Chapter 30

Desian shook his head slowly.

If she had, she would never have shown those lively eyes ever again. The appearance of her slowly dying was not at all pleasant.

“Rina.”

Desian whispered her name strangely, as if saying it for the first time.

The word no one could hear scattered in the air after it left his lips.

‘How much more do I have to wait…’

Citrina said it would take years. He also said they’d meet again someday. However, he wasn’t the type to wait and endure everything.

Desian thought cynically.

If he can’t get her back, he’ll go to her.

The answer had always been that simple.

At that time, when Desian took over the position of the duke step by step, the ship on which Citrina boarded finally landed on a dot of the Drift Empire.

Adilak and Citrina moved fast in trying to meet Oslo, the owner of Ronata Atelier and the only remaining dwarf of his race that disappeared underground.

(T/n note: Ronata is indeed a name, but it is the atelier’s name. (lol *ehem*) All this time, I thought the name of the shop owner was Ronata. Forgive me, I was mistaken yet again.*face palm*)

“This is it, Ronata Atelier.”

Citrina first knocked on the door.

A clever, neat knock was heard from the inside.

“Who are you?”

*Kung, kung*

A sound can be heard of someone walking out from the inside as quiet as a dead rat.

The sound grew louder. Before long, the door opened. A man who appeared outside the door asked them, staring at them fiercely.

“Well, who are you, knocking on the door early in the morning,” was said in a husky sputum voice.

But it wasn’t the voice that was surprising, it was the man’s appearance. What stood out most was his height.

Citrina wasn’t that tall, but he looked smaller than her. A long red beard grew on his red face.

One can understand the dwarf’s race by the looks of his face. A person who likes crafts and full of curiosity.

“Hello.”

“What is it?”

“We came here to buy jewelry and learn from Ronata Atelier.”

Oslo established the Atelier in the Empire with pride in his skills and determination to cultivate his disciples.

His atelier soon became famous.

“I can teach you the details, but I can’t pay you much. There are many people who want to learn,” Oslo said flatly.

“I don’t want a high payment, I want just the right amount.”

“I don’t teach you craftsmanship from the very beginning, and if you can’t stand it halfway, I won’t pay you any wages.”

The dwarven race was curious.

Adilak shouted loudly with her stiff mouth, “I really do not need money! I have a lot. All you have to do is let me learn how to craft!”

With the sudden ‘I don’t need money’, Citrina looked at the dwarf.

“It’s not that you become a disciple right away, you first start as an apprentice. Come in.”

The dwarf turned and opened the door. Citrina spoke behind him.

To tell the reason why she decided to come to Ronata Atelier among many ateliers.

“Yes. And…”

“What’s that?”

Citrina looked towards Adilak.

“I’ll be looking inside the atelier!”

Adilak took notice of something and stepped into the atelier first. The dwarf glanced at her and fixed his eyes on Ctirina again.

“I want to buy jewelry.”

Seemingly curious, he asked while rubbing the tip of his nose, “What jewelry do you want? Do you have any money to pay for it?”

“I know there are a lot of Silmaril in the Ronata Atelier.”

“That’s right. There are.”

His curiosity seemed to have diminished sharply at the word Silmaril. Silmaril was one of the common missing gems in this world. In particular, the lower grade Silmaril were scattered like rocks.

“Why do you ask for Silmaril?”

“It’s my favorite kind of gem.”

It wasn’t a very compelling reason, but dwarves weren’t particularly suspicious.

Who would believe that a gem spirit was inside a low grade Silmaril?

Citrina looked at him with a relaxed face.

“Good. I’ll give you one.”

Citrina thought.

The conversation was favorable so far. Now it was time to plant the seed.

“I’d like to choose now and pay for it.”

It was the last offer.

“You want to choose it yourself? Are you sure?” He said in an arrogant voice. Few people have eyes that know how to discern Silmaril gems. Oslo laughed at the greeny’s relaxed face.

“Yes.”

Hearing Citrina’s answer. If she can determine one by herself, that’d be good then he would have a good student, and if not, it’s still not so bad. It was a bargain for him anyway.

“I’ll make the contract tomorrow. A dwarven contract vows to the ancient Holy Kingdom.”

“Okay. I’ll do it,” Citrina replied calmly, but felt something filling inside her chest.

She loved jewelry, so she worked hard for it. This is because her past life as a jewelry designer was still vivid. Everything was for this moment.

“Anyway, let this friend stay with us at the atelier. Come on in.”

Citrina followed Oslo into a small room.

“The gem is on this shelf. Look carefully.”

“Yes.”

She looked at the shelves. Even at a glance, she could see jewels with scratches.

Looking carefully, she saw a pink color leaking through the gap of the white gem. It gives an impression of it being a lower grade gem.

And there must be a spirit lurking in that trivial gem. The spirit who fell asleep obscuring herself while hiding all of her energy.

“Give me this.”

Oslo grinned as Citrina knocked on the shelf. It was inexpensive and inferior, just looking at the presence of its incontinence.

“This young lady has no eye to see.”

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