“Your leg’s been infected, hasn’t it?”
Clodel’s eyes widened slightly at Antoinette’s blatantly rude remark. But that was it. She didn’t react with anger or shouting, leaving Antoinette speechless.
Clodel’s non-reaction momentarily shut the crazy mare-like Antoinette’s mouth.
“Who are you?” Clodel asked her.
Taken aback by Clodel’s innocent response, Antoinette looked at Hanna in confusion.
‘What? She didn’t tell her about me?’
Antoinette recalled the day she ran into Hanna after coming out of Kyan’s bedroom, smugly thinking how Clodel would be furious after hearing her venomous words. However, seeing Clodel sit so primly and blink with her clear eyes, Antoinette felt a surge of anger.
“Don’t you know who I am?”
Antoinette proudly extended her hand, showcasing the blue diamond ring.
“Don’t you recognize this?”
Only then did Clodel’s indifferent face slightly falter.
“Ask your maid. She saw me coming out of Kyan’s bedroom.”
As Clodel’s gaze turned to Hanna, she approached Antoinette with irritation.
“Why are you here? Get out! Now!”
A fierce verbal showdown between the women began.
Kyan was examining items presented by a jeweler he had summoned.
“These are currently the most popular styles,” said the jeweler, enthusiastic about this rare business opportunity.
“These are reinterpretations of the style favored by Queen Silvia. They’re ornate but small and light, suitable for daily wear.”
Kyan’s attention was caught by a ring and bracelet made of tiny diamonds and rubies in a floral vine pattern. The jeweler was right; the crown-like jewelry was not bulky yet had a vibrant charm.
Kyan, who had always thought men who bought such things to please women were foolish, wasn’t doing this to win Clodel’s favor. He considered it a dignified gesture of gratitude towards a benefactor of the Tennesse family.
“Choose these. And prepare a matching necklace and hair ornament.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The jeweler was delighted with the generous order.
“When can I see the lady of the house?”
“Clodel?”
“Yes. For custom fitting, we’ll need to measure her finger and wrist circumference.”
“I see.”
Kyan remembered that Clodel had never worn the ring he gave her on their wedding night.
“Can the size of an existing ring be reduced?”
“Of course. Precious gems are often resized to fit the wearer. It’s entirely possible.”
“How long does measuring take?”
“Not long. We gently wrap a thick thread around the finger or wrist and measure that.”
Kyan stood up.
“It’s time for lunch. Let’s go together and ask the lady for permission. Steward.”
He called the steward.
“Have my lunch brought to Clodel’s room.”
“Yes, my lord.”
As the steward turned to leave, he hesitated.
“Lord, if I may ask, should we also resize the blue diamond ring?”
“Ah.”
Kyan had only thought of reducing the size of the new jewelry, not the old one.
“Thank you for the suggestion. I’ll consider it.”
With that, the steward went to summon a servant, and Kyan, with the jeweler, headed to Clodel’s room.
‘It’s not a surprise gift, after all.’
Unlike other assets, ladies’ jewels were considered personal property.
“So, you’ve been trying to get an expensive jewel from your husband by coquetry?”
Kyan had often heard such stories in the salons of the royal capital. Madam Kronak of the salon frequently commented on these noblewomen, saying, “If I had a husband to fleece, I’d love to do it too.”
Kyan briefly imagined Clodel acting coquettishly or whining for jewels. It was unimaginable. It was too far from the Clodel he knew.
‘I thought showing her the finished piece would make her a bit happier.’
Since she never even tried on the unfitting piece he gave her, he regretfully realized it was right to get her measurements this time. After this, he could simply ask the jeweler to make eye-catching pieces.
Next time, the jewels could be a surprise.
Suddenly, Clodel’s room, which had been quiet, became noisy.
Through the open door, he saw a familiar woman.
“Why are you here? Get out! Now!”
Hanna was scolding a woman with lush black hair.
“You lack manners for a visitor.”
Kyan’s gaze sharply fell on the woman’s ankles, tied with silk ribbons.
Startled by his presence, Antoinette changed her attitude.
Seeing Kyan frown, Antoinette handed the bouquet she was holding to Hanna and hastily retreated.
“Antoinette? You should never appear before me again…”
“Lo, Lord!”
Interrupted by the flustered Antoinette, she hastily excused herself.
“I, I came for a sick visit. Well, I’ll leave now.”
Before Kyan could respond, she disappeared.
His eyes lingered on the flowers Antoinette had brought.
“Throw those away.”
“Wha…? Yes.”
Bewildered, Hanna left the room with the flowers, leaving them in the garbage area where the maids were collecting trash before hurrying back.
“What brings you here so suddenly?”
“The jeweler needs to see you.”
“My lady, greetings for the first time.”
In the midst of the chaos, the jeweler respectfully bowed to Clodel.
The amount Kyan spent today on jewelry for his wife could be seen as royal generosity.
The Villainous Demon Lord Laid an Egg for Her (Female-Dominated)
Several months after transmigrating into a book, Yu Wu found herself facing the demon lord Li You, who could no longer conceal his dragon horns. With one hand on her aching waist and the other gripping a sharp sword, she stared at him.
The demon lord’s eyes were red with fury:
“This is all your doing! Today, I won’t rest until I kill you!”
Yu Wu rubbed her temples. Putting aside the taboo against bloodshed during pregnancy, wasn’t it this very man who willingly walked into her trap that day?!
Warnings:
- Male pregnancy.
- Height ratios are set to mirror typical male-female height proportions.
- Characters include a foot-loving demon lord and an eldest daughter from an immortal family’s concubine lineage.
