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Chapter 19
Vincent suddenly stopped laughing and turned serious.
“Let’s go inside.”
“What? What about the walk?”
“Go by yourself.”
Vincent turned on his heel.
Oscar was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t even speak.
Who was it that dragged him out here in the first place, only to cancel?
Just then, someone walking briskly from the direction of the imperial palace entrance caught Oscar’s eye.
“Ah, Your Highness.
Someone’s coming this way.”
At Oscar’s words, Vincent turned his head.
Judging by the attire, it was a servant from the Emperor’s palace.
For some reason, Vincent already guessed why the servant had come.
Before his regression, after his fall, it had been around this time that he, too, had been summoned to the Emperor’s palace.
A meaningful smile curved Vincent’s lips.
I stood by my window and watched everything unfold Vincent stepping into the garden, and the servant from the Emperor’s palace approaching him.
‘At last.
He’s here.’
I had already guessed it would be around this time.
And watching Vincent from above, I thought, he too must have known.
In truth, the event about to unfold was a small, almost trivial one in the original story.
It was nothing more than a scene where the villainess Amelia behaved tactlessly, damaging her own reputation while earning the dislike of the Empress and Vincent.
For the main characters, it was a mere side note.
But for me, living as Amelia, it was anything but trivial.
I moved to the mirror, straightening my hair and smoothing my skirt.
Then I sat down with a book, pretending to read leisurely.
I almost laughed at how shameless I was being, but what did it matter?
Vincent was the bigger liar right now anyway.
A few minutes later, right on cue, came the sound of knocking.
I deliberately let a moment pass before replying.
“Come in.”
I kept my eyes on the book, pretending not to notice the door.
“Vivian, what is it?”
Then came a cough an unfamiliar, awkward one.
“Ahem… Lady Amelia.”
Feigning surprise at the strange voice, I lifted my head.
At the door stood not Vivian, but the Crown Prince Vincent and a servant from the Emperor’s palace.
“It seems I interrupted your reading.”
Vincent spoke as if caught off guard.
I quickly rose from my seat and stepped forward, lifting the hem of my dress to show proper respect to a member of the imperial family.
“I greet His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince.”
I could feel their eyes on me, both the servants’ and Vincent’s.
Vincent, in particular, didn’t take his eyes off me, watching my every move carefully.
He wouldn’t find a single fault, though.
Because before coming here, I had reviewed Amelia’s memories of etiquette again and again, practising every gesture.
Thankfully, Amelia had been well-versed in court manners.
I had only added composure to what was already there.
After all, the Duke of Wentworth would never have sent out a daughter untrained.
The servant of the Emperor looked startled.
“Lady Amelia, you’ve… changed quite a lot since the last time I glimpsed you.”
“In what way have I changed?”
“Well… haha, I mean you’ve become more graceful, of course.”
Feigning innocence, I asked, and the servant gave an awkward laugh, skirting around the truth.
He couldn’t very well say she used to be an utter mess.
Trying to avoid further discomfort, the servant quickly went to the point.
“His Majesty the Emperor has invited both of you to luncheon tomorrow.
Please come to the rear garden by noon.”
“I understand.”
Vincent answered, then gave me a glance.
I returned it with a calm nod.
“Please convey my gratitude to His Majesty for the invitation.”
“Ah, yes?
Y-yes, I will.”
With every word I spoke, I could feel the servant’s quiet astonishment.
It almost made me want to laugh.
In truth, Amelia had never been ignorant of etiquette.
When I reviewed her memories, her knowledge had been flawless.
The problem was her nerves.
With people of lower status, or those she saw often, she was fine.
But before those of higher rank, she grew unbearably tense.
Likely the Duke’s influence.
Once the servant left, only Vincent and I remained.
A faint awkwardness filled the air until Vincent spoke first.
“Amelia, have you been comfortable here?”
“Yes, though it has been a little boring, I’ve been fine.”
“Oh?
Then why not come to me, instead of letting yourself be bored?”
Was he serious?
He was the one avoiding me.
In fact, the Crown Prince’s chambers and mine faced each other closely.
If he had wanted to visit, it would have been simple.
“I truly wanted to, but Your Highness is busy with affairs of state.
I did not wish to disturb you.”
“Do you mean that sincerely?”
“…Pardon?”
How could he repeat exactly the thought I’d had moments ago?
When my eyes widened, Vincent seemed to realise what he’d just said.
His expression faltered briefly, but he quickly masked it with that practised, composed smile.
“Amelia, if you come to me, I will always welcome you.
No matter how busy I am.”
The sly fox of a Crown Prince.
I gave him the only answer possible.
“Then, next time, I’ll pay you a visit.
But Your Highness, please take care of your health even if you’re busy.”
To any onlooker, we would have seemed like the most considerate, loving couple.
As he turned to leave, an image flashed in my mind, prompting me to call out.
“Your Highness.”
“Hm?”
He looked back, and I offered a light warning.
“Watch your step.”
“…Of course.
Thank you.”
For a moment, I worried he might press me with questions, but fortunately, Vincent brushed it off casually.
Once the door shut, I leaned against it, exhaling a long sigh.
Even knowing the events in advance, being aware of them only heightened my nerves.
‘The Emperor…’
In truth, the current Emperor was not a bad man.
But neither was he a good ruler.
He had inherited the empire at its golden age and managed it without disaster.
Yet his easygoing nature left him indecisive, unable to act like a true emperor.
Worse, he was too trusting, never suspicious enough of those around him.
Had he kept the nobility in check, Vincent would never have suffered as he had.
“In any case, I must perform well tomorrow.”
Steeling myself, I sat down and carefully recalled the original story.
“The floor?”
As a parting remark, it had been oddly random.
Vincent thought little of it, yet Amelia’s words lingered in his ears.
Almost unconsciously, he began glancing at the ground more carefully as he walked.
And with that, he recalled what had happened after this point before his regression.
At that time too, Amelia had been in the palace, and the Emperor had summoned them both.
And on that occasion, Vincent had come away a little disappointed in her.
Back then, he still had reasons to be.
‘This time, what will it be like?’
Lost in thought, Vincent walked the corridor when suddenly he jerked, stepping aside at the last second.
Something foul-smelling and sticky had been smeared across the floor.
If he hadn’t looked, he would have stepped right into it.
“……”
Had Amelia truly foreseen this?
That he might step into something like this?
If so, how could that be explained?
Was it some kind of prophecy, a gift of foresight?
Or perhaps…
‘Not good.’
Vincent froze in place, staring back down the corridor.
***
The next morning.
“You really mean to wear this?”
Vivian lifted the cobalt-blue dress, frowning.
It was the one Laura had delivered a few days earlier.
“Yes.
That’s the one I’ll wear.”
At my firm reply, Vivian sighed, but obediently helped me into it.
“There are so many prettier dresses.
Why choose such a dull one?”
Vivian had grown comfortable enough with me to speak her mind freely.
I chuckled softly to myself.
“Dull?
I think it has its own elegance.”
“Well, I suppose it depends on who’s looking.
The fabric is nice though.”
But when I finally put the dress on, Vivian’s expression changed entirely.
She gazed at my reflection in the mirror with wide eyes.
“See?
Beautiful, isn’t it?”
“…Yes.”
“I told you, it’s a fine dress.”
“No, it’s not the d
ress.
It’s you, my lady you’re the beautiful one.”
Vivian, why are you blushing while saying that?
