Chapter 91

Edwin stopped at the threshold of the bedroom and stared at me blankly.

He stood there without even the slightest movement, and even I, who hadn’t thought much of it at first, suddenly felt uneasy.

“Um, I-is something wrong with me?”

I reflexively looked down at my dress.

I checked the ribbon at my chest with my fingertips, wondering if it had come loose, and smoothed the full skirt spreading beneath it.

Thinking my hair might’ve gotten messy while dressing, I gathered the strands that had fallen past my shoulders to one side.

‘I don’t see anything strange…’

Still, Edwin was a great noble. Maybe it looked different to his eyes.

I rolled my eyes nervously and turned back to him.

“No, nothing’s strange.”

After rubbing his face dry, he slowly walked over and stopped behind me.

“Ed?”

“It suits you even better than I imagined…”

His breath brushed against the back of my exposed neck.

Was it just my imagination? The intensity in Edwin’s eyes reflected in the mirror made it hard to breathe. I felt like a small rabbit standing before a hunting beast.

Sensing my body stiffen with tension, Edwin lowered his gaze without a word.

Clink.

A cold chain slid over my collarbone.

“What is this?!”

Around my neck hung a necklace dazzling beyond belief.

At its center was a sapphire larger than anything I’d ever seen, surrounded by diamonds and pearls clustered like blooming buds.

Startled, I turned to Edwin.

He smiled softly when our eyes met.

“It’s a gift.”

“What?!”

“I happened to obtain a fine sapphire, and I thought it would suit your eyes, Eli, so I had it made into a necklace. Do you like it?”

Liking it wasn’t the issue.

Just looking at it, the necklace practically screamed how expensive it was. How was I supposed to wear something like this without fearing I’d put even the tiniest scratch on it?

“It’s beautiful. It really is, but…”

“I’m glad you like it.”

Before I could say anything else, Edwin gently took my shoulders and turned me back toward the mirror.

The reflection staring back at me was…

It feels shameless to say this myself, but I was truly beautiful.

Snow white skin, softly cascading hair, a water tinted dress that shimmered subtly with every movement, and the brilliant sapphire necklace as a striking focal point.

Even someone like me, who normally had little interest in appearances, found it hard to look away.

As I stood there dazed, I suddenly felt another gaze.

Beyond the mirror, Edwin was staring at me with heated eyes.

* * *

From early morning, Edwin had been deep in thought, a small box held tightly in his hand.

Inside it was the sapphire necklace.

He hadn’t been able to give Eli a proper wedding gift.

He had transferred ownership of the governor’s residence in Bellamare to her, but calling that a gift felt… aesthetically dreadful.

Setting aside how delighted Eli had been, that was how Edwin saw it.

‘Your Grace, the Blessed Eye has appeared at auction.’

Around that time, he’d received word that a sapphire relic from an ancient kingdom had entered the market.

Because it was so famous, many powerful families joined the bidding, but after considerable effort behind the scenes, Edwin managed to secure it.

He commissioned the finest jeweler, providing Elicia’s portrait along with the request to craft the necklace.

‘Eyes are said to be mirrors of the heart.’

Even if her appearance had changed, her blue eyes and the warmth within them hadn’t changed at all.

That was why Edwin felt especially satisfied with the sapphire that resembled her gaze.

He wanted to see Eli wearing the necklace as soon as possible.

He spent a long time thinking about how to give it to her in a way that would make her happy, and then the perfect opportunity presented itself.

“Eli, about today’s banquet schedule…”

The moment he entered the bedroom without thinking, his breath caught.

He’d imagined how she might look while choosing the dress design, but the reality was dazzling beyond words.

Sensing the strange atmosphere, the maids assisting her quietly withdrew.

Only then did Edwin snap out of it, rubbing his face dry before approaching her.

He took the sapphire necklace he’d kept tucked inside his coat and personally placed it around her slender, exposed neck.

‘Ah.’

Her eyes, lifting to meet his through the mirror while wearing the sapphire.

Edwin felt an oddly deep sense of satisfaction at that moment.

It felt as though Eli had truly become his wife.

“E-Ed, wait a second!”

Whether she noticed the passion in his eyes or for some other reason, Elicia suddenly took a step back.

Whatever the reason, he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, so Edwin quickly softened his expression.

“Eli? What’s wrong?”

“I don’t think I can accept this. I’ve already received so much from you, Ed… This feels like too much. I don’t even own a jewel like this.”

It was a gemstone he’d gone to great lengths to obtain, and a necklace crafted with utmost care.

Yet Edwin didn’t panic at her refusal.

Instead, he calmly offered the answer he’d prepared in advance.

“You don’t need to feel burdened, Eli. Great nobles commonly own jewels like this.”

“But still…”

“And honestly, it’s not that expensive. The size is nice, but the luster is a bit lacking.”

Edwin held the sapphire up to the light.

It shone with a flawless, vivid blue without a single impurity, but he continued smoothly.

“If you look closely, the light is slightly dull.”

“…?”

“I heard you’re knowledgeable about gemstones. You must’ve known its value and said that out of consideration for my pride.”

She tilted her head again and again.

Is this dull? It looks sparkly and pretty to me. I really can’t understand the refined tastes of great nobles.

That thought was written plainly on her face.

But if he didn’t do this, she would never wear the necklace.

“It might not be to your taste…”

“No! I mean, I was trying to say it’s really beautiful and I love it!”

“I’m relieved to hear that. Since it’s not particularly valuable, I hope you’ll wear it comfortably.”

“Does the price matter? What matters to me is the thought.”

With his dignity already rusted once, Edwin had nothing left to protect.

As expected, Elicia’s expression relaxed, and she examined the necklace from every angle in the mirror.

It wasn’t quite like when she’d discovered a bookstore in the city, but she clearly seemed happy with the gift.

Edwin smiled in satisfaction.

* * *

I can’t believe a world like this exists.

From the moment we arrived at the imperial palace, I hadn’t been able to close my mouth. Only in my head, of course. After entering the banquet hall, my eyes nearly spun.

I started wondering if I’d died and gone to heaven.

Everything that existed sparkled brilliantly.

From the massive crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling to the clothes people wore, the glasses in their hands, even the masks on their faces were studded with gems that dazzled the eyes.

Walking forward in a daze, I turned my head when voices rang out near the entrance.

“The Duke and Duchess of Cavendish are entering!”

“His Excellency Marquis Harbert and Lady Cecilvain are entering!”

The steward at the entrance boomed the names of the arriving guests.

It was a scene I couldn’t understand at all.

“If they’re going to do that, why even bother wearing masks? It looks suffocating.”

“It’s a common and pointless custom in noble society.”

“Honestly.”

The idea was that during the spring flower festival, people wore masks to set aside rank and status and welcome new connections.

I hadn’t believed that sincerely, but I thought they’d at least pretend.

Escorted by Edwin, I approached the banquet hall entrance.

At first, I’d worried a little about whether I could properly pretend to be Elicia, but thinking that people everywhere were basically the same made me feel calmer.

When the steward checked the name Lombard on the invitation, he immediately straightened his posture.

“The Duke and Duchess of Lombard are entering!”