A Sister’s Taste
"What? Are you kidding me? Unbelievable!"
"Even so, how can they just turn people away like this?"
"I am terribly sorry, we did send word, but..."
Chloe instinctively looked toward the second-floor window. Lady Basilure had left it open to show off how the jewels sparkled in the sunlight. Servants scrambled to shut the open window. Lady Basilure offered an awkward excuse.
"My deepest apologies. Since Your Grace rented out the entirety of Basilure today... we sent notice to our reserved clients, but it seems some are protesting."
In other words, because she had suddenly descended upon the jewelry shop, some scheduled customers had been turned away. Naturally, Chloe felt a twinge of guilt.
"Oh, I don't mind. I don't care if those customers are in the same room with us."
She was used to squeezing through crowded markets, shouting and fighting to grab discounted vegetables. A few more people in a jewelry shop wasn't going to bother her. But Lady Basilure's expression grew even more strained.
"But Your Highness, you requested to see every single piece we have in stock."
"...Ah."
Only then did Chloe realize anew that hundreds of jewelry boxes were piled up right in front of her. In other words, since she was occupying every single item in the shop, other customers wouldn't have anything to look at even if they came in. Chloe felt a bit sheepish.
"I see. My mistake."
"Not at all, Your Grace. Your consideration is truly extraordinary."
Lady Basilure gushed, showering the Grand Duchess with praise. Chloe, feeling awkward, focused back on the items. However, she soon had to admit that she possessed absolutely zero talent for this sort of thing. She couldn't tell what was better than what; though they were shiny and pretty, they didn't seem to suit her at all when she actually tried them on.
Ultimately, Chloe turned to Julia for help.
"Um, maybe we should look at clothes first? Jewels aren't terribly urgent right now. I have the wedding gifts, and if worst comes to worst, there are Queen Mildred's jewels..."
But Julia shook her head.
"Even so, Your Highness, you must have at least three or four basic sets for banquets, dinners, and daily wear."
But choosing just those three or four is the hard part, Chloe thought, squeezing her eyes shut. She had dozens of outfits to buy in the future, and here she was, getting a headache over jewelry. Today alone, she had to buy about ten day dresses and ten evening gowns—and that was just the bare minimum. On top of that, she needed riding habits, other miscellaneous attire, and loungewear.
Still, she understood Julia's perspective. Most noblewomen bought clothes to match their jewelry. It made sense; the cost of jewels and the cost of clothes were in entirely different leagues. Furthermore, Chloe was the bride who had received the Sacred Flame as a wedding gift. What she would wear to various social gatherings was bound to be the center of attention.
However, humanity is divided into two categories: those who can spend someone else's money without a single pang of conscience, and those who cannot. Chloe was firmly in the latter category. She was the type of person who couldn't rest unless she saved every penny, even if it wasn't her own.
"I'd prefer to buy something simple that goes well with anything..."
"Sister. Did you forget that's the exact same ridiculous reason your closet is filled with nothing but brown clothes? It's drab enough as it is. Why don't you just buy brown jewels while you're at it!"
Leah, unable to watch any longer, finally snapped. Chloe bristled.
"Hey! Brown is incredibly versatile!"
"Versatile, my foot! It's so 'versatile' that looking at you every day makes me feel drab too!"
"What does it matter to you if I like it, drab or not!"
"What do you mean, 'like it'! I want to steal and wear my sister's clothes and accessories like other girls do! Your closet is so tacky I can't even bring myself to open it!"
"Then don't wear them!"
"That's why I'm telling you to pick something pretty so I actually can! The Grand Duke told you to spend as much as you want anyway!"
An unexpected sisterly squabble erupted right in the middle of the jewelry shop. Of course, if one listened closely, it was just the playful bickering of sisters who deeply cared for each other, but to outsiders who didn't know their history, it was bound to be rather baffling. Lady Basilure looked away, pretending to organize the jewels, while Julia watched them with a gentle smile.
Iris, the youngest, quietly watched her older sisters before tugging on the hand of Ezra, who was standing silently beside her.
"My sister said she buys brown clothes because they remind her of me."
"Is that so?"
"But Leah said that's a lie. She said brown is the cheapest because it doesn't require any expensive dye."
Ezra, who had been half-heartedly nodding along, went blank. Moreover, the youngest's words had clearly reached the ears of the two older sisters. With flushed faces, they whipped around and yelled at Iris in unison.
"Will you be quiet?!"
Iris blinked her round silver eyes and shut her mouth. The employees, who had suddenly learned just how stingy the Grand Duchess had been before her marriage, fell into a dead silence.
It was then that a sudden snort of laughter broke the silence. It was Camille. Lady Basilure's face turned beet red as she barked,
"Camille!"
Of course, Camille hadn't expected everyone to fall silent so instantly either. She looked utterly horrified and immediately apologized.
"I-I am so sorry. I have committed a grave discourtesy. I beg for your—"
"Kneel and apologize this instant! Oh, Your Grace. My foolish sibling has committed a terrible offense. I beg for your mercy."
It's not like it's a capital offense, Chloe thought, waving her hand in embarrassment.
"It's fine. We were the ones being childish."
"I am so sorry. You just reminded me so much of how my sister and I used to be when we were young..."
"Camille, you idiot! What utter nonsense are you spouting! How dare you compare us to the Grand Duchess...!"
Camille stammered an excuse, but it only seemed to fuel Lady Basilure's rage. Chloe frowned.
"That is enough."
"Pardon? But..."
"I'm sure there was no ill intent. As a change of pace... Camille, was it? You are a jeweler here, correct?"
"Y-yes..."
"Could I perhaps take a look at the necklace you are wearing?"
Camille's eyes widened, and she instinctively touched her collarbone. Lady Basilure, on the other hand, looked so pale with fright that her face seemed almost dark.
"U-um, Your Highness. That is not an item carried by our shop."
Chloe blinked in surprise at the unexpected response. "Really? Since a jeweler is wearing it, I naturally assumed it was one of Basilure's pieces."
In a luxury boutique of this caliber, the staff would never wear anything subpar. Wearing another shop's creations was strictly forbidden, and displaying low-quality pieces in front of clients would only cast doubt on the employee's taste. Naturally, Chloe had assumed it was Basilure's work. Moreover, even from a distance, the necklace, bracelet, and hair ornament Camille wore looked incredibly delicate. Though the gems were much smaller than the ones Chloe had been browsing, making them harder to examine, they were by no means cheap.
"I know large gems are valuable, but those pieces catch my eye much more. Besides, these massive jewels aren't exactly practical for everyday wear."
Famous jewels were usually massive and dazzlingly brilliant. Queen Mildred's collection was no exception. But those weren't the only good things. Above all, dressing her sisters was part of Chloe's homework today. Curtis had explicitly told her to spend money on them. It made sense. Leah and Iris were now the sisters of the Grand Duchess. They would undoubtedly be invited to high-society events. Marrying into a ruling family was no simple matter. However, she couldn't buy Leah and Iris the kind of jewelry fit for a queen. Not only would maintenance be a nightmare, but it was also dangerous and entirely inappropriate for their age. They were still children. That was when Camille's jewelry caught Chloe's eye.
"Well..."
While Lady Basilure hesitated, her sibling spoke up quietly.
"The pieces I am wearing were crafted by our late father."
"Camille!"