The Case Files of Jeweler Richard (宝石商リチャード氏の謎鑑定)

Mt. Fuji on New Year's?

Or the horizon at sunset.

That kind of beauty, you know?

And you're always alone at the store with this boss of yours?

When we don't have clients, yeah.

This blond-haired, blue-eyed, multilingual, sweets-loving, incomparably beautiful boss?

Well, yeah.

Trade places with me!

Huh?

I'm so jealous of your job!

Seigi-kun, do you know about the rocky outcrops on the Miura Peninsula?

If you're interested, why don't we go together sometime?

What are you looking at?

When did you exchange numbers with Tanimoto-san?

...go together...

Why does all the good stuff keep happening to you?

You've already got Tanimoto-san.

Let me have your boss!

Are you under the impression my boss is a woman, Shimomura?

Huh?

He's a man. His name is Richard.

Richard Ranashinha de Vulpian.

Who asked for his full name?

Didn't I tell you my boss was a man?

No! And who wouldn't assume it's a woman when you said they like sweets?

Yeah, okay. Sorry.

There must have been other comparisons you could've made.

Like the Tokyo Tower as seen from the Yamanote Line.

Well, I guess...

He's like a living jewel.

Episode 4 The Fighting Garnet

Does that red bean jelly go with royal milk tea?

You underestimate royal milk tea.

You're a royal milk tea fanatic...

Today's client, Yamamoto-sama, will be arriving soon.

Please prepare for her arrival.

Got it. She's coming to look at engagement rings, right?

Yes. She's requested a garnet.

That's unusual.

I thought engagements rings used diamonds.

Why do you think that?

Why? Well, I've never really thought about it...

Why do engagement rings use diamonds?

Think about it.

I'm Yamamoto. I called yesterday to make an appointment.

We've been expecting you. Please come in.

Make yourself comfortable.

Thank you.

Thank you for waiting.

I'm the owner, Richard Ranashinha de Vulpian.

I'm sorry for staring...

I've never seen someone with such a beautiful face. I was surprised.

I was surprised when I first met him, too.

Really?

They say you grow tired of a pretty face after three days.

But it's been two months since I started working here,

and I think he gets prettier every day.

He still makes my heart flutter.

Seigi, please fetch our guest some tea.

Huh? Oh, certainly.

I'll bring some right away.

You said you were looking for a garnet for an engagement ring,

so I prepared several.

Wow...

These are all garnets?

"Garnet" is the generic term for a group of minerals with the same structure.

Different compositions produce a variety of colors and luster,

and each has a different name.

Because the most common red garnet

bears a resemblance to the fruit, in Japan...

They're called pomegranate gemstones.

I did my homework.

That's correct.

There really are all kinds of colors.

Is this one a tsavorite?

No, this is a demantoid garnet.

This is a tsavorite.

I can't tell them apart at all...

My quick search online didn't get me very far.

You're welcome to pick them up and look at them.

May I?

But of course.

In that case, I think I will.

Even garnets are wonderful when you see them in person.

"Even"?

This is delicious.

This isn't store-bought, is it?

No. I make it in the kitchen here.

My mother loves this stuff. She drinks it all the time.

But I'm not sure hers is this good.

We've also prepared some macarons to go with the tea.

Please choose whichever ones you'd like.

Then I'll take this one.

Very well.

I wish picking a stone for a ring was as easy as picking a macaron...

Don't worry.

If you'd like, I can find some to fit your budget for our next meeting.

My budget? You're right...

I'll ask my boyfriend.

Is your boyfriend a coworker of yours?

It's amazing you both work for a foreign company.

Are you fluent in English?

Seigi.

No... I wouldn't say that.

Speaking of, I'm surprised.

Your Japanese is great, Richard-san.

Were you born and raised here?

In England, actually.

Oh? Is de Vulpian an English name?

French. It's my mother's name.

That's kind of cool.

France and England...

So that's how this beauty was born.

Don't you think he's pretty even when he's angry?

I've been wondering...

Have you ever been burned as a result of your careless speech?

Have I ever been burned by my careless speech?

No.

Thank you.

I believe I've gotten a good grasp on your outlook.

Why is he mad?

When you said outcrops, you meant geological formations?

Yeah. They look like shortcake, don't they?

Yeah.

You can't get diamonds here.

Natural diamonds have previously been discovered even here in Japan.

What?

So you can get them in Japan?

Only tiny amounts, though.

Anyway, what's this about diamonds?

Well, I've been thinking about why engagement rings are always diamonds.

That's because of the power of marketing.

Marketing?

Yeah.

Unlike other gemstones, a single company has a monopoly

on their mining, distribution, processing, and sale.

That company fabricated the value of diamonds.

Fabricated their value?

Yup.

"Only diamonds are suitable for important life events like celebrating a wedding."

"Diamonds are forever."

What? Really?

Richard?

Sorry. It's my boss.

Richard

Seigi, I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you

everything I've thought about you since the day we met.

You are a ball of charm.

Every time I watch you work, my heart is filled with joy.

What is this?

What's wrong, Seigi-kun?

O-Oh, nothing.

When should we go see the outcroppings?

Well, let me see...

I'm free most weekends.

What about you?

Richard, do you have a minute?

What is it?

It's about the message you sent me the other day.

What about it?

It's, uh... nothing.

I see.

These are rhodolite garnets.

I thought you might like them.

I guess even garnets can be as beautiful as rubies!

Even garnets are wonderful.