My Contract Husband Resembles the Male Protagonist - Chapter 23
“Oh, that brooch is not for sale. It’s a product intended for a noble lady’s birthday gift.”
I found out when Dale and I went to the marketplace. The noble lady was Adelaine.
When Dale and I went to the store, I realized that the noble lady was Adelaine.
She had set me up by calling it a “tea party.”
“What is she trying to achieve by doing all this?’
I handed her a well-wrapped box. “Happy birthday, Adelaine.”
“Oh my, haha… When did you prepare all this? How happy.”
Adelaine pretended to be pleased despite her annoyance.
After staring at the gift box for a moment, she twisted one corner of her mouth.
“What could be inside? I’m looking forward to it. The gift from Anne, our new friend!”
At that moment, the surrounding reactions became ambiguous.
Faces expressing no anticipation were evident.
Naturally, Adelaine was the same.
She looked at me with a face that said, ‘Your taste won’t be anything special.’
Smoothly, the ribbon came undone, and the box opened.
“Oh my, this is…!”
Adelaine, who had deliberately let out an exaggerated exclamation, smirked.
She couldn’t hide her sneer.
“Oh my, this, what is it, hmpf, no… I’m sorry, oh… it’s too small.”
The gift I brought was a necklace.
“I’m really grateful for the sentiment. But, sorry, this is too common…”
“Just a moment.”
Among those who gathered to see, a woman who had been silent until now stepped forward.
“Isn’t this the Angel’s Trumpet that the 6th Imperial Craftsman carefully created?!”
“…!”
“The one with the sapphire in the center, carved in the form of a morning glory with an angel spreading its wings!”
“This is incredible! To see it with my own eyes!”
Although it was a very small necklace, its value wasn’t determined by the size of the gem.
The crucial point lay in the fact that it was a work crafted by an artisan bearing the title of Master Craftsman.
“You recognize this?” I asked.
“Of course! Amazing!” exclaimed Rozanna, her nose flaring with excitement.
“Is there anyone foolish enough not to recognize such a magnificent creation?”
For a moment, Adelaine’s face contorted.
“Adelaine.”
“What is it?”
Adelaine sharply responded, her face twisted as if she had bitten into something foul.
“I apologize, but about this gift, would you consider selling it to me?”
“What?”
Adelaine’s eyes widened in confusion at Rozanna’s question.
“I know it’s rude, but you said it yourself, Adelaine. You said that if, by any chance, Anne were to come to the store and buy a gift for you, we absolutely shouldn’t sell it.”
“?!”
Adelaine was dumbfounded by Rozanna’s statement.
“Ann here was just invited to choose, nothing more.”
“What nonsense are you talking about!”
“Nonsense? Merchants may engage in deception, but they don’t speak nonsense,” Rozanna shrugged.
“Traders record all the words exchanged during a deal using enchanted recording devices. I’m an honest merchant.”
“Do you want to sever ties with our household?!”
“I want to trade, so I’m telling you. I found an item that is worth a great deal of money, and there’s no reason for me to back down.”
“Shut up… No. A-are you insane? What are you saying?”
“I felt it. That item can bring in money. Let’s make a deal, Adelaine.”
At that moment, I raised my hand slowly.
As everyone looked at me, I smiled brightly.
“No, Adelaine hasn’t received the gift I gave her yet.”
“…..!”
“I think I heard you say earlier that you couldn’t accept something like this.”
“Oh, no, that’s…”
“Adelaine might feel burdened. I was a bit thoughtless. It can’t be helped.”
I casually closed the lid.
“So, this is still mine.”
Adelaine’s face turned pale, then red, and now it looked ashen.
Only one emotion was evident in her eyes.
It was a look of contempt.
“Come to think of it, I heard it too,”
Rozanna chimed in, her eyes shining with confident fervor as she looked at me.
“Haha, well, you see…”
Adelaine, sweating profusely, opened her fan.
“I knew it too. Since it’s a masterpiece of a Master Craftsman, I was going to refuse it. Oh, I just remembered I have urgent matters to attend to. Everyone, please leave now. I have a headache and won’t be able to continue this gathering!”
The host of the party left abruptly.
“Well then, Anne, let’s talk,” Rozanna said, approaching me with determination in her eyes.
