Felix replied with an awkward smile.

“It’s hard to get money. But since we’ve just made an acquaintance with that person, lending the family jewels will greatly help in building a good relationship as business partners in the future.”

He casually skipped answering the question about who that person was.

“Since we’re not in urgent need of money anyway, let’s lend them as a good deed. After all, as you said, these are jewels we don’t even use, so it’s better than leaving them idle.”

I barely managed to hold back a snort.

It was obvious who the ‘that person’ Felix was talking about was.

Julia’s father, Baron Florence.

In my past life, I had allowed the jewels to be lent without knowing any of this.

Julia borrowed the jewels and used them effectively here and there, and in the end, she didn’t return them until the day I was driven out of the family.

How much I trembled with betrayal when I belatedly found out about it.

But looking at it again now, I felt foolish for not noticing.

Felix always talked like that when mentioning things related to Julia. Always in a way that said, ‘You have so much, so yield a little to that poor woman.’

I nodded calmly.

“Alright, do as you please.”

Felix’s expression brightened considerably.

I continued speaking nonchalantly, pretending to have no thoughts.

“If we lend out the jewels, we won’t need someone to manage the safe for a while. A few maids will remain.”

Felix took the bait eagerly, as if he had been waiting for this.

“Then can’t we take those hands and use them in the annex? Just until we find new maids.”

“That’s a good idea. Let’s do that.”

I quickly pulled the fishing rod. Felix, who had taken the bait, smiled brightly, unaware of anything.

“I’m fortunate to have such a wise person as my wife.”

Looking at his shameless face, I thought.

‘I’m the fortunate one, to have such a stupid person as my husband.’

***

After dinner, when I returned to my room, I reunited with Marie, who had just returned from her errand.

Marie nervously laid out her ‘spoils’ in front of me.

“Is this all?”

“Yes, madam. I bought everything from the places you mentioned.”

I examined the shining accessories in the box. The brilliant luster seemed real, but in fact, they were all elaborately crafted imitations.

“What about the work entrusted to the craftsman?”

“He said it would be done by tomorrow morning at the latest. He promised to deliver it to the agreed place as soon as the work is finished.”

“Good. Put it in the safe as soon as it arrives.”

I added with a grin.

“No need to organize it. That’s not your job.”

***

Julia Florence was objectively a beautiful woman.

Her sparkling blonde hair was like a noble angel, her delicate features were like a fairy from an old tale, and her pure impression and slender waist were like a saint from scripture.

Of course, Julia herself was confident in her appearance.

If she hadn’t been a perfect beauty, how could she have won the love of that Count Tolomiès and claimed his annex?

This was Julia’s greatest achievement with her beautiful appearance.

Of course, she wasn’t always successful. Previously, she had bruised her pride in front of the Countess Tolomiès. But today was the opposite of then, a day of sweet rewards.

“Really? I can use all these jewels?”

Julia’s eyes sparkled brightly.

Felix answered with a smile like a generous husband.

“Yes. You can use as much as you want.”

“Oh my, you’re the best!”

Julia squealed like a dolphin and hugged Felix. Felix looked at his lover with eyes dripping with honey.

“First, choose the jewels to take to the business presentation, then pick out a few accessories for you to wear personally. My wife gave permission to lend the jewels.”

Julia pouted.

“That’s strange. You’re the master of this count’s house, so why does the master need permission to use things in his own house?”

“Well, managing the jewels is the countess’s role.”

“Even so, there’s no need to talk about it every single time. It’s troublesome when she’s going to agree anyway.”

In noble families, it was very important for the lady and the lord of the house to respect each other’s authority. In other words, Julia’s statement was inappropriate as a member of noble society.

Nevertheless, Felix smiled and showered Julia’s forehead with kisses.

“You’re the only one who really thinks of me.”

He gave her a final peck and stood up.

“I have some business to attend to, so I’ll go first. Choose and take as much as you like, and stay comfortable while ordering the maids to do any unpleasant tasks. I’ll be back soon.”

He was so brazen in front of his wife, but he was kind to his mistress until the end.

As soon as Felix left, Julia rushed to the jewelry box.

She tried on the sparkling diamond ring first. On her white finger, the marquise-cut blue diamond radiated brilliantly.

“How is it? Does it suit me?”

The maid answered, hiding her displeased expression.

“Yes, miss.”

“Your answer lacks sincerity. Tell me specifically how and where it suits me!”

Julia flared up and thrust her hand with the ring in front of the maid’s eyes.

But as the ring turned, some kind of engraving was briefly visible on the inside.

“Wait, what’s this?”

Julia took off the ring and examined the engraving closely. Someone’s name was inscribed in tiny letters on the inside of the silver band.

−Claire Elisabeth.

“Ah, this is the madam’s name.”

The maid said after reading the letters. Julia’s expression crumpled.

“That woman’s?”

“Yes. It’s the name our ‘madam’ used when she was unmarried. It seems to be a jewel that madam inherited from her family before marriage.”

Julia threw the ring down, fuming.

“If that woman got married, she should have quietly handed over all her jewels to her husband, why did she leave such a useless engraving? This way, I can’t use it at the business presentation!”

She had planned to hide the fact that she borrowed the jewels from the Tolomiès family for the business presentation. But with the name engraved like this, it becomes difficult to circulate them freely.

“Since when has this engraving been here?”

“We’re not sure either.”

“You don’t know? Then there could be such engravings on other accessories too?”

Julia looked around at the maids, irritated.

“Wait, aren’t you in charge of the jewels? How come you don’t even know when the engravings were added to the jewels?”

Strictly speaking, only the employee who closely assisted the lady of the house directly handled the jewels.

The maids mainly cleaned the room with the safe under the lady’s supervision and neatly organized the jewelry boxes. It was natural that they didn’t know about small engravings.

Julia turned her attention to other accessories.

“Let’s see. This one doesn’t have that woman’s name. This one either.”

She put on a red ruby necklace and stood in front of the mirror.

There was a slight dissonance between her pure impression and the seductive glow of the ruby, but the sight of the blood-red jewel sparkling on her white skin was quite beautiful.

“Ah, it’s pretty. Yes, I should have chosen this from the start. I just ruined my mood by trying on something I can’t even use.”

Julia, in a better mood, pointed her finger wildly at the box.

“Except for the ones with the same engraving as before, put everything, without exception, in that box over there. Be careful not to scratch them. If even one accessory with that woman’s name gets mixed in, none of you will be safe.”

The maids didn’t answer. There was more than one thing they didn’t like.

But anyway, they were employed people. They had no right to refuse the orders of the miss who was favored by the master.

“What are you doing? Move quickly!”

Before long, all the accessories, except those engraved with Elisabeth’s name, were haphazardly mixed into the box.

***

No matter how much Julia had won Felix Tolomiès’ heart, she couldn’t openly hold the business presentation in the count’s annex.

Therefore, the Florence Baron’s business presentation was held at a salon on the outskirts of the city.

Baron Florence was a self-made man who had risen to the rank of baron from a merchant background.

However, the title he received was not hereditary, so his daughter Julia was not officially a noble.

Instead of obsessing over honor and status, Baron Florence focused on expanding his business.

Julia wanted to be recognized for her abilities by such a father. The jewelry processing business, which mainly catered to upper-class women, was a good opportunity for her to take the lead for once.

“Welcome. Thank you so much for coming today.”

On the day of the presentation, Julia personally greeted the guests at the entrance. As Baron Florence couldn’t attend due to other schedules, she was the overall person in charge of today’s event.

As soon as they entered the salon, the guests marveled at the fantastic interior.

“It’s so dazzling.”

“Indeed. I heard they only expanded their business recently…”

Soon, the guests’ gaze fell on the accessories displayed on the platform. Various colored jewels emitted a brilliant light on the stage.