* * *
With the discovery of diamonds, the welcoming dinner for the Baron and his party was changed to a mining excavation party.
Thanks to this, Emma and the servants became busy, but nobody complained. They wondered what good deeds they had done in their previous lives to have found three mines one after the other.
It was a blessing from the gods to have acquired three mines within a year, when even finding one was difficult.
âDid you have a premonition? Is there something invisible to us that tells you the location of the mines?â Royer asked seriously.
Unless something of this sort happened, how could such an event occur?
People thought that Luna kept buying useless rocky mountains as a strange hobby, but it turned out, they were all treasure troves.
âIâm curious too. Even the gold mine in the Peils territory seemed like you knew there was treasure buried there from the start,â the Baron also asked quite seriously.
He had been very curious about how Luna unknowingly bought a rocky mountain and found gold till then.
Due to various incidents, he hadnât been able to inquire further before he hastily went down to Peils territory. But now that the opportunity had come, it was only right to ask.
With everyoneâs attention focused on Luna, she, after a momentâs contemplation, put down her fork and answered seriously:
âActually, I read about it in a book. Unfortunately, it was a book I read a long time ago, and I donât have it now. I couldnât remember exactly where it was, so I bought several rocky mountains, but fortunately, it worked out right from the beginning.â@@novelbin@@
ââ¦â
Luna finished her answer, picked up her fork again, and started eating. Nom nom.
While she was chewing and swallowing, everyone remained silent. And a moment later-
âWow! Luna, you seem to have a talent for writing. Your imagination is amazing.â
âOh dear, if you donât want to answer, just say so.â
Of course, everyone laughed it off, telling her not to lie.
It was inevitable as they didnât believe her. Actually, she had anticipated this reaction, and thatâs why she gave such an answer.
âDid you notice? Then just pretend you donât know. If someone talks, my luck will run away.â
âOh! Like selling dreams?â
âYes, exactly.â
âWell, thereâs nothing we can do about it.â
So they decided to move on with a perfect lie, and everyone laughed and let it go.
Fortunately, the conversation about the source of information soon disappeared from the topic.
âOh my god. So, how rich have you become?â
âNot only a gold mine but also a diamond mine⦠I think youâve become one of the wealthiest in the Empire, for a lifetime.â
It was pointless to discuss âhow muchâ as there had never been a precedent. Having just one mine could make several generations wealthy, but here they were talking about three.
At this point, even the reputation of their previously unknown family was bound to rise. Although they may not be elevated to a title, but it wouldnât be strange to make a name as a mine-rich family.
It felt like just yesterday when they were disregarded for being poor. It was just a few months ago when boutique staff wouldnât even open the door for them.
âI was worried about not having any assets to leave for Luna⦠but who knew Iâd be the one to receive help like this.â
âNow all thatâs left for you is to worry about how to spend the money wisely.â
Everyone was genuinely happy about their good fortune without a hint of jealousy, but only Antes had a serious face, lost in thought. After a moment, he quietly spoke to Luna so that only she could hear.
âThe story about that book, itâs real.â
Tuk! Luna turned her eyes to Antes without blinking.
âWhat kind of book has such content? Is it a prophecy?â
Then Antes asked with a quite serious face. Somehow, he seemed to believe her words completely.
Luna couldnât help but be startled as she hadnât expected anyone to believe her. Seeing her reaction, Antes narrowed his eyes, once again confirming that what Luna said was real.
ââ¦It can be considered similar.â
Rather than prophesying where something is, the story was centered around Seira overcoming hardships with Fersehn and obtaining love.
Antes fell into silence for a moment at the affirmative Luna. She thought Antes might ask her to share a little bit of the content, but what came out of his mouth was completely different.
âThen why didnât you find the mine sooner? You said itâs a book you read a long time ago. You didnât have to struggle so much until now.â
ââ¦I didnât realize it was real until recently. Most of the content was a bit unrealistic. After realizing, I slowly saved up some money and barely found the gold.â
In fact, if it werenât for Seira, she would still be diligently saving money.
Back then, she was so angry that she went to dig for gold alone without thinking, and looking back, it was a crazy act. If she hadnât met Antes at the right time and gotten help and made a deal, she might have suffered horrific incidents.
âI thought God hated me all along, but I was luckier than I thought.â
Iâm sorry for cursing you so much.
However, on the other hand, she thought it might be okay to curse again as her luck had followed her since she broke free from the world set by God.
âAnyway, I canât see that book anymore, and I donât remember it well so my luck ends here. I will keep digging the mountains I have bought just in case, but I donât have high hopes.â
Not digging was the biggest saving, but now that she had a lot of money, it was a new kind of waste.
Since Luna didnât want to talk about it anymore, Antes didnât ask any further.
In the past, he was a bit impure but Luna thought he was good in many ways, so she smiled briefly and spoke again.
âSo, can I ask you for the diamond mine too?â
âAsk?â
âFor distribution. I havenât confirmed exactly yet, so I have to go and see, but I canât just dig and pile up the diamonds.â
Now that she had an overflow of money, creating a distribution company wasnât a problem, but Luna lacked the knowledge and experience to do so.
âIf youâre busy, I understand.â
As if seeing hope, Luna added with a cute smile.
Of course, for Antes, it was a deal he wanted to get by sorting out all other businesses.
âGive it to me at the highest price.â
âIf someone offers a higher price like last time, can I cancel the deal anytime?â
âOf course.â
âGood.â
Luna laughed softly, feeling relieved at the definite answer from Antes. And naturally, facing such Luna, Antes also smiled genuinely.
The conversation was calculative but the expressions were no different from other couples. At some point, the others who were watching the two also coughed awkwardly and blushed.
* * *
ââ¦Yes? Is it true? A diamond mineâ¦?!â
The next day, Rosemary, who visited Lunaâs mansion again to plan the invitation of the Baron of Peils, asked without blinking.
If she knew this would happen, she would have proposed the meeting later. She spoke too soon and had to flee hastily, she couldnât even attend the celebration party.
No, more than that, discovering a diamond mine. Now Luna has become too great to the extent that she no longer matched with the mere owner of the guild Antes.
If this continues, even the Crown Prince might have to bow down to Luna. Wealthy families were of great help to the imperial family.
What should I do? Rosemary has become lost in thought. She should feel blessed, but a rising anxiety gnawed at her, wondering if Antes would lose Luna.
Luna, unaware of this, began to explain.
âSo, Iâm thinking of entrusting the distribution to the Antares Merchant Guild again.â
âYouâre entrusting the diamond mine to the Antares Merchant Guild?â
âYes. Itâs a bit much for me to manage. Besides, I trust Antares Merchant Guild. Ah! This is a secret, but since itâs a rare opportunity, Iâm thinking of opening a specialized diamond market.â
Selling to others was profitable enough, but the most profitable was selling after crafting the diamonds themselves. She explained in detail what she plans to do in the future, but only one thought remained in Rosemaryâs mind.
It wasnât out of generosity, but a look in her eyes that seemed to beg for promotion, which made Luna blink.
âIf you do that, Iâll be grateful.â
âGrateful? I should be the one thanking you!â
ââ¦Huh? Whyâ¦?â
Even after becoming such an influential person, you continued to associate with someone like me. Rosemary, holding back her words, shook her head as if it was nothing.
* * *
After last seeing Fersen at Lunaâs mansion, Seira had been locked in her room.
The Dukeâs family sent letters and people numerous times requesting conversation, but Seira refused every time and only sent a message that she had no intention of meeting with Fersen any longer, severing ties with the Dukeâs family.
From the moment Luna came to the mansion â no, from the moment Seira realized Fersenâs abnormal obsession with her, she had felt something was off.
âI never thought heâd choose to take refuge in that womanâs mansion without a single message to me.â
How could he hide in that womanâs mansion without saying a word to his lover? Seira, angry, recalled friends who had always been there for her.
âI want some comfortâ¦â
Her family was no consolation. Without knowing how Fersen utilized the Dukeâs connections, they blamed Seira, saying everyone makes mistakes.
So, Seira wrote to her friends for the first time in a long while.
Apologizing for not being in touch and refusing visits, she expressed a desire to meet and chat. But days passed with no response.
She expected them to rush to her side immediately upon receiving her letters, but no one even replied.
âWhy is there no response?â
Worried, she sent another letter, asking why there was no reply and expressing a desire to talk. She emphasized the need for someone to talk to.
âMiss, a letter has arrived.â
Fortunately, a reply soon came. It was from a young lady from an insignificant family who always sought to speak with her. Normally, she wouldâve found it annoying, but not today. She just wanted to vent her feelings.
Hurriedly opening the letter, Seira dropped it after reading just a bit of its brief content.
[Iâm sorry, but I liked you because I believed you were pure.
However, after reflecting on various situations and stories, I realized I misunderstood Lady Seira and learned that youâre not as good as I thought. So, I no longer want to exchange letters with you.
Itâd be best if you stop using people around you as emotional dumpsters only when you need them.
Everyoneâs upset since you avoided our contact without any explanation.]