CH 66.1

“Dad, what’s that portrait?”

At that moment, a painting caught my eye. It was a portrait of an elegant lady with her head turned up.

“Oh, I should show you this painting.”

The butler nodded his head and quickly went somewhere. He came back with a magic lamp.

“If you shine this magic lamp on it, the painting’s true appearance will be revealed.”

As the butler shone the lamp, the painting’s ‘true appearance’ was revealed.

“Huh? There are jewels that weren’t there before?”

It was like magic. Hidden jewel paintings appeared on top of the lady’s portrait.

“This painting was drawn with special pigments, so there are hidden images that can only be seen when this lamp is shone on it.”

I observed the painting carefully.

‘Wow. How many jewels is she wearing on her body?’

The lady in the painting was adorned with countless dazzling jewels, and it was amazing how well she pulled it off.

She had a blue jewel necklace around her neck and rings on every finger, and she wore a cameo brooch on her chest.

Her hair accessories were even more magnificent, from jeweled hairpins and hair clips to earrings.

Collen quietly explained.

“That woman is Countess Bartoli. She was known as the most beautiful woman in the capital at the time of her marriage and had suitors flocking to her. Count Bartoli bought all the famous jewels of that time to marry her.”

“It’s like a fairy tale.”

I replied and asked the butler.

“But there’s no list of stolen jewels or anything like that, is there?”

Don’t they usually keep a record?

“That… There were too many valuable jewels, so Countess Bartoli kept the list a secret. Only the most famous jewel, ‘The Blue Tear of the Goddess,’ was made public.”

The butler told a short story.

On the day of the exhibition of ‘The Blue Tears of the Goddess,’ it was so beautiful that it attracted everyone’s attention. Among the people who were sighing in admiration, Countess Bartoli boldly declared,

<I have 50 of these jewels in my jewelry box.>

Rumors about Countess Bartoli’s jewels spread like wildfire, and she became known as the best jewel collector.

“But instead of making a list, the Countess made a portrait. She put on all the jewels she had and drew a picture. Of course, not everyone can see it. It’s kept in the treasure house, and only those who know the secret of the pigments can see the painting. So this portrait is the Countess’s list of jewels.”

“It’s a clever way.”

“Yes.”

As I looked at her painting, I wondered which of the jewels she had adorned was the ‘Tears of the Goddess’.

‘Is it the blue jewel necklace around her neck?’

It was impressive that she wore a tremendously large blue jewel necklace. It looked like sapphire.

Thud!

Then there was a sound of something hitting. The maid was surprised and went outside.

“No, Viscount. It’s going to be difficult if you keep doing this.”

There was a man standing there drunk. He was dressed in noble clothing, but his clothes looked a bit shabby.

“Who is this little lady? Wow, she’s so cute. Are you lost? Come here. Do you want some candy?”

The man known as Viscount approached me, and with his hand extended, he seemed to want to stroke me.

‘Ugh, he smells of alcohol.’

I backed away to avoid him.

“Who is this?”

“Oh, this is Viscount Yukler. He’s the younger brother of the Countess.”

“Hmm…”

Collen looked at the man.

“My daughter is cute, isn’t she?”

“Well, yeah. There are no kids in this house, but…”

Thud!

Suddenly, Duke Yukler was thrown in front of me. Collen had slammed him into the wall with an unseen force.

“Ugh!”

“Don’t go around showing your drunk face and talking about someone else’s daughter as cute. Get out of here and don’t breathe the same air as my daughter.”

Collen said with a sly smile. It was the first time I had seen such a scary smile on a handsome man.

“Oh, Dad.”

“I was just exterminating pests. Don’t worry about it.”

“Oh my goodness, what have you done…”

“Viscount, come on!”

The butler whispered something to the groggy Viscount Yukler, whose face turned pale. He probably heard about Collen’s status.

‘His status is really something else…’

Fortunately, Viscount Yukler didn’t seem to be seriously injured.

“Oh, sister!” Viscount Yukler exclaimed loudly, with a hint of anger towards the butler.

“Do you not know about the household situation? She is at the hospital.”

The butler coughed.

“It was Viscount Yukler who painted the portrait of the Countess.”

“I see.”

Collen said unenthusiastically.

“I guess I should visit the hospital.”

Viscount Yukler slowly slipped out, watching his surroundings.

‘Hmm, the stolen jewels of the Countess, known for her collection, and the Countess’ alcoholic younger brother who appeared at the scene.’

Something smelled fishy.

“Well then, let’s go.”

The butler’s eyes widened at those words.

“Um, shouldn’t we investigate further?”