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CHAPTER 20
“Mm, of course.”
I brushed it off as a joke out of embarrassment, but she didn’t respond.
In the middle of my awkwardness, Vivian calmly brought over the accessories.
“Please sit here, Lady.”
“Alright.”
I glanced at what she had brought.
She had chosen pieces that matched the colour and design of the dress.
Most had small gems, simple rather than flashy, and not very eye-catching.
She’s got a good eye.
I didn’t know if she understood my intention for today, but she had chosen things that roughly fit.
After finishing all the preparations, I checked myself in the mirror.
They say fashion is completed by the face.
Even though I had dressed as modestly as possible, the result was magnificent.
Amelia’s appearance was truly lovely even I could admit it.
I wonder how Vincent will react?
This expectation wasn’t about admiration for beauty.
Since he, too, was a regressor, he would be anticipating what would happen next.
I was curious about his reaction upon seeing how different Amelia was now compared to the one in his memories.
Knock, knock—
The door opened.
“Amel…”
Just from the way Vincent’s voice trailed off, I knew he had immediately recognised my transformation.
I bowed calmly before him.
“I greet His Highness, the Crown Prince of the Empire.”
Even after I finished my greeting, Vincent remained silent for a while.
He, too, wore no ornate uniform but instead chose a simple, dark-colored outfit without adornments.
Of course, it suited him perfectly.
His face was far too handsome for it not to.
Looking at us now, it almost seemed like Vincent and Amelia were wearing matching couple looks.
“Your Highness?”
At my puzzled call, Vincent smoothly curved his lips into a smile, as if he had never frozen up at all.
“Yes.
The dresses I brought from home all seemed too flashy, so I personally had this one ordered separately.”
“Ah, so that’s why…”
“Yes?”
He had probably been briefed by Derrick about my movements when I came to the palace.
“No, it’s nothing.
Didn’t you usually like flashy things?”
“I liked them too, but one must consider time and place.”
I saw the smile fade from Vincent’s face.
In his mind, he must have been turning over again and again why things now were so different from before.
“Amelia, the place we’re going now is.”
Vincent was about to speak when his aide, Oscar, approached from behind.
“Your Highness, the carriage is ready outside.”
“Hello, Viscount Cobran.”
“Ah, Lady… It’s been a while.”
I could feel Oscar’s eyes quickly sweep over me from head to toe before he hurriedly averted them, realising the impropriety.
“W-we should hurry.
We’re already a bit late.”
If I were to be honest, Oscar disliked Amelia even more than Vincent did.
As a noble who frequented social circles, he must have heard far more unpleasant rumours about her.
That’s why, even in the original novel, he constantly warned Vincent that Amelia would someday bring him trouble.
Standing in front of someone so openly hostile toward me, I felt a touch of bitterness.
“Let’s go.”
I lightly linked arms with Vincent when he offered his.
…Huh?
The moment my hand touched him, I felt a faint tension ripple through the muscles of his arm.
Was he nervous?
I glanced sideways, but his handsome face revealed no expression.
Maybe I imagined it.
We stepped outside and boarded the carriage.
The Crown Prince’s Palace and the Emperor’s Palace were about ten minutes apart by carriage about forty minutes on foot.
Ten minutes could be short, but depending on the situation, it could feel long.
Vincent sat across from me, appearing relaxed.
But I knew well how complicated his thoughts must have been.
Not only because of me, but also because of where we were headed.
“Your Highness.”
Vincent’s emerald eyes turned to me.
“You must be deeply grieved, because of Her Majesty the Empress.”
His green eyes flickered faintly.
“You knew?”
“Of course.
Who in the palace doesn’t?”
“Then why—”
“Yes?”
“No, never mind.”
Though his face was full of words unsaid, Vincent kept his mouth closed.
Well, that’s natural.
He must want to ask, ‘If you knew, why did you do that then?’
But the events of before regression never happened in this lifetime, so he couldn’t accuse Amelia.
Vincent’s mother, the current Empress, was in poor health.
Since she rarely appeared in public, it was the Empress Consort who would sit by the Emperor’s side at today’s dinner.
As in many romance-fantasy novels, this Empress Consort was an ambitious woman.
She wanted the Empress’s seat for herself and dreamed of her young son becoming Crown Prince.
At first, I thought it was impossible, but since Vincent had died in that world, perhaps her wish had come true there.
In any case, even if the Empress couldn’t attend, her palace was right beside the Emperor’s.
It was natural that after dining at the Emperor’s Palace, Amelia would accompany Vincent to visit the Empress’s quarters.
That’s why a bright, flashy dress was unsuitable for this occasion.
In the original story, Amelia attended in a bright, extravagant gown, whether she knew of the Empress’s condition or not, was never mentioned.
And she did not visit the Empress afterwards.
That became another reason her already poor image worsened in Vincent’s eyes.
So while Vincent must have had much to say, he couldn’t voice it.
The past of ‘before regression’ was his burden alone.
“Amelia, I regret not speaking more with you sooner.”
His words carried multiple layers of meaning.
I understood them, but pretended not to, answering brightly instead.
“Even now, we can talk plenty.”
“Even now?”
For Vincent, the fact that it was now was the very problem.
“Yes, that will do.”
Seeing his hollow smile, I thought to myself—
Even I don’t fully understand what drove Amelia to poison Vincent.
I can grasp the situation, but her true feelings between the lines remain unknown.
Living as Amelia now, I sometimes think not even the author knew.
Before long, the carriage arrived at the Emperor’s Palace.
Servants were already waiting outside for our arrival.
Though it was called the Emperor’s Palace, the Empress’s Palace stood right beside it.
The Empress Consort’s palace was further away, but since she mostly lived with the Emperor, few visited it.
I heard from Vivian that it was actually the most coveted post for attendants.
“All this, of course, I learned from dear Vivian.”
“Amelia.”
Vincent stepped out first and courteously extended his hand.
As I took it, I thought again what a remarkable man he was.
Even when faced with someone he despised, he carried himself with flawless dignity.
That’s why he was always called the “born Crown Prince.”
After stepping gracefully down, I walked with him until I saw an outdoor table ahead.
There sat the Emperor, the Empress Consort, and her son the Imperial Prince.
The boy looked to be about fourteen, around Eric’s age.
I stopped at the proper distance from the Emperor, then knelt and bowed my head.
This was the etiquette required for a first meeting with the sovereign.
“It is an honour to meet His Majesty, the ruler of the Empire.
Thank you for inviting me.”
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince merely gave a slight nod without a word.
“Come closer, Lady Wentworth.
I believe this is the first time I’ve seen you up clos
e.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As soon as I answered the Emperor’s greeting, the Empress Consort spoke.
“Please rise, Lady.
Kneeling must be uncomfortable.”
At that moment, I could feel Vincent’s gaze on me watching carefully to see what I would do.
