Why did it have to be the same necklace they were after? Eddie grumbled, scratching his head.

“Ugh, that person’s also eyeing the necklace. What a headache… Why did they have to come in here instead of just passing by quietly…”

“I can hear you, mister.”

The red-haired man turned around to look at Eddie.

The man’s eyes resembled the starting point of a sunset turning yellow. His red hair and deep sunset-colored eyes were like the sun itself sinking below the horizon.

Eddie involuntarily swallowed hard and tensed up at the mystical appearance that made him wonder if this was even human. Fluent Western Continent language flowed into his ears.

“Just because I’m from the Eastern Continent doesn’t mean I don’t know the common language of the Western Continent.”

“…I’m sorry. I’m in a hurry too.”

“Let’s talk about that later. Do you want this necklace as well?”

The man glanced at Lebel beside him. But Lebel didn’t take his eyes off the necklace. This wasn’t just a simple accessory. It was a new milestone that had finally appeared before him after a long journey.

‘What kind of necklace… He’s looking at it like a lover he’s reunited with after a breakup.’

He was clearly a man with a story to tell. Eddie knew that a mercenary’s life was complicated, but the dark man beside him was wrapped in twists and turns beyond his imagination.

The jewelry shop owner looked at the two foreigners standing in front of the display case.

This was a sight more precious than jewels. A mercenary who seemed to be from the north, and a red-haired man presumed to be from the Eastern Continent. The owner’s eyes rolled back and forth at this rare sight.

“What brings you here?”

“I heard this necklace in front isn’t for sale.”

“Yes. I was thinking of putting it up for auction in a few days, so…”

“That’s perfect. Just sell it to me.”

The red-haired man quickly interjected. Hearing this, Eddie panicked and clung close to the display case.

“You can’t! I’ve had my eye on that for days!”

“Huh? Does looking at something leave a mark? Is your name engraved on it? Or did you put down a deposit?”

He had a point. Even if you claim something with your eyes, priority goes to the person who pays. Surely that man from Pegeia hadn’t put down a deposit?

While Eddie was stammering for a while, Lebel went straight to the point.

“How much is it?”

The jewelry shop owner barely managed to gather his wits in this chaos. It was the first time since opening the shop that two people had barged in simultaneously demanding to buy the same necklace.

But how much could the man before him really pay? How much do mercenaries even earn? He’d probably turn and leave once he heard the price.

After a long deliberation, a bundle of banknotes was placed in front of the owner. Everyone in the jewelry shop turned pale at the sight of the neatly tied bundle.

“How much is all this… Captain. Did you secretly sell an organ or something?”

“Is it not enough?”

“No, sir, just because you suddenly offer money doesn’t mean you can buy it right away…”

Another bundle of banknotes popped out from Lebel’s chest. Eddie looked at the wad of bills once, then at the captain once, with trembling pupils.

In fact, a mercenary captain usually earns quite a decent income. One of the reasons for mercenary group divisions was the captain’s monopoly on contract fees. There’s nothing harder than sharing what’s in your own hands.

But Lebel had given his members quite generous amounts. So Eddie had worried that he was tightening his own belt, but he was completely mistaken.

‘No wonder, ever since Captain Turgel’s time, he’s been working like crazy.’

He thought they were living so harshly, even taking on personal requests, but this was why. Yes, it was all part of a bigger picture for this moment. Eddie’s nose tingled for no reason.

“I absolutely need this. So… please. I’ll prepare as much money as you need.”

There was a tremor in every word. The shop owner had met many people buying and selling jewelry over the years, but this was the first time he’d seen someone plead with such a desperate expression.

“…It seems so.”

The red-haired man muttered, leaning his arm on the display case.

It wasn’t simple desperation born from greed. It was the expression of someone who had bet their entire life on something he couldn’t fathom.

“I understand the situation, so I’ll yield this time. In return, please grant me one favor when we meet again.”

The man handed Eddie a small piece of paper and quickly left.

Is he even someone you can meet again? Eddie examined the business card in his hand.

‘Zahar Trading Company, Awen Zahar…?’

Is that person the owner of the Zahar Trading Company? I’d only heard they had a tight grip on the Eastern Continent, but are they now looking for a chance to expand into the Empire?

I’d heard it wasn’t easy for ordinary people to meet them, but to think we’d meet here.

After Awen Zahar left, the shop was once again filled with silence.

The jewelry shop owner only watched Lebel’s expression in front of him. The money this mercenary had offered was more than enough for the emerald necklace, with plenty to spare.

“To be honest, I was planning to put this up for auction the day after tomorrow. Frankly, I don’t know. It might fetch a much better price, but…”

The owner pushed one of the bundles of money he had received towards Lebel.

“This is enough for what I think it’s worth. I’ll take the rest as payment for your sincerity.”

He didn’t want to exploit someone’s desperation to extort money. That was the minimum conscience the shop owner had.

Lebel bowed deeply towards him. As the necklace was taken out of the display case and packaged, he thought of its future owner.

The green light around the neck would surely complement the color of the eyes well. It would completely hide any scars on the neck. Perhaps he could even put it on personally on the night of a ball.

He could finally repay the life debt willingly paid for a worthless slave boy. A small expectation slowly seeped into the green jewel.

**

Gabriel was dressed neatly for once. The neck area that was always loose was now tightly fastened, complete with a tie.

The two accompanying employees of ‘La Chelle’ sat stiffly on the sofa in the Empress’s reception room.

Tea and light refreshments were placed in front of them, but no one dared to touch them. They were too tense to even properly reach out their hands.

Perhaps wanting to break the frozen atmosphere, one employee spoke up in a bright voice.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen the boss this nervous?”

“Of course. It’s a reunion after several years.”

Gabriel internally calculated the time that had passed. About ten years, or maybe a little less? The employees’ eyes widened.

“Have you met Her Majesty the Empress before? When?”

But before he could answer the employee’s question, the door to the reception room opened and Lynette entered.

“Her Majesty the Empress is waiting.”

A brief deep breath echoed in the reception room. Tension and trembling rose, making the corners of their mouths quiver.

‘Finally, we meet again.’

I’ve waited a long time, Your Majesty. Gabriel checked his appearance once more and followed Lynette out.

The hands measuring the Empress’s size were thorough and without excess.

Although he had shown clear signs of nervousness when first entering and greeting, as soon as he started work, he immediately transformed into a different person and began to concentrate.

Gabriel La Chelle, the owner of the dress shop who used the alias ‘Gabi’. At first, I thought he was an employee, but to think he was the manager. Ilarid quietly observed Gabriel as he wrapped the measuring tape around her waist.

From the moment they met, I thought he was an unusual character.

I never thought he would come dressed like men to meet the Empress, even if it was for work.

And even short hair. Lynette, Alice, and even Cecilia were all focused on Gabriel.

They had only heard rumors about a woman who roamed the capital with such hair, but this was the first time they had actually encountered one.

Ilarid noticed that the hand holding the measuring tape was trembling slightly. To both ease the tension and satisfy her curiosity, she spoke to Gabriel first.

“I heard that La Chelle makes clothes that don’t require wearing a corset.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

It was a first in the capital. But he said that only a few people were seeking it out yet. The nobles still favored corsets, and considered comfortable attire to mean sloppiness.

“May I share my personal opinion?”

Gabriel’s black eyes curved slightly. Ilarid nodded, indicating her agreement.

“Once you take it off, you can never go back.”

There was even a hint of confidence in her words.

Gabriel, quietly looking at the measurements recorded by the employee, had to suppress a sigh that was about to burst out.

‘She’s lost more weight than I thought…’

He had guessed that she had been through a lot of emotional hardship through Marsha and newspaper articles. Is she eating properly? Is she getting enough sleep?

There was a mountain of questions he wanted to ask, but Gabriel didn’t forget his job.

“Do you have any specific designs or colors in mind?”

“Personally, I prefer black. The plainer the better, without decorations.”

At least in that aspect, Gabriel’s taste aligned with hers. But the maids nearby were quick to express their concerns.

“But it’s the annual Imperial ball, how about a brighter color?”

“That’s right. You’ve always insisted on dark colors, so why not try a different color this time to change the mood?”

“No, it’s rare for someone to perfectly pull off black.”

A person’s innate aura also played a part. Ilarid had a much stronger heavy and solemn impression rather than a bright and delicate image.

Putting such a person in a dress covered with frilly decorations would be absurd.

“I’ll remove all unnecessary decorations like frills and ribbons.”

Instead, he decided to cut the neckline deep, and make sure the line falling from the waist to the legs wasn’t too tight. And he made the final decision to remove the suffocating corset.

Now, should I visit again for the fitting? While Gabriel was packing away the measuring tape, Ilarid called for her maids.

The maids soon brought a box. Gabriel’s curious eyes delved into the box.

“I’d like to place one more order.”

Ilarid opened the box herself. Inside was black fabric and a folded note.

The Empress’s palace was overflowing with black fabric. It was not only Ilarid’s preferred color in recent years, but also because there wasn’t much demand for black.

Black was a color for funerals and sadness. Would there be people in the palace who live their entire lives weighed down by tears? Or would there be those who empathize with others’ pain and try to endure it together?

Gabriel unfolded the note. Inside were someone’s measurements along with Ilarid’s instructions on how to make it.

“Is it possible to make it as described there?”

The phrase ‘blue and black decorations’ stood out. Checking the measurements, it was clearly for men’s clothing. Gabriel, understanding the Empress’s intention, smiled gently. He intended to make it perfectly, even if it meant pouring his soul into it.

“Of course.”

“Then, the price…”

Finally. Gabriel uttered the words he had been thinking about for years.

He wanted to speak as calmly as possible, but he couldn’t help the end of his words trembling with strange expectation and excitement.

“Your Majesty has already paid for the clothes.”

“That can’t be. This is our first transaction, there’s no way I could have paid…”

Before Ilarid could finish speaking, Gabriel knelt on one knee, lowering his posture.

Then he placed his hand on Ilarid’s bare foot. The cool sensation was palpable under his palm.

“Back then, I received it with this warmth.”

She looked up at the Empress. Although her body had grown considerably, the sparkle in their eyes as they looked at each other remained the same.

Ilarid hurriedly covered her mouth with her hand to stop the exclamation that was about to burst out. But she couldn’t hide the trembling in her breath.

Another piece of the past had approached Ilarid.

“It is a deep honor to meet you again, Your Majesty.”

Alice, who had been watching the two for a moment, clapped her hands while jumping up and down.

“Ah! That time!”

Ilarid wrapping the feet of a child working in a factory, and a girl offering flowers.

It was the scene she had seen in the newspaper article’s illustration.