I was thoroughly played with by a prince I had never encountered before. As I lay there exhausted, Prince Rui Feng only laughed merrily.
"Marie, you're so cute. I thought you'd be more twisted, given your hard life."
"Rui Feng, don't toy with women you just met. Marie isn't used to being teased by others."
Prince Cyrus scolded Rui Feng, who shrugged nonchalantly. Though he didn't seem to be reflecting, he apparently decided to change his behavior. He stopped laughing and snapped his fingers.
"I almost forgot. I have something to give you as a wedding engagement gift and an apology for the rudeness of our maids."
"Forget it. I wasn't expecting anything from you."
"Forget the frog incident. This time, it's something special."
I was very curious about the frog incident, but the gift also piqued my interest. A gift from the royal family to a high-ranking noble... I couldn't even imagine what it could be. Rui Feng retreated to the counter and retrieved a bag from behind it. It wasn't particularly large, but it was a briefcase made of steel with black leather, unusually heavy and sturdy. He placed it on the counter and unlocked it. When he opened it, Prince Cyrus exclaimed, "Oh!" I was speechless. Inside was a large gemstone. It was a translucent red, cut into the shape of a teardrop, about the length of my fingernail. It sparkled brilliantly under the store's lighting, like a sharp blade piercing through.
I had no knowledge of gemstones, so I couldn't estimate its value... but from Prince Cyrus's expression, I could tell it was more valuable than anything in the store. Even Prince Cyrus was taken aback.
"This is a ruby... or could it be a pink diamond? It's incredibly red."
"Right, a rare pink diamond, and this vivid red one is called a red diamond. There are only a handful of them in the world, and in this size, it's one of a kind."
"I've never seen or even heard of anything like this. ...It's a genuine national treasure."
Rui Feng chuckled.
"Correct, it's a royal treasure. It was probably intended for negotiations with a foreign country, but the peace treaty was signed, so it was just sitting in the royal vault, unused."
"...I've never handled anything like this. If it were processed into jewelry, it would sell for a billion... if you want to buy it as is, let's say... eighty million... no, a hundred million Yuiros..."
Just as Prince Cyrus was about to touch the stone, Rui Feng slammed the lid shut. He smiled and said cheerfully,
"Eighty million is fine. Friends' price."
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean, are you trying to sell it?"
"Of course. Why did you think you could get a national treasure for free, Cyrus? That's presumptuous."
"You're the one who said it was a 'gift'!"
Even when Prince Cyrus shouted, Rui Feng remained unperturbed. He opened and closed the briefcase, saying,
"Even offering to sell it is a huge favor. I had to get approval from the royal council and persuade the stubborn old men. Anyway, we can't wear something like this in public, so it's just a waste for us royals."
He said something unexpected. I must have looked puzzled, so he explained further.
"After the war, the royal family's prestige has been steadily declining. The king, queen, and princes can't indulge in luxury anymore. We can't wear such flashy things in public; it would cause riots demanding that taxes be used for other things."
...I see. I had always thought that all nobles, especially the royal family, could indulge in any luxury without causing resentment. Prince Cyrus, who had been silent, glanced at Rui Feng.
"Right now, the power lies with the merchants, not the nobility. —The Granado family, during the war, protected the border as a frontier lord, advanced, invaded enemy territory, and gradually expanded their land. They developed barren land, mountains, and coastlines using the country's military funds. After the war, they cleverly turned these into trade routes and made a fortune from tolls."
"...Don't call my grandfather a fraud. It wasn't a huge profit. The Granado Trading Company grew after we started trading with Ipsandros."
Prince Cyrus added. Rui Feng shrugged and said sarcastically,
"Sure, sure, your family is very capable. Actually, Marie, in terms of wealth, the Granado family is much, much richer than the royal family."
"..."
I let out a strange sound, surprised. I had been in a daze, overwhelmed by the scale of the conversation. Rui Feng whispered something in a low, scolding tone to me, who was blinking in surprise.
"—I said it before. The era when princes, counts, and dukes could live comfortably just by their birthright is over. After the war, all sorts of things from foreign countries have been coming in, and science, law, and the value of things are changing every day. If you fall behind the times, even the most prestigious families can decline quickly—like your family, the Baron Shadaran."
"...Y-Yes... Yes."
I realized he wasn't belittling my family's poverty. I straightened up and faced Prince Rui Feng and Prince Cyrus's close friend directly. I pondered his words and nodded in understanding.
"I understand. As Cyrus's wife and a member of the Granado family, I will strive to never neglect my studies."
"...Marie."
Prince Cyrus murmured and looked at me. Rui Feng grinned, his beautiful face crinkling like the Cheshire Cat's.
"I'll give it to you for eighty million Yuiros. This is the genuine gift price from me. Don't be so formal, Cyrus. You've been looking for it, haven't you? A gemstone the same color as her hair, the most beautiful in the world."
"..."
Cyrus quickly covered Rui Feng's mouth with his hand, grabbing the prince's jaw and shaking it.
"Don't say it, you fool! How did you know? I only told Giovanni!"
"Mmmph. This store is a royal supplier. Giovanni can't refuse me."
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry...!"
The shop owner was cowering in a corner. Cyrus continued to shake the prince, shouting aimlessly, and finally buried his face in his hands.
"...I wanted it to be a surprise at the engagement ceremony... Now it's ruined..."
Prince Rui Feng chuckled at his friend, who was face down on the counter.
"Only a true connoisseur can appreciate the value of such a top-tier gem."
"...That's why I didn't want her to know the price. Marie would be intimidated."
"Then don't give it to her at all. Even for the Granado Trading Company, this is a significant purchase."
"No, that's fine."
"Then pay a hundred million Yuiros, Cyrus. Or make it a billion Yuiros in jewelry. I'll mediate with the jeweler."
Cyrus, still face down, reached out and grabbed the briefcase. He mumbled,
"I'll buy it as is. The dress design isn't finalized yet. I want to consult with the designer and coordinate it."
"...Thank you, Rui Feng. You found the perfect thing for us."
Rui Feng didn't laugh this time. He turned away, looking elsewhere, and mumbled, "You're welcome."