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But with so many people watching, Viola couldn’t afford to be embarrassed. She forced a smile and said through gritted teeth, “Let’s take a look at the second floor. We don’t need to go to the third.” However, Serena stubbornly insisted, “I want to buy something from the third floor! It’s not like we don’t have any money—didn’t my brother just get rewarded with a hundred gold coins?”
Viola’s chest heaved with frustration. A hundred gold coins-did Serena think that much was some kind of endless gold mine that could never run out?
“Come on, take a look at the third floor,” Rebecca said casually from the side. “We’re not buying much, just one or two pieces. After all, some things are about quality, not quantity.”
She wanted to see what Sophie would buy for the princess. In the past, Sophie had never gifted anything from the third floor to Serena Even if Rebecca could only say a few words, she must make sure those words reached the guests on the third floor, because they were the real elites of the capital.
Viola had no choice but to lead them upstairs.
The third floor was completely different from the first and second. The decor was more refined, not as grand and opulent as the lower levels. But upon closer inspection, it became clear that everything from the display cases to the furniture-was made from top-quality mahogany wood. The trays holding the jewelry were intricately carved from fine nove zebrawood.
There was only one display case on this floor, with the rest of the space taken up by private rooms where guests were served coffee and refreshments while an attendant brought trays of jewelry for leisurely browsing.
They didn’t see Sophie, but they could hear Nathaniel’s voice coming from one of the private rooms. He sounded astonished.
“These pearls are the finest I’ve ever seen! They’re so round and lustrous, and there’s not a single flaw on
I them-truly premium quaonet you really going to have all
?
twenty-something of them made into a tiara, Your Grace?”
Sophie’s voice was light with laughter. “Yes. Make a tiara, a hairpin, a pair of earrings, and a gold bracelet set with pearls. I’m sure you’ll have some great ideas for making them even more exquisite.” “I’ll make sure both of you are satisfied, Your Grace, Your Highness.”
“Kiera, go ahead and pick out a few more things. I’ll buy them for you,” Sophie said, her voice warm and indulgent.
The words rang sharp and piercing in the ears of Rebecca and Serena. Sophie’s generosity now was on a completely different level than what it had been when she was with the Jaffe family.
And everyone knew those Mystic Pearls were part of Sophie’s dowry—yet here she was, using them to craft a set of jewelry for Kiera to add to her dowry instead.
“Ladies, this way, please!” A polite shop assistant greeted them with a broad smile. “We’ve just received some new tiaras and a few exquisite scarlet emerald pendants.”
They were led into one of the private rooms. Serena glanced at the tiaras the shopkeeper brought out, and she couldn’t take her eyes off them. The gemstones were so dazzling that they seemed to captivate her entirely.
She pointed to a set, and declared loudly, “I’ll take this ruby tiara! Wrap it up!”
Serena wanted Sophie to know that she had also bought something from the third floor.
Viola’s heart nearly leaped into her throat.
Was Serena mad? She didn’t even ask the price!
The shop assistant smiled and said, “Of course, miss. Please have a seat and enjoy some coffee and pastries while I prepare your selection.”
He didn’t mention the price-none of the guests who made it to the third floor would ever ask. Once everything was packed, the total would simply be presented.
Rebecca’s heart skipped a beat as she eyed the ruby tiara. She had enough experience to know that such a piece would be incredibly expensive. Rubies varied in quality, and these were far from the small, ordinary ones. These were exquisite and on a whole different level.
She glanced at Viola and whispered, “Since she wants it, you might as well buy it. What do you think?”
Viola was so frustrated that she found herself laughing inwardly in disbelief.
What did she think? Did she even have a choice? The shop assistant was already placing the tiara into a luxurious jewelry box.
Even the box itself looked expensive. It was made of cherry wood, inlaid with velvet and a row of tiny gemstones. Its sides were carved with intricate patterns. A tiara packed in something this lavish could never be cheap.
As the shop assistant neatly wrapped the tiara and presented it, he asked, “Madam, is there anything else you’d like to see?”
Noticing Serena’s gaze drifting toward another tray, Viola quickly stepped forward. “No, just this one will do.”
The shop assistant smiled. “Very well. Thank you for your patronage, ladies. This ruby-embedded tiara in gold thread will be 36,800 silver coins.”
Rebecca gasped aloud. “What? Over 36,000 silver coins for a single tiara?”
Her outburst left the shop assistant stunned, and others in the nearby private rooms poked their heads out, surprise written all over their faces.
Rebecca quickly covered half of her face with a handkerchief, her gaze pleading as she turned toward Viola for help.
Serena was now holding the jewelry box in her hands, and she also looked at Viola. She hadn’t expected it to be this expensive. In the past, Sophie had given her jewelry and bracelets with gemstones, but those had only cost a few hundred silver coins. She thought that no matter how expensive this set might be, it would only cost two or three thousand silver coins at most.
Viola had said they could only spend a thousand silver on jewelry today.
However, since Serena was marrying into a prominent family, it should be fine to spend a few thousand on a nice tiara, right?
But never in her wildest dreams had she imagined it would cost nearly 40,000 silver coins.
Still, Serena knew Viola could cover the cost. In addition to her late husband’s pension, Viola’s dowry included a significant amount of silver coins and property from her own family. 36,800 silver coins was a hefty sum, but Viola could manage it.
Serena quickly hugged the jewelry box close to her chest, then turned to Viola with a sweet smile. “Viola, thank you so much for contributing to my dowry.”
Viola stared in shock at Serena’s actions. A surge of anger and embarrassment rose to her head. She had thought Serena might refuse the tiara after hearing the price But instead, she had snatched it from the shop assistant and thanked her for contributing to her dowry.
“You said this one was enough,” Serena said with an innocent look, adding a touch of pitiful charm as she glanced at Viola.
Viola looked at Rebecca for support, and Rebecca nodded in agreement. “Since you decided on this one, we’ll go with what you chose.”
Viola’s eyes widened. She couldn’t believe that even her mother-in-law had said that.
The tiara was over 36,000 silver coins, and they were expecting let her to shoulder the cost?!
The shop assistant was looking at Viola. Though his smile was unwavering, Viola felt that there was a hint of condescension in it.
Feeling both humiliated and embarrassed, Viola took a deep breath, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill. She addressed the shop assistant firmly, “We won’t take it.”
She expected the shop assistant to sneer or mock her, but he only maintained his polite smile. “Very well. If you don’t like it, feel free to choose something else or come back another time.”
He extended his hands, waiting for Serena to return the jewelry box. Since he was keeping his distance, the shop assistant was slightly bowed as he held out his hands.
Yet, Serena didn’t return the box. Frustrated, she snapped, “Who said we don’t want it? We do! Mom, you need to get Viola to pay for it now!”
Rebecca was genuinely appalled by the price. 36,800 silver coins for a single tiara was exorbitant, and it would make her heart ache to actually buy it.