Chapter 467
At dawn, Sofina rose before the sun and dressed in a rush. Today was her first official day as deputy.
Her nerves buzzed like fire in her chest as she wanted to go meet the village leaders and the merchants under Baroness Wolfsbane’s command.
The Wolfsbanes might not be wealthy, but they owned a small mining town-one that didn’t cover much land, yet its veins ran deep with rare ore, valuable enough to keep the Baroness’s domain alive.
If Eden’s group agreed to buy directly from them, the price of their ore would soar. It could change everything-new tools, new homes, better lives.
Sofina prayed she could make it happen.
Meanwhile, as Alex buttoned his worn jacket, he looked at Sofina with a crooked grin.
“Dear,” he said softly, “since we got married, I’ve never given you any jewelry p>
Sofina froze, eyes wide in surprise. “You don’t need to give me anything,” she said, smiling faintly. “Having you beside me already makes my life wonderful p>
Alex chuckled, brushing a bit of dust off his sleeve. “Come on. I earn a decent wage cleaning the offices. I can afford something small for you p>
Her smile deepened, eyes warm. “Then I’ll thank you in advance p>
The words caught in her throat. Heinrich had never given her anything-she had always been the one sacrificing everything for him.
But Alex was different; he always tried. Even if it wasn’t much, it came from his heart, and that meant everything.
“Then it’ll be a surprise,” she teased.
“Yes!” Alex laughed. “A surprise it is p>
Sofina felt a soft rush of warmth bloom through her chest. “Just don’t buy anything expensive, all right? Something simple is more than enough. You’re what’s most important to me. You’re all I need p>
Alex smiled and pulled her close. “Thank you,” he whispered. “I’ll do my best p>
When they parted, Alex made his way alone to the center of Winchester. The cold morning air bit through his coat as he stopped before the tall glass windows of Royal Prussia Fine Jewels.
It was the kind of store that shimmered even from the outside the most famous
in town. Inside, light danced across gold and platinum, diamonds and sapphires, adamantine and mithril.
Every gem imaginable sparkled beneath crystal lamps.
Alex stepped inside. The bell above the door chimed softly. He inhaled the faint scent of polish and velvet.
Whatever it cost, he thought, Sofina deserved to feel special-just once.
When he stepped into Royal Prussia Fine Jewels, the sales staff barely looked at him.
Their eyes slid over his worn jacket and scuffed boots before turning away. They didn’t need to ask his name-they already knew. Everyone in Winchester did.
Alex the dunce, the walking error, the man who always wore secondhand clothes. The one Katarina Rosenheim loved to mock on social media as the dog of the Rosenheim.
To the town, he was a walking joke, a symbol of failure.
But Alex didn’t care. Not today.
He walked slowly through the aisles, his reflection gliding across glass and gold.
Rows of diamonds, rubies, and polished silver glimmered under the soft white lights. His gaze finally stopped at a display case near the back-a single ring resting under crystal glass.
It wasn’t just any ring. It was a storage ring-rare, ancient, and breathtaking.
A smooth band of gold with an emerald center that shimmered like captured sunlight. Beneath the display card was a short note: Originally owned by a Xia princess.
Alex read the inscription twice. The princess, fleeing from her war-torn homeland, had sold the ring to survive. Rumor said the gem carried rejuvenating energy, making skin smooth, keeping youth alive.
But what truly drew Alex wasn’t its legend-it was how perfectly it seemed to fit Sofina. Elegant, radiant, and unassuming. Just like her.
He glanced at the price tag. Fifty million.
For most people-even nobles-that would be an impossible dream. But for Alex, backed by his position as the founder of the Eden Group, it was pocket change.
He waved at one of the attendants, a woman with sharp red nails and sharper eyes.
“Excuse me,” he said, keeping his voice polite. “Could you take this ring out? I’d like to see it up close p>
The woman looked him up and down, her lips curling into a mocking smile.
“You?” she scoffed. “What a joke. A half-slave from Xia asking to see a fifty- million-dollar ring? Tell me do you even own the clothes on your back, or did you borrow those too p>
“Didn’t you read the news?” Alex said evenly, his tone calm but cutting. “I’m part of the Wolfsbane family now. Married to Sofina Scheinwald. I can own whatever I want-including this ring. I’m a citizen of Prussia now p>
He leaned in slightly, eyes locked on hers.
“And I’m very rich p>
“Whatever,” the saleswoman scoffed. “I don’t have the authority to handle that item-it’s under our supervisor’s control.” She tapped her communication bracelet and said, “Miss Becker, there’s a guy here who wants to see our most expensive piece. Claims he’s very rich p>
Moments later, the sound of heels clicked rapidly across the marble floor. A woman swept into the storefront like she owned the world.
Dorothea Becker—the store’s supervisor—rushed out in a hurry, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.
“Who’s our prestigious guest?” she asked brightly, her smile wide and eager.
The employee pointed toward Alex. “This man right here p>
Dorothea’s smile froze. Her eyes ran up and down Alex’s thrift-store clothes, the tired collar, the unshined boots. Her face twisted as if she’d just swallowed something rotten.
“Him?” she said, glaring at Augusta. “You’re kidding me p>
Augusta shook her head. “No, ma’am. This gentleman wants to see the ring p>
Dorothea turned back to Alex, expression cold. “Do you even know who this is?” she snapped at her employee.
“Yes,” Augusta said carefully. “He’s Alex Saint-Claire. People call him ‘the walking error the Rosenheim dog. Half Xia blood p>
Dorothea’s laugh was sharp and cruel. “You’re telling me this loser wants to see that ring? Augusta, are you blind? Because if you are, tell me now so I can fire you and spare myself the irritation p>
Dorothea prided herself on reading people. Years in luxury retail had trained her eye to size up a customer in a heartbeat.
She believed she could see through anyone know their wealth, their worth, their weakness.
And in Alex, all she saw was a man beneath her notice. A broke fool playing dress-up.
Someone who probably couldn’t afford a hundred-dollar trinket, let alone the fifty- million-dollar treasure in her vault.
To her, Alex wasn’t a customer.
He was a waste of time.
The young saleswoman fell silent after being scolded, her face pale.
Alex, however, didn’t back down.
“You opened your doors to do business, didn’t you?” he asked. “Then I’m here to do business. I want to see the ring. What’s the problem p>
Dorothea let out a sharp, cold laugh. “The problem,” she said, “is that we don’t do business with idiots. You can’t afford that ring, so do yourself a favor-get out of this store p>
Alex’s expression darkened. “And how exactly do you know I can’t afford it?” he asked quietly. “Which pair of eyes are you using to judge me p>
Dorothea snorted, folding her arms with a dramatic flair. “Please,” she said. “That ring costs fifty million dollars. You? Pay for it? Don’t make me laugh. I know your type. You want me to take it out so you can either steal it or worship it like some holy relic, right p>
Her voice was loud enough for everyone in the store to hear. A few shoppers
turned their heads, whispering behind cupped hands.
“Did she say fifty million?” one gasped.
“Yeah,” another sneered. “And that guy wants to see it? He’s shameless p>
“Look at him,” a third murmured. “He probably can’t afford the glass case, let alone the ring p>
“Even if he sold himself a thousand times, he still wouldn’t have enough,” another chimed in with a laugh. “These kinds of dreamers are everywhere now p>
The low hum of mockery filled the room. Dorothea stood tall in the middle of it,
chin lifted, that same superior smirk plastered on her face.
“What if I do have the money? Fifty million just a small money for me,” Alex turned his gaze toward her. “What can afford? Don’t I have. the right to see the ring before buy it? Or are you afraid I’ll notice a crack you’re trying to hide p>
Dorothea’s mouth curled into a cruel smile. “What a performance,” she sneered. “Fifty million dollars? Give me a break. I haven’t seen that kind of money in my life-and I don’ expect you ever will. Now get out of my shop before your little soam becomes your biggest embarrassment p>
Her words set off a chorus of sharp, laughing voices across the showroom.
“Hey, it’s okay to be poor-just don’t act like you’re rich p>
“This guy? Rich? If he had ten grand I’d call him ‘sir p>
“Fifty million? Ha. Dream on p>
Dorothea raised a hand. “Enough. I don’t have time for this.” She fixed Alex with a
cold stare. “Security-remove this vagrant. He has no business setting foot in
here p>
Alex’s jaw tightened. “You’ll regret throwing me out,” he said, voice low.
She laughed, bright and cruel. “What are you going to do? You’re nothing but a
pauper p>
Alex didn’t flinch. A slow smile crossed his face, steady and dangerous. “What can
I do?” he asked. “I could buy this entire store and put you out on the street p>
The room exploded with laughter-Dorothea and the customers treating it like the funniest thing they’d heard all week.
“If you can do that,” Dorothea said, incredulous and delighted by her own cruelty, “I’ll run naked down the main road p>
Alex’s smile didn’t waver. “Then you’d better start lacing up your shoes.” Dorothea’s expression snapped back to fury. “Is this a joke to you?” she barked. “Guard-now. Take him out p>