The fact that Seymour won the auction for the pink diamond and not Montez became the most popular gossip among the high aristocracy.
It was a shock,because no one expected it.
The majority of aristocrats thought that Duke Seymour treated Princess Deborah with a cold attitude because he considered her a disgrace to the family,so the fact that he did that for her left them astonished.
He gave her a piece of jewelry that had an astronomical price,which meant that Duke Seymour's affection for his only daughter remained to some extent unchanged.
And now,everyone thought that Princess Deborah, who behaved condescendingly, was bound to become even more proud and conceited ,which will have a negative impact on everyone.
In addition, the aristocrats who secretly wanted Philap Montez to win the pink diamond could not hide their disappointment towards him.
"He was so confident.
How could he fail to predict the winning bid?.....maybe he was too optimistic."
"Even if he is the Montez heir, in the face of Duke Seymour's wealth and power, he is just like a lizard in front of a dragon."
There is no way Philap wasn't aware about how the high society was talking about him.
He was just pretending to be dignified because he would only get laughed at if he got angry, but, as Mia's birthday approached, the anger he had suppressed finally exploded,like a volcano.
"You!...you couldn't even get that pink diamond ,and now the world laughs at me!
You're useless!Completely useless!"
Philap, hit the already seriously injured servant with brutal force.
T
he injured servant was already foaming and losing consciousness, but Philap didn't have mercy and kept kicking him.
Rumors circulated throughout the whole Empire,for some time,that he was aiming for that jewel, but now he failed to win the bid.
The more he thought about it, the more ashamed he was to face the world.
What was even worse, is that the owner of that pink diamond, was the woman he hated the most, Deborah Seymour.
"You useless thing!"
Philap left the servant more dead than alive, and with eyes clouded by rage,he walked out of the dungeon while his spirit emitted red flames.
The servant who was waiting at the entrance immediately bent and with a handkerchief ,wiped his blood-stained shoes.
As if nothing had happened, Philap Montez looked at his pocket watch and asked.
"Did Lady Mia arrive at the mansion?"
"Not yet,young master."
The servant bowed his head.
"Why?"
"Young master,there are many patients who need to be taken care of today."
"She's doing that even on her birthday?"
'That's just like Mia Vinoche.'
Philap clicked his tongue,while thinking.
'Just like a incarnation of an saint, she shows her divine power even to the lowly people.
A
nd the people Mia healed, talk about her everywhere, praising her,saying she is the light from the goddess.
I like the fact that she's not mundane.'
If he succedes, to make Mia Vinoche fall in love with him, his life will be much easier in the future, considering her great divine healing power.
The fact that power and money could not sway her, made her even more attractive to Philap,to the point that even if she was late or posponed his summons, he would gladly turn a blind eye.
"Sir Philap,thank you for inviting me over."
As the dinner prepared by his chef was cooling down already, Mia Vinoche appeared and gave a polite greeting.
It was obvious that she had been working,her pink hair was messy and there was a light hint of fatigue on her face.
"I am the one who thanks you for accepting my invitation.
You should rest a little,it is your birthday, and if you push yourself too hard your body won't be able to handle it."
Mia's round eyes opened wide at Philap's kind words.
"Ooo..."
"Why are you so surprised?"
"Well,to tell you the truth I forgot that today is my birthday."
Fiddling with her fingers,Mia smiled shyly and bit her lips.
"It is because I don't usually celebrate it."
"Isn't there anyone who celebrates it with you?"
Despite his straight-forward question, she didn't show any discomfort.
"This year, Sir Philap remembered my birthday and I am very happy.
It is, like I received an unexpected present."
"You talk beautifully."
Because he liked her answer, Philap smiled with satisfaction,and then, a rumbling sound came from Mia's stomach.
Philap laughed loudly as he looked at her red ears and cheeks, which had turned red from embarrassment.
"Let's eat first,you seem to be hungry."
At Philap's sign,the food was brought on the table.
Philap looked at Mia, who was eating soup little by little, like a kitten.
'She is so adorable.I should tell her...'
"The academy's permit was issued."
Even though she was a little older and came from a fallen family, Mia was able to join the academy thanks to a letter of recommendation from the Montez family.
"Thank you so much.
It has been my life's long wish to study there."
Philap looked at Mia with a look full of pride and arrogance for his deed, while she kept thanking him.
"Mia,surely you didn't think this was the end, right?"
With a proud face, he gave her a diamond necklace as a gift.
Since the item he was aiming for,was stolen by Duke Seymour, he had no choice but to buy,in a hurry, a diamond necklace crafted by the most famous craftsman în the capital.
When Mia saw the huge diamond, she immediately showed disapproval look.
"Sir Philap it is enough that you wrote the academy a recommendation.
A gift like this is too undeserving and burdensome for me."
"Please accept my gift,I prepared it with sincerity.
You said you haven't had a proper birthday,right?"
"But something,expensive like this..."
"Mia,you saved my life, so let me repay you.....Please."
"I have,already,received so much from you already."
Their scuffle lasted for some time, and Philap had no choice but to retreat,so that Mia could eat.
'I really can't convince her.'
He was moved by her pure heart,Philap still couldn't hide his frustration.
'Damn it!
That pink diamond was supposed to be mine,it's a jewel that suits Mia so much better than that woman.
That pink jewel has the same color as Mia's hair, and it was a good gift to use to pretend that it was nothing, since she didn't know anything about fashion or the high-ranking nobles gossip.
And later, when Mia would find out that the pink jewel was a jaw-dropping expensive item, she would be moved and accept my heart,but all my plans was ruined because of Deborah Seymour.
I really hate everything about her.'
The thought of Deborah wearing that diamond proudly, and walking around the social world,made him lose his appetite.
.............
After her dinner with Philap, Mia, returned to her mansion that was located on the outskirts of the Yones district.
After she arrived she sat down in a chair and looked out the window.
'I am so tired.'
Whenever the wind would blow, the window frames made a loud noise and rattled,the garden outside the window was gloomy as a grave yard full with overgrown weeds.
T
hat wiew clearly despicted how badly that the Vinoche family had fallen.
A servant came in, but Mia still gazed, fixed,outside the window.
"Are you looking at something?"
A middle-aged woman asked.
The woman introduced herself ,to Mia, as Madame Ophelia,and told her to address her comfortably.
"I'm looking at that."
At the madame Ophelia's question, Mia pointed her finger at a single flower that bloomed on a dry branch at the wrong time.
"It will freeze tonight."
The woman muttered something,and handed Mia a large jewelry box.
"A servant from the Montez family just came here and handed me your gift."
After Mia opened the jewelry box, the woman put the beautiful diamond necklace around her slender neck.
"How is it?"
Mia asked timidly.
It was a delicate crafted diamond necklace, paired with a shabby out of fashion dress, it looked embarrassingly out of place.
Just like the flower that bloomed beautifully on the dry branch.
"For a beautiful necklace like this, you need to wear a proper dress.
Philap Montez is not as sensitive as the rumors say."
Madame Ophelia said with a cold face.
"If you wear something like this with a shabby dress, you will only get laughed at by the nobles."
"Haa..."
"If that was that pink diamond, it might have been a different story, but now..."
Even without any fancy clothes, it would have matched Mia's pink hair.
"The high-ranking society would have noticed you.
It is too bad."
That woman spoke coldly and left the room.
While she fiddled with her pink hair, Mia read the academy admission permit, which she left on her bedside.
'Congratulations on your admission.'
A strange light flashed in her eyes but quickly disappeared.
.............................