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Chapter 65
‘It’s only a two-year difference anyway.’
By that logic, Aiden was the one who started late for no reason, but instead of realizing that, he’d been treating Amelia like an idiot since childhood.
What’s funnier is that Duke Wentworth even seemed to go along with that notion.
‘Well, thanks to that, at least I have one more excuse to use.
No, wait, since he came here, things only got worse.’
I passed by Aiden and sat down on the sofa.
Eric was already sitting there, elegantly sipping tea.
As usual, he had no presence.
“Hi, Eric.”
Eric glanced up at me.
“Seems like you’ve been doing well.”
“Well, I guess.”
At least better than when I was staying at the duke’s mansion.
Though life here is exhausting in a different way.
Hearing our exchange, Aiden laughed and sat across from me.
“Doing well?
Yeah right.
You’re probably wasting time chasing after the Crown Prince all day.”
Would he believe me even if I said no?
I didn’t bother to respond to such nonsense.
“Anyway, Father told me to convince you about something… what was it again?”
Aiden tried to recall Duke Wentworth’s words, but unfortunately, his brain wasn’t built for remembering terms like “tax reform bill.”
Eric sighed beside him and stepped in.
“Father asked you to persuade His Highness the Crown Prince to support the new tax reform bill in the upcoming vote.”
“Oh, right, that’s it!”
Aiden clapped his hands as if Eric had just solved a great mystery.
“So yeah, tell the Crown Prince to go along with it.”
At this point, I wasn’t sure whether Eric was smart or Aiden was just hopeless, though the latter seemed certain.
I sighed and murmured, looking up toward the ceiling corner.
“But as my brother said… I’m just someone who trails behind His Highness the Crown Prince.
Would he even listen to me?”
“Well, yeah, that’s true.”
Aiden quickly agreed, then suddenly commented on my outfit.
“Hey, seriously, try a little harder.
Huh?
Who’s going to notice you if you wear such dull clothes around the palace?”
“Anyway, that’s why it’ll be difficult.”
I lifted my teacup and looked down.
Aiden hesitated, realizing he had agreed with me too soon and cornered himself.
But he wasn’t the type to back down easily.
He suddenly slammed the tea table and stood up.
“If I tell you to do it, just do it!
Why so many excuses?”
We were inside the Crown Prince’s palace.
Even if Aiden had no sense, I doubted he’d be foolish enough to act out here.
‘Why is he being so aggressive?’
After a brief thought, I came to a simple conclusion.
“Let me guess, Father said he’d raise your allowance if you make this work?”
“How did you— no, that’s not exactly it!
It’s for the good of the family, that’s all.
I’m the eldest son, so of course it’s my duty.”
He didn’t even understand what it was about, yet still said such nonsense.
Then Eric, who had been quiet, spoke up.
“Sister.”
“Huh?”
Since when did he call me that?
“Show me around the garden.
It’s my first time in the Crown Prince’s palace, and who knows when I’ll be back.”
“Oh… the garden?
Sure, I guess.”
I wasn’t thrilled about letting Aiden in the garden, but it was better than having him yell in the drawing room.
“Yeah, since we’re already here, treat your guests a bit.
The drawing rooms here aren’t much different from ours anyway.”
Glancing at the servants’ wary looks, I led the way out as quickly as I could.
At least fewer people could follow us to the garden—that was some comfort.
The autumn garden was filled with crisp air and trees dyed in red and gold.
Fallen leaves rustled softly under our steps, while the cool breeze swept through them like gentle waves.
It was peaceful and beautiful, almost too much so to show someone like Aiden.
Even in such calm surroundings, I couldn’t fully relax.
Aiden hummed a tune as he followed behind, then suddenly raised his voice again.
“So all you have to do is say a few words to the Crown Prince, right?
Is that really so hard?”
“If it’s just delivering the message, I can do that.”
“No, you have to convince him yourself.”
“I told you, that’s not possible.”
I sighed, tired of repeating myself.
Aiden didn’t like my tone, but maybe because Derek was nearby, he didn’t touch me.
Instead, he leaned close and threatened me.
“If you can’t even do that, how are you going to prove your worth, huh?
Amelia.
You think being in the Crown Prince’s palace makes you somebody?
Don’t forget—you’re still the duke’s illegitimate daughter.
So stop acting up and do what you’re told before I tell Father about your insolent attitude.”
He whispered like it was some great secret, yet it was just more nonsense.
“Haa.”
Aiden stepped back, expecting me to respond.
“Go ahead and tell him if you want.”
“What?”
“Tell Father about my insolence.
I don’t care.
It doesn’t change anything—I still won’t do it.”
“You—!”
Unable to hold back his anger, Aiden started to lash out again, but Derek quietly stepped between us.
“This is the Crown Prince’s palace.
Cause another disturbance, and you’ll be expelled immediately.”
“What the—seriously….”
Aiden stopped short when he noticed Derek’s sword hanging at his side.
Just then, someone approached from beyond the garden.
I turned my head and caught sight of a familiar glint.
I didn’t want to meet his eyes.
Even if we had different mothers, being seen as siblings with that fool was embarrassing.
Vincent entered the garden with Oscar and two attendants behind him.
“Amelia.”
I greeted him formally on purpose.
“I greet His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Aiden and Eric, startled, quickly bowed as well.
Vincent looked at the three of us for a moment, as if assessing the scene.
“You’re from House Wentworth, I see.”
“Y-yes.”
“Did you come to visit your sister?”
“Huh?
Oh—yes, that’s right.
I came to see my sister.”
A minute ago he couldn’t stop calling him “Crown Prince, Crown Prince,” and now he couldn’t even look Vincent in the eye.
I, the so-called “foolish Amelia,” added casually,
“Why not tell His Highness yourself, brother?”
“You—you—!
You can’t just say that here—!”
Aiden’s face turned bright red.
He stammered, trying to say something to Vincent, but then gave up.
He just glared at me in frustration.
For someone who couldn’t even speak for himself, he sure liked to push others to do it.
Meanwhile, Eric looked between the three of us and suddenly chuckled, lowering his head to hide it.
But not well enough.
Vincent noticed the faint smile and turned his gaze toward Eric, then shifted it back to Aiden, whose face was still flushed.
“Sir Aiden.”
Vincent’s low, steady voice carried real authority.
He and Aiden were about the same age, but the difference was staggering.
“If Duke Wentworth has a message for me, I can hear it directly.
I see no reason for it to pass through his sister.
Don’t you agree?”
Vincent had summed up the entire situation perfectly, as if he’d been there from the start.
