7e8f2a7283fdd

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This was… a Korean traditional rice cake. A glutinous rice cake.667f54cb49bec470

Suddenly, the 0e57252fd0 moment when 39afa744f9 the dessert 65aae48156 shop transformed 4d23091c40 into the 5e897c42a3 craft of 247d830889 a 100-year-old 95d87bc71b artisan arrived.b59898473c47d609

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“Is the taste not to your liking?”01a54a6562020ffe

I lifted my head at Deon’s question. It wasn’t that the taste was bad.3cac94e97154b7ee

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“It just reminds me of something I miss.”a637300b2b7708a0

* * *3fff6ee02a3c5b26

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The entrance into the e214756284 social circles of the 89ac2f500a capital was approaching. It was 43dad26679 a simple cfc441c29f social gathering 0384cb05fd attended only 44c922061a by a df87c6e84f few nobles ae307e4ae6 of the 0b15ac3dc7 capital.64fd1439a01f5894

The amethyst-embroidered dress clung to my body. In the cold northern regions, I would have worn a women’s cloak last, but in the warm capital, I felt empty without an outer garment.5ee203916a547f53

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Without a thick shawl, 55786ae1ca my slender figure was e29fd03cb0 even more prominently displayed. In the 28588e5dae prominent seats 901f1294d3 of the 0bf03b9de9 capital, one 55f0667a5b could instantly 26df516697 understand why fd7a871414 there was def5d9cebf a salad e9fed069a9 shop, why e2822c37ad they were 813c6767d5 still selling c88097854e dresses with 5258b5e37a cumbersome corsets. With nothing to 478793088f conceal the figure, 616e44badb there was an 0c3c33adff obsession. My body 6c38e497b0 had become 931041f747 thinner; even f535c14610 without raising b3602aba05 my arms, bcd0f91ad6 my ribs 661f116c57 were visible, a2446a1faa and the 8d21887c8e bones were 5c57f0fda7 noticeable wherever f2e3caa390 touched.61c582096fec682d

The material on the 512caa109b sleeves was translucent, revealing 4592630ebc a curving pattern that c4ddcd15a3 caught the eye.3182dc6b05dd5730

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“You look so lovely. If only you had some more flesh, you would have been even more beautiful.”0b574280f8a689f1

The prince’s lady-in-waiting, who had been guarding the mansion since Deon was young, was quite a veteran in such matters. She was lowering the sleeves when she suddenly stopped.e854f391fff0bacb

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“Is this… all? Don’t you have a better bracelet?”8037a396f7354d1e

An aged 098a58e62f maid, tidying cee3667f8a up the 1708a06a2d dress, asked.7e334fc1daa61572

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Her gaze was 66e2abae90 directed towards my 5657af9df0 right wrist, precisely dd7086a091 the beaded bracelet 389ae1f8d6 with the symbols e5f67ca99f of the duke 4843baeb65 and marquis.1c70dcdaa008fd55

“Yes.”291af024141587ba

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With a firm 74a59beef0 answer, her face 2979ce668e gradually twisted. She seemed terribly 3777a3688c uncomfortable.8bde673832d624fb

“What should we do… Can’t even call for replacements now. Shall I send a servant to check out some shops?”a4524a6bd962dcea

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“It’s the day of the banquet. If we go now, they would have all been sold.”fd238e1ea02aa6de

“How about checking the street stalls now? There might be traveling merchants from other countries still there.”f5a8f18de72ca4e6

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“I checked; it’s the last day of the Empire’s transit pass, so they all withdrew.”51504cd30b9e9b0d

The maids around d55af6d7de started whispering.169cd71401d2b491

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“Then, should we remove it? It’s just a bracelet…”98f3daaa3b9df1bb

She decisively dismissed my 79aa5d74a6 words.6a51c444498556f2

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“That won’t do. It’s where all the young ladies of the capital gather… It might bring bad luck, especially…”9a32ec8dd9f53176

She was about to 2518ee6d62 say something but stopped 9a7562af4a herself.8e418fa14f023b03

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“Anyway, it’s become quite a problem. We have dresses, rings, and tiaras, but of all things, no bracelet.”5c57a45c5fcf3559

“It’s strange. When you went to the jewelry shop last time, didn’t His Highness choose a bracelet for you?”73424f02908909af

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A young maid asked.ae73334709b93d58

The atmosphere suddenly 15431856bd chilled. The sound 8cbd4daf3a of a 67db16cd48 clothespin bouncing 4afcc81ab5 echoed loudly 059373daad in the 67a7a07044 quiet room.3d6af58d19c19ba3

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“If you’re going to work for Prince, you should learn how to keep your mouth shut.”5dd114d5bf8b68f2

An old maid standing 10071e87a0 beside me quietly nudged e9a41b2c29 me. The air that c12726382d had suddenly cooled 85c1f8209e felt unfamiliar. I felt a 6530ecffae chill in the a62e6e9d99 middle of the 87d7796eb9 North again. I wanted to ask d7cbd71ca8 what was wrong, but 56815c6f83 the tense atmosphere held 9eef58273f me back.6ff1f7214db4bd61

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“I was planning to wear a short-sleeved dress, but I guess I’ll have to change it. The sleeves should be long. Quickly bring another dress.”d07bccea3866f80a

At her 0ce682511f words, the 467a022967 maids outside ffbd90e579 brought dresses 66777ecb38 hanging on 99720b66a6 mannequins and c05e6b5514 took out 5fb79d11ff a new 837956b070 box they 512d988bf9 had placed c6b596d7c0 on the 1b32a35d46 bed.abd7092f727e17f0

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It would take a 1faf528182 while to pick the 7f2c0d0f3b right accessories for the ab0d9d3520 dress again. I let out 69b4d11bf4 a sigh.fc95efe724ec5611

“Absolutely do not show your wrists to the other young ladies. Got it?”76ef1ac9c5a6170c

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She emphasized it as if my wrists were something like Achilles’ heels. Faced with her firm words, I could only nod.8203d152a3ea2416

In the full-length 75aa0695a3 mirror on the dc5b3e8581 opposite side, my b576383036 figure in the 43afc10b99 new dress was 4f9a65adf2 reflected.4d0e8febdda56d01

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Against the glamorous dress, 86dfea7118 my thin figure stood cccc8799e4 out. The more 46a314ab19 glamorous and 42b88037a8 beautiful the 37c3d68b11 colors and d42ba567aa jewels, the fd0daacbca more conspicuous f6d78fd38d my slender 4e45798573 figure appeared.e59a9bc2ebc3b246