Madam Kellerwin squealed like a young girl upon seeing Aristie’s wedding dress. A pure white wedding dress that could be called the most beautiful in the world.

The dress wasn’t the only thing inspiring admiration. Since the mansion overflowed with all kinds of luxurious jewels and accessories, Aristie had invited a designer to her home to handle the coordination.

She had canceled or refunded most of the items she had reserved for the wedding. Thanks to Khalid’s bombardment of gifts, there was no need to buy anything more.

She even decided to wear one of the wedding dresses he had given her.

‘And yet I’m planning to backstab Khalid……’

Aristie felt deep self-doubt about her contradictory behavior. Unaware of her feelings, the designer carefully checked the luxurious items while her eyes sparkled.

Everything was perfect, from the craftsmanship of the accessories to even the shoe size, which fit perfectly. The dress also fit so well that no alterations were needed.

If there was one thing not satisfactory, it was the color of the jewels.

“My lady, do you perhaps have any pink diamonds?”

“Pink diamonds?”

“Yes. They’re jewels that have been the talk of the town recently, with a very pretty and lovely color. Haven’t you seen them?”

“Such things……”

Aristie examined the jewelry boxes laid out.

The diamonds she had recently received included white ones matching the dress color, blue diamonds similar to her eye color, and primary colors like red, black, and yellow.

“My lady, trust me. Pink diamonds would suit this wedding dress best. It’s also trendy these days to add bright-colored jewels as accents at weddings.”

“……”

Aristie hesitated at Madam Kellerwin’s persuasion. Now that she mentioned it, pink would indeed complement the dress well. However, it also seemed inappropriate for the solemn atmosphere of a royal wedding, so she couldn’t decide hastily.

“I think I need to see them before deciding……”

“If you’re visiting a jewelry store, I’d be happy to accompany you. I have a few pieces in mind.”

“No, thank you for the offer, but I’ll be fine. I have an appointment this afternoon.”

Since merely looking would waste Madam Kellerwin’s time, Aristie politely declined. Of course, she really did have an afternoon appointment.

“I’ll look around on my way and contact you if I find something suitable.”

“I understand, then.”

Madam Kellerwin nodded with a disappointed face.

“I’ll wait for your call, my lady. Helping with the royal wedding is a great honor for our shop. So please call me whenever you need me.”

* * *

“Are you serious!?”

Zephyros asked with a face full of shock.

He didn’t even realize his mouth was hanging open stupidly from the shock.

“I’m serious.”

Aristie calmly replied. She was visiting the Irvant Count’s residence, timing it with Zephyros’s day off.

The “afternoon appointment” she mentioned to Madam Kellerwin referred to this meeting with Zephyros.

To ask for his understanding in advance.

She didn’t dare expect Zephyros’s cooperation. She had come all this way simply to fulfill her minimal duty by at least informing him.

“That’s too absurd a statement!”

“I’ll do what I said. But you can deny it, Sir. We each have our own position.”

“My lady, must you go this far……”

“Yes. I must go this far, I must.”

Estelle colluded with Marquis Vascus to fulfill her selfish desires.

She deceived the temple and pretended to be a saintess.

Moreover, she endangers the Empire by toying with the Emperor of a nation.

Is that all? You too were almost imprisoned, your honor trampled because you were deceived by her.

I’m also being blackmailed, with my people used as leverage.

My friend was even poisoned to death!

If left alone, she will surely take my life too.

“Shouldn’t I try any method available? Whatever it may be.”

Aristie swallowed countless resentments rising inside her and only said what she could. From her perspective, she didn’t have any particular friendship or trust with Zephyros.

Without evidence, whatever she revealed would be meaningless.

“Let me ask one thing.”

Zephyros spoke gravely.

“Did you make such a choice entirely because of Lady Estelle? Or do you also have some personal feelings toward His Majesty?”

“Personal feelings……”

If that meant wounds of the heart like resentment, hatred, betrayal, distrust……

“I can’t say I don’t have them.”

Perhaps even a desire for revenge.

A faint, self-mocking smile appeared on Aristie’s lips.

“So, what will you do, Sir?”

“……I’m sorry. I don’t think I can cooperate.”

“I see.”

Aristie nodded as if she had expected this.

“That’s fine. I should apologize. You should tell the truth. Just causing discord will achieve my purpose.”

“I’m worried about you, my lady. If you’re not careful, you could be charged with insulting the imperial family……”

“I know.”

Aristie firmly dismissed Zephyros’s concern.

“Still, I chose this because it’s the best option. So put aside your worry for me.”

“My lady……”

Aristie smiled more clearly, trying to ease his burden.

Seeing this, Zephyros felt his heart grow heavier rather than lighter, his anguish only deepening.

“I apologize again. For dragging you into my madness.”

She didn’t bother asking him to keep it secret. She believed Zephyros would naturally keep quiet about such a sensitive matter. But even if he reported it to the Emperor, she didn’t mind.

“Thank you for your time, Sir Zephyros.”

“Ah, not at all. It’s only natural.”

“I’ll take my leave now.”

Considering the courtesy of the tea served, Aristie took a sip from her cup.

Click. The sound of the teacup being set down signaled the end of their conversation.

“I’ll see you at the wedding venue.”

* * *

Outside, Aristie rode in a carriage to the busy district she usually frequented. She wanted to look at the pink diamonds Madam Kellerwin had recommended.

Ellin Road, befitting a street for nobles, had numerous jewelry shops dealing with top-grade diamonds. The first place she visited was none other than <Le Pelosha>.

Of all places, ‘Le Pelosha’.

“Eh? Isn’t this Lady Aristie! It’s been a long time, haha.”

“You’ve been well. How have you been?”

“I’ve been doing very well thanks to His Majesty the Emperor’s grace. How grateful I am!”

The jewelry shop owner responded with a grin. She thought he was just saying it, but hearing more, it was true that he had received the Emperor’s favor.

He said that Khalid had recently visited the shop and bought expensive jewels indiscriminately.

‘I guess many of the gifts he gave me are from Le Pelosha……’

The owner seemed eager to talk, setting aside the jewels and launching into a lengthy conversation.

“Actually, all the jewels you received on your birthdays were personally selected by His Majesty who visited in person. He remembered every year.”

“I see……”

“He seemed shy and asked me to keep it a secret from you, so I’ve been silent, but now that you two are getting married, it should be fine to tell you. Congratulations on your marriage, my lady.”

“Th…thank you.”

Aristie accepted the congratulations with mixed feelings. Despite her firm resolve and planning, she felt increasingly uncomfortable as Khalid’s sincerity was evident everywhere, from the dress to the jewels.

“I heard pink diamonds are popular these days. Do you have any good ones?”

“Of course! The jewels imported from Shatra have really gained word-of-mouth popularity, haha. I’ll show you right away.”

The owner took out pink jewels by type and enthusiastically introduced them. He added that these were recently acquired items, and if the Emperor had seen them, he would surely have bought them all.

They were indeed beautiful and lovely jewels, just as she had heard. The saturation varied slightly from product to product.

While examining them one by one, the owner beside her seemed eager to say something more, his cheek twitching before he finally spoke.

“And about the newly appointed Saintess…… Well, it turns out she used to be an employee who worked at our shop.”

“What……?”

“She always spoke differently, so I knew she was special, but to think it was all divine power. It feels truly amazing, haha.”

Aristie, somewhat shocked, casually asked.

“By Saintess…… do you mean Lady Estelle?”

“That’s right! So you do know.”

“That means she must have served the Emperor during her employment?”

“Yes, that’s correct. She handled His Majesty so skillfully with her way of speaking, His Majesty seemed surprised.”

“……”

So that’s how it happened. Had she deliberately taken a job at the jewelry shop from the beginning? With the purpose of approaching Khalid under the guise of a chance encounter……

“How about it? Did you find anything you like?”

The owner subtly pushed forward the largest of the jewels and asked. But by then, her desire to buy had already vanished.

After hearing about Estelle, the pink diamonds resembling her eye color became extremely irritating. She wouldn’t want to accept them even if given for free.

‘They wouldn’t suit a royal wedding anyway.’

Aristie firmly decided on the white series she had initially considered and told the owner.

“Thank you for showing me, but I don’t think they would match the atmosphere of a royal wedding.”