The King spoke once again.

“What is this… What is the reason? Are you trying to insult me?”

In response to the King’s seemingly displeased question, I casually bent my knees slightly and bowed politely.

“From the beginning, it was an item sent to Marquis Ondella. How could it be otherwise, Your Majesty? This is a packaging method called ‘overpacking’ or ‘excessive packaging.'”

“Over… excessive… packaging?”

“Where do you usually find the tears of the goddess? As it is a precious item, it was packaged, and then packaged again for safety, and packaged once more.”

The King chuckled. The atmosphere around mirrored a similar mood.

“If you open it further, you’ll see.”

Following my guidance, the King had the box unsealed again. This time, a golden box accompanied by the letter I wrote emerged.

The King instructed a knight standing behind to read the letter.

“Dear Marquis Ondella, I sincerely thank you for acknowledging me as a business partner and treating me with the utmost courtesy.”

The knight, who initially read the letter rigidly, soon cleared his throat to adjust his voice.

“However, as the tears of the goddess are a gift overflowing with emotion, I can only accept the sentiment and return it.”

As the knight began to properly recite the letter, I silently celebrated inside. It seemed like the knight had a talent for acting.

With a clear and resonant voice, the knight continued to read, accurately presenting the date mentioned in the letter.

“Wishing for mutual prosperity, I sincerely offer a small but carefully packed token of respect. I hope you accept it.”

“Sir, nice job!”

While he read the letter, I applauded his performance silently. The knight seemed to have a talent for acting.

The knight received the King’s praise with humility, bowing his head. After finishing the letter, the knight stepped back behind the throne. Philip, standing nearby, lightly patted the knight’s shoulder.

The corners of the knight’s mouth twitched, and his cheeks blushed slightly as he made eye contact with Philip. It seemed like he was holding back a broad smile. I wondered if Philip’s praise was more gratifying than the King’s.

Now, I observed Marquis Ondella’s expression.

His greedy face exhibited a mixture of suspicion and anxiety.

The party, which had been buzzing, fell silent. There was a split opinion—admiration for the knight’s reading skills and controversy over the content of the letter.

“You read the letter well. Even in my darkened ears, it sounded clear.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The knight responded humbly to the King’s compliment. As the knight, who had finished reading the letter, stepped back behind the throne, Philip gently tapped his shoulder.

Turning his head, Philip met the knight’s eyes, causing the corners of the knight’s mouth to twitch, and his cheeks to flush. It was a facial expression that held back a wide smile.

‘Is it possible that Philip’s praise is more pleasing than the King’s?’

I now scrutinized Marquis Ondella’s demeanor.

His covetous face harbored both suspicion and unease.

The lively party quickly quieted down at the King’s false coughing a few times.

Upon the King’s signal, the knights opened the box once more. This time, expressions of admiration arose from the surroundings.

It was because red velvet cloth was piled with gold coins. And within it was a small box adorned with diamonds.

The King, who swallowed a groan, looked at me. His eyes, tired of the multiple layers of packaging yet filled with curiosity, expressed a complex gaze.

“Another one?”

I purposely smiled wider in response.
“That’s the final packaging box. Inside, there is a necklace box.”

Was the faint exhale of relief from the King just my imagination?

“Where is it? Open it.”

As the knight opened the box, simultaneously, the necklace box emerged. Soon, the real Tears of the Goddess emitted a brilliant glow.

“Wow!”

“Oh my goodness…”

People couldn’t hide their admiration, erupting in awe as if witnessing a miracle.

Afterward, they began to murmur among themselves. The atmosphere hinted at speculation that Marquis Ondella might have pulled off a clever trick.

Seeing that, a glimmer of hope sparked within me.

‘Maybe things will turn in my favor?’

The King’s gaze, which had been fixated on the necklace, now shifted towards Marquis Ondella.

“As the representative of Boutique DS mentioned, the necklace was in your house. What do you think about it, Marquis?”

“Yo, pardon me, Your Majesty. That’s somewhat strange.”

“Strange? What do you mean?”

Marquis Ondella, who had been rolling his eyes, turned to me as if realizing something and questioned me.

“Come to think of it, it’s suspicious! Could this also be a fake?”

Instead of answering, I squinted one eye.

“Shouldn’t we check the back of the necklace?”

The King ordered a knight to inspect the back of the necklace.

“There is a maker’s mark. It is indeed Tears of the Goddess.”

Interrupting the knight’s confirmation, Enok interjected, shaking his head.