The ladies' expressions turned awkward. They were about to lash out, calling it preposterous, but paused for a moment as they imagined the possibility.
Fabiana looked around, then leisurely rolled her fingertips along the round rim of the teacup and added.
"Of course, that's just my guess. But think about it. If the connections and knowledge of that fallen family still remain somewhere... it wouldn't be surprising that Talamand is acting the way they are now. Isn't that interesting?"
The ladies exchanged glances and communicated through eye contact. The voices attempting to refute gradually faded away.
Fabiana did not miss that opportunity.
"If it's during childhood when development is incomplete... physical features aren't very prominent, so couldn't you fool them with just a difference in clothing?"
The ladies looked at Fabiana again. She continued, tapping the table leisurely with her fingertips.
"Actually, come to think of it, isn't Madame Talamand's entire background unbelievably incredible? Whether it was participating in the battlefield and achieving merit as a woman, or holding a debutante ball despite being of humble birth... none of these are ordinary feats."
The atmosphere became somber, and silence fell. The ladies could not easily agree, nor could they openly deny it.
"It is entirely my imagination. But you know, wouldn't it be truly interesting if the last spark of the Rubis family were rekindled in Talamand?"
Fabiana smiled gently.
Anxiety and curiosity hung over the ladies' faces simultaneously. The seed Fabiana had planted in their hearts was gradually sprouting.
It was then. A servant approached cautiously, then knelt down and presented the box.
"This is a gift sent by His Majesty the Emperor, who said he brought it from Talamand."
Fabiana raised her eyebrows slightly.
"Gift?"
As the servant opened the box, a dazzling diamond ring lay neatly inside. The gem, sparkling brilliantly as if bathed in light thanks to its exquisite craftsmanship, matched the necklace Fabiana was wearing like a matching set.
"Oh my, that's...!"
"Good heavens, what a truly radiant light."
"To think it comes as a set with a necklace, His Majesty the Emperor is truly devoted."
Amidst the admiration of those around her, Fabiana stared at the ring, frozen for a moment.
What's going on? Why the sudden ring? And as if showing it off in front of everyone...
However, she soon smiled and put the ring on her finger.
The necklace and ring shone as if they were a matching set. The ladies' eyes were drawn to them, and their voices grew louder.
Fabiana raised her glass and lightly moistened only her lips. On the surface, it was a gentle and dignified smile, but her gaze was deep beneath the cold water.
***
A few days later, as the contract was executed, the landscape of Talamand changed once again.
Engineers and laborers dispatched by the imperial court flocked in large numbers to mine adamant, and officials sent by noble families also appeared alongside them. With carriages and equipment lining up to enter and exit the castle gates, the quiet frontier territory became bustling and noisy overnight.
New lodgings and warehouses were built along the path leading to the mine, and merchants moved swiftly to begin preparing for the first trade of the mined adamant ore.
And at the center of it all was Odelia. As she looked around the mine, she was talking with the mine supervisor, holding a blueprint spread out in one hand.
Dressed in dust-covered work clothes, she was no longer the lady seen at the court balls. The vitality in her eyes grew clearer day by day, and even her sweat-soaked bangs felt confident.
"We will designate this entire area as the central Adamant mining site. We should identify additional ore veins here and include them in the second contract."
The administrators immediately took out their notebooks and wrote down her words. She was clearly the owner of this land.
Odelia spread her blueprints on the bare ground and walked around the bustling mine all day. The sun was scorching, and the dust was suffocating, but her steps continued without rest.
As a result, there were times when she wandered around absentmindedly.
"...Ah. Damn it, I forgot again- the safety helmet."
Just like now. She was about to go back into the mine after taking a short break.
At that moment, something slid down from behind.
"...Please use this."
It was Philip.
"I got another one from the repair shop behind. This is the third one today, Odelia."
“Ah, thank you.”
Odelia chuckled and quickly took the safety helmet and put it on. Her bangs poked her forehead, and the sweat looked quite bothersome. Then, this time, Philip silently held out his canteen.
"Shouldn't you be getting more rest? At least drink some more water. You might collapse from exhaustion."
“Oh. Thank you.”
Odelia was walking while drinking water when she suddenly lost her footing. Just as she was about to lose her balance, Philip firmly supported her back.
"I told you to stop and eat, didn't I? How many times is this just today?"
Philip's low, deep voice rose from beside her ear.
"Don't overwork yourself."
Odelia felt awkward for no reason at the blunt remarks. Then, suddenly, she recalled Calix's face when he was jealous of Philip.
'Don't give that guy too much of a chance.'
That expression mixed with a hollow laugh, the sharp gaze, and the look that stared silently for a long time.
Odelia's lips curled up at the memory that had suddenly come to mind. You have a cute side.
Philip raised his eyebrows crookedly at the sight of her letting out snickers. Had she pushed herself too hard and lost her mind?
It was the moment he was about to place his hand on Odelia's forehead. Odelia looked up at him with wide, alert eyes.
"Don't like me, because there's already someone I like."
Philip blinked his eyes in disbelief.
"...No one said they liked you, you know?"
"Still, just in case."
Odelia smiled again. It was a look filled with considerable mischief.
Philip turned away, shaking his head silently as if he were utterly fed up.
Odelia nodded slightly at the sight of him scurrying away, muttering, "I shouldn't have said anything." Look, no matter how you look at it, it was clearly a misunderstanding.
While Odelia wasn't looking, Philip's earlobes and the nape of his neck had turned subtly red.
Philip, who had been walking while clearing his throat for no reason, stopped in his tracks.
"..."
"..."
A tiny little young master, so small he wouldn't even reach his waist, was glaring at him with a look of utter spite.
...Ah. He was Odelia's nephew. The son of the Marquis of Bardo.
"Hmph."
Herse, with a pout, crossed his arms and glared at him, then changed his expression as if nothing had happened and quickly ran over to hug Odelia tightly.
"Herse, I told you not to. I told you it's dangerous, so what are you doing coming here?"
The small helmet slid down deep onto the child's forehead.
“Weeee.”
Herse playfully stuck out his tongue at Philip, who was visible over Odelia's shoulder. Then, he tightly hugged Odelia by the nape of her neck. It was exactly as if he were saying, "Auntie is mine."
"Wow, look at that young master?" A man in a very neat suit, completely out of place in a quarry, walked over to Philip, who was placing his hands on his hips in disbelief.
"Herse, I told you it's not polite to hug just anyone like that."
"Auntie isn't just anyone, Dad!"
Herse retorted to Damian without backing down.
Just as Philip couldn't hold back his laughter any longer and burst out laughing, he made direct eye contact with Damian, who was passing by.
He seemed to be scanning Philip up and down with his usual indifferent expression, but his eyes became ever so slightly narrower and sharper than usual, giving him a look that seemed to be on high alert.
Philip also did not back down and met the gaze.
Someone who had been quietly watching the scene where the three men were creating a strange tension muttered in a low voice.
"Seriously... Given that positions are already set, men are something else..."
Odelia, you are like a sinful woman.
As Judith clicked her tongue and muttered, Cedric, who was standing beside her, felt as though he were looking at his past self and simply looked at the men with a look of great pity.
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