Chapter 74: The Necklace

At his words about protecting her, Bliss felt anger rather than joy. Jackie must have lived each day with a tight chest while serving her. Thinking about how that young child’s heart must have withered day by day, Leonard’s words weren’t touching at all.

“I won’t touch her family. I’ll also reward her for helping with my work all this time.”

But when Leonard said this, she couldn’t express her anger. Ridiculously, Jackie’s family felt like hostages to her too.

“Shall we go then?”

At Leonard’s voice brightening the surroundings, Bliss moved her halted steps.

‘I need to get Jackie’s family out.’

After that, she could confront Leonard about his wrongs.

Afterward, their conversation consisted of only a few exchanges about daily matters while riding in the carriage. Leonard disappeared right after introducing Bliss to the craftsman. It was unexpected that he withdrew so easily when he had acted like he would stick close the whole time.

“What kind of ornament would you like to make?”

“…A necklace. A necklace decorated with rubies would be nice.”

Though Leonard was already gone, Bliss, completely lost in thoughts of him, gave a casual answer to the craftsman’s question. She wasn’t very interested since jewelry wasn’t her original purpose.

“Then please tell me the design.”

“I don’t have anything in mind.”

When Bliss shook her head slightly, the craftsman asked for permission and went inside to bring back a book.

“These are designs I’ve made recently. Please tell me if you see something you like.”

The craftsman opened the cover himself and turned the pages one by one while watching Bliss’s reaction. Seeing the tension seeping into his face, Bliss thought it would be better to decide on one quickly. Bliss opened her mouth before checking the next design the craftsman presented.

“This one would be ni…”

The word ‘nice’ disappeared the moment she saw the design. It was a familiar necklace, one that was also in Bliss’s jewelry box. Bliss’s surprised eyes continued to scan the design.

The craftsman, observing her reaction, asked to confirm.

“Do you like this one?”

She wasn’t surprised because she liked it.

‘This is the necklace I received from Caelan.’

It was that poisoned necklace that the original Bliss had worn when she died.

“You made this?”

“Yes. It’s a work that encompasses all my skills. After Marquis Adrian liked it, orders came in from many places.”

The craftsman explained about the design with a proud face, seemingly not recognizing who she was.

“Did Marquis Adrian buy this himself?”

“He only saw and decided on it, but I handed the item over to someone else.”

“Could you explain the situation from that time in detail?”

Though the craftsman tilted his head, he kindly recalled and explained the events of that time in detail.

“It was a day like any other. A nobleman I’d never seen before came in, and I only learned he was Marquis Adrian later when writing up the order. After he paid on the spot, I made the necklace and handed it over a week later to someone who came in his place.”

The craftsman continued.

“When I asked if I didn’t need to check with him, I was told the Marquis was already at a ball. I was worried he might not like it, but seeing how orders increased afterward, it seems he was fortunately pleased with it.”

“Did he not come back after that?”

“That’s right.”

Bliss, not sensing anything unusual in the craftsman’s explanation, lowered her gaze again. With this, it became impossible to figure out who had tried to poison the necklace.

“This necklace changed my life significantly.”

When Bliss looked at the craftsman again, he pointed to his shop.

“More people recognized my skills, and one person in particular proposed regular business with me. My connection with the gentleman who just came with you also started with this necklace.”

“Then Viscount Jimilta knew everything about the necklace?”

“Yes. He directly asked me if I was the one who made this necklace. Since he’s such a famous person among craftsmen, I was glad as I had always wanted to make connections.”

“Viscount Jimilta is famous?”

“Because he’s very interested in ornaments. Not just jewelry, but he paid a lot of attention to women’s interests like dresses and dishes. So rumors circulated that he was doing it to give gifts to someone.”

At the craftsman’s explanation, Bliss suddenly recalled a previous conversation with Leonard.

[Isn’t this craftsman quite skilled?]

[Don’t you remember the pieces I gave you whenever I brought in craftsmen?]

The ornaments he gave saying they were pieces made whenever he brought in craftsmen. Since he said it was the first time after marriage, it meant he had given them before too.

In the end, Bliss turned away carrying complicated feelings about Leonard rather than Caelan.

Viscount Leonard Jimilta likes Bliss. To the extent of wanting to know everything about her…

***

Upon returning to the mansion, Bliss immediately called for Jackie. Following Mint, she couldn’t raise her head before Bliss and seemed very intimidated.

“Jackie and I need to talk alone.”

When Bliss dismissed everyone, Mint exchanged glances with others as they withdrew. At the small sound of the door closing, Jackie’s shoulders flinched, seeming suffocatingly tense about being left alone.

“I have questions about Viscount Jimilta.”

Bliss didn’t beat around the bush, and Jackie briefly met her eyes before nodding.

“Besides moving according to his orders, did you report everything about me too?”

“Yes.”

“What about before you came? Do you know if Viscount Jimilta had sent someone else then? Or was there someone who came in with you?”

“…I wasn’t alone from the beginning. But the other person disappeared at some point.”

Jackie’s face filled with terror as she added that she didn’t know where they went. She seemed to think she would disappear like that too if she disobeyed Leonard’s orders.

“Did Viscount Jimilta ever order you to kill me?”

“No, he didn’t. Rather, when I was following someone else’s orders, he later gave me different instructions.”

Leonard’s words were true. However, knowing he hadn’t tried to kill her didn’t bring relief.

‘He tried to find out everything about me.’

She knew he had feelings for her, but it went beyond that.

‘Could his coming with Duke Blast’s emblem also be related to me?’

Though there might be reasons like wanting to beat Caelan or forming close ties with Duke Blast, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was somehow involved.

Putting aside the matter of Duke Blast for now, Bliss continued her earlier questions.

“How many attempts were there to kill me?”

“Not many, as they started after you received the necklace from the Marquis at the ball.”

At this coincidental timing, Bliss’s eyes darkened.

“Have you never seen the other person’s face?”

“No. But they were smaller than Viscount Jimilta. …About your size.”

“I see, you can go.”

After Jackie left, Bliss touched her forehead.

‘The one trying to kill me…’

Was a woman?

Just when she thought the scope had narrowed, it widened again.

Caelan was behind the door that had opened slightly as Jackie left. He looked at Bliss’s troubled face. Before, he hadn’t thought deeply as he was busy seeking his own pleasure, but seeing her lost in thought like this made him feel strange.

What was troubling her mind? Given that she had called the maid sent by Viscount Jimilta, it was likely because of him, but he couldn’t be sure.

“Why don’t you go in and ask?”

It was advice from the butler standing like a shadow beside Caelan. Caelan glanced at the butler before fixing his gaze back on Bliss.

“How many misunderstandings have piled up from not having deep conversations until now? So you should just ask.”

Though Caelan didn’t look back, seeming to disagree with his words, the butler wore a subtle smile.

“Changes in relationships start with conversation, not assumptions and confirmations.”

As if saying to go inside, he opened the door for him.

When Bliss raised her head at sensing their presence, their eyes met and Caelan moved. As he accepted the advice and stepped forward, the butler quietly closed the door.

“How long have you been there?”

“What’s wrong?”

Caelan sat across from Bliss. The closer distance made her expression even clearer.

“You don’t seem to be thinking about me…”

As Caelan said, Bliss gave an ambiguous smile and avoided his gaze. It wasn’t easy to say she had been thinking about Leonard the whole time.

“Considering the time we’ve been back, it would be good to show some of your feelings.”

He meant misunderstandings could arise if she kept avoiding speaking again.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to hide it deliberately, I was planning to speak after thinking it through carefully.”

“I want to know.”

“Caelan?”

“Even if it’s raw.”

Caelan touched Bliss’s face.

“Tell me anything, it doesn’t matter what. Show me your heart.”