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.1d632322d8c0370d

After selecting 807bb8702d rings and 5ef558fac7 earrings, I 0400cb9057 turned my 8f483ce25a gaze towards e6d99d8f62 the necklaces. A necklace 45a73c6660 adorned the c3a75ea8f8 upper body 28a8cb2391 of a 5d2062b6da faceless mannequin.c182f0237bed9747

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From diamonds to ff94d2cd8f garnets, sapphires, and 363f5563c7 pearls, I considered 366f9f2e02 various colors. The jeweler, wearing gloves, a0822603e8 displayed various gemstones in d98c80fe43 front of me.7f129a0d51b61dee

Deon, who had c1df99db8c been watching from d357ca3abd behind, spoke up.ee1d47b3e422d531

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“Why a necklace? I’ve already given you a necklace as a gift.”925da74b99e24fd1

“I can’t live with just one. I have to buy several. Don’t tell me you’re stingy with money?”673e83b805cb85f2

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He chuckled at my d3de0d530b words.941e451e0f4dc771

“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.”cde3e123b0ac1324

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“That’s true. A beloved lady shouldn’t reject such gifts. But why not a necklace?”8984e434349b5c84

“It hurts my feelings. Are you already tired of it? Are you discarding the gift I gave you?”cc6347a72d16b622

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He said with 9dac414128 a touch of 5efbc568af sadness in his bf87f6a88d tone, as if fef0045e52 he wanted to a1e5d3008b act out a 84daaf1a40 sulk like a 1b7b35ae65 lover, but with 1e28a7ec6e his imposing stature 33bca1bc2c and large accessories, 4a9e7acbad it felt more b7ea38bf7b like a mischievous 14c5310439 prank.4dc5edac461ca06d

“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.”5c6a12cfbf285a49

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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.”a1e9894aa69c5d7a

His finger touched 0853090e31 my neck and 0fe0d340b6 then dropped.6b5d534ef0ee7b51

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“If you don’t like it, we can change it to another necklace.”1df26ec81faf1171

“Okay. I won’t take it off until I die.”1b7a987d1c4004d7

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I put down the 2e91c89f1a necklace I had considered.d351eafe9786a8d6

I looked 3aad9d24d6 at my c0fdaeae6b face in 77f576c774 the mirror 572e0a9043 on the 2e2b72e7c2 opposite side.06fe830cbd080f09

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Wearing a 0b9d215f1a dress with 6a480d6a13 a deeply 2fdf8e45c7 plunging neckline, f6adbc92de the gem 9b7916506d of the 9b3873610a necklace stood 3777c9bcee out vividly.4a9881a10d3aadd5

The necklace he gave 8842b35fb1 me was as beautiful e7558f8150 as a gem made d0804ef336 just for me. It blended mysteriously 75f5aad464 with my hair.de19aef8516c7134

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What kind of gemstone dadb9e0da2 was it? I came to 613eac943e the most variety-rich be412d3667 jewel store in 5d52d9914f the capital, and 77e4bd343a there was no 1300d9c442 gemstone similar to 156bec9fe6 the necklace he cdf6ad1d02 gave me.cd8c73ea7f4cae8a

Buy another ring d7e9e10c3e with the price 87f785517a of the necklace.54c10a4460cb43e6

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Whether the jeweler 212ef7b742 sensed my thoughts a0f600caeb or not, he 6c10949923 took out a 8b9fabb601 rough stone.ab963b31ca44569b

“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.”302c930dcaacb8ef

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He whispered secretly.19186947c5373e12

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.6e94de98dcddfe59

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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.580ad4565480f958

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.67cdf5e2905ef269

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I put 06dc469f5c down the f5cca9917d gem I 2645c8c37a had in 07d0c91abc my hand. I lost my appetite.8c77266766601621

“Do you want anything else?”22fdb7f4a745d6e0

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“This should be enough.”1097136214e7d943

Even if 550a8c70b0 I were 8829d70b99 to wear 1c5615ca0d a bracelet 5a8fa23ad6 adorned with 805db4cf52 precious gems e7107d29ff and die, d14ade715a it would 7713cc15da be an d7312f468e extravagant end 0f9210ea94 for a 416856839a woman. I wondered 442a1e4da7 what inappropriate 54f01e1261 vanity would 31f6334e02 bring as cd22cebe27 a consequence.3399359e39536a02

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As Viter spoke, 1329ddd15b it might serve 923c73c972 as a lesson c9dd2d86d1 in a fairy f20aa9f523 tale. Perhaps my selfish 6f04e1879f wish prayed at f05aa8b661 the temple would 430dbbb2f3 be twisted and a11eb560c1 distorted in the e3a9d0568a story as well.84e71e87ca8c72db

Unconsciously, I found 9433a516b7 myself calmly planning cb879f9933 my own death.89059aaab9e20afc

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“You didn’t choose a bracelet.”b484135d006741cc

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.c6e639b5ff2a9242

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“How about this one?”8d3098848583d7e9

His eyes 00f67bd0f6 must have e0e4eb1a44 picked out 2a98db7990 this outdated 7658fe4203 craftsmanship, despite 073cbf06c5 the fact b54f68d48f that it cad8f9b1d3 was out c4a8068085 of fashion.7c5941b63fbc2572

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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.1c5ab444b3c1f7df

I already had an 80cbb53321 idea of what jewelry ec7cb2c74e to choose for Isella 33e2c8f263 in the future.d69fd5ac05267bd2

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“I’m fine with the bracelet. I have what I have.”fbd37828412839b3

I picked up 8362744424 a parasol. Unlike the north, the f34ea713c2 sun was strong in 45cb9dc9ee the capital.23208e58a2129f90

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“Did you have anything?”183d218dc8a076b3

He raised 5e68ed172b his eyebrows.6b8a06bd109e2a19

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“That bracelet from back then. I showed it to the Duke. Remember?”d3109151950efd24

“What was that?”fa4d18f4cf4e572a

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He genuinely seemed 6c2673488f clueless.be0f5d7da039b541

“The bracelet with the family crest facing each other. I showed you that I made it.”3bb3db42df5fe713

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As we talked 991ac7ad66 about emeralds and f0ef248df4 pearls, he sighed.b64dd3415a8b8e9f

“Can I… wear something like that?”8cd069ba55d02a44

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It seemed c1d04f74e1 unfitting for da0c08c25e the beloved 01a713d266 of a 8685238382 duke.07d7d2838e97416f

Thinking about it 240bfd948e again, the bracelet 20bed4b002 was indeed crude.61cdaef05b4f748e

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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?f7e82989d3db2bc9

“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?”a1ea6d43ba68c4f0

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“That’s not a good idea.”65a904b631569e91

Ignoring his bb6b903aa1 response, I ab06d2112d insisted.b1ec14e36ba1fcb7

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“If you need it, I’ll come out later with Suren.”939aa1837494ef3d

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.214b6fd55b88fdfa

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I got 8a65586b3d on the a77c6c1412 carriage. Finally, it was 7a2e4d7fa2 a chance to af5123977f taste the famous 1a1d8b5939 desserts from that 72c5266f1e shop.a2b3c4eaef14b45d

I picked 1198914e56 up the 097ed3355c paper bag 5556951567 I had ac4db41df4 pre-ordered. The paper had the ebf04b3e75 unique logo of the 65ed31cf18 shop printed on it. They even a6e11ca856 paid attention 6a80eb3924 to this. Their pride fa5f0065e6 was remarkable.45902ccb84bdcd80

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I took a bite. The outside was an 26af59ff94 ordinary macaron.368732972d484950

However, the 4908fe170a filling inside 16b5ec515c was different 04cf40e164 from a 26ece32558 regular macaron. It was thick, crunchy, 6c0985b7ee and crumbly, as if c4aec637a9 honey had been infused.0f58c4b9bf86c466

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This was… a Korean traditional rice cake. A glutinous rice cake.094aa3883eac45b7

Suddenly, the moment when 9f4efac3da the dessert shop transformed 843f595664 into the craft of d6dbf8039b a 100-year-old artisan arrived.94db1da28a3bb801

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“Is the taste not to your liking?”0393c2ea447eca7a

I lifted my head at Deon’s question. It wasn’t that the taste was bad.11058319401e5b25

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“It just reminds me of something I miss.”61bf69e1ee097b09

* * *77e1b9604265c5e7

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The entrance into 38632e6ec9 the social circles be1756f4c9 of the capital 1026540427 was approaching. It was a simple 21d1b01cd8 social gathering attended only 67f3be9e6a by a few nobles e8a52526d7 of the capital.8eb66e13926943e2

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.c57d5570c74e5678

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Without a thick shawl, ec2e3a20da my slender figure was 1fe435198c even more prominently displayed. In the prominent seats 37ddce8bed of the capital, one 7894dfa608 could instantly understand why 64a56dc219 there was a salad 10352f7934 shop, why they were 1556b1d17a still selling dresses with 817fc7afc7 cumbersome corsets. With nothing c8d7d743f5 to conceal d8270143a8 the figure, 2fe8e89d46 there was 90a16c2bbe an obsession. My body had bb19ee23a9 become thinner; even 8670e5431d without raising my eaeeea5e5a arms, my ribs b3d606ea52 were visible, and 2f34edbc87 the bones were 1194e0673b noticeable wherever touched.4fc7c6e8997e0427

The material on the 2de6b7cb0b sleeves was translucent, revealing 852b717314 a curving pattern that a41e327c45 caught the eye.84523135bdd2ae0e

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“You look so lovely. If only you had some more flesh, you would have been even more beautiful.”f1c4f5cd0760d0e3

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.328d6e8e8b7ebef2

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“Is this… all? Don’t you have a better bracelet?”51521ffb1c3cba7e

An aged maid, tidying 0da01faf6f up the dress, asked.3c3179e32c23ccfb

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Her gaze was bec68dd865 directed towards my 5879b6e0a8 right wrist, precisely 1a72651b65 the beaded bracelet 87b665c6b2 with the symbols c65fd96c3a of the duke 7f159c1480 and marquis.aa8f840aa199a94d

“Yes.”d0c781d3b824bd63

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With a firm answer, f5abe74d7a her face gradually twisted. She seemed terribly 034519a4c0 uncomfortable.94cf11388007f247

“What should we do… Can’t even call for replacements now. Shall I send a servant to check out some shops?”39577294688a7110

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“It’s the day of the banquet. If we go now, they would have all been sold.”a01c8af310cdc3e6

“How about checking the street stalls now? There might be traveling merchants from other countries still there.”70c41ac5b770e87a

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“I checked; it’s the last day of the Empire’s transit pass, so they all withdrew.”4ca843fb40f65d7c

The maids around started 69635fe7c6 whispering.cee7b00782530683

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“Then, should we remove it? It’s just a bracelet…”824cd44ea4894bfc

She decisively dismissed 4a0c8a21f2 my words.2afb81163aeecd69

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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…”b250b6063d7f0894

She was about b2b86633e0 to say something fbaf911dcc but stopped herself.e41b1fd50efc5078

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“Anyway, it’s become quite a problem. We have dresses, rings, and tiaras, but of all things, no bracelet.”ed9494d14eee581f

“It’s strange. When you went to the jewelry shop last time, didn’t His Highness choose a bracelet for you?”b9e110096c6df534

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A young maid a91240201d asked.39faa37bfd6d13ff

The atmosphere suddenly chilled. The sound b20fbc0b68 of a e2020a2143 clothespin bouncing 0d2cbf3717 echoed loudly 7d8aa3a02d in the d925cf7d4b quiet room.14795a2585e76e4e

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“If you’re going to work for Prince, you should learn how to keep your mouth shut.”fe227cb77b1c82a1

An old maid 2384871550 standing beside me 1b8c1c08cc quietly nudged me. The air df509c05e4 that had e12835696f suddenly cooled abd61460ea felt unfamiliar. I felt a chill 7a55d17e63 in the middle of 56f834f1d6 the North again. I wanted 61be3c315b to ask d486701b15 what was e8790e1e07 wrong, but c259fa4e50 the tense 65a76f7e0f atmosphere held aba7e2e69e me back.de57078733de7577

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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.”f7e7867a8751af20

At her words, the 792a39e61a maids outside brought dresses 50bd554ef9 hanging on mannequins and cfb33e5982 took out a new 5f5ea9490d box they had placed d1dbde9ab0 on the bed.ef4f274d78c1fe1e

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It would take a 645e9d9d48 while to pick the 6076dd9ebe right accessories for the 23ce931bba dress again. I let out a 06c6395f94 sigh.9aff031992af2211

“Absolutely do not show your wrists to the other young ladies. Got it?”a4cbcb3543b73303

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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.f125bb941687e7b5

In the a8216f9bc0 full-length mirror bd5d855d96 on the 0f813a92f7 opposite side, 18a8239409 my figure 970310c4ab in the d75c1b5a0f new dress 6b5bff7618 was reflected.4910bbc4222f432f

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Against the glamorous 760d50ad33 dress, my thin f22e488d0f figure stood out. The more glamorous and 1e82c9f8c8 beautiful the colors and 5850947720 jewels, the more conspicuous 048fb38a1e my slender figure appeared.5deac6be7cb3e88f