The Price of Pretty Stones
It was Ezra. "I cannot allow that for security reasons. As the head of Her Grace the Grand Duchess's security, it would be highly problematic."
Chloe blinked and looked up at Ezra. However, his profile was entirely expressionless, making his thoughts impossible to read.
What is this? Did he actually notice I was uncomfortable?
But Chloe quickly dismissed the thought. There was no way a blockhead like Ezra, who usually went about with a vacant, goofy grin, could be that perceptive. He was probably just taking his duty to protect the "Grand Duchess" a bit too literally.
Fortunately, Lady Basilure readily backed down, accepting his excuse. She then guided the group further inside with an exceedingly polite demeanor.
"I failed to consider that. Please forgive my rudeness..."
"Your Grace, there is a step here. Please watch your footing."
While Lady Basilure chattered away, the woman guiding Chloe from just behind offered a quiet warning. Chloe gave a light nod and looked at her. She was another middle-aged woman who bore a striking resemblance to Lady Basilure.
"Thank you. And you are?"
"Camille Basilure, Your Grace."
"She is my younger sister!" Lady Basilure hastily chimed in. "She does the metalwork and gem-setting on the third floor."
"Ah." Chloe nodded. Camille quietly stepped back. Lady Basilure rubbed her palms together with a silly chuckle. Despite her respectable appearance, her behavior was rather frivolous.
"I apologize once more for my rudeness. To tell you the truth, I was simply captivated by the Sacred Flame Her Grace is wearing."
"The Sacred Flame?" Chloe looked down at her left hand with renewed curiosity. There sat the amethyst ring the Grand Duke had told her to wear wherever she went for the time being.
Lady Basilure's eyes sparkled. "Exquisite! To think I would lay eyes on this ring once more!"
When Lady Basilure leaned in a bit too close, Ezra swiftly intervened again, forcing her to step back with a look of disappointment. According to her, the Sacred Flame Chloe was wearing was a treasure acquired by her late father. It was thanks to this very gem that their family had been granted a first-generation hereditary title.
Chloe felt a quiet sense of relief. The owner of such a high-end boutique required a certain level of respect, but Chloe still found it difficult to gauge social standing. However, if it was a hereditary title, she didn't need to overthink it—she could simply treat her as she would any other noble.
"This ring?"
"Yes. Originally, this precious thing was not cut in this cabochon style."
"I see..."
"It was massive, but the craftsmanship was dreadfully lacking. Our workshop recut and polished it, allowing its true beauty to be revealed to the world! Seeing this darling still shining so brilliantly fills my heart with such pride!"
There was undeniable affection in the way she referred to the gem as a "darling" and "precious thing." However, she rambled on endlessly—how she had only seen it once in her childhood before it was delivered to the royal family, how she had longed to see it again, and how honored she was to serve the Grand Duchess. It was enough to make Chloe's head spin.
"Wasn't it already a famous gemstone?"
"Of course, it was already legendary! A gem of this size with such flawless clarity and absolutely no inclusions is a near-miraculous occurrence. But every gemstone deserves the perfect attire! You could say we at Basilure tailored the most fitting garment for the Sacred Flame! And furthermore..."
Chloe had only asked a question to cut her off, but it had backfired, yielding an explanation twice as long. She deeply regretted it. Glancing back, she saw that Julia, Leah, and Iris all looked utterly exhausted as well.
"Right this way!"
They were led to the second floor of the boutique. Compared to its exterior, the interior was remarkably spacious and cozy. At the sight of the red velvet lining and the luxurious glass display cases, Leah let out an involuntary, "Whoa..." before quickly flushing red and shutting her mouth.
Still, it was a sight that naturally commanded admiration. Achieving uniform transparency in glass was difficult enough, yet they had used it not for windows, but for mere display cases. Iris's eyes also sparkled with wonder. Watching the young ladies, Lady Basilure let out a hearty laugh.
"Normally, I should have paid my respects to you at your residence, but I was truly astonished to receive word this morning."
"Ah. About that." Chloe hesitated for a moment before speaking honestly. "I don't really have an eye for these things. I came today to look at everything, from low-grade pieces to the finest luxury items."
"Everything... you say?" Lady Basilure blinked. Chloe nodded.
"To know what makes something good, one must also see what makes it bad. Do you not carry lower-grade items here?"
"I am afraid not. Our sole purpose is to curate and present only the most meticulously selected treasures."
"Oh dear." Chloe looked toward Julia. Julia leaned in and whispered softly.
"I only study fashion, so I cannot say for sure... but sometimes, by constantly looking at high-quality items, one naturally develops an eye for inferior ones. Besides, today isn't our only opportunity."
"But..." Chloe's gaze drifted slightly toward Camille. Standing in the background, Camille blinked in surprise at the attention, but it was her sister, Lady Basilure, who stepped forward once more. She beamed broadly and patted her chest with confidence.
"Your maid speaks the truth! Since you asked to see everything, I shall gladly show you the absolute best of what Basilure has to offer."
"Well... alright then." Since she insisted, Chloe had no choice but to agree. As if on cue, the boutique staff lined up nearby and began displaying the jewels in the room one by one.
"Ooh." Lady Basilure maintained her bright smile, launching into seamless, eloquent explanations of the gemstones. It usually went something like this:
"This is a ruby necklace known as 'The Blood Queen.' It earned its name twenty years ago in the Torqa Kingdom, when a certain countess shed the blood of hundreds just to possess it..."
"Ugh."
"Ah! And that is a beryl discovered by a dwarf in the underground caverns of the snowy mountains a century ago. Thanks to our exquisite cutting techniques..."
Her explanations were as smooth as if her tongue had been oiled. The only problem was the sheer volume of information. Just processing the display of gems and absorbing her non-stop commentary drained a significant amount of Chloe's energy.
To be fair, Lady Basilure's pride was not unfounded. Even a cursory glance revealed their immense size, flawless clarity, and delicate craftsmanship. Whether the gems carried legendary histories or not, every single one was magnificent. However, distinguishing the good from the bad among them remained an impossible task.
Lady Basilure offered a breezy smile. "Of course, when it comes to gems of this caliber, there is no 'better' or 'worse.' Ultimately, it is a matter of personal taste."
"A matter of taste."
"Everything here is of the absolute highest grade, but surely you wouldn't spend your wealth on something that doesn't capture your heart, would you?"
"Ah."
"Thus, the concept of the 'best item' is, in a way, quite meaningless. Whether it is a piece once worn by a queen consort or an emerald worth billions of sing, it is utterly worthless if it does not please the buyer."
Was that so? Seated on the plush sofa provided for her, Chloe surveyed the blindingly brilliant array of gems. Though the woman was an insufferable chatterbox, her words cut straight to the heart of the matter.
Curtis had told her that he didn't care what she bought. While he was a notoriously terrible boss to her, Chloe knew he was not a man of empty promises. Therefore, she truly could purchase any of these without consequence. Yet, none of them stirred even a flicker of desire in her heart.
"Does anything catch your eye?" Lady Basilure asked, as if reading her mind. Chloe shook her head.
"I'm not sure. Perhaps it is because I lack an eye for these things."
"It is always like that at first. If you find it difficult, focusing on your favorite colors is one way to start. Or..."
"Mmh. But spending such an astronomical sum on something I barely understand, simply because it's a color I like, doesn't sit right with me..."
At this, even Lady Basilure, who had maintained a plastered smile the entire time, could not hide her sheer bewilderment. Her face practically screamed, Are you serious? You're the Grand Duchess!
But Chloe was dead serious. After all, she had only been the Grand Duchess for a mere two days. The soul of a commoner—who used to walk thirty minutes to buy cabbage just because it was one sing cheaper than the shop in front of her house—was currently screaming in absolute agony.
Three million sing for a rock you can't even eat? And they want five hundred thousand more just because it's a slightly redder rock? On top of that, that green stone costs ten million sing, but it'll break if you wear it every day? Are these people insane?
It was so absurd that she began to wonder if Curtis was playing some sort of cruel joke on her. Buy all of this? Or is this a trap?
If I buy all of this, will he use it as an excuse to run a divorce headline in the newspapers, claiming he cannot tolerate an extravagant Grand Duchess?
Just as Chloe was spinning elaborate conspiracy theories about Curtis in her head, a faint commotion drifted in from outside the window.