Chapter 784 Andarta Aria
Alice felt a rising wave of nervousness, but there was little she could do to calm it. Her hands and feet grew cold, almost numb, but she fought to maintain a neutral expression, determined not to reveal just how panicked she was becoming. Then, a voice from behind broke her focus.
"This level of mastery and design... No matter how talented someone is, I can’t believe this was created by anyone younger than their mid-thirties," the voice mused.
"The precision in how the light refracts off the gems, the flawless presentation, the depth of knowledge in jewelry design—it all points to years of experience. The only explanation I can think of for why this designer isn’t already well known is that she poured all her effort into perfecting this set piece to show the world."
"Perhaps the ’life-and-death emergency’ she faced was related to her health, deteriorating with age. After all, didn’t the presenter mention that the designer had spent countless time and effort perfecting this? It’s the only reason that makes sense..."
Upon hearing that, Alice’s eyes lit up. Even if the design before her had completely outshone hers in every possible way, as long as it didn’t belong to Hera—and the competition’s winner turned out to be an older woman—she could still come out of this with her image intact.
The netizens would continue to see her as a young, multi-talented rising star. With her age and already growing popularity, she’d still earn widespread respect.
In fact, this outcome might even attract a seasoned mentor who could help elevate her career in both jewelry design and the entertainment industry.
And as a designer, her connections with celebrities in her circle would become even more valuable—many of them would likely start treating her differently, knowing they’d need her favor if they wanted exclusive, custom-made pieces from her in the future.
Thinking this through, Alice’s heart gradually began to settle. She, too, believed that the designer behind the jewelry set must be a middle-aged woman who had poured years of dedication into perfecting this masterpiece.