Chapter 8
The necklace Aleisia pointed to was the one at the very bottom of the jewelry box. A simple necklace with a deep pink hue rested neatly on the velvet cushion.
She looked at the tourmaline necklace, which was less radiant than the other jewels, and spoke.
“I would prefer to receive this one over the ruby, if that’s alright with you.”
“Hmmm… How about these diamond earrings? Or perhaps the emerald necklace might suit you well?”
The Queen appeared to be flustered. It seemed she was trying to divert Aleisia’s attention from the tourmaline necklace by presenting other, more expensive jewels.
Aleisia, however, didn’t look at the other jewels and spoke calmly.
“If this is inconvenient, I’ll accept another jewel. Gifts should be accepted as given. I didn’t intend to trouble you, Your Majesty, so please don’t be upset.”
Aleisia finished speaking and gave a gentle smile. The Queen stared at her and the tourmaline necklace with a perplexed look.
After staring at the necklace for a while, the Queen finally smiled. With a bright expression, she said,
“May I ask why you want this necklace? Tourmaline is a semi-precious stone and isn’t very valuable. You could ask for something more extravagant, you know.”
“I said I wanted this necklace because I’m being greedy,” Aleisia responded politely, moving closer to the jewelry box. She fixed her gaze on the necklace placed separately within the box and continued,
“You’ve placed the least expensive stone in the most precious spot. That must mean it has some other value, something that can’t be measured in money.”
The Queen paused, her face deep in thought as she opened and closed her fan. Silence settled in the room for a moment.
The Queen’s lips slowly curled upward as she silently studied Aleisia. Then, she elegantly closed her fan and said,
“Franz has really chosen a wonderful princess. You can see the true value of an object at a glance.”
The Queen reached out her hand to Aleisia.
Aleisia knelt and took her hand. The Queen led her to sit beside her, speaking in a kind tone.
“You’re right. This tourmaline necklace is the most precious and valuable gem to me. It was given to me by my late mother.”
“I didn’t know about that. Please forgive my rudeness.”
Aleisia stood up from the sofa and knelt, but the Queen quickly helped her up.
“Don’t worry. I’m happy to know what kind of person the Ambrose young lady is.”
The Queen’s elegant hand touched Aleisia’s head, smoothing her red hair, as she continued speaking.
“And I’m sorry.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean…?”
“The royal family paid a considerable dowry to the Ambrose family. That’s why I misunderstood you. I tried to win your heart with expensive gifts.”
Aleisia bit her lip slightly at the Queen’s words.
She had known that Patricia had used her to deal with the royal family, but hearing it directly from the Queen made her feel embarrassed.
“Thank you for the favor you have shown to our family. But now that I’m with the royal family, I want to be a member of the royal family, not just someone from Ambrose. Becoming a precious family member to you, Your Majesty, is the most valuable gift I could receive. May I receive that gift?”
Aleisia spoke quietly and slightly lifted her head. She then gave a shy smile and took the Queen’s hand.
“Please allow me, Your Majesty.”
The Queen stared at Aleisia for a moment. As she looked deeply into Aleisia’s green eyes, she slowly nodded her head.
It was a deeper gaze than when she had first seen Aleisia.
“Of course, you may.”
The Queen gestured to a servant. While the servant stepped away, the Queen spoke kindly.
“I can’t give you my mother’s necklace, but I’ll give you something else instead.”
“Your Majesty, I’ve brought it.”
“Good. Show it to the young lady.”
A servant brought a small jewelry box and, with respectful manners, opened it in front of Aleisia.
Aleisia’s lips parted in surprise as she gazed inside the box.
Inside, there was a radiant diamond necklace. It was designed to wrap around the entire neck, with large, heavy diamonds and small, sesame-like diamonds arranged in a harmonious mesh pattern.
It was clearly a piece of jewelry that would be worth a tremendous amount of money.
“Your Majesty, this…”
“This is the necklace I wore at my wedding. It’s a family heirloom from the Roshanack family.”
The Queen took the necklace from the box and placed it around Aleisia’s neck.
With a click, Aleisia felt the heavy weight of the jewel.
“It suits you very well.”
“Thank you. I’ll treasure it…”
“Your Majesty, while this necklace suits the young lady, don’t you think it’s a bit too much for a first gift?”
Aleisia’s words of gratitude were interrupted by the voice of another woman.
A woman stood by the door, glaring at Aleisia with a haughty gaze.
Her long, dark blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her piercing blue eyes sparkled.
“I believe that necklace was carefully stored in the royal vault. I’m sure you’re not planning to just take such a precious jewel, are you?”
Aleisia looked directly at the woman, her expression hardening. She instinctively tensed but then forced a smile.
“Your Majesty personally bestowed this upon me. Wouldn’t it be disrespectful to refuse it? …Princess Glena.”
Glena’s mouth tightened into a straight line at Aleisia’s rebuttal.
She was used to nobles who bowed their heads at her words, so Aleisia’s response felt like a provocation.
“The young lady needs to learn proper etiquette.”
Glena slowly crossed the room, glaring at Aleisia.
“How dare you not show respect to the first princess?”
“I apologize. I’m not yet familiar with royal etiquette. But you should show us the way. The Queen is waiting for the princess’s greeting, so this works out perfectly.”
Aleisia responded to Glena’s remark with calm confidence.
Glena’s brow furrowed as she realized she had been caught. The Queen watched the two women’s verbal sparring with interest.
Aleisia, noticing Glena walking toward the Queen, urged her on.
“Why are you waiting? Go ahead, Princess.”
“…I greet Your Majesty. May the glory of the sun remain with you.”
Glena clenched her teeth as she made her formal greeting, her movements graceful and practiced.
The Queen smiled kindly and took Glena’s hand. It was customary for those of higher rank to respond to greetings in such a manner.
“Welcome, Glena.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I hope you had a peaceful night.”
“I greet the first princess. May the glory of the sun remain with you.”
Before Glena could turn back, Aleisia rose from her seat.
She stood with the impeccable poise she had learned in her past life, bowing and smiling.
Glena, who had been about to hurry Aleisia, stared down at her with a stiff expression.
“…”
Glena merely glared at Aleisia, preventing her from releasing her formal posture. A heavy silence settled in the room.
The silence was broken by Aleisia’s voice, which was filled with nervousness.
“First Princess. Aleisia Ambrose, I offer my belated greetings. Please forgive me.”
“Oh my. Glena isn’t the type to hold such things against people. Right, Glena?”
“…Yes, of course. Rise, young lady.”
Glena gestured with a dissatisfied expression. Aleisia slowly raised her head and looked directly at Glena.
With a confident posture that didn’t seem like the typical innocent country girl, Glena’s brow furrowed.
“The Ambrose young lady is quite different from what I heard.”
“What kind of rumors have you heard?”
“I’m curious too. What kind of rumors are circulating about my new daughter-in-law?”
The Queen’s eyes sparkled as she fanned herself.
Glena, receiving the Queen and Aleisia’s gaze, twisted her lips into a smile, though it was still tinged with clear hostility in her blue eyes.
“I heard she’s like a spring fairy, pure and innocent.”
“Thank you for listening to such stories.”
Aleisia deliberately widened her eyes and put on a shy expression.
As if she had never heard Glena’s teasing about “being different from the rumors,” Aleisia continued.
“Of course, Princess Glena, you must know everything. This necklace would suit you even better than me, wouldn’t it? Can I really accept it?”
“I don’t go back on my words. This necklace belongs to the Ambrose young lady.”
The Queen immediately interrupted Aleisia’s words.
She turned to Glena, who had been staring intently at the necklace on Aleisia’s neck.
“Isn’t that right, Glena? It really suits the Ambrose young lady, doesn’t it?”
“…Yes.”
Glena spoke without taking her eyes off the necklace.
“I wondered why you weren’t giving it to me, but I see now that it has another owner.”
“You already received one from Crayton. The first princess’s diamond necklace is quite beautiful as well.”
The Queen lightly dismissed Glena’s words and spoke to Aleisia.
“Crayton had one made for the ‘bond of souls’… it’s one of the gems he asked the jeweler to craft.”
“The first prince really cherishes me.”
Glena’s eyes rose from the necklace, now focusing on Aleisia. Her lips curled into a mocking smile.
“Oh, the Ambrose young lady probably doesn’t understand what the ‘bond of souls’ feels like. You must have never met the second prince.”
“Franz came all the way to Ambrose to bring me here, so there’s no way I wouldn’t know.”
The Queen laughed softly, folding her fan. As Glena’s eyes stiffened, Aleisia gave a small, knowing smile.
“The first prince knows. But I guess you don’t, Princess.”
Maybe this ‘bond of souls’ isn’t all that remarkable.
Aleisia tilted her eyebrows in mock sympathy. Glena’s smile immediately faded.
“The Ambrose young lady, what are you trying to say…?”
“Well, shall we end the conversation here?”
As Glena uttered Aleisia’s name, the Queen, tired, spoke to the two of them.
“I hope you both will work together to help manage the royal household.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I’ll do my best, even if I’m lacking.”
Aleisia spoke humbly, lowering her body as much as possible. From beside her, Glena, who was also bowing to the Queen, could be heard grinding her teeth.
