Upon spotting Judith and Cedric, Odelia carefully set down Herse, who was in her arms, and approached the two of them.
"Cedric, Judith, how are you doing? I imagine Talamand is still having a lot of difficulties."
Judith smiled, slightly raising her eyebrows.
"Well, there were more interesting things to see than inconveniences."
Her gaze briefly turned toward the three men who had just been locked in a war of nerves, then returned.
It was Cedric and Judith who decided to stay a little longer instead of returning to the capital immediately.
"It’s a place that’s changing day by day. How should I put it... It feels alive. I also have a hunch that Odelia is going to create something big."
"In that case, as the first noble to reside here, please share your valuable opinions. Soon, there will be many more people and work."
"I would gladly do so, Lady Odelia."
Judith answered slyly.
"Instead, please let us know the interesting news first."
"Interesting news?"
As Odelia tilted her head, Judith's gaze once again subtly swept around her.
Two men who pretend otherwise but are obvious, and one kid who receives special treatment for being honest. And at the center of it all was Odelia.
Even that was just a tender fragment of daily life passing by under the tranquil sunlight on a peaceful afternoon in Talamand.
***
The hottest topic spreading through the Imperial Palace these days was none other than the diamond ring on Fabiana's finger. In terms of size and craftsmanship, it was an object worthy of being called a symbol of the Imperial family.
The ring was properly unveiled at a tea party. At the noble ladies' request to show it off as a gift sent by the Emperor, Fabiana hesitated for a moment, but soon raised her hand. The ring's 'brilliance' sparkled more dazzlingly than the tea in the glass.
It was after that day. Rumors spread like arrows through the mouths of the noble ladies.
"A diamond ring, and one of that size at that?"
"Perhaps something has changed between the two of them in the meantime? Maybe a wedding ceremony is coming up soon."
"Indeed. His Majesty seems to be paying unusual attention to Lady Fabiana."
Fabiana was not uncomfortable with such stares. On the contrary, she did not mind the attention being focused on her again after a long time.
However, the strange part began after that. Even after the ring, the Emperor continued to send gifts.
They were all precious metals made of diamonds. Necklaces, earrings, brooches—every single one was expensive, and what was even more surprising was that all these gifts arrived at a gathering of other nobles.
At some point, Fabiana could no longer hide her displeasure. She felt as though she were being forcibly disarmed in the face of deliberately fabricated gazes, enduring things she had to accept every time and things she could not refuse.
Eventually, unable to bear it any longer, Fabiana went to the Emperor's office. As she opened the door and stepped inside, she spoke bluntly.
"Why are you suddenly showering me with gifts like an offense when you never sent any at all? What on earth are you up to?"
Calix replied without taking his eyes off the documents.
"It's just a gift. If you don't like it, refuse it."
"Are you kidding me? You made sure to give it to me right in front of everyone, right where they could see! Making it impossible to refuse—is that really a gift? It's practically deception!"
Only then did Calix lift his head. Not a trace of emotion could be read from his expressionless face.
"You were the first one to come out wearing that necklace, Fabiana."
After saying that, he added with a smirk.
"I thought you liked diamonds very much."
Fabiana's lips trembled. Liking it, my ass. He was incredibly shameless, considering he hadn't once said a single flattering compliment like 'it suits you' or _it's beautiful.'
'What on earth is his ulterior motive...?'
It was a few more weeks later that Fabiana, who had quietly stormed out of the office without achieving any results, came to know Calix's intentions.
Fabiana, who had been on edge since morning because of the crying child, picked the child up and tried to soothe him clumsily, but she couldn't control her temper and grumbled.
"Why is he whining like this, seriously..."
"That's strange. You were perfectly fine just a moment ago..".
"So, are you saying I did something wrong now? Are you saying that I, the mother, am the problem?"
"Th-that's not it..."
As Fabiana raised her voice, the nanny bowed her head in embarrassment, not knowing what to do.
Just as the baby seemed to stop crying for a moment, Fabiana was about to breathe a sigh of relief, but at that moment the door burst open, and the Duke of Devon burst in.
"Where on earth are all those rings!"
"Ah. Seriously... I just managed to soothe the kid! Why are you crying again!"
"Aaaah!" At the sound of crying rising again, Fabiana finally handed the baby over to the nanny. Then, letting out a sigh of annoyance, she ignored Devon and left the room, but Devon persistently followed her.
"I'm talking about the diamonds! That ring, the brooch, the necklace, the earrings... Where did you stash all of that?! Get it all out of the way!"
"What are you talking about, coming here all of a sudden!"
"I heard the Emperor provided support for Adamant mining in Talamand. Why on earth do you think he did that?"
Fabiana narrowed her eyes. She felt something was off.
"...Adamant? Well, what is it?"
"Why? What do you mean 'why'? Do you think that diamond on your hand is just a ring? The Emperor is using you to shake us up!"
Upon hearing those words, Fabiana realized why Calix had sent her the diamonds as if showering her with them. That it was not a simple gift, but a thoroughly calculated move.
"Those rings and necklaces you were wearing—every single one of them was made of Talamand diamonds! Rumors had spread that there was an Adamant mine in that area, and you practically went around promoting it yourself!"
Devon's voice trembled with anger.
"Now, 'Talamand's Diamonds' have completely become the trend among the nobles! The Emperor put you at the forefront to promote them!"
Fabiana felt as though she could hear the whispers of noblewomen from all directions. The mere thought of the mockery that all the jewels she wore were 'from there' made her rage surge.
Fabiana's face also quickly turned bright red, with an expression mixed with shame and a vague sense of helplessness in addition to anger.
Perhaps because they are father and daughter, they are exactly alike, from the way their faces flush red when they are angry to the way they huff and puff and exhale as if grinding their teeth.
The Duke of Devon looked at his daughter and shook his head as if reflecting on his past mistakes.
"That ring, that necklace, every single diamond was proof that money was flowing in Talamand. The noble ladies might not know where the jewels came from, but the ministers did. They knew where the mines were and who benefited from them; even though the word 'Adamant' had been mentioned, we just sat idly by."
She finally understood why the Emperor had merely given her gifts. The Emperor hadn't allowed for vanity; he had simply played her like a chess pawn.
"We'll have to wait and see how the Emperor moves. If she truly has the entirety of Talamand on her back, she is no longer someone who can be eliminated with a single word."
A moment of silence followed.
That also meant it could become 'static'.
Devon turned around and said his final words.
"The tables have turned. It might be foolish for us to continue acting openly hostile."
The Duke of Devon’s face had grown noticeably cold as he spoke. Fabiana looked straight into his face and felt a strange sense of unease.
Then, suddenly, she was overwhelmed by a feeling that caught her breath. Anger and impatience intertwined, and her voice trembled.
"...Surely not. You can't be, right? Are you trying to get close to that woman, that Odelia, now?"
Fabiana asked sharply. Her eyes were already agitated.
The mere fact that Odelia had grown into a threat to her was unpleasant enough, but the possibility that even her father might choose her wounded Fabiana's pride.
However, no reply came from Devon. He simply turned around and walked away.
That silence spoke more than words could. Fabiana spat out quietly, yet in a voice heavy with venom, toward his retreating figure.
"No matter who you are, you wouldn't choose that woman over me. You can't do that..."
However, no answer came back in the end, and only the sound of his footsteps was quietly fading away.
Fabiana stared at her father's receding back for a long time.
Strangely enough, she felt no anger, disappointment, or sadness. Instead, her mind became clear.
It felt as if emotions that had been tangled up for a long time had been unraveled in an instant. It felt like she had finally let go of everything she had been unable to completely empty or cut off because of the name 'father.'
If she couldn't even trust jer father, then she was the only one left.
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