Honestly, the relationship between Margareta and Evan wasn’t bad. That is, if the obstacles Margareta imagined weren’t there. Whether it was business or childhood friendship, it was a relationship much closer than that of strangers.
“Here.”
“…You’re being kind today, Evan?”
Margareta wanted to smack her own mouth for being unable to say thank you. Her spiraling hair shook playfully. Guided by the manager and escorted by Evan, Margareta went up to the eighth floor. The sound of her heels clicked cheerfully.
“I don’t like private rooms. Is this okay?”
Evan motioned for the manager to step back and pulled out the chair himself. Margareta’s cheeks flushed a light pink. She blinked repeatedly. For a moment, she lost her words and stared at Evan’s handsome face as if falling for him all over again.
“Margareta, sit down.”
“Oh!”
Margareta sat down quickly, and Evan took the seat opposite her.
“I dislike guest rooms.”
“I’m not complaining, so stop talking about it,” Margareta said sharply.
This tone of hers! That loud voice!
Margareta recalled her conversation with Lyana. She had been told she sounded like she was shouting. *Sigh.* After a huge argument with her grandfather—who had praised her by saying she was as cool as a Great General—she had managed to secure this lunch appointment with Evan.
But it was difficult. Every time she tried to speak kindly and gently, it felt as though her entire body was becoming paralyzed. To soothe the turmoil of nervousness and excitement inside her, Margareta tried to finish her black tea in one gulp… only to fail and end up coughing.
“Good grief. What are you doing?”
When Evan handed her a napkin, Margareta snatched it away. Her movements were rougher because of her embarrassment. While she regretted it as she wiped her mouth, Evan wasn’t even looking at her.
‘This is why I lose my temper!’
“Mind your own business!”
“You shouldn’t say that to someone you came to have a meal with.”
Evan looked up from the menu. He shook his head with a hollow laugh. As he returned to scanning the menu, Margareta’s cheeks flushed again.
Look at that. He’s laughing! He’s laughing because of me.
‘Yes, Evan doesn’t hate me!’
Seeing Evan’s hollow laugh, Margareta hid her mouth with her fan and smiled secretly.
For some reason, she felt a surge of emotion. He was being so casual and kind to her! So why had he acted so cold and mean in front of Cecilia Mencheson?
Margareta’s eyes turned fierce for a moment, but as soon as Evan looked up, she feigned innocence and looked elsewhere.
“The usual?”
“Yes. That’s fine.”
See how familiar we are!
Cecilia Mencheson!
You’re just a passing acquaintance, but Evan and I are different. Margareta let out a confident snort.
Once the manager left with the order, the table felt exceptionally quiet. This club was famous for its tall building, but the food was also excellent. Not to mention the interior design. Its greatest advantage was likely the sound-dampening magic devices installed at every table.
For nobles who disliked enclosed spaces like private rooms, the club provided a wide hall with ample distance between tables, while the devices ensured privacy.
‘I know he hates private rooms even without him saying it.’
Margareta looked at the silent Evan and felt a bit disappointed for no reason. Still, his choice of a place like this showed he had good taste! Evan looked even more dashing than usual today.
“Wow, this sapphire! I thought it disappeared from the market as soon as it went up for sale, but here it is! Manager!”
Margareta’s eyes caught sight of a gemstone while she was staring intently at Evan, who was looking out the window. On the eighth-floor railing, there was a sapphire embedded in the finial of a flag used as a sign.
It wasn’t uncommon for high-end shops to decorate their signs with jewels. It was a confident display of the shop’s luxury and its security personnel — though some shops tried to imitate this with fakes, and others had genuine diamonds the size of a child’s fist stolen after going into debt to buy them. In comparison, a sapphire like that was a common enough sight.
“How may I help you?” the manager asked, bowing politely.
Margareta’s eyes sparkled as she stared fiercely at the sapphire on the flag. Her eyes shone as sharply as an eagle’s hunting for prey. Evan initially looked puzzled, then eventually let out a sigh.
Margareta Torrento, a woman obsessed with jewels!
While it was somewhat amusing, Evan seemed to be thinking about something else. Fortunately, Margareta’s interest was pinned solely on the sapphire.
“That’s not just any sapphire. Right?”
“Lady, you have an excellent eye.”
The manager smiled as if it were painted on.
“What impressive resourcefulness! So the person who bought it before it even appeared in the largest market was you, Manager?”
“Not exactly, but since it flowed into this shop, I suppose it ended up that way.”
“Unbelievable! Is it true that jewels have owners? Did the jewel find its master?” Margareta cried out with a serious face.
Her voice, as bright as the midday sun, cut through the gaps between the tables regardless of the sound-dampening magic devices.
“Margareta.”
There was no way she would stop just because he called her name.
Evan crossed his legs while sipping his tea. Then, a familiar face seemed to pass by below the window. Rich, golden-brown hair caught his eye.
“Lyana?”
Evan straightened his posture and stood up to look closely out the window.
“Move, Evan! I can’t see!”
Evan narrowed his eyes and stepped toward the window.
“Ha! Are you finally recognizing the true value of a gem?”
Margareta’s face was filled with excitement and thrill.
“Look, if I buy it, will that jewel eventually find its way to me?”
Margareta was currently obsessed with the theory that ‘items find their owners’ or ‘items choose their owners.’ It had started ever since that phrase appeared in the jewelry magazine she read!
Margareta pointed to the flawless treasure of the sea hanging from her ear—a pearl.
“Look at this. A pearl this thick is rare in the empire, but I managed to get it. It might flow in naturally, but isn’t the real deal something you seize for yourself?”
“Well. Perhaps so.”
“Then will you sell that jewel?”
That sapphire!
Margareta pointed toward the back haphazardly. The manager gave a troubled smile.
“It hasn’t been long since we brought it in…”
“I’ll pay three times the price!”
Margareta slammed the table with a confident smile. The nobles at other tables, who valued their privacy, finally couldn’t contain their curiosity and glanced over, even though they knew it was rude.
However, Margareta ignored those looks entirely. Her eyes were burning with confidence! Her face was shining brighter than ever.
“How about we discuss this after you’ve finished your meal? The appetizers are ready.”
The manager smiled, the corners of his eyes wrinkling. Behind him, a full spread of appetizers that looked both extravagant and delicious was being set out.
“Fine, since I am hungry. Let’s definitely talk again later.”
Margareta patted the manager’s shoulder firmly, as if she were treating her own direct subordinate. Of course, it was an old habit, so she didn’t even realize she was doing it.
“Have an enjoyable time.”
Leaving his greeting, the manager stepped away, and Margareta spread the napkin over her lap.
‘What? Where did Evan go!’
Margareta was the type who couldn’t see her surroundings once she was focused on something. This time, she had been so crazed by the jewel that she hadn’t noticed her environment. She didn’t even remember telling Evan to ‘move out of the way’ earlier because she couldn’t see the gem.
Looking at the empty seat across from her, she spotted Evan standing by the window looking down at something. She pouted.
What is this? We finally came here, and he’s distracted?
“Evan! What are you doing?”
Margareta stood up abruptly and pulled his sleeve. She looked out at the street to see what he was staring at, but what was there? She only saw a short person heading to another district and some nobles walking leisurely like swans. It was a common landscape that evoked no particular emotion.
“I’d understand if it were a jewel, but what are you staring at so intently?”
“No, I just thought I saw someone I know.”
Hmm.
Evan stroked his chin and looked at the street one more time before returning to his seat.
“Whatever.”
Margareta grumbled and sat down. Even as they began their meal, Evan looked toward the window as if drawn to it.
“That sapphire isn’t just an ordinary jewel. You see…”
“Is that so?”
Despite Evan’s dull response, Margareta didn’t give up. She thought this lunch was perfect. The weather was clear and nice, and she really liked the membership club Evan had booked. There were occasional glances directed her way, but since Margareta loved being the center of attention, she actually enjoyed it.
“The manager is just stalling for no reason. I know how high the value of that jewel is, but even so, it’ll be less than what my family can pay. And it would be an honor for the jewel to come to our family. It’s better to be with the Torrento family than to be hung up like an exhibition in a shop. Why bother displaying something so precious?”
Margareta picked up her wine glass, swirled it twice, and held it up against the light of the chandelier. It smelled bitter yet sweet. Margareta savored the aroma of the wine and took a sip.
“Mmm.”
She let out a satisfied sound.
“…”
“…”
After talking about the sapphire for so long, she ran out of things to say. The heat of the one-sided conversation that had flared up cooled down. Only then did Margareta properly look at Evan’s face.
Evan was usually the type to be smiling. He looked like the Crown Prince everyone expected—kind and gentle.
But Margareta knew. Because she had visited the Imperial Palace often since childhood and hung out with Evan, she might be the only one who knew.
Evan was currently bored. That smile was his ‘business smile.’
The moment she realized that, Margareta felt her appetite vanish. Evan originally had a small appetite and didn’t eat much, but even considering that, the appetizers served before him had barely decreased. He hadn’t even taken a sip of his wine.
Margareta had forgotten about being rebuked by him in front of the Management Office, and she had forgotten they hadn’t reconciled. She had simply been happy about today’s date and prattled on about the jewels she liked, forgetting everything else, and yet…
‘What is this?’
“Is it not good?”
Margareta abruptly set down the fork she had used to poke at her salad.