Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: In Search of the Ring (3)
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“This place we came to first really is the best, isn't it?”
“I think so too.”
“It's a shame, but I guess there's no helping it.”
The door chimed with a charing as it opened, and the shopkeeper glanced up briefly to see the young man and woman from earlier.
Their conversation suggested they'd checked out the other shops nearby, but the owner lowered his head again and focused on the ring he was engraving.
Distracted by other places, you'd never produce what you set out to make.
“You said this one was your favorite here, right?”
“...It's just my personal opinion.”
“It's for you, so your opinion matters the most.”
“Pardon? What do you...”
The owner looked up again at the approaching footsteps and saw a tall young man.
He himself was on the taller side, but even sitting down, he had to crane his neck quite a bit to meet the man's gaze.
Despite his somewhat weary features, there was an intense passion burning in his sparkling eyes.
“We'll take this one. Oh, and if you have a chain for wearing it around the neck like a necklace, that would be great.”
As he spoke, he carefully set the ring down from the display and lightly tapped it, the corner of his mouth curling up in a way that made him look like the type who could charm women effortlessly.
A quick glance behind him revealed a cat-eared woman wagging her tail in slight bewilderment.
A gift for a cherished servant, perhaps?
That wasn't his business.
He expertly packaged the item and tossed in a silver chain suitable for wearing around the neck. In return, he received a pile of gold coins far exceeding the price.
“This is...”
“Think of it as respect for a skilled craftsman.”
Beneath the gold coins was a card-like piece of paper.
One of those newfangled 'business cards' that were starting to catch on, he thought, slipping it into his pocket.
The young man shrugged at the sight, pocketed the ring, and said as he left,
“If you ever get interested, give me a call.”
“Y-Young master? Why that ring...”
“You said you liked it, Sion.”
“W-Well, yes, but it's quite expensive...”
“Eh, I've got plenty of money.”
With that, he patted the woman's head.
“Besides, I couldn't have made it this far without you always by my side, supporting me. This is the least I can do.”
“...Thank you.”
Her ears flushed red as her tail swayed gently. Her face remained expressionless, but she clearly looked pleased.
The door chimed with a charang as it closed, and the owner stared after their retreating figures before chuckling softly.
“Well, isn't that something.”
He quickly cleared his mind of stray thoughts and bent back to his work.
When he finally finished the ring and looked up, night had already fallen outside.
Absorbed in his task, he'd lost track of time. He massaged his stiff neck and stretched his back, then suddenly remembered something and rummaged in his pocket.
A business card, dusted with silver-gray metal shavings from his hands.
In the center, etched in a clean yet bold font, were the black letters "E&G".
“Respect for a craftsman, huh?”
Recalling the young man's words from earlier, he flipped the card over to see an elegant, gold-foiled script name.
“Julian... Everglow...?”
He blinked, doubting his eyes, but the name didn't change.
Kindly, it noted that he was at the Everglow Hotel and invited him to visit if interested.
“Hah... That guy from earlier was the youngest of the Everglow Family?”
He blinked in disbelief and rose from his seat.
Even after downing a bottle of water in one go, he still looked stunned.
The capital's streets had boomed over the past decade thanks to the emperor's policies.
Merchants and craftsmen alike who did business here were all attuned to rumors.
Otherwise, they'd be swept away in an instant, gathering dust and vanishing without a trace.
Even craftsmen indifferent to worldly affairs were no exception.
And Julian Everglow was a name always buzzing in the capital.
“Good grief, what am I thinking.”
He wiped his hands adequately, removed his apron, donned his outer coat, and hurried to the tavern.
“Hey, Vardan! Over here!”
Men already drinking raised their hands to call him over.
They all sported bushy beards and rough, calloused hands. Their faces were flushed, likely from a drink or two.
“What kept you so late?”
“Ah, you know, finishing up some work...”
“Tsk tsk, without us, you'd have skipped dinner again.”
“Now that Vardan's here, let's order more snacks.”
“Sounds good. Beer anyway, right?”
“Five beers here! And some more jerky while you're at it!”
Soon after the order, the table thunked under mugs of beer and platters of food.
As soon as the mugs arrived, they gulped them down without ceremony, wiping their mouths with satisfied kreuughs.
“Beer is the best, hands down.”
“These days, they say folks are into whiskey and such.”
“Hah, what would rough guys like us want with wee-skee? Beer for men, beer.”
As they ate and drank, chattering away, Vardan recalled the earlier visit from Julian.
“By the way, did any of you have unusual customers today?”
“Unusual? Who?”
“You know, a tall guy and a girl with cat ears.”
“Oh, that rich-looking fellow?”
“He came to my shop too. Didn't buy anything, just browsed for a while and left.”
“Same here. The girl was chattering away, but the guy seemed clueless.”
Vardan chimed in as his fellow jewelers shared their stories.
“They came to mine too. After looking around, he bought a ring.”
“Didn't buy from mine, but from you, huh?”
“A ring? What kind?”
“This guy's no good at making wedding rings, right?”
“Nah, he even asked for a necklace chain to wear it on, so I threw one in.”
“I see, not a wedding ring then.”
“So, what happened?”
“What do you mean? He was loaded, alright—handed over a heap of gold coins.”
Vardan lowered his voice and gestured with his hands so others wouldn't overhear, drawing gasps of admiration.
“Whoa, gold coins?”
“Our stuff is pricey, but not that much...”
“Taking that much could get you in trouble. Should've given it back.”
“I was gonna ask, but he said, 'It's respect for a craftsman.'”
“Whoa...”
“Then he left with the girl.”
“Nothing else?”
As his colleagues pressed, Vardan remembered the business card in his pocket but shook his head.
“Nah. Just said he'd come back sometime.”
“Eh, that's just polite talk.”
“Tch. If he'd bought from me, I'd have thrown a party.”
As they returned to their drinks and banter, Vardan cautiously fingered the card in his pocket.
He could almost hear Julian's voice: If you're interested, come find me.
“You really like it that much?”
“...Yes. I swear I won't take it off.”
“No need to go that far... Actually, if you like it, that's what matters.”
The ring I'd bought for Sion on our last outing together must have really pleased her; she was wearing it on the necklace chain we'd gotten, hanging it around her neck.
It had been days now, and she kept admiring it in the mirror whenever she had a moment.
At least while working, she tucked it between her breasts where it wouldn't show...
But then, what was the point of the necklace?
Like a dog tag?
In my past life, I'd never worn necklaces or rings, so it was hard to understand.
After discharge, necklaces felt like leashes, and rings made my fingers feel stuffy.
I'd never even had a girlfriend to try couple rings with.
“Good thing I bought the chain too. It's not itchy against your skin or anything?”
“No, it's silver, so no issues at all.”
Sion nodded and touched around her neck as she spoke.
To my eyes, there was no swelling or redness either.
“Yeah, gold or silver is best for skin contact.”
Rings might be inconvenient for Sion with her busy hands, so I'd gotten the chain—and it seemed like the right call.
This meant getting one for Arselia with a chain too might work well.
“Now, the key is the design...”
Tastes varied from person to person, after all.
I could reference something, but asking my girlfriend's secretary to pick a ring for my girlfriend felt off.
Even if it missed the mark a bit, wouldn't it be better if I, her boyfriend, chose it?
“How about observing the accessories Executive Director usually wears?”
“I've got that all memorized already.”
Not every day, but her earrings and necklaces changed regularly.
Probably matched to her outfit or mood that day?
I had no fashion sense, but I knew that much basic common sense.
“You remember all that?”
“It's what my girlfriend wears. Shouldn't I pay at least that much attention?”
Even similar black jackets had different lining colors or button shapes.
Days she swept her hair back versus tying it neatly differed too.
Her underwear probably matched her shirt color...
“Ahem...”
Asking her directly would be awkward, and mentioning it might embarrass her, so I'd keep that observation to myself.
“Young master...”
Sion, who'd been with me over ten years, seemed to pick up on it without a word and subtly stepped aside.
“But white and black are see-through—what am I supposed to do about that...!”
“That's true...”
She was already gorgeous with a killer figure, drawing eyes everywhere, so it bugged me even more.
Sion, in a similar spot, started wearing vests over white shirts once she developed more.
Thick enough shirts that didn't show through were too hot for running around after me.
“Even as her boyfriend, obsessing over what she wears feels a bit much...”
“?”
“I mean, she's not a kid; she's a full-grown adult.”
Saying 'Sis has too sexy a body, so dress like that only in front of me!' would be embarrassing.
“Which is exactly why you should care, shouldn't you?”
“...Yeah, maybe.”
“Yes. And I think Executive Director would love hearing you say that.”
“...”
I eyed Sion silently, questioning if she meant it, but she nodded earnestly as if to say it was true.
Come to think of it, she always projected confidence and composure, so she might melt for bold advances.
Ah, my Arselia sis is just too lovable; it's hard to stay calm.
Tomorrow, I'll shower her with affection.
“Alright... Clear my schedule for the next two days starting tomorrow. Push anything non-urgent to next week.”
“Yes. Any other instructions?”
Something else I needed to handle...
Oh, almost forgot that.
“Do the kids working at our hotel even eat properly?”
We do this to eat and live, after all. They have to eat.