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Chapter 28
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Charles, the attendant, stepped inside with a bow.
“Charles, what is it?”
“His Highness the Crown Prince has requested that you accompany him on an afternoon outing.”
“Ah, I was planning to be ill around then.”
“…Pardon?”
“…Never mind.
Tell him I’ll go.”
There was no one as idle as I was these days, so pretending to be busy would’ve been too obvious.
“Yes, my lady.
Then, please be ready to come down in two hours.”
Once Charles had gone, I called for Vivian.
If I were to go out, I would need to be dressed up.
“Come to think of it, I didn’t even ask where we were going.”
I’d gotten stuck on the part about going with Vincent and hadn’t thought to ask the destination or purpose.
Soon enough, Vivian came into the room.
“You called, my lady?”
I gave her a somewhat awkward smile.
Moments later, staring at my reflection in the mirror, I couldn’t hold back a gasp of awe.
“…Wow.”
Embarrassed, I clamped my mouth shut, only to realise it wasn’t necessary.
“Wow, wow!
My lady, you look absolutely stunning!”
Vivian was practically showering me with praise.
“It’s thanks to you, for dressing me up so well.”
“No, no, my lady.
A pumpkin doesn’t turn into a watermelon just by drawing lines on it.
This dress looks good because of you.”
“…Hm.
Hm.”
Is that… so?
Well, Amelia was beautiful.
I carefully studied my reflection—the reflection of Amelia.
The upper part of the dress was made of soft, pale sky-blue silk, its neckline and sleeves delicately trimmed with fine lace.
From the waist down, layers of chiffon flowed outward, blending from sky-blue to cobalt in a graceful gradient, giving the skirt a rich fullness.
At the hem, silver-thread embroidery formed stars and moons.
The effect evoked the night sky, mysterious and enchanting.
This must be one of the dresses the Duke of Wentworth prepared.
Among them, this was one of the more subdued ones, yet it still shimmered dazzlingly.
Whether that was the dress’s doing or Amelia’s, I wasn’t sure.
When I opened the door at last, Derrick was standing there.
He simply stared, unmoving, so I walked past him.
Suddenly, he startled as if splashed with cold water, then hurried to my side and offered his arm.
“…? Thank you.”
He had never really escorted me except when helping me into a carriage.
I took his arm and descended to the first floor.
In front of the lobby, the carriage was already waiting—along with Vincent.
I felt his gaze falter for the briefest moment when he saw me.
Why?
Do I look strange?
I glanced down at myself, uncertain, but Vincent strode toward me in quick, firm steps.
Without hesitation, he pried my hand from Derrick’s arm and placed it firmly on his own.
“…Ah.”
“Let’s go.”
There were only a few steps left to the carriage, so… was that necessary?
I darted a quick glance at Derrick, then let Vincent lead me quietly inside.
When he joined me and the carriage began to move, I finally asked the obvious question.
“Where are we going?”
“First, the jeweller.
I’d like to gift you a necklace that suits you.”
“That… um, that’s fine.
I just didn’t think it would happen this soon.”
“And later, there’s a dinner party at the Duke of Royce’s estate.
I’ve been invited, and I’d like you to accompany me.
Would that be all right?”
A dinner party hosted by the Duke of Royce.
That wasn’t in the novel.
The heroine hadn’t even met the hero yet at this point.
Still, if it were Amelia, she would have jumped at the chance to attend a party on Vincent’s arm, without giving a second thought to why Duke Royce hadn’t sent an invitation to her specifically.
When I didn’t immediately answer, Vincent stepped back.
“If it troubles you—”
“No, it’s fine.
I’ll go.”
After all, living as Lady Amelia Wentworth meant I couldn’t avoid the social scene forever.
Though it unnerved me that this wasn’t part of the original story, it wasn’t as if I knew nothing of the Royce family.
There were three ducal houses in the Ather Empire: Wentworth, Royce, and Priam.
The Priam Duke rarely left his lands near the border, so in the capital, the balance of power lay with the Wentworths and the Royces.
If Duke Wentworth was the head of the noble faction, then Duke Royce led the imperial faction.
Naturally, Vincent had been close friends since childhood with the Royce heir, Zais Royce—a name that appeared frequently in the novel.
And the Royce family carried with them one very important issue.
I don’t know if I’ll be able to resolve it this time… but perhaps it’s worth going.
“I’ve never been to the Royce estate before, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Vincent regarded me with that distant look of his—an expression I’d grown used to seeing often these days.
“Thank you.
I know it was sudden, but I appreciate you agreeing so readily.”
“It’s nothing.”
In truth, Vincent treated me with more courtesy than I’d expected.
And sometimes, because of that, I questioned whether he was truly the same man plotting my death.
Which, in turn, frightened me all the more.
Because behind that polished demeanour and gentle expression, I could never guess what he was really thinking.
So… we’re going to a jeweller?
I lifted the edge of the curtain covering the window.
Just then, I spotted the sign for Laura’s Boutique.
We’d already entered the bustling district.
The carriage rolled from Fifth Street toward Seventh.
Midrun District was lively enough on its own, but Seventh Street was especially renowned for its luxury shops.
Countless storefronts glittered with magical lights, signs of prosperous business.
Laura’s Boutique still used ordinary lamps, I think.
The carriage halted before a store adorned with diamond-shaped lights.
As soon as we stepped inside, the jeweller came running forward.
On recognising Vincent, his face went pale, and he dropped to one knee.
“Y-Your Highness!
To what do we owe the honour?
If you had summoned me, I would have come myself!”
Vincent’s reply was curt.
“Let us in.”
“Y-Yes, yes, of course!
Please, come in!”
I followed in Vincent’s wake.
At the time, I had no idea—that this was only the beginning.
***
Click.
The jeweller, looking tense, opened a case to reveal a necklace set with a subtle violet gem.
For context, this was already the third jeweller we had visited, and I had seen dozens of necklaces by now.
The shopkeeper dabbed sweat from his shiny scalp with a handkerchief and began to explain nervously.
“This gem, you see, is a rare fusion of amethyst and ruby, utterly unique in the world—”
“Amelia, what do you think?”
Vincent cut him off and turned to me.
My lips twitched in an effort to smile as I clapped politely.
“It’s beautiful.
The mix of purple and red gives it such a mysterious, stunning look!”
“…Hm.
Next.”
With a sharp gesture of his chin, Vincent dismissed the necklace outright.
I stared at him, aghast.
What was this?
I’d just said it was gorgeous—why did he keep rejecting them?
I wondered if it was because we were enemies.
Perhaps he didn’t actually want to give me something I liked.
So once, I tried feigning indifference.
In response, Vincent kicked the display case, sending it skidding into a corner, while the jeweller wailed in despair.
Vincent didn’t so much as blink, only demanded, “Next.”
“…Haah.”
Was this some new form of torment?
Staring at jewels under such bright lights for so long was enough to make my eyes ache.
Ah.
So this is it—an attack by sheer brilliance.
Finally, I couldn’t stand it anymore.
Though I had meant to stay quiet since I was the one receiving a gift, I risked my life to protest.
“Your Highness, why do you keep telling them to bri
ng out more?”
“Because none of them seem to truly please you.”
“But they do!
I really like them.
They’re gorgeous and beautiful!
Even the one just now!”
“No.
You didn’t like it.”
I said I did!
Vincent shook his head firmly, then turned a sharp glare toward the jeweller.
