Chapter 3.12

Ariana examined the plates Dylan had brought. A plate that had been split in half was perfectly reassembled, but instead of seamlessly blending the cracks…  

“You added color to it?”

“Yes. You said it should be clear that it’s been restored, so I deliberately added color by using resin.”

Dylan continued explaining behind Ariana as she examined the plate.  

“There are various methods of restoration. One way is to repair it so perfectly that the restored areas are completely unnoticeable. Another is to deliberately highlight the restored sections to preserve the flow of history.”  

The plates, pieced together with red, blue, and green resin, aligned with her initial intention—that the restoration should be noticeable—but they lacked elegance or a sense of value.  

“Hmm… The concept is good…”  

As Ariana pondered and set the plate down, the golden goddess statue caught the light, dazzling her vision.  

“Gold…”  

The sight of the radiant statue naturally filled her mind with golden hues.  

“Gold!”  

And then, like a bolt of lightning, inspiration struck her.  

“Yes, gold! Why didn’t I think of that?”  

Ariana smiled brightly and pointed at the sections Dylan had pieced together with colored resin.  

“Dylan!”  

“Yes, yes!”  

“Could we mix gold into this?”  

“Gold?”  

“Yes. If the restored sections gleamed with gold, it would convey the history behind the restored plate while also giving it a luxurious feel.”  

Depending on the plate’s overall design, silver could also be an option. As she closed her eyes and envisioned the completed plate, an exquisite image formed in her mind. But before getting carried away, she needed to determine whether her idea could be realized. 

Was it even possible?  

“If we use gold powder, it might not be impossible…”  

Having never tried it before, Dylan trailed off uncertainly. Ariana, unfazed, patted his shoulder.  

“What’s there to worry about? Let’s just try it. I’ll provide enough funding for the materials.”  

“If that’s the case… Could you give me a week? To find the optimal ratio that ensures the gold color shines while maintaining adhesive strength, I’ll need some time.”  

“If you can complete it properly, what’s a week?”  

Ariana smiled confidently and pulled out a check from her pocket. It wasn’t connected to the mansion’s operating funds but to the trust fund her father had left her. Using this, her husband wouldn’t be able to track her expenses. She left the amount blank and gracefully signed her name on the signature line. It was a blank check.  

“Here, take it.”  

The check passed directly into Dylan’s hands.  

“Use this to buy the materials.”  

Dylan’s eyes widened as he stared at the blank check, something he had never seen before in his life.  

***

Rowen headed to his mother’s room upon hearing she had fallen ill. Upon entering, it was clear the room had already been thrown into chaos, as if she had caused a commotion earlier. The room was a mess. Rowen let out a deep sigh.  

‘She’s supposed to be ill…’  

Yet she seemed full of energy. The table was piled high with newspapers and newsletters published that day. The content was predictable. Gossip-obsessed publications were undoubtedly reveling in “that incident” at yesterday’s Imperial banquet.  

“Mother.”  

“Oh, Rowen, my Earl.”  

Madame Green greeted her son with a sniffle. She lay diagonally on the bed, dabbing her eyes repeatedly with a handkerchief. Judging by her swollen eyes, the news of her illness might have been exaggerated, but the claim that she had been crying nonstop wasn’t entirely false. Upon seeing the face of her lifeline, her son, she immediately began venting about the cause of her distress.  

“You saw it too, didn’t you? The news spread everywhere yesterday. They’re calling me and Flory women full of vanity and ignorance, completely oblivious to our place…”  

As she spoke, her emotions overwhelmed her, and tears began streaming down her face again. Rowen had already seen several of the newspapers and newsletters on his way over. As an Earl, his daily routine began with reading the news, so he couldn’t have missed it. As he feared, the articles didn’t just mock Madame Green and Flory’s ignorance; they also ridiculed the nouveau riche origins of Earl Astaroth.  

Even the servant who had brought him the newspapers couldn’t hide the twitching corners of his mouth, suggesting the gossip had already spread among the staff.  

“Surely the rumors haven’t stayed confined to the Earl’s household staff…”  

The scandal had likely spread throughout the social circles. Rowen sighed deeply. Unfortunately, the Imperial banquet that marked the start of the social season had drawn nobles from all over the provinces to the capital. It was a national embarrassment.  

“What are we supposed to do now? How can I ever hold my head high in society again, my Earl? And what about Flory’s marriage prospects?”  

They had planned to host a party near the end of this social season to find a husband for Flory, but given the current atmosphere, it would have to be canceled. Of course, they could brazenly go ahead with the party, but no one would attend. That would only result in further humiliation.  

“Sigh. Don’t worry. The rumors about yesterday’s incident will fade soon enough.”  

“Fade soon? Our story is in every newspaper and newsletter…”  

It felt like the entire world was gleefully gossiping about her and Flory. The idea that this uproar would soon be forgotten seemed unimaginable. She had even sent a letter asking Baron Alpena, her lover, for help, but there had been no reply.  

‘The man who used to respond to my letters about secret rendezvous within hours…’ 

Madame Green’s hands trembled with anger as she recalled this, but Rowen calmly tried to soothe her.  

“When a more interesting scandal arises, people will flock to that instead.”  

Even as he spoke, Rowen couldn’t stop sighing. Watching his mother, who was consumed by her emotions without any thought of resolving the situation, reminded him of his own behavior the previous night. 

Had I been just as foolish in front of Ariana and Camio? 

His ears burned red with embarrassment at the thought. It felt as though his mother was holding up a mirror to his own stupidity.  

Unaware of her son’s thoughts, Madame Green sniffled and asked, 

“A more interesting scandal?”  

“If we can’t bury this incident, we’ll need to overshadow it with a bigger one. If a more intriguing and provocative rumor spreads, people will quickly forget about ours.”  

“That would be wonderful, but… such a scandal isn’t going to just happen for our convenience…”  

“Of course, it won’t happen if we sit idle. We’ll have to spread it ourselves.”  

Her son’s tone suggested he already had something in mind, and Madame Green stopped sniffling to look at him.  

“What kind of rumor are you planning to spread? Is it about that wretched girl Ariana who humiliated me and Flory?”  

Madame Green’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, but Rowen shook his head. While he resented Ariana for clearly orchestrating the trap that led to this situation, spreading rumors that tarnished the Countess’s reputation was out of the question. If the name “Astaroth” became entangled in the rumors, yesterday’s ridiculous incident would inevitably resurface. What they needed was unrelated gossip from the social circles.  

“I have a rumor in mind.”  

“A useful rumor?”  

“Yes. So don’t worry too much. Soon, people will stop talking about you and Flory.”  

“Really, my Earl?”  

“Of course. The tables will soon turn. You’ll see who ends up in trouble.”  

Rowen smirked. If Ariana was off-limits, then he would target someone close to her.  

‘Ariana. Since you’ve meddled with my people, it’s only fair for me to meddle with yours, isn’t it?’