There couldn’t be someone who seemed more like the owner than the actual Master. Despite the typical arrogance of a great noble… How could he fit in more than the Master? She felt sorry for suspecting them to be the same person.

Unlike the blurry Master, his distinct presence couldn’t be ignored. It was so intense, it felt like being sucked in. Was it because of his picturesque appearance? Staring at Raphael, who was sitting in the merchantry now, made her lose focus, as if he wasn’t real.

Above all, his presence couldn’t be hidden, even if he tried.

“These are all the jewels currently in the guild.”

“It has to be the most precious in the entire empire.”

There is no way such a thing exists. Unless it was a brooch from the founding emperor.

“If there’s one in another headquarters, couldn’t you just have it brought over?”

It was sheer nonsense. Moreover, to come on the day itself and demand it like a threat. Yet no one thought he was wrong. If Raphael wanted it, it should be so. Even now, Howard just nodded with a pale face.

“Howard.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“You don’t look well… Are you sick?”

Amelia started to worry at the sight of the unusually tense manager. Raphael was really pushing it too far. As they say, birds of a feather flock together.

“I… I, I’m fine.”

His expression worsened at her concerned question. He really didn’t seem fine…

“It’s okay to ask another staff member.”

“I’m really fine, no need to worry.”

It seemed he didn’t want attention, so there was nothing she could do. Every time she spoke, Howard’s face turned pale and then red repeatedly, forcing her to look away.

“Your Grace, I really don’t need it.”

So please stop bothering people and let’s go back soon. If the Master appears… She didn’t want Raphael and the Master to meet as much as possible. Of course, they might already know each other.

“Bring me everything that will be auctioned off.”

“Yes, understood.”

Ignoring her words, Raphael gave orders to Howard with his arrogant demeanor, causing Amelia to scrunch up her face and sink onto the sofa. Anyway, that man had no intention of listening,

“Mother, try this.”

“Leonel…”

The only consolation for her was Leonel. Her face softened at the small hand offering sweets from the table. It had been a long time since she tasted something sweet. She’s been eating that dreadful stew while Raphael controlled even her diet. How much of a health nut is he?

“Thank you.”

After so long, the cake tasted incredibly sweet. Maybe she couldn’t resist because Raphael always ate desserts in front of her. It was strange for someone who didn’t normally even like sweets. But that wasn’t all. He hardly ate meals. He didn’t enjoy eating in itself.

“Hold on. Son, you’re trying hard to win over your mother’s favor.”

The moment she tried to take another bite, a large hand wrapped around hers. It was Raphael’s hand.

“Your Grace?”

“It seems you haven’t taken today’s dose of medicine yet.”

When did he notice that? It was impossible to skip even once. She noticed immediately how thoroughly he managed everything and came to find her.

“I’ll eat it after eating the cake.”

“…No.”

“Please, Your Grace.”

She didn’t know how long it had been since she had cake. Originally, she was not the type to obsess over food. However, living a restricted life because of someone made it unbearable.

“Eating a little… should be okay.”

Somehow, he had given his permission. Amelia was about to reach for the bowl again with excitement. If it hadn’t been for another hand stopping her, she would have.

“You said I could eat it, right?”

She hoped the man wasn’t going back on his word with just one sentence. She looked at Raphael with a skeptical eye.

“If we leave it like this, it might all get eaten.”

He took the fork she was holding and brought it up to her lips himself. So, he was feeding her.

Just like feeding a child.

“My hands aren’t injured.”

“Don’t want to eat?”

She shook her head no. What kind of humiliation was this? She felt embarrassed to be fed like this, as if she couldn’t eat by herself… The shame rushed in.

Matching his hand, she opened her lips, and the sweet cream cake entered her mouth. Then the fork sneakily scraped the roof of her mouth. Amelia’s face flushed red. How could this man make even this action somewhat provocative? She should stop, but she couldn’t. She didn’t want to miss this sweetness, which she hadn’t tasted in so long.

“You eat well.”

Even that lingering tone. Luckily, Howard or the Master wasn’t here. She couldn’t show this side of herself to others.

“It seems like Father is trying to win Mother’s favor.”

She had suddenly forgotten that Leonel was also here besides them. Amelia straightened up in surprise at Leonel’s sarcastic tone. Leonel… the angelic Leonel speaking like that was shocking.

“I’m not going to eat anymore.”

“What?”

“Take it away!”

No matter how much she wanted to eat, she had to maintain her dignity in front of a child. Amelia turned her head away to avoid looking at the cake directly.

Knock knock.

“We’ve brought everything of the highest value.”

“……”

When Howard re-entered the room, the atmosphere had changed significantly. Only a heavy silence lingered.

“I…”

“As His Grace, the Grand Duke, said, we’re showing just a few of the very expensive ones.”

At this point, they might as well make a fortune off of it. Since he said he would buy first. She had to make him regret saying that.

“If it’s for the Founding Festival, a set would be better… so I brought only sets.”

Even she, who knew little about jewels, could tell that the items before her were expensive. All were large and vividly colored. It was her first time seeing such distinctly saturated jewels. The ones in her jewelry box were beautiful, but these were on another level.

The size and brilliance were so overwhelming that she wondered if she could even wear them around her neck. They captured her gaze with their sparkling appearance in the light.

“Wow…”

Among many jewels, Howard recommended three pieces specifically. She couldn’t help but marvel purely.

“All… belong to the Master.”

The Master’s possessions?

“If it’s for Your Grace, the Grand Duchess, our Master has said he would give them.”

Amelia became cautious at the mention of Master’s collections. She wondered if he allowed the jewels because of their relationship. She was worried Raphael might suspect something.

“The most expensive one is the red diamond.”

Amelia couldn’t take her eyes off the jewel Howard showed while wearing gloves. The vivid red color was a pure red, undiluted by any other color.

“Most red diamonds on the market are mixed with other colors, like crimson or purple. A red diamond this red is probably a first.”

For the first time, she understood why people coveted jewels. Just looking at them was mesmerizing.

“To make earrings and a bracelet out of it requires separate craftsmanship.”

“That seems likely.”

“But don’t worry; everything is prepared.”

Among the three pieces, only the red diamond was still in its raw form.

“But… the Founding Festival is tomorrow…”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

His hand suddenly wrapped around her shoulder, making her flinch. She could feel his hot breath every time he whispered in her ear.

“If you want it, you can have it.”

If you want it, you can have it. Such a dangerous statement. What did Raphael think she would want? What she truly wanted wasn’t something like those jewels.

“Can I really have anything if I want it?”

“Yes.”

“Anything?”

An arrogant man. Never once at the bottom of the food chain. The aura and nobility emanating from him were not fake but real.

“Anything you want.”

She wondered if this man would keep the same expression if he knew what she really wanted.