CHAPTER 141: CH 141: THE PRECIOUS NECKLACE - PART 3

Kana’s hands moved mechanically as she finished watering the last row of plants, her mind far away. It wasn’t difficult for Penelope to notice.

From the corner of her eye, Penelope watched Kana with a faint frown tugging at her lips.

The girl’s work had slowed, her movements absentminded, and there was no spark of focus in her gaze.

Penelope felt a stab of regret for hiring her in the first place—Kana, after all, wasn’t like her other helpers.

She was soft-hearted, easily distracted, and at times far too naïve for her own good.

But then Penelope leaned back against the counter, arms crossed, and thought about everything she’d gained since Kana started working here—the rare plants she’d brought in, the deals that had gone her way because of Kana’s connections (with the temple and high priestess Jenna), and the steady stream of customers drawn in by her presence.

When Penelope weighed those benefits against her current frustrations, things began to balance out in her mind.

Still, she couldn’t ignore the reality in front of her.

The last time Kana had been this distracted, she’d nearly ruined an entire set of delicate seedlings, costing Penelope both time and money. Letting her continue in this state would be risky.

After a moment’s thought, Penelope closed the catalogue and called out.

"Kana."

Kana straightened, blinking as if waking from a dream.

"Yes, Penelope?"

Penelope regarded her for a long second, then sighed.

"Take the next few days off."

Kana’s brows knitted together.

"Eh? But... why?"

"I’ve got business out of town. You’d just be sitting around with no one to manage you anyway, so take the time and... clear your head."

Penelope said briskly, waving a hand dismissively.

Kana hesitated, sensing there was more behind Penelope’s words than she was saying outright. But she eventually nodded.

"Alright... thank you."

As she stepped outside into the soft afternoon light, Kana hugged her bag to her chest and walked slowly down the stone-paved path.

Penelope’s sudden decision lingered in her mind.

Was this Penelope’s way of quietly telling her to go after the necklace on her own? To handle it without dragging her employer into trouble?

Or... was it Penelope’s subtle way of washing her hands of the entire matter so Kana wouldn’t cause problems for the shop?

Whatever the intention, Kana realized she couldn’t make this decision alone. She needed to talk to Lysera and Irielle first.

By the time she reached home, the unease in her chest had only deepened. She set her bag down by the door and called out.

"Lysera, Irielle! Can you come here for a moment?"

The two arrived quickly, Lysera brushing off her sleeves while Irielle raised a brow.

"What happened?" Lysera asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Kana took a deep breath before explaining everything—the necklace, the auction catalogue, and Penelope’s response.

As she spoke, both Lysera and Irielle’s expressions shifted from curiosity to shock.

"You mean... your necklace is at an auction?"

Irielle asked, incredulous.

Kana nodded silently, her fingers curling tightly against her skirt.

Lysera’s gaze softened as she stared at Kana, and for a moment, realization struck both her and Irielle: the gift Kana had given them—the other two necklaces—was far more precious than they’d realized.

There was a quiet pause before Lysera spoke again.

"So... what do you intend to do?"

Kana hesitated, glancing between the two of them. But in the end, her resolve surfaced in her voice.

"...I want to go after it. I need to find out how it ended up there and... I can’t just let it go."

Irielle’s arms crossed almost immediately.

"That sounds dangerous, Kana."

"I know. But I have to try."

Kana admitted softly.

Lysera glanced at her, thoughtful, before asking.

"And your work? What about Penelope?"

Kana gave a small shake of her head.

"She gave me a few days off... maybe on purpose, maybe not. Either way, I have the time."

Lysera exchanged a brief look with Irielle, and though neither said it aloud, both of them had the same thought—Penelope likely wanted Kana to handle this herself, away from the shop, without dragging her into unnecessary conflict.

After a moment, Lysera drew in a slow breath and straightened her posture.

"Alright. If you’ve decided, then we’ll plan for it carefully. We won’t just walk in blind."

Kana nodded quickly, relieved to see Lysera wasn’t opposing her outright.

Lysera turned to Irielle, already slipping into her usual practical tone.

"I’ll see if I can get myself posted on the auction case somehow. If I manage that, we’ll have an easier time accessing information about who’s involved, security measures, and... maybe even where your necklace came from."

Kana’s chest tightened, but this time with something close to gratitude.

For the first time since she’d seen the catalogue, a faint spark of hope flickered in her heart.

The necklace wasn’t lost to her yet.

And if Lysera could secure information from the inside, they might just have a chance.

Still, the uncertainty weighed heavily on all three of them.

The auction itself was dangerous enough—but if the necklace had truly been stolen, there was no telling who else was involved... or how deep this would go.

But one thing was clear in Kana’s mind:

She couldn’t turn back now. Some things were worth fighting for.

After this excitement, sleep was something hard for come by for her.

Kana tossed and turned beneath her blanket, trying to will herself to sleep, but the excitement buzzing through her veins made it impossible.

Her thoughts kept drifting back to the auction and the necklace—her necklace—sitting among items meant for strangers to bid on.

Every time she closed her eyes, she imagined it displayed under bright lights, admired by people who had no idea of its meaning to her. The thought made her restless.

She buried her face in her pillow, frustrated, but her heart refused to calm down.

She wanted to go there, to see it with her own eyes, to take it back. The longer she lay awake, the stronger her resolve grew.

No matter what Penelope said, she couldn’t simply let it go.

Even as the night deepened, her eyes stayed wide open, her mind tangled between worry, anticipation, and determination.