“Have you thought about how to become the Queen’s court deputy?” Jade asked. “I heard that the Count of Evelentia is also seeking the position.”

In the Original story, it was Aina who became the queen’s court deputy. The count, Marlon, groomed her for the position despite the fact that she lacked any innate talent in profiting for the sake of giving his daughter a credible profession to pursue. Marlon extended his influence to and fro, obtaining all the invitations to tea parties, salon parties, and balls hosted by the queen and giving them to Aina, and he also made sure to send the queen lavish gifts whenever he was able to attend in person.

Even if Aina became a court deputy, it would be Marlon who’d manage the business anyway, so it wasn’t a bad deal for the empress to sign a contract with Marlon, who frequently bribed her.

“It won’t be easy to compete with Count Evelentia,” said Jade.

“Don’t worry about it,” Lobelia replied confidently. “I know what Her Majesty really wants.”

“And what’s that?” Jade inquired.

“Blue diamond.”

“Diamond? The Queen would have plenty of diamonds if that was the case.”

“This diamond is one of a kind,” said Lobelia.

Queen Elena Fontenum had a past which only few people knew. Months following her debutante ball, she spent every day of her life in an underground gambling den. It was an aberration committed by Elena, who had been strictly educated since childhood to become queen, when she could no longer endure the pressure and frustration. She was caught by the people of the Baro Family, and although she herself got tired of the ugly side of gambling and quickly quit, Elena squandered a large sum of money at that time.

Shameful that she had gambled her money away, Elena sold on the black market a drop-shaped blue diamond personally left by her mother, the former Marchioness de Mylix, to settle her debts. Though it was not a particularly well-known piece of jewelry, the diamond quickly disappeared into the intricate system of the black market.

At the death of the marchioness, Elena became queen and searched for the blue diamond, but the whereabouts of the jewel were unknown. It would have been easier if she had sought it out publicly, but even that was impossible because she, as queen, couldn’t admit her history of gambling.

“It’s also the duty of the court deputy to acquire the things that the royal family wishes.” Lobelia smiled as she explained about the blue diamond.

“So you’re going to seek that blue diamond? As long as it goes as you think, you can easily catch the queen’s eyes.” Jade said, tapping his finger on the desk. “But do you know where that diamond is?”

Lobelia smiled silently.

“I know where to get it.”

In the original, this blue diamond appeared fairly late in the story. It was a gift that Aina offered to the queen to recognize her love for the male protagonist. The book also detailed Marlon’s long-tracking pursuit of Aina on the blue diamond. As long as she followed what was written in the original, Lobelia would be able to easily get her hands on the blue diamond.

“How do you know such information?” Jade asked, his eyes glinting with curiosity and his tone a blend of doubt and faint wonder. 

“Do you think I planned revenge unprepared?” Lobelia said, staring straight at him. “I have at least one secret weapon.”

A strange expression crossed Jade’s face as he studied Lobelia. One day she suddenly appeared out of nowhere and claimed to lift his curse, planned revenge against the Count of Evelentia, and announced that she would reclaim Evelentia’s wealth by building a business without any knowledge. For Jade, Lobelia was indeed a mystery.

“Yes, even if you know where it is, what will be the price of it?” he asked. “Even if it’s not a famous jewel, it would be quite expensive if it was owned by the Marchioness de Mylix.”

“It’s okay.” Lobelia said, “The diamond’s current owner is anxious to sell it for a reasonable price.”

“Where is the owner now?” he asked.

“Elyan Regretina,” she answered, “is the second son of the Regretina family.”

At that name, Jade’s eyes lit up. “Elyan Regritina? He’s not the kind of guy who would give away anything in his hands for nothing,” he said, calling him in a familiar manner. Lobelia read that he and Elyan were acquaintances, so it did not surprise her.

“Regretana won’t give something so valuable away easily. But…” Lobelia calmly explained the history of the blue diamond, and Jade burst into laughter when he heard it.

“What can I do for you?” he asked.

At Jade’s question, Lobelia smiled once more.

“Would you like a fake date first?”

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