Chapter 24

In the sudden prostration of Ariadne, the Marchioness of Marquez and the Marchioness of Cibo were taken aback, but Queen Marguerite remained calm, showing no sign of disturbance.

- "Why are you refusing this treasure?"

- "Well... Isn't it the glory of the family?"

- "Isn't it? This treasure could even become a family heirloom."

However, compared to the Marchioness of Cibo, who was completely at a loss, the Marchioness of Marquez seemed to have caught a hint. Ariadne, still prostrated, earnestly pleaded to Queen Marguerite.

"Treasures that do not match one's station often bring harm to their owner. I have no jewelry that matches the clothes I am wearing today, so I came with flowers in my hair instead. I do not have the rank to possess such a valuable item, nor the ability to protect it! Your Majesty, please have mercy on me and look upon me with kindness!"

Queen Marguerite's lips were firmly pressed together.

"Ariadne de Mare, I know why you are doing this."

Although the queen looked at Ariadne with pity, the cold expression on her face did not fade.

"But this is by the King's command. I cannot help you."

She stepped down from her throne and personally helped the kneeling Ariadne to her feet, placing the black wooden jewelry box containing the 'Heart of the Deep Blue' into Ariadne's hands. While the queen's support and the 'Heart of the Deep Blue' might be a source of family glory and supreme honor to someone else, to Ariadne, it was a threat to her life. She was simply pale with fear.

"I will give you a piece of advice. The 'Heart of the Deep Blue' is indeed a treasure too precious for you to possess. However, it is too large for anyone to own, except for His Majesty the King. Many will covet it.

Let them balance each other out. If you cannot protect the 'Heart of the Deep Blue' alone, let multiple people covet it simultaneously. It's not an easy task, but there is no other way."

Ariadne bowed her head. Her bow was extremely polite, but in her heart, she wanted to shout, "If you can do it, Your Majesty, why don't you try it yourself!"

However, objectively speaking, Queen Marguerite was already showing more kindness to Ariadne than she needed to. Strictly speaking, she had no obligation to appear here in place of the King, to receive Ariadne's audience, or to accept her refusal of the 'Heart of the Deep Blue,' which could be seen as a tantrum. She also had no obligation to give valuable advice.

Moreover, in the current situation, if King Leo III did not change his mind, there was no better solution than the queen's advice. Ariadne decided to hope that the queen, who had already shown kindness, would show a little more. She raised her head as pitifully as possible, met Queen Marguerite's gray eyes, and asked earnestly.

"Your Majesty, may I, a mere girl, make one more request?"

'Please, please say yes...!'

The queen, with her thick lashes, looked down at the floor for a moment before looking back at Ariadne with a hint of curiosity. Ariadne quickly judged that the faint hint of approval in the queen's eyes was a positive sign. She sprang up and immediately approached the queen, whispering a few things into her ear. Queen Marguerite, with a thin smile on her lips, nodded once.

"That is not a request I cannot grant."

'It's done!'

While Ariadne was trying to contain her joy, the queen added one more thing.

"Besides, I have already prepared a similar 'gift' for you."

The queen frowned at Ariadne.

"You are asking for not one but two favors, aren't you?"

Ariadne, at a loss for words, could only smile awkwardly. Suddenly, the tense atmosphere in the reception room relaxed. The Marchioness of Marquez and the Marchioness of Cibo, who had been watching from behind with wide eyes, burst into laughter, and the queen's Calico maids also smiled.

"The Queen is being too kind to this young lady."

The Marchioness of Marquez, half pouting, complained to the queen. The queen laughed and lightly scolded the Marchioness of Marquez.

"You look fifty years younger than me. You are young and cute, so I can't help but like you."

"You remind me of the Queen's younger days."

"She is as clever and well-behaved as you were."

The queen's Calico maids giggled and added their comments. The queen laughed and replied.

"Hearing that, it does seem that way. But our fates should be different."

With those words, the lively atmosphere in the reception room once again fell silent.

* * *

Ariadne returned home carrying the queen's gift. The black wooden jewelry box containing the 'Heart of the Deep Blue' was as tall as Ariadne's forearm and slightly shorter than her outstretched arm, making it excessively large for a girl of her height.

However, this item was too valuable to entrust to anyone else. In the end, Ariadne felt as if she was carrying a trunk rather than a jewelry box, and she barely managed to bring the 'Heart of the Deep Blue' home.

"Ariadne, open it once!"

Arabella, with a bright smile, wanted to see the most expensive, largest, and best item that had just arrived at home. A legendary gemstone that had been the talk of the kingdom a few years ago—she thought she could boast about it to her friends for a long time if she could just see it once.

On the other hand, Lucrezia and Isabella were more interested in practical matters. They knew that seeing the 'Heart of the Deep Blue' would not make it theirs and would only make them envious. But what about the small jewelry or gold coins the queen might have given?

"Why open a big box like that? It might attract thieves!"

Lucrezia scolded Arabella, a sentiment with which Ariadne wholeheartedly agreed.

"Let me see the jewelry box the Queen gave you today."

Isabella, sticking close to Ariadne, tried to act friendly. She was unusually close, and before Ariadne could say anything, Isabella quickly took the queen's jewelry box and placed it on a nearby table.

- Thud!

While not as heavy as the black wooden box for the 'Heart of the Deep Blue,' the three-tiered jewelry box from the queen was still quite heavy. Isabella, with wide eyes, quickly opened the lid.

"Oh, it's dazzling!"

Isabella squinted at the reflected light. The box was filled with various pieces of jewelry, ranging from 0.5 to 1 carat, set in velvet.

"This is so beautiful!"

Isabella picked up the most eye-catching topaz earrings from the top compartment. The earrings featured a 1-carat yellow topaz, cut in a cushion shape, set in a gold frame shaped like a tree branch. The main topaz was yellow, but the small decorations on the branches were sparkling amethysts.

"Mom, this matches my eye color perfectly!"

"It looks like it was made for you, Isabella!"

Isabella, not just trying them on, took off the earrings she was wearing and tried to put these on.

"Ariadne, give these to me. They suit me so well. The earrings will be sad if they can't be worn on my ears. Gold goes well with blonde hair."

Struggling to remove the earring, Isabella gave up and looked at it closely in frustration.

"Why won't this come off!"

The earrings had very fine engravings. Ariadne calmly refused Isabella's request.

"Sister, I would love to give them to you, but unfortunately, I cannot."

"What?!"

Isabella, with a raised eyebrow, glared at Ariadne, her attitude suggesting, "How dare you?" The atmosphere immediately became tense and the air cold. Isabella, with a sharp voice, threatened Ariadne.

"If you don't want to give them, just say so."

"It's not that at all."

Ariadne, smiling warmly, took the earring Isabella had been struggling with and removed the clasp. Once the clasp was removed, the full engraving became visible.

- From MDB, to ARI.

The initials were from the first letters of Queen Marguerite's maiden name, 'Marguerite de Briand,' and the first three letters of Ariadne's name. It was unusual to have only the name without the surname.

"Since these are gifts from the Queen, she had the initials engraved on all the jewelry. Therefore, if the ownership of these pieces changes for any reason other than inheritance, it is considered a crime of royal defamation and is punishable by law."

Ariadne explained kindly, as if truly troubled.

"You cannot give them to anyone else."

And to Isabella, who might try to obtain the jewelry through other means, she added