Chapter 80

"There's Ivan family store in Sedakyuna, right?"

"Yes, in the next alley."

"Let's go there."

The Ivan family in the north, which I encountered when my father received the National Founding Medal, is famous for minerals.

Since it is a mountainous area, no mineral does not comes from gold to graphite and coal, which are commonly used throughout life.

Especially, the jewels in the Ivan area were famous for their luminosity and egg size, so they ran a store directly in Sedakyuna.

It was a place where jewelry from the Ivan territory was sold only by skilled jewelers.

So the shop was always crowded with nobles, and today too.

People busily moved in and out of the door under the bright sign that read "Ivan."

And here is the craftsman who made the gemstone the most beautiful gem in the world that no one has ever successfully honed.

"Go in, Lady Florentia."

Clerivan grabbed the door and said.

When I went inside, I saw people sitting around a large store, receiving counseling, and buying jewelry.

Some of them accidentally turned around to me and whispered among themselves.

"The kid who just came in..."

"Lombardy's, right?"

"I think that's right..."

Thanks to the National Founding Banquet and my birthday Banquet, some people recognize me.

As long as I was born Lombardy, it is inevitable.

I walked in front of the innermost display in the eye of the people.

A man in a uniform standing under bright colorful lights appeared to be in charge here.

"Welcome, Lady Florentia Lombardy."

As expected, you know who I am.

In dealing with these nobles, it is competitive to know the personalities of important people in advance.

Those were the first things I studied when I was next to my grandfather.

Information such as the family tree of high-ranking aristocratic families in the east, west, south, north, and center of the Empire and the relationship between important figures.

"It's your first visit to Ivan's store."

Did you already know about me?

I nodded slowly and said to the man.

"I'd like to see 'specials', not the ones here."

The "special item" I asked for was not made by ordinary jewelers, but by Ivan's craftsmen.

The man paused slightly with a smile on his face and looked at Clerivan standing behind me.

"Is he with you?"

He knew me, but not Clerivan.

Clerivan replied with a slight frown, perhaps feeling it.

"I'm Clerivan Pellet."

"Well, if Lady Lombardy guarantees your identity, you can come in with her."

The man spoke softly and opened the door leading to the inside.

Clerivan, who was treated as an unidentified person, seemed emotional.

Clerivan himself tends to be buried because my father acts as a sign in a clothing store.

I patted Clerivan on the back.

Just hang in there a little bit more.

When this is over, there will be no one who doesn't know the name Clerivan Pellet.

The Pellet Company, named after him, will be famous throughout the Empire.

We followed the person in charge through a soft carpeted passage and entered the inner room.

Security was tight enough to open several locks.

When the door opened, bright lights were visible from where the jewels were displayed.

I pressed down on my pounding chest and looked around at the things in the glass display as if nothing were wrong.

I've only heard of the specials inside Ivan, it's my first time seeing them in person.

"Are you looking for any jewelry in particular?"

I looked all over the shelves for the object that was intended to be here.

Then the man put out a cushion with several jewels in front of me.

"How about this?"

I looked at the things and looked at the man again.

I felt like I was going to laugh.

You're ignoring me, man.

I was off guard for a while because I brought him to the inner room.

The white-gloved manager showed me only big things, but the cutting was terrible or the purity of the jewels was terrible.

The man was testing my eye now.

It looks big and colorful at first glance, so if you don't have an eye, you'll buy it without knowing it's bad.

Maybe I looked funny because I was young.

I spoke to the man standing with a brazen face.

But I didn't express anger or displeasure.

I said in a way that I would just show generosity and turn a blind eye to his mistakes.

"Let me give you another chance. Bring the right stuff."

"...Okay."

The man lowered his gaze and bowed politely.

"No, I'll see for myself and choose."

I said that and walked slowly in front of the display case.

And it wasn't long before I could find it.

"That one."

Jewelry is placed in the middle of the specials, in the most luminous place.

Unlike other objects which are a bit dull and monotonous, it is light green peridot that enhances the beauty of the gemstone to its maximum with its smooth and fine cut.

"The creator of that work, is he here now? I'd like to see him."

"How can I... No, that's a little difficult."

I knew it would come out like that.

Lord of Ivan can't make it easy to meet such a cherished craftsman.

So I prepared something.

I looked at Clerivan, half step aside.

As I had said before, Clerivan took a step forward.

"Let me introduce you again. Clerivan Pellet, the Director of Gallahan Clothing Store and Pellet Company."

"Ah..."

The person in charge blinked in surprise.

A man in charge of a Gallahan Clothing Store who he openly ignored.

I'm sure his heart is pounding with surprise.

Clerivan demanded in a low, cold voice as if to avenge a moment ago.

"Would you please tell the craftsman who polished this gem that I would like to meet him?"

* * *

"Who wants to meet me?"

Crowley, who was working in the studio upstairs of the Ivan store, was annoyed with his wrinkled eyes.

“He’s in charge of the Gallahan Clothing Store.”

“Why would such a person want to meet me?”

"I do not know…”

“Sheesh.”

Crowley, who hates being interrupted most, took off his apron while spouting abuse.

After all, the person in charge of the Gallahan Clothing Store was in a position to be reckoned with.

It was a young girl and a tall man with fierce eyes who greeted Crowley, who came down to the room where the specials were gathered.

Crowley ignored the child and approached the man and greeted him.

"I heard you were looking for me."

It was only in Ivan that Crowley was treated no less than a nobleman, but anyway he was a commoner.

In addition, Clerivan was in charge of the Gallahan Clothing Store, which is said to be making all of the Empire's money alone these days.

Crowley, famous for his firm personality, also took off his hat and bent down.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Crowley. I'm Clerivan Pellet."

But when the man, who seemed to have one personality, shook hands with a sad smile, he reached out his hand.

"Oh, yeah...."

Crowley held the hand together at first glance.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, you must be busy. There's something I really want to say to you face to face."

It was the first time to be treated with respect by a noble after moving to Capitals, where a good doctor is located, to cure his granddaughter's illness.

It's been a while, so it's a little awkward, but because he felt recognized as a craftsman, so the irritation, because his work was disturbed, had melted away.

"I've heard the name of Ivan's master craftsman. So I'd like to ask Crowley for a request.”

"That's a little difficult."

Crowley said, waving his hands.

In fact, the schedule was tight, but Crowley was lazy.

And it was clear that the result of a request from a noble would be followed by an endless line of requests later.

"Ivan's jewelry work alone is full."

Crowley knew how to defeat the aristocrats who wanted to ask this kind of work.

"But this is a great opportunity for Crowley..."

"If this old man were a little young, he would have had the strength. I'm sorry."

"Such..."

Crowley coughed slyly, and Clerivan couldn't push any further and was speechless.

"Hmm!"

At that time, a girl who was looking at jewelry alone in the corner coughed loudly.

As if it was a sign, the momentum of Clerivan, which had been softened, rose again.

"I know you were busy, but I hope you'll consider it, Mr. Crowley."

"So I've already scheduled..."

Crowley was slightly annoyed.

He didn't seem to give up easily.

He vented his accumulated anger.

"Actually, my granddaughter is ill..."

"Ah..."

"I have to take care of her, Lord Pellet. Please forgive me."

The granddaughter was treated by doctors, and she was growing well, but this excuse was the perfect excuse to refuse.

As expected, Clerivan was speechless.

"I'm going back to the workshop. Take a look..."

"How about a gemstone you've never handled before?"

It was a girl who coughed a little while ago.

"Young noble lady."

It was because what a noble child of the same age as his granddaughter said hurt his pride as a craftsman.

"There's no jewel this old man hasn't honed yet."

"I don't think so."

"Oh, well, there isn't!"

"Can you take responsibility for that?"

A smiling face is so mean.

"What would you do if I, and Clerivan here, brought you a gemstone you've never seen before?".

"That doesn't exist in the first place!"

"If that exists, would you like to challenge yourself?"

"Cha, Challenge... Ha!"

A challenge to this Crowley, who didn't miss a single gem he hadn't honed.

He didn't know who the tough little girl was, but the girl scratched Crowley's pride very well.

His wrinkled face was red, and his mustache fluttered.

"Yeah, that's great."

Crowley said, stretching out his bent back and banging his chest.

"If you have that kind of jewelry, I'll work on it in a row!"

The girl, who was looking at Crowley with a "hmm" sound, squinted as if she didn't trust him and asked.

“Are you betting on your honor as a craftsman?”+

"Well, I will!"

At the moment, Crowley bets his pride on what he considered to be more important than his life.

"Good."

I said that and smiled like before.

Crowley flinched his shoulders, somehow a chill ran along his spine.