The Fake Wife of the Strongest Husband Wants to Survive - Chapter 36

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 36
The Gem Market had been carved up long ago, its internal interests woven tight as a loom, and having seen little upheaval in centuries, it did not welcome new entrants.
Without a clear distinction, a newcomer risked being swallowed whole by the established merchants who specialized in gems.
As if reading the depths of the duke’s concern, Pesha smiled faintly and spoke.
“What gem do you take this to be?”
The duke let out a brief hum and replied.
“It’s blue, so… a Sapphire?”
“No. This is Aquamarine.”
Pesha held up a stone and explained.
“It costs far less than Sapphire. Yet I believe its beauty is in no way inferior.”
“True enough—it is beautiful.”
The duke examined the gems in the box more closely.
“What all these stones share is that they’re all Beryl. The yellow one is Heliodor, and the pink is Morganite.”
“I see. But these are rather unfamiliar stones.”
“And the green Beryl is called Emerald.”
“Emerald? The very Emerald I know of?”
“Yes. The Emerald that has passed through your family for generations.”
When Pesha mentioned the Emerald of the Abyss, the duke showed visible surprise.
“Then you’re saying all of these are Emeralds, differing only in color?”
“Yes. Nothing but their hue sets them apart.”
The duke peered into the box once more.
Colors that shifted subtly with the light, smooth, exquisite cuts.
Certainly, they possessed an appeal unlike the gems he had known before.
Yet after a moment, he spoke with hesitation.
“I understand your meaning well enough. But the gem market is decidedly conservative. It will not be easy to introduce new stones to the upper echelons.”
Pesha nodded.
“I’m aware. I have no illusions of peddling these without strategy. I merely wished to show that the same article, depending on how one chooses to sell it, can take on entirely different value.”
The duke fell into thought, tapping his fingers against the table.
“The manner of sale, you say…”
“To sell something new, showing its worth before one shows desperation to move it carries far greater force. I do not mean to convince people—I mean to awaken their desire.”
The duke’s gaze fixed upon Pesha.
His eyes shifted from mere interest to conviction, and from conviction to the steady resolve of one who had made a decision.
After a brief silence, he quietly pulled the bell cord at his side. A clear, crystalline chime cut through the hushed air of the parlor.
Moments later, as a servant opened the door, the duke spoke.
“Send word to Lady Belusi. Tell her I shall call this afternoon.”
Pesha asked then.
“Lady Belusi…?”
The duke nodded.
“I thought it best to be introduced in person.”
He continued, his gaze distant as though recalling the past.
“The widow of the Marquis Belusi, who died some years ago. Before her marriage, she was a foreign princess. She once served in the Overseas Trade Alliance, of which I myself was a member, and now quietly leads the social circles of the Capital.”
From that description alone, one could gauge how considerable a figure she was.
“Since our youth she has stood at the pinnacle of society. In matters of human nature, the currents of fashion, and especially in luxury goods like gems, her eye is keener than my own.”
It was unusual for him to involve an outsider in business matters requiring such discretion.
It spoke to his deep trust in Lady Belusi.
“I suspect her judgment in assessing the potential of this item will prove more accurate than my own instinct. Let us visit her together.”
Someone versed in gems and well-connected in high society was worth meeting.
Moreover, if the venture was to become reality, a partner who could share their vision was essential.
If Lady Belusi was such a person, there was no reason not to meet her.
* * *
After taking lunch with the duke at his suggestion, Pesha accompanied him to Lady Belusi’s residence as afternoon fell.
The grand stone manor, situated in the Northeast Highlands, possessed a quiet dignity, and its gardens were adorned with flowers blooming as though the seasons had no meaning.
The servant who opened the door showed the guests in with respect the moment he heard their names.
Stepping into the antiquated parlor, Pesha came face to face with a woman just entering the room.
“It has been some time, Duke Fontlroy.”
“You remain as gracious as ever, Lady Belusi.”
Lady Belusi was a sharp-featured woman with a keen nose and narrow, piercing eyes.
With a gesture she dismissed the servants and fixed her gaze upon Pesha.
It seemed she was waiting for Pesha to offer a greeting first, but before she could speak, the duke introduced her.
“This is the Countess of Namoi. She is the developer of the Sidoroca Medicine that has recently become the talk of the Capital.”
At her words, the lady’s eyes widened slightly.
“The person who made that medicine is you?”
She spoke with an air of surprise, observing Pesha with barely concealed interest.
“Fontlroy, I know well how long you’ve suffered because of your leg. But when I heard that someone had relieved that pain in a single treatment, I became genuinely curious about who created such a medicine.”
Pesha bowed her head carefully in greeting.
“Thank you for the kind words, madam. I’m truly delighted to meet you.”
“As am I. Though our territory isn’t terribly close to the Abyss, we’ve still dealt with injuries from the occasional incidents that occur there. I’m told that thanks to your medicine, my wounded knights have been able to recover far more easily.”
As the atmosphere softened, Pesha’s gaze settled on the necklace at the lady’s throat.
The intricately crafted Ruby, deep and brilliant, was clearly an expensive piece at first glance.
Having exchanged introductions with one another, Pesha watched for her moment and naturally broached the subject of the necklace.
“By the way, that necklace you’re wearing—the quality of the Ruby is quite fine. You have a remarkable eye for selecting gemstones, don’t you?”
At that, Belusi hesitated for a moment as if taken aback, then let out a soft laugh.
“To be honest, this Ruby was passed down from my mother. She insists it’s so precious that I wear it, but it’s not really to my taste. Rubies are rather… intense for me, if I’m being frank.”
She fidgeted awkwardly with the necklace along her neck, and it was plain the Ruby pendant didn’t quite suit her.
Perhaps this was an opportunity.
Pesha gestured to the maid standing beside her to bring over a silver jewel case.
“If Ruby isn’t to your taste, then how about something like this?”
As she opened the lid, a pink gemstone emerged, suffused with a soft, lovely light.
The moment Belusi saw the stone, she let out a small gasp of delight.
“Oh my, how beautiful. Is this also a Ruby?”
“No. This is called Morganite. We produce quite a lot of it in Namoi.”
“So subtle and pure, and… it’s like spring sunlight. May I touch it?”
“Of course.”
Belusi carefully lifted the stone and held it up to the light, turning it over in her hands.
“It really is lovely. How have I never heard of this before?”
“We produce it steadily enough, but it’s never exported beyond our territory, and besides, most of it is simply discarded.”
“What? Despite being so beautiful? Why on earth?”
“Because it’s not the precious gem that people desire.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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