I should have felt good at this moment.

I had just confirmed that the luck Kim Geumhee gave me, which helped me win the lottery five times, still shone brightly as Evelyn.

The original story didn’t reveal what color diamonds would come from the Dia Ella mine.

But when I heard that the rarest pink diamonds were buried there, I was shocked. The fact that they appeared soon after mining suggested a significant quantity was present.

So, I should have felt good right now.

[Why won’t you sell it?]

But I couldn’t fully enjoy my mood because of the letter from Ulysses.

“…This guy, he’s at it again.”

Considering Ulysses’ impatient and hot-tempered nature, I thought he would summon me immediately, but he kept pressing me through letters.

[The diamond is worth at most 200 gold. Isn’t it generous of me to offer 500 gold for it?]

I didn’t even like Dahlia’s Radiance, so if I could make a profit, I would have sold it.

But the Dahlia’s Radiance I bought was fake.

If Ulysses had been scammed directly at Walpurgis Night, it wouldn’t matter, but if I sold him a fake, I didn’t know what would happen to me.

‘And Raphael hasn’t found the scammer yet.’

I picked up my pen and wrote a reply.

[Why wouldn’t I sell it? It’s the largest diamond in the world. Even if the name is unlucky, it’s rare, right?]

The reply arrived in the evening.

[Yellow doesn’t suit you, Lady. So give it to me.]

“This guy. Is there a color I can’t wear?”

…Of course, Evelyn was a summer cool tone, so warm yellow didn’t suit her.

But admitting that would mean I had to give it up, so I shamelessly wrote back.

[Is there a color I can’t wear?]

[Yellow doesn’t suit you! I’ll get you another diamond. So give me Dahlia’s Radiance!]

[Why are you flirting with someone else’s fiancée? No. Dahlia’s Radiance is already mine. Look for something else.]

[Are you refusing a royal order?]

[When have I ever obeyed?]

This childish and savage letter exchange had been going on for a week.

I was getting angry.

“When is Raphael coming back?”

Was he unearthing the scammer? Why was he taking so long?

For a week, Ulysses persistently demanded Dahlia’s Radiance, and I gave the same parroted reply.

Today, the letter contained this.

[Are you still hung up on me? So you intercepted Dahlia’s Radiance to hinder me? To get my attention once more?]

“Ugh. Ugh!”

“Milady, you mustn’t throw up.”

Sophie was an amazing maid. She didn’t change her expression even seeing her mistress gagging.

Though it was just dry heaving, I managed to keep my dignity as an evil lady, but honestly, I almost threw up for real this time.

‘I should’ve shown this to that Crown Prince jerk.’

That way, he’d see my true feelings with a disgusted face.

I wrote my next reply in anger.

[I told you not to flirt with someone else’s fiancée. If you wanted Dahlia’s Radiance so badly, you should’ve outbid me at the auction. Why are you whining now?]

It was partly sarcastic but also genuine curiosity. Why was the Crown Prince so persistent after losing at the auction?

I waited for Ulysses’ reply, but after my letter, his letters stopped abruptly.

“What? What’s with him?”

I couldn’t understand his behavior. I should’ve known when he acted like an <i>homme fatale</i> despite being kicked.

‘Isn’t the craziest character in the story not Raphael, but Ulysses?’

Fortunately, Raphael returned before my anger reached its peak.

“Milady, are you here?”

“Why are you so late?”

I almost died waiting!

I shouted without realizing it.

Surprisingly, Raphael brought an answer so satisfying that it made the wait worthwhile.

“I found the scammer.”

“Really?!”

Whoever it was, I’d go deal with them immediately.

Raphael hesitated for a moment, seeing my eager eyes. Then he shattered my hopeful future.

“Sorry, but I can’t tell you.”

“What?”

“Here’s the 400 gold you were scammed out of. I’ll return it.”

Raphael handed me a pouch of money.

“…”

What’s this? Is he trying to buy me off with money?

“I didn’t make a fuss just to get my money back!”

I pushed the money away, upset.

The money wasn’t important. Getting the real Dahlia’s Radiance first was crucial.

So I could use the gem to anger or blackmail Ulysses! Raphael remained firm.

“Sorry. There are circumstances on our side, too.”

“…Circumstances?”

Oh, maybe Black Market’s circumstances. I nodded.

If it were anyone else talking about circumstances, I wouldn’t care, but coming from Raphael, the underworld leader, it made sense.

Still, I needed the real Dahlia’s Radiance!

To provoke Ulysses and make him hate me, saving me and my family from a bad ending!

“Who is the scammer that even the employer can’t know?”

“Someone unrelated to our contract, so don’t worry.”

“That doesn’t reassure…”

<i>Meow</i>. Just then, Geumhee appeared.

Geumhee rubbed against my feet and meowed loudly.

Unable to be angry in front of the kitten, I quickly excused myself.

“Did you come, Geumhee? Coochie coo. Big sister wasn’t angry, see?”

<i>Meow</i>. Geumhee talked back. How cute.

Geumhee had grown a lot in just a few days. Though still kitten-faced, he was almost the size of an adult cat. Raphael recognized Geumhee and trailed off.

“That cat is…”

“An abandoned cat your people shamelessly sold. Why?”

“…I apologize. I’m against buying and selling living beings, but it seems I’ve been too lenient lately. I’ll be more careful next Walpurgis Night.”

“Fine. Coochie coo, does Geumhee want a hug?”

I lifted Geumhee and cuddled him. Though confident, my back almost gave out. He was only 2 kilos but…

‘Soon, I won’t be able to lift him…’

I smiled bittersweetly.

Geumhee would grow over a meter long. I should hug him while I can.

But my arms started to ache after a few seconds.

<i>Meow</i>. Geumhee whined, uncomfortable in my shaky arms. I apologized quickly.

“Sorry, Geumhee. My arms hurt.”

<i>Meow</i>.

“Let’s get down. Looking cute won’t help.”

Geumhee returned to the soft carpet. Raphael had been watching us uncomfortably and asked softly.

“Is his name really Geumhee?”

“Yep. Geumhee Praviche.”

“…”

I knew what he was thinking. Not only did the name not roll off the tongue, it also sounded old-fashioned. I glared and added fiercely.

“It means a life overflowing with fortune.”

“A good name.”

Raphael quickly changed his stance.

Geumhee’s name and presence in our house would surely bring financial luck. As for people luck… I’d make it happen.

Thanks to Geumhee, I continued the conversation more calmly.

“Honestly, it would be nice to find the scammer, but finding them won’t turn the fake into a real gem. I’ll let it go since I got my money back.”

“Thank you. In return, I have good news. Young Lady Hebe seems to have warmed slightly to the Crown Prince.”

Raphael looked smug, as if saying he’d earned his keep.

Dahlia warming up to him? I didn’t expect that yet, so I asked with a mix of excitement and curiosity.

“Really? How?”

“Failure is unsightly, after all.”

Raphael didn’t elaborate but smiled proudly. Then he asked,

“How’s the Crown Prince?”

Compared to Raphael’s success, my situation was unclear.

“…We’ve been fighting through letters, but suddenly they stopped.”

“Stopped?”

“Exactly. When I asked why he was whining instead of buying at the auction, his letters stopped.”

I waved the half-torn letter fragment, making a small gagging sound. Raphael winced.

Realizing my action was slightly undignified for an evil lady, I quickly changed the topic.

“Did he give up?”

If Ulysses gave up Dahlia’s Radiance, my efforts were in vain. My anxious question was met with Raphael stroking his chin before shaking his head.

“No. According to my information, the Crown Prince won’t give up. That gem is quite important to him.”

“…?”

Sure, it’s important as an engagement ring.

But Raphael’s smile seemed suspicious. Reading my dissatisfied expression, Raphael added.

“Don’t worry, he’ll never get the real one.”

“Do you know where the real one is?”

Raphael dodged the question with a smile. Clearly, he wasn’t going to tell. Then he made a careless suggestion.

“Just give it to him. You’ve caught the scammers, got your money back. The Crown Prince won’t give up, so maybe it’s better to give it to him now.”

“What? That makes no sense! If I give it now, it looks like I took it just to get attention!”

“No, now might be the right time.”

<i>Knock knock.</i>

What’s this? As I wondered, Sophie knocked on the door.

“Milady. A letter from the palace.”

No more words were needed. It was from Ulysses.

“…”

I quickly took the letter from Sophie and read it.

“Right?”

Seeing my reaction, Raphael asked.

Unbelievable. Why?

The letter didn’t demand the gem or whine for it. I looked at Raphael, unable to hide my surprise.

“…Yeah, you’re right.”

Raphael grinned triumphantly.

He was right. It was time to end this tiresome tug-of-war.

I chuckled.

“Finally earning your keep, huh?”

Raphael exaggeratedly bowed, as if honored. I took the pen from Sophie and scribbled a reply.

[Beat me in a game, and you can have it. But you have to keep your promise.]