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.9c2f5c373dd6bc37

After selecting rings and 3f454c3aa2 earrings, I turned my 9379e71c88 gaze towards the necklaces. A necklace adorned b7b338230c the upper body 2bd8a51a76 of a faceless 55c1362c50 mannequin.0926f058420782fd

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From diamonds 78afec5a3b to garnets, 3f05d4780b sapphires, and 82fc022fe9 pearls, I 4e94e7ca91 considered various f6fc0803c4 colors. The jeweler, wearing gloves, 4faf8a1c98 displayed various gemstones in 1d4fcee239 front of me.6fc84394092f68de

Deon, who had 3412dd4a16 been watching from 034e7fa30e behind, spoke up.078d54684b2a4fe2

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“Why a necklace? I’ve already given you a necklace as a gift.”32336a6976e85466

“I can’t live with just one. I have to buy several. Don’t tell me you’re stingy with money?”92064ffeebcd39be

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He chuckled ca3535f909 at my 703df3b8db words.36c826db47432850

“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.”363ab8a899ac1fbe

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“That’s true. A beloved lady shouldn’t reject such gifts. But why not a necklace?”afe19f6b718f7f28

“It hurts my feelings. Are you already tired of it? Are you discarding the gift I gave you?”926bcd83a92b0a9c

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He said with a 4cf9f312ff touch of sadness in 32463ba00c his tone, as if 93a52d8300 he wanted to act 43f5dbff74 out a sulk like 5e7b631bba a lover, but with 2ceb7321f7 his imposing stature and f41aa4995a large accessories, it felt a593b1dfb2 more like a mischievous df0e518664 prank.33a9c8e89fbd9689

“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.”74b0156e7ddc4b1c

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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.”236c04889cc75131

His finger touched 18df9b8ff3 my neck and ec6459e9e3 then dropped.0d4fcb4f9571d87a

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“If you don’t like it, we can change it to another necklace.”d4e6b5ec8d9f1f2f

“Okay. I won’t take it off until I die.”b1b96870e44e0366

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I put 75d92172e1 down the c85da56858 necklace I 90ab13062a had considered.acc06a350ce48072

I looked at 756e0bd82e my face in f0cf80a51f the mirror on bc1ed21fa5 the opposite side.ee9534201c8f23ea

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Wearing a 63f8387a62 dress with 1d326635ac a deeply d975117a6e plunging neckline, b6eda56cff the gem 7529367340 of the 5c29f136bc necklace stood 3776af222e out vividly.4069b65672abadda

The necklace ddcc4a4011 he gave b67be05e61 me was ddf0462d20 as beautiful e608882ef6 as a e1926057c8 gem made 7cde524bf5 just for 17fe2fd862 me. It blended mysteriously ffb10949ed with my hair.ffe38eb484b78028

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What kind 884ace1e5c of gemstone 324a1c0854 was it? I came to ff53944d59 the most variety-rich 7a0dfff921 jewel store in 4f75070ebb the capital, and 2f0fd538bd there was no 72b1ee195b gemstone similar to fdae8f6811 the necklace he 9cb6d22f61 gave me.d2a5efbb70ab4414

Buy another ring with 02321cab57 the price of the f8d51d2bbb necklace.06badb8d64b76013

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Whether the jeweler sensed 8139f635b6 my thoughts or not, acc923c812 he took out a 07dcac3ad9 rough stone.004478ebec54d937

“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.”f33ca59c31726070

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He whispered secretly.5466f2f350736d35

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.7af8d23b330a3c45

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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.43cad76e7911ec27

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.b671eadbe87c51ab

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I put down the 194e666a0e gem I had in 57156c4c73 my hand. I lost my appetite.3a4719ed0772717c

“Do you want anything else?”2638b9231f171935

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“This should be enough.”3a7d6267673fabd8

Even if I were 3fb83232be to wear a bracelet 3a0548ec32 adorned with precious gems 3d34aa8d22 and die, it would edf49d55a8 be an extravagant end d9273c06df for a woman. I wondered what bef9016f3c inappropriate vanity would 3652ebf0f8 bring as a a2b019e89d consequence.cbcdac07a2c924e8

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As Viter spoke, it 3702d91efe might serve as a 5f25cff9a7 lesson in a fairy cea16ced62 tale. Perhaps my 25bf806bcd selfish wish aec654e3af prayed at 7871f7ebf9 the temple 9ffd50c13a would be befc8824cd twisted and 1b0bf0b1d4 distorted in dc9416ff96 the story 85f221aa76 as well.45c3960f9a78fc51

Unconsciously, I found c274f66daf myself calmly planning a70ea0fca2 my own death.ba95accf791e72aa

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“You didn’t choose a bracelet.”b18f57b5672a02d0

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.2ff15a38ad796061

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“How about this one?”d5d260bc65086dc7

His eyes must have ebb741d1af picked out this outdated 5d40050d4d craftsmanship, despite the fact d8ffc01325 that it was out 31a4297df0 of fashion.e742458b396f06aa

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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.c5e10999aeef8bd3

I already had an 077a6672c5 idea of what jewelry 2b7f79dc7d to choose for Isella 2158c2336f in the future.e458fa55d15ba4dd

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“I’m fine with the bracelet. I have what I have.”d14b1e5b6303a37a

I picked 9258abb92c up a c29dc9e393 parasol. Unlike the 51c6447faa north, the 40083fc9b7 sun was 0eea3280c5 strong in 0c939babde the capital.fbd8fc01a1e29ce7

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“Did you have anything?”d140100d615d3ecd

He raised his eyebrows.7f73f353afe6ca3e

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“That bracelet from back then. I showed it to the Duke. Remember?”57559bb0345914c9

“What was that?”2028c6f1f5d18217

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He genuinely 9a2081512a seemed clueless.74ca0b6f8b8fcd29

“The bracelet with the family crest facing each other. I showed you that I made it.”f922bbfed86d20b4

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As we 40b7fd544a talked about 1310f0c7df emeralds and d2a164c2db pearls, he 3e144b91b0 sighed.5053ccf75fdd8146

“Can I… wear something like that?”f0004ad34c7353d7

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It seemed unfitting ed8ddf99ac for the beloved 208da827e8 of a duke.d40727600d8064ab

Thinking about fc4a716563 it again, 7d4c1afffa the bracelet af4b99311a was indeed f5dbdb59a7 crude.4e9221bc4f4116a5

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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?d58fbb87dbbbca7b

“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?”12338c6c7edfa9a9

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“That’s not a good idea.”0cc1c058e36f4d40

Ignoring his 7230212e08 response, I e262cd907c insisted.5de0ce097e806e88

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“If you need it, I’ll come out later with Suren.”9624ad5cc09f9838

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.a7fdea98107084d5

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I got on the b32c555773 carriage. Finally, it was dfc42ff9f4 a chance to d187856bd2 taste the famous f6576c5376 desserts from that afcdad251d shop.e5b936be8fc88613

I picked up 51cbcc62e5 the paper bag b2eadf6eef I had pre-ordered. The paper had the 8a271de592 unique logo of the 093eddf9d3 shop printed on it. They even 4992071ae6 paid attention 003a7c79cb to this. Their pride 11d3022348 was remarkable.af4529d4a282decc

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I took 13197f1ade a bite. The outside was 5d3ff3aa9e an ordinary macaron.698fa685689a7eed

However, the filling inside 112c88a749 was different from a fef5ad3220 regular macaron. It was thick, crunchy, 62702d382d and crumbly, as if f67e88a0ad honey had been infused.44e207ee73a06e76

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This was… a Korean traditional rice cake. A glutinous rice cake.d9f1241acf17716a

Suddenly, the moment when c6cbe366b1 the dessert shop transformed ee5614e841 into the craft of 6f9b458470 a 100-year-old artisan arrived.1997d37d87982f9d

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“Is the taste not to your liking?”ae5d1896334abc52

I lifted my head at Deon’s question. It wasn’t that the taste was bad.12b3da76c5555972

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“It just reminds me of something I miss.”a064fa5b372726bc

* * *0319848e529f9a79

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The entrance into f286dafdf5 the social circles 83edb22827 of the capital dcc9478595 was approaching. It was a a91db5708e simple social gathering 5b234e8ef1 attended only by 5c3437280c a few nobles bc6e0ab157 of the capital.b457d2351427e037

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.3b288d4b9be696a5

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Without a thick 1068ca7e2e shawl, my slender 7d59242506 figure was even 9e7b7150b0 more prominently displayed. In the 753a261211 prominent seats 0d27c7598c of the bf3b78ff0c capital, one 0e56a33ece could instantly e29d82d2e2 understand why f69e959424 there was 9cb5aa896a a salad bcb48faa28 shop, why 01b7931f74 they were 5a5105b34b still selling cb77e95217 dresses with c80b4a076c cumbersome corsets. With nothing to bd4a6360e3 conceal the figure, 4b6f46d237 there was an 956ae08089 obsession. My body ad31f9e7d6 had become 0362c90244 thinner; even 6ce473905d without raising 531d1e9db6 my arms, 6f0b34dc6a my ribs 7b4e9aa6f6 were visible, a96018b345 and the 3019a42f90 bones were 8a4733d262 noticeable wherever 50a55dd21a touched.9643aedf5addeb9e

The material 6514afc998 on the a2e755b49e sleeves was eef448a82e translucent, revealing 3206a0f5ac a curving 548574b4be pattern that 998e701013 caught the 95716b7c76 eye.a013dd64d78e35f2

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“You look so lovely. If only you had some more flesh, you would have been even more beautiful.”bd95ecb1ef1a3079

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.5c2560ed8081013a

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“Is this… all? Don’t you have a better bracelet?”3ca23cce264abc25

An aged maid, tidying f3082b4dea up the dress, asked.89bb92fc6b82911e

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Her gaze 85cecceb79 was directed 22fe853d7f towards my 4c64bade70 right wrist, d0b0c18c12 precisely the 3158725b71 beaded bracelet bd09fe32f8 with the 3c7eb4e688 symbols of 29316486d7 the duke 1e2137fea6 and marquis.4f6dc3729d239124

“Yes.”154f6245c9ab5d19

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With a firm answer, df788af149 her face gradually twisted. She seemed terribly uncomfortable.8f1cc267bb1ee6e0

“What should we do… Can’t even call for replacements now. Shall I send a servant to check out some shops?”45e7d1730638be21

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“It’s the day of the banquet. If we go now, they would have all been sold.”5e268f791b3f2a70

“How about checking the street stalls now? There might be traveling merchants from other countries still there.”3c47a537f198e99c

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“I checked; it’s the last day of the Empire’s transit pass, so they all withdrew.”7fb959de93cc705e

The maids around started 3a262da11d whispering.9f27889256c8c7d6

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“Then, should we remove it? It’s just a bracelet…”2f8291823feef16a

She decisively dismissed my a285f18243 words.6ec59d8659076bc0

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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…”b09db0782ca90a47

She was e783eee983 about to d9372eda6f say something e046240786 but stopped 5ced54b9e1 herself.795b13b10183b943

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“Anyway, it’s become quite a problem. We have dresses, rings, and tiaras, but of all things, no bracelet.”a5492399eb743fee

“It’s strange. When you went to the jewelry shop last time, didn’t His Highness choose a bracelet for you?”808ac8e09f508e74

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A young maid asked.95144e725fd201cf

The atmosphere suddenly chilled. The sound of 7f4aec138a a clothespin bouncing 317e6fb689 echoed loudly in 8d42923909 the quiet room.c7065f334349aac4

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“If you’re going to work for Prince, you should learn how to keep your mouth shut.”921a0ceca1cab641

An old maid dddb0612ba standing beside me 9fc3d72056 quietly nudged me. The air that had e70b04e95e suddenly cooled felt unfamiliar. I felt a 23bc1e92cf chill in the e0018fc304 middle of the d2ca07d335 North again. I wanted to ask 37af5aadc4 what was wrong, but a764f4f989 the tense atmosphere held 17b1095db2 me back.3a1ba8a0992c0072

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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.”80ae269776903090

At her d9a96e9b23 words, the 096509ea00 maids outside 9f81b16569 brought dresses 2902e6aaf7 hanging on f14399c35c mannequins and 60cffa3da1 took out fc4e5c969a a new 4a7ffd0874 box they 66cf2d2e33 had placed 658150c2c2 on the 38e4223423 bed.537141e053d62089

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It would 5f1b11995f take a cf063d8fbe while to 901a8ebf1b pick the d30947206c right accessories b3d9db99ce for the e341d3291e dress again. I let a92f069e4b out a 3aca4b6acc sigh.56c91a98e8dd7b5e

“Absolutely do not show your wrists to the other young ladies. Got it?”35bb22730f89f403

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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.25e0b57778c1bfee

In the 3ad64212c1 full-length mirror 65ed57a3d4 on the d6065c1213 opposite side, 659382c974 my figure 26fffdf93d in the fd0935507d new dress e8480552fc was reflected.f4f7cf85cc943c72

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Against the glamorous dress, 991eaa3d7b my thin figure stood 1acc945128 out. The more 876d0b4d02 glamorous and 21e5aeba61 beautiful the 452378694e colors and 7c3f441930 jewels, the e0ca92aa2e more conspicuous 8e3054e2bb my slender 6463cb351e figure appeared.a7b4f52cdff5a3e7