🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 20
Watching Coco’s figure hurriedly disappear, Diego swept his hair back.
She had run away, leaving him behind—yet he hadn’t expected her to look like she was about to cry from just one remark. Perhaps because her reaction had been so unexpected, the image of her retreating back lingered strangely in his mind.
It wasn’t as if he’d said anything wrong. The drawing was a mess—no, calling it a drawing felt generous. It was closer to a doodle. He was almost curious what it was even supposed to represent.
Zakat, on the other hand, felt sorry for Coco as she fled in fear. He also found Diego’s unusually cold attitude toward her rather puzzling.
“Why did you act like that, Your Highness?”
Diego, normally cool-headed and rational, did not insult others carelessly.
If something displeased him, harsh words might occasionally slip out—but this felt different.
“Ah, don’t tell me… are you sulking over what happened that day? Still, Lady Coco made a wise choice—”
“Do I seem that narrow-minded?”
Zakat answered with silence, which was as good as agreement. Diego found it absurd but said nothing.
He admitted it to himself. It wasn’t like him. He had told himself he wouldn’t care about being ignored for the first time in his life, yet when he saw Coco again after that day, he’d been flustered—and had unconsciously lashed out with sarcasm.
Diego inhaled deeply and let the breath out.
He still had a long way to go. To lose control over something as trivial as emotion and behave unlike himself…
Meanwhile, Zakat had apparently formed quite a favorable impression of Coco and defended her enthusiastically.
“To call a drawing she worked hard on the worst—did you see the tears gathering in her big eyes?”
She had looked so pitiful, clutching her notebook and hurriedly stuffing it into her crossbody bag.
“Even after the misunderstanding was cleared, do you still dislike Lady Coco?”
“I simply disliked the action she took at the time.”
“I—”
“Don’t say another word.”
Diego pulled his hood back up and began walking. Zakat followed after him. It seemed Diego was a little confused.
It was understandable. This was the first time he had experienced something like this.
* * *
I had been with Venus when a guest came to see her, so I excused myself and left.
Instead of exiting the temple, I waited for Bay in an empty prayer room. Because of It, I hadn’t received proper reports lately, so we had arranged to meet today.
I immediately took out the notebook that contained the drawing that had been declared “the worst” and placed it on the small shelf behind one of the pews.
Oried floated up and sat beside it. After examining the drawing from several angles, he burst out in frustration.
[You drew it well! That man is annoying!]
The praise lifted my mood. But more than that, what made my heart flutter was Oried always standing on my side. He stared at me for a moment, then suddenly broke into a soft laugh.
[I love it when Coco smiles brightly without worries like this!]
“Did I smile brightly?”
I thought it had only been a small smile.
[Yes! Brightly.]
Maybe I just naturally smiled whenever I looked at Oried.
I gently rubbed his small head. So absorbed in studying the notebook with him, I only belatedly realized someone was standing behind me.
A deep shadow fell over me, and something tickled the back of my head. When I turned, I met Hedwin’s eyes.
He brushed his long purple hair away from where it had tickled me and, with an elegant yet irritating expression, said,
“What a waste of a notebook.”
“……”
That makes two…
Two harsh critiques of my drawing!
The fact that they had accidentally glimpsed Demeter’s symbol wasn’t the problem. Neither of them seemed to have the slightest idea what the shape represented anyway.
The real issue was my drawing skills.
If this was the reaction, was there any point in working so hard on the design?
No—these were two men who already disliked me. Even if I had drawn well, they would probably have said it was bad.
…That must be it.
Oried said I drew well.
I pressed my lips together and glared at him.
“Are you sure you want to keep staring at me like that? I’m worried your eyes might pop out of their sockets.”
Why did he phrase “your eyeballs might pop out” so politely and mockingly?
I subtly rolled my eyes back into place and pressed my palms against them.
I heard a faint scoff above me and looked up, but Hedwin’s face was as gentle as ever.
“Thank you for your concern.”
It was obviously not concern, but I decided to play dumb.
Sure enough, Hedwin’s expression stiffened slightly.
Rather than respond, he chose to leave the prayer room, bringing a chill of cold air with him. At that moment, Bay arrived and looked between Hedwin and me.
“Are you acquainted with Young Master Hedwin?”
“As if.”
I packed up my notebook and stood. Bay handed me a hood she had prepared.
I pulled it low over my head and entered a café. Lately, Venus and Bay had been trying to fatten me up with sweet desserts and thick cuts of meat.
This time, I listened to Bay while eating a chocolate mousse so sweet it made my jaw ache.
“The miners are skilled, so the pace is quite fast. We’ve extracted enough minerals without shortage and immediately passed them on to the artisans to begin work.”
She said they had started a week ago—during the time I had been trapped at home by It.
I felt deeply grateful to Bay.
“Then please start spreading rumors soon. Say that a jewel emitting two kinds of light has been discovered.”
It was time to cast the bait. Bay understood without further explanation and nodded. She handed me a bag.
“I brought the largest and most vividly colored raw stone. It will be a gift—for me, for Lady Venus, and for Ori. Oh, and you said you were making one more, so I brought extra. Correct?”
“Yes. Thank you for your hard work.”
Inside was a large, richly colored gemstone of exceptional clarity.
I had asked for the best quality. Thankfully, she hadn’t hesitated out of consideration.
Bay scratched her cheek shyly, her face slightly red.
“It’s a bit embarrassing to bring the finest stone for my own gift…”
“I specifically asked for it. If you had brought a lower-quality one, I would’ve whined until you brought another.”
“Oh my, would you?”
“Of course. I’m very stubborn and quite good at throwing tantrums. I would’ve made you replace it until I was satisfied.”
Bay’s expression relaxed.
“So I spared myself the trouble?”
“Of course. Is there anything else?”
“No, that’s all for now. Are you heading somewhere?”
“I want to take this to the workshop right away.”
“You’ll need to take the check.”
It was the payment for selling the information about the diamond mine. My chest ached seeing the amount, but thinking about how expensively Bay had sold it eased the pain slightly.
“I shouldn’t say this, but next time I’ll sell information cheaply—just please make sure you or Venus buy it. It hurts seeing someone else profit…”
Bay gave me a sly smile before quickly erasing it.
“Don’t you want to know who bought that remarkable land?”
“Please don’t tell me… I’ll find out soon enough.”
The diamond mine would now belong to only two parties: the Ezeid Merchant Guild—and the new buyer.
“Let’s just hope they’re kind people.”
“They are very kind. One of the marquis families.”
“I didn’t want hints!”
When I covered my ears and cried out, Bay laughed.
“You’re jealous like that, yet you’re fine selling to Venus and me?”
“Honestly, I’d give you the information for free. But I know you’d never accept that. Truly—I don’t regret giving anything to you or Venus.”
Bay’s eyes reddened.
“…Are you that moved?”
“Our Coco’s heart is just that admirable.”
Embarrassed, I pulled my hood lower.
“I—I need to go to the workshop now. I’ll be going.”
As I hurried out, Bay cheerfully called after me.
“Have a safe trip, Lady Coco!”
I paused, hesitated, then turned slightly and bowed.
“I’ll be back…”
For some reason, I liked those words. It felt as if I had a home to return to.
* * *
As soon as I arrived at the workshop, Lilac spotted me and rushed over, abandoning her work.
“You’re here, Lady Coco!”
“I told you, you can speak casually.”
“How could I?”
Though she didn’t say the rest, her sparkling eyes told me enough. No matter what excuses I made, they were convinced I was their benefactor.
Trying not to disturb the artisans, I quietly asked,
“I know you’re busy, but could four of you spare some time? I’d like to commission something personally.”
“What kind of commission?”
“A necklace, earrings, a small necklace for this doll’s neck, and one brooch. Since it’s personal, I’ll compensate generously.”
Lilac hesitated before asking gently,
“Are they gifts for someone precious?”
“Yes. That’s why I prepared better-quality stones. If you’re too busy—”
“Please let me handle all of it.”
“But don’t you already have a heavy workload?”
“I can spare time for my benefactor. Please let me make them. I want to. It’ll even improve my efficiency. I don’t need payment—it’s not about money.”
She trailed off, embarrassed.
I hesitated. Would the others think I was favoring her?
Sensing my concern, Lilac spoke firmly.
“Among artisans, we don’t envy personal commissions given to the skilled. Especially us—we lived our lives scorned by a master out of jealousy. You’ve given us proper treatment and a place to work for life. That alone is a great kindness. We won’t resent you for choosing one of us.”
With that, I had nothing left to argue.
“Then please handle everything, Lilac.”
“Really?!”
Her face lit up instantly. I handed her the bag of alexandrite.
“Could you describe the recipients’ appearances? I’ll tailor each piece to suit them.”
As expected of a true artisan.
I described Venus in detail—her aura, her usual necklace—asking for something that wouldn’t clash when worn together.
Bay required no description, but I asked that her long neck be accentuated.
I showed Oried and requested a tiny necklace. Once finished, Bay would cast a spell to make it appear ordinary.
“And the brooch?”
“Make it unisex. Something that would suit anyone who wears it.”
Yes—something that would feel as though it belonged to whoever wore it.
