Chapter 1

The glow of the workshop was warm, golden, a stark contrast to the cool evening outside. A single pendant light hung low over the workbench, illuminating the glimmering stones set in intricate goldwork. Gertrude—Gie, as she preferred—leaned in, her skilled hands carefully adjusting the setting of a deep sapphire, the final touch to a tiara commissioned by the royal family of a small but wealthy Middle Eastern nation. It had taken months of design, weeks of meticulous craftsmanship, and now, as she gently turned the tiara under the light, it was nothing short of breathtaking.

The piece was inspired by the desert at twilight, the dark blue stones reflecting the deepening sky, the gold weaving like fine sands carried by the wind. A masterpiece. A legacy.

Gie let out a breath, both satisfaction and exhaustion settling into her bones. She was a jewelry artist, a creator of pieces that would be worn by queens, passed down for generations, hidden in vaults, and whispered about in elite circles. She had been raised in a family of artisans, each generation crafting for the world's most powerful, their work worn by royalty, by empresses, by women who held the fates of nations in their hands.

Her mother, a jeweler like her have died 5 years ago leaving her to continue their family legacy but unlike her mother, she receives orders not from only royal families but people who wanted a piece of her art.

She had never doubted her place in this world, only resented how small it sometimes felt.

The sharp click of heels against marble signaled the arrival of her younger sister before she even spoke.

"You are going to be so mad at me," Alina's voice was a melody of mischief, warm with the kind of lightness Gie rarely indulged in.

Gie groaned, already turning toward her sister, who leaned dramatically against the doorway of the workshop. Alina was a vision, as always, with her sleek dark hair pinned back, dressed in casual yet elegant loungewear that still managed to make her look effortlessly put together. Her striking features, the ones that had won her a local pageant years ago, were practically glowing with excitement.

Gie raised a brow, wiping her hands on a soft cloth. "What did you do?"

Alina grinned, stepping into the room with her phone in hand. "I may or may not have forgotten to tell you that your latest piece made it onto The Luxe List tonight."

Gie's stomach twisted at the name of the show. It was a high-profile segment covering fashion, jewelry, and all things luxury. She wasn't entirely against exposure, but she preferred her work to be recognized, not herself.

"And," Alina continued, already scrolling through her phone, "it was worn by none other than Marina Devereaux at the Paris Gala."

Gie's fingers tightened around the cloth. "You're kidding."

Alina beamed. "Would I joke about this? The entire world saw your necklace draped over her perfectly toned collarbones while she walked down the red carpet. And—" she turned the phone toward Gie, "—just look at this shot. Absolute perfection."

On the screen, the famous singer posed for photographers, the diamonds and emeralds cascading down her chest like a waterfall of light. It was stunning. She had designed it for Marina's stylist months ago, not knowing who would ultimately wear it, but seeing it now—

Damn. It looked good.

Alina dropped onto the stool beside her, studying her face with an all-too-familiar smirk. "You know what would make this even better?"

Gie sighed, already knowing where this was going. "If you say I should have been there—"

"You should have been there!" Alina exclaimed, throwing her hands up. "Gie, you're literally a goddess living on earth. People should see the face behind the magic. Do you have any idea how insane it is that you hide like some mysterious ghost in the shadows?"

Gie rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "Our family doesn't need two beauty queens, Alina."

Alina groaned. "That is such a cop-out argument. First of all, I didn't even pursue pageantry. That was a phase. Secondly, you have the kind of looks that would make even a Miss Universe insecure. And don't give me that 'jewelry should speak for itself' speech. People want to connect with the artist, Gie. You could be a legend, not just a name on some collector's list."

Gie sighed, leaning back against the worktable. "I like it this way. I like that my work stands on its own. If I start putting my face out there, people will want a story, not just the jewelry. They'll start treating me like the brand instead of the work I create."

Alina folded her arms. "And what's so bad about that? It could mean more influence, more freedom. More power, Gie. You act like staying hidden is some great strategy when it's just you hiding from the world."

Gie narrowed her eyes. "I'm not hiding."

Alina raised a brow. "No? Then name the last time you attended an event in your own name. No last-minute cancellations. No hiding behind 'urgent work.' You should have been in Paris, standing next to Marina, accepting the praise you deserve."

Gie exhaled slowly, knowing her sister had a point but unwilling to admit it. "It's just not for me, Alina. I don't need people recognizing me when they see my work."

Alina studied her for a moment, then softened. "I just wish you'd let yourself be seen sometimes. You deserve it, you know?"

Gie swallowed, the weight of her sister's words settling somewhere deep in her chest.

"I know," she murmured.

Silence stretched between them for a few beats before Alina sighed, standing up. "Fine, fine. I won't push. But just so you know, if you ever change your mind and decide to take over the world, I'll be first in line to cheer you on."

Gie smirked. "Noted."

Alina kissed her cheek and stretched. "Anyway, I have a stupid amount of medical reading to do, so I'll leave you to your little royal masterpiece. Don't work all night, yeah?"

"I'll try," Gie said, but they both knew it was a lie.

Alina gave her one last knowing smile before disappearing down the hall, leaving Gie alone with the weight of gold and diamonds and the thoughts her sister had planted in her mind.

She picked up the tiara again, turning it in the light. It was meant for a queen.

And yet, as she stared at her own reflection in the polished surface, she couldn't help but wonder.

What would happen if, just once, she stepped out of the shadows?