The Villain’S Daughter-In-Law Is Inherently Powerful [EN]: Chapter 86

The next day, after attending the event and delivering my congratulatory speech as a VIP, I sat listlessly, fanning myself.

My head was a mess, and my heart felt like it was about to burst. But despite my chaotic inner state, I managed to maintain a chic and dignified facade, half-listening to another VIP’s congratulatory speech.

‘But if I have so much money, shouldn’t I buy Dante the highest quality emerald as a gift?’

It feels a bit strange to buy Dante’s gift with the money Dante gave me, but…

Anyway, Dante will be happy. With anything I give him.

Even if I gave him rags sewn together, he’d probably fold it and wear it in his jacket pocket like a handkerchief….

‘Okay, let’s buy Dante a good quality emerald. That’s the best idea.’

Just as I made that decision, the long and tedious event finally came to an end.

Ugh. Why do adults make their speeches so long?

“Let’s go on a date!”

As everyone slowly got up from their seats, Dante, who had been sitting on the other side, rushed towards me.

The twitching of his lips suggested he was trying to suppress a smile, but did I ever agree to a date with him?

Hesitating, I briefly racked my brain.

But I couldn’t remember anything.

“Did I say I’d go on a date?”

“No, *I* did. And Florin said yes yesterday. Before falling asleep.”

“Did I?”

“Yes!”

What a sly fox.

Still, having witnessed Dante’s cute behavior, I decided to agree to the date. I also wanted Dante to pick out a gift for himself.

“Okay, let’s go. Where are we going?”

“First, let’s check out the festival. Starting with Gemstone Street! There’s a lot to see. Not much to buy, though.”

That’s not true, there’s plenty to buy.

I need to buy gifts for everyone, including Linda, at Gemstone Street.

“Mother, I’m going out with Dante. Is it okay if we go alone?”

“Hmm… That might be a bit difficult, but I’ll instruct the guards to stay far enough away that it feels like you’re alone. How about that, dear?”

After asking my stepmother, I glanced back at Dante, who was waiting for an answer that was somewhere between ‘yes’ and ‘no.’

Well… it probably doesn’t matter. Judging by his expression, he just wants to leave quickly.

“Then I’ll be back!”

“Be careful. And watch out for pickpockets.”

Indeed, this world doesn’t have the concept of wallets. People just carry coins in their pockets.

‘It would be convenient to exchange it for currency. It would be lighter.’

The pocket was hanging at my waist, and today it was full of silver coins.

High-end stores can just ask you to go to the bank to receive payment, but street vendors all require cash.

“Oh, what a lovely young lady. Take a look at this. It’s a brooch made of agate.”

“How about this pin? It’s a pearl pin!”

“Young master over there! How about this!”

The merchants of Tartie have seen so many nobles that they solicit customers regardless of their status.

Because of that, I, with my easily swayed nature, stopped at every stall and looked at the jewelry on display, and somehow, they were all pretty.

“This would look good on Linda, right?”

“It would.”

“I should give this to the nanny.”

I bought pins and necklaces with large pearls, and then I bought a bunch of stuff from a stall selling men’s accessories to give to the kitchen staff.

They always take care of me and do me a lot of favors, so I wanted to give them something.

“Aren’t you buying anything, Dante?”

“Not here.”

Dante, who had been feigning disinterest while I was looking around, smiled and pointed somewhere with his thumb.

Unlike this street, which had flags and banners hanging overhead, that side had a very different atmosphere.

There were guards standing at the entrance, and the inside was impeccably clean, so…

‘That must be the place Andre mentioned, where only nobles can enter.’

It doesn’t really feel like a festival atmosphere.

Still, if I want to buy good things, I have to go to a store that sells luxury goods, so I held the paper bag containing the well-packaged items in my arms and hurried along.

“Give it here. I’ll carry it.”

“No. I should carry the gift that I’m giving.”

“Can you even see in front of you?”

“…………!”

When I glared at him, Dante scoffed, snatched the paper bag from my arms, and started walking.

“Is there any store you wanted to go to here?”

“No. Let’s just look around one by one.”

“Okay, let’s do that.”

Even though it was the second day of the festival, this street was deserted.

I chose the closest grand store, which only sold red gems and jewelry, regardless of type.

“Ah, this is pretty. Is this a ruby?”

“No, it’s not. If you want to see rubies and similar gems, there are seats prepared inside. These in front are raw stones [Uncut and unpolished gemstones].”

“Do you sell raw stones in a store like this?”

“We don’t usually handle them, but it’s the festival season now. Bringing in all kinds of items that customers might want! That is the true attitude of a store welcoming customers during the festival season!”

Wow, how passionate.

The rabbit-kin [A race of people with rabbit-like features] clerk who was explaining to me seemed to be full of kindness.

After hesitating, I pointed to one.

“I’ll take this one.”

“You’ve chosen garnet earrings! Although it’s a garnet, it’s several grades higher than the ones sold at the street stalls over there. Moreover, they were all made by a craftsman with 20 years of experience who has been trading with our store for a long time. We’ll package it nicely for you!”

Actually, I don’t know the difference between the raw stones sold at the street stalls and the ones here, but… if the clerk says so, then that must be the case.

‘Wait. Am I a pushover?’

I’m not being fooled by their sales tactics, am I? The price is five times more expensive….

I pondered with a serious face.

‘Still, wouldn’t it be better to have it packaged in a box with the store’s logo? It’s a gift, not something I’m going to use. Besides, they said it was made by a craftsman with many years of experience.’

But that seems like too materialistic of a thought. Shouldn’t it be enough if the item is good?

‘Ugh. It’s difficult!’

If I had come with my stepmother, I could have asked her!

I don’t know since there are no adults around. I should ask about this later.

“Ahem.”

“…Why?”

“No, well. I was wondering who you were going to give it to.”

At that moment, Dante cleared his throat, drawing my attention.

Judging by the subtle redness of his earlobes, he seemed to be expecting it might be for him-

“Dante, you know.”

“Yeah?”

“In the future, red gems don’t suit you, so you shouldn’t wear them if possible. Black, white, green, and blue tones suit you well.”

I said seriously.

“Of course, you’re handsome, and you’ll grow up to be incredibly handsome, so your face is the justification, and it would be okay even if you wore a wedding dress….”

“I’m not going to wear a wedding dress, okay?”

Dante, whose face turned red at the example I trailed off with, shouted.

I imagined Dante in a dress for a moment and then admitted it.

Um, that was too far.

‘Ian would also… wear it if I begged him, but he’d be very awkward. But Yuri would look great in a dress. He might even wear it around without any sense of incongruity?’

The three of them have such different personalities.

I chuckled to myself and then went up to Dante, who was huffing and puffing, and gave him a tight hug.

“I have a gift for you too. I’ll buy it later, not now.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Of course. But I was thinking of choosing yours last because I’m going to buy the best one.”

Oh, he’s so sweet. He’s so sweet.

I stroked Dante’s fine black hair and waited for the packaging to be finished.

After finding opal earrings with a purplish hue at the next store, I acquired them as well and headed straight to a store specializing in emeralds.

Dante now followed me around like a puppy, which was kind of cute.

Black panthers are felines, so why is Dante so puppy-like?

“If you find something you like, I’ll buy it for you.”

“How do you know what I’ll choose?”

“It doesn’t matter what you choose. Even if it’s super expensive, it’s okay. I’m buying it because I’m grateful. But you have to keep it for a long time, okay?”

The employee who heard our conversation quickly took out men’s emerald products.

Dante couldn’t hide his excitement and looked at the items, tilting his head.

“Grateful?”

“You gave me your account, right? I found out for the first time yesterday.”

“Ah, that! Right. I forgot to tell you.”

“…You even forgot?!”

“Yeah. And then the training intensity increased right away, so I completely forgot…!”

Hey, will he be okay in the future?

I started to worry sincerely.

If he doesn’t marry me, he’ll have to meet a very shrewd person.

Ian seems like he’ll do well on his own, but I was worried about Dante. Who gives away such a large sum of money and then forgets about it?!

“I’ll take this one. A brooch.”

“It looks cool. It would be nice to wear it with a dress coat.”

“Does it suit me?”

“Yeah. It suits you really well.”

When I held the emerald brooch up to Dante’s chest, I suddenly imagined the distant future.

Dante, who is much taller and has broader shoulders than he does now, wearing this on his wide chest-

‘Yeah, good.’

It wouldn’t look awkward even when he’s an adult.

Even though he’s the heir to a ducal family who can afford to splurge as much as he wants, I basically don’t like waste very much. Besides, it’s such a good item….

It would be sad if it ended up gathering dust in some corner when he becomes an adult.

“I’ll wear it now!”

“Then let’s do that.”

“Thank you, Florin! I’ll treasure it.”

Dante grinned and stroked the brooch several times.

He was so excited and happy that even I started to feel my heart race.