The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 159

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“…What do you mean by that?”

“It doesn’t matter whether she’s the Duke’s adopted daughter or whatever, what matters is that woman is an appraiser!”

Edwina still didn’t understand.

So what if that girl is an appraiser?

‘Father did check the attendee list several times. But what’s the problem with some appraiser coming?’

Edwina had considerable attachment and pride in ‘Snowflake’, which was why she had secretly sent Elisha a fake invitation without her father’s knowledge.

She thought that woman who only dealt with secondhand goods would be envious and intimidated seeing beautiful, sparkling new jewelry.

‘I wasn’t planning to completely drive her away. I was just going to torment her a bit then let her in, but that insolent thing beat me to it!’

Of course, Edwina’s knowledge about gemstones was superficial, and all she had done was come up with the brand name.

‘Father did launch the brand rather hastily… but is that a problem?’

Count Hestian had indeed hastily launched the brand after gathering all the investment he could.

Almost as if he had some other purpose.

‘He started preparing after the Founding Festival. After Countess Rosaline, who was Father’s teatime friend, was imprisoned… hmm, let’s stop thinking about that.’

Edwina, who hadn’t known what kind of person Countess Rosaline was, shuddered thinking about her terrible criminal acts.

Anyway, the launch timing shouldn’t matter, right?

‘As long as the quality is decent.’

Although she hadn’t been able to visit since the workshop was overseas, she had heard that skilled craftsmen were involved.

Besides, it was a ‘real’ brand using certified gemstones, not fake ones.

‘Using cubic zirconia would hurt my pride.’

In other words, there was nothing to be ashamed of.

But seeing her father’s reaction, Edwina somehow felt uneasy.

“Why does it matter that girl is an appraiser? It’s not like Snowflake uses fake gemstones.”

“Right, of course they’re not fake gemstones. But…!”

Count Hestian, who had been speaking loudly, clamped his mouth shut.

Edwina just blinked her eyes.

“Hah. Never mind, that woman probably won’t notice right away either. The risk is too great to fold now, we have to proceed.”

“What?”

“Anyway, don’t you touch that woman. Don’t even think about picking fights with words or anything else, just stay still.”

“Why?”

“If I say no, then you should know it means no! You just smile and clap until the show ends. I’m saying all this for your sake, Edwina!”

Bang!

Count Hestian closed the door and left.

This was the first time her father had scolded her like this. Left behind, Edwina mulled over his words.

What could be wrong with an appraiser coming?

‘Is there… a problem with Snowflake?’

Edwina bit her lip.

‘I just need to not talk to her, right?’

She should probably watch what that annoying girl pays attention to.

*

“…So I’ve been receiving various help from ‘Hyena’!”

I was sitting in the second row from the front with Marquis Romanus.

As it turned out, he said he gets investment information through William.

Thanks to William bringing him rumors and doing risk analysis, he had never suffered a loss.

The Information Guild’s reputation seemed quite high.

“Anyway, Hyena said he ‘caught five sheep’, right? Good, good. You can tell him I’ll ‘send two snakes’.”

“Yes, understood.”

I had no idea what kind of code it was, but I nodded roughly.

‘When I contacted William saying I received an invitation, I was a bit flustered when a telegram came saying I just needed to relay those words to Marquis Romanus.’

Marquis Romanus seemed very pleased with William’s information.

He said cheerfully.

“Hyena’s subordinates would stand out too much coming to a showroom like this, yes. So he sent you instead.”

“Excuse me, but couldn’t you communicate by telegram or letter?”

“I prefer to exchange information face-to-face. But since my marquisate is in the border region and I can’t come to the capital often, I take advantage of occasions like this.”

“Ah…”

“It’s also an opportunity to gauge how extensive Hyena’s network is.”

Marquis Romanus winked.

“I’ve heard plenty about your exploits through the knights. Enjoy the show. Don’t worry, I had that guard who was rude to you thrown out.”

“Haha, yes. Thank you.”

He seemed to have invested quite a lot of money, but for some reason, as soon as Marquis Romanus heard the information, he rapidly lost interest in the show.

He was just going through the motions of staying.

I also turned my gaze to the show floor.

Models wearing achromatic dresses were walking while adorned with various glamorous jewelry.

‘I can’t see the details well.’

As I took out my opera glasses, I paused at a person visible through the lens in the opposite section.

I knew who the woman was who arrived late and was crouching down, sneaking in to sit in an empty seat in the back.

‘…Eloise Devin?’

It was Eloise.

She was wearing a hat, but I could recognize her immediately.

I had stared at her personal details for a long time memorizing them!

But that wasn’t what was important.

‘Why is she here…? No, wait. She could come. They said she doesn’t go out much, but they also said she’s very interested in jewelry.’

Why did I pause when I saw her?

‘…Does Tesagh know too? That Eloise is currently in the Empire.’

I felt strange.

Why was I concerned about that?

‘Of course he’d know, she’s from the Duchy. …Maybe Tesagh invited her to the Empire. Like how he invited me to the Duke’s Residence.’

I shook my head and turned my eyes to the jewelry.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Eloise talking to the person next to her and receiving something, but I deliberately didn’t look closely.

It was when I focused my gaze on the necklace the model was wearing.

‘Wait, that…’

The pink diamond sparkling brilliantly above the model’s collarbone was also something I knew.

“How much for this pocket watch with the pink diamond?”

The pocket watch I had sold.

The diamond that was embedded in it…

‘Why is it here?’

It was in Snowflake’s necklace!

*

After the show ended.

All the jewelry that had been showcased was placed in cases in the exhibition hall.

I approached the pink diamond necklace while maintaining my composure as much as possible.

‘It’s definitely the gemstone from the pocket watch.’

The color and the fact that it was 2 carats matched, but seeing the cut form made me certain.

Usually, precious gemstones like pink diamonds are rarely given a trillion cut.

While the shape is unique and beautiful, it results in high loss of the original stone, causing financial loss.

But….

‘The pink diamond used in this necklace is trillion cut. So they reset it from the pocket watch.’

The necklace was priced at a whopping 30 million gold.

Considering I sold the pocket watch for 6.2 million gold, this was highway robbery.

Of course, pricing is up to whoever sets it.

But considering that resetting doesn’t make something brand new, this was clearly intended to rip off people who don’t know much about gems.

‘More importantly, how did House Hestian acquire this?’

I had three reasons for coming to this launch party.

First was to learn about jewelry trends, second was to deliver a message to Duke Romanus.

And the third was.

‘Count Hestian. He was a member of Crodil’s Tea Time along with Rosaline.’

With Rosaline imprisoned and their slush fund creation becoming difficult, why would they start a business at this point?

I came to look for clues, thinking it might be for money laundering.

But I thought they’d only make margins through labor costs at most, yet this….

‘Don’t tell me this jewelry brand is connected to the gambling den?’

I don’t quite understand the exact system yet.

But seeing the gem from the pocket watch reborn as a necklace, there was definitely a connection.

And in just a few days!

‘This is evidence.’

I’d think about the receipt processing later, and was about to call an employee to secure the evidence first.

Someone suddenly reached out their hand.

“This! I’ll buy this, wrap it up right away!”

The owner of the excited voice was.

“Sorry for cutting in, it was so pretty I wanted to buy it quickly before others took it. …Huh, but you?”

It was Eloise.

She looked at me with a surprised expression, then burst into laughter.

“The world is really small, we meet everywhere! You’re the pawnshop owner, right?!”

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