I was lost in thought, the report on Zenon’s suspicious academy records still fresh in my mind, when a familiar knock sounded at the door.
“My lady, it’s Randon.”
“Enter.”
Lately, Randon had been my eyes and ears inside the estate. He had been diligently following Zenon under the guise of "earning back his position," and he reported to me every morning with a pride that was almost endearing.
As soon as he entered, he launched into his daily summary. “Yesterday, I made sure to stay within Master Zenon’s line of sight as much as possible, as you advised. I wanted to show him that I am ready and willing to return to the service of the main house.”
“And? Did you see anything interesting?”
Randon hesitated. “Well, I didn't see anything suspicious in his office, but... he did have a meeting with the Dowager Duchess yesterday afternoon. It was around three o'clock.”
I stilled. Zenon and the Dowager?
As the Duke’s adjutant, Zenon’s primary duty was to Eric. While the Dowager still held the keys to the vaults and the household ledgers, the administrative management of the duchy was firmly in Eric’s hands. There was no reason for his right-hand man to be reporting to the mother in private.
*They’re connected,* I thought. *Just as I suspected.*
“Understood,” I said, offering Randon a small, encouraging smile. “Congratulations, Randon.”
He blinked, looking puzzled. “Congratulations? For what, my lady?”
“Don't you see? Zenon is the gateway to the Duke. If he’s meeting with the Dowager, it means your presence is being discussed. He’s likely testing your resolve. If you continue to show your face and your diligence, it’s only a matter of time before they realize they cannot run this house without you.”
Randon’s eyes lit up with a sudden, renewed fire. “You truly think so? I was worried that Master Zenon found my presence... irritating.”
“Irritation is just a sign that you’re making an impression,” I said. “Stay strong. Your return to the head butler’s position is closer than you think.”
“Thank you, my lady! I won't let you down!”
As Randon left the room, his chest puffed out with a newfound confidence, I let out a soft, cold laugh. He was the perfect decoy. As long as Zenon was busy dodging a "diligent" former butler, he’d be less likely to notice the shadow actually tracking his movements.
I called for Sardin immediately.
“It’s time to move on Zenon,” I told him. “He met with the Dowager yesterday. I want to know what was in that meeting. And check the Arguin family records. See if there’s anyone in the Marquis’s service—past or present—who matches Zenon’s description. A cousin, a bastard, even a disgraced knight. I want to know whose face he’s wearing.”
Sardin nodded, his expression grim. “I’ll head to the Information Guild immediately. I’ve already put the trackers on him.”
“Good. Go.”
A second knock sounded at the door just as Sardin slipped out through the balcony.
“My lady,” a maid announced. “The representative from *The Gilded Solitaire* has arrived. She’s waiting in the drawing room with your orders.”
I checked my reflection in the mirror. I’d applied a layer of light, elegant makeup—enough to look like a refined Duchess, but subtle enough to maintain the "tragic heroine" persona I’d built at the boutique.
“Show her in,” I said.
***
In the drawing room, Madame Eloise Vane, the manager of the boutique, was waiting with a look of visible anxiety.
She had a lot riding on this. Not only was she delivering a commission for a princess, but she was also carrying the repaired ruby necklace—a piece that had become the centerpiece of the most scandalous gossip in the capital.
When I entered the room, she stood and offered a deep, respectful bow. “Your Highness. It is an honor to see you again.”
“Madame Vane. You’re earlier than I expected.”
“I wanted to ensure these pieces reached you personally,” she said, her voice warm with a genuine admiration. “The jade bracelet you designed... it’s a masterpiece. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
She opened the first jewelry box, revealing the bracelet I’d commissioned for the Dowager. It was breathtaking. The green jade was translucent and deep, and the delicate platinum branches that entwined it looked like living ivy, studded with tiny, brilliant-cut diamonds.
“It’s better than I imagined,” I said, running a finger over the smooth stone. “You’ve captured the balance perfectly.”
Madame Vane looked touched. “It was the owner’s sister, Russell, who did the final setting. She wanted to ensure that the piece reflected the Duchess’s... unique vision. She truly hopes this will help restore your relationship with the Dowager.”
I looked at her, seeing the pity and the hope in her eyes. It was a strange feeling, being genuinely cared for by a stranger because of a lie I’d told.
“And the necklace?” I asked.
She opened the second box. The ruby necklace was back to its former glory—the gold frame straightened, the blood-red stones glowing with a fierce, defiant light.
I took the necklace out and held it against my neck, looking in the mirror. The red stones matched the flush of my skin, making me look vibrant and dangerously alive.
“What do you think, Madame Vane?” I asked. “Does it suit me?”
“It’s... it’s stunning, Your Highness,” she whispered. “I don't understand why people say such things about you. You look every bit the royal daughter.”
I turned back to her, my expression shifting into a look of quiet, thoughtful sadness. “You must have wondered why I insisted on repairing this necklace instead of just buying a new one, haven't you?”
Madame Vane nodded slowly. “It is... unusual for someone of your status to repair a damaged gift.”
“It’s because I’m not just repairing jewelry, Madame Vane,” I said. “I’m repairing a memory. But I think it’s time the capital knew the full story of why this necklace was broken in the first place.”