Olivia promptly checked the display. Of course, excluding the Duke’s ring. Perhaps onyx or diamond cufflinks would be nice.
Then the Duke pointed to one side of the display.
“How about that?”
The Duke pointed to an emerald necklace. A deep yet bright color, like the greenery of a lush summer. The necklace, with emeralds gleaming between the closely woven platinum chains, was enchanting.
Olivia looked back and forth between the necklace and the Duke.
“Ah…… Um. Will you wear it yourself?”
“It’s for you, Miss.”
The Duke said firmly at her confused look.
“I’ll return the jewel pin, and you will accept that as a gift. If not, I won’t give it.”
“I’m supposed to give you a gift, and you’re asking me to accept one?”
“You said you’d do anything.”
The Duke came out brazenly. Olivia was about to refute that she never said that but stopped. She intended to indulge the Duke anyway. But that color…… Olivia shook her head.
“Don’t you like it? Then how about the pink diamond next to it?”
“It’s not that I don’t like it.”
Olivia trailed off, glancing at the Duke. His face seemed like he would wait forever, smiling languidly.
It was difficult to reveal a weakness that felt like her Achilles’ heel in society, but if it’s that man.
Olivia spoke lightly as if it was nothing.
“Bright colors don’t suit me well.”
“What’s that?”
The Duke involuntarily furrowed his brows. Olivia shrugged with a suppressed face.
“I know. Since it doesn’t suit me, can I choose a dark color?”
While Olivia was looking at the display, the Duke thoroughly examined Olivia. The gray dress was of good quality but simple, and there were no earrings or necklaces. He thought she liked to dress simply.
His mouth soured. Swallowing his suddenly bitter feelings, the Duke spoke lightly.
“I said this yesterday, but it seems the people around you lack even a sense of aesthetics.”
“What?”
Olivia looked back at the Duke. Her face saying she didn’t know what he meant made him even angrier. His anger was directed more at the ignorance that couldn’t recognize precious things, and even precious people, like the stupid child of the royal family.
The Duke clenched his teeth and muttered lowly.
“……I’ll have to call an expert for a moment.”
The Duke rang a bell lightly. As if expecting it, the door opened and a madam entered. The madam’s eyes shook for a moment as she faced the Duke, who was taking off his robe.
“I greet the great hero, His Grace the Duke.”
“I trust you to be as quickwitted as you are silent.”
“Thank you. What do you need?”
“Bring out all the colorful necklaces that will suit the Princess.”
“I told you I don’t suit those!”
Olivia said, but the Duke didn’t even pretend to hear. The madam, eagerly bringing out the jewels, was the same.
“My goodness. It really suits the princess, just as I thought!”
The madam, who brought the transparent, twinkling pink diamond, expressed her praise.
The brighter the jewel, the more dull she would seem in comparison.
Olivia’s mouth was parched. Her aimless hand fidgeted anxiously. As the Duke remained silent, Olivia lowered her head even further.
The madam asked with a buoyant voice.
“What does Your Grace think?”
“…More than I expected.”
At Olivia’s low and muffled voice, she tightly closed her eyes. Beyond her dark sight, Leopold’s scoffing reached her ears.
“Didn’t I tell you? Bright colors really don’t suit you.”
“I was surprised how well it suits you.”
Above Leopold’s voice, a firm voice overlaid. Olivia slowly opened her eyes.
The Duke, leaning against the display case, nodded lightly.
“It truly suits you well. Both dark and bright colors, all of them.”
A tingle ran from her toes to the top of her head. This strange feeling was new to her. Olivia stealthily peeked into the mirror.
Surely, Leopold said it didn’t suit her. Even Esella’s pink necklace didn’t suit her.
But the glance in the mirror revealed that she didn’t look bad. No, it might have been a bit good, even.
The Duke shrugged, as if to say his words were correct.
The madam behind her continuously brought more jewels. Clear garnets, rubies, and sapphires continued to adorn Olivia’s neck when the Duke spoke earnestly.
“Just one? I misspoke. Can I gift all of them?”
“Even one is more than enough, Your Grace.”
At Olivia’s cutting words, the Duke looked sullen.
Oh dear. The madam swallowed a scream internally. The way the Duke looked at the princess was not normal.
[This is the time separator]The Duke volunteered to escort her on the way home. After the contentedly smiling Sally left first, Olivia, who boarded the carriage, was fiddling with the pink diamond necklace.
“I’ll deliver the jewel pin as promised today.”
The Duke suavely narrowed his eyes. His good mood was palpable. Olivia, who was giggling, suddenly stopped.
Suddenly, the words the Duke said earlier came to mind. That he wanted to give her an engagement ring.
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
