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Chapter 03
“What does that even mean?”
At Amelie’s sudden remark, Kristan frowned, but Gerard quickly changed the subject.
“Never mind. Let’s go.”
“You’re a bland one.”
Although Kristan felt slightly uneasy about Gerard casually mentioning an honored guest, he assumed it was just another attempt to tease him and quickly lost interest.
Meanwhile, Amelie was in her room unpacking her luggage with Nina, making quite a mess in the process.
As expected, the bulky suitcases were filled with her beloved clothes and accessories.
After neatly hanging the folded dresses in the empty wardrobe, it almost felt like she had brought too much.
“Do you think I’ll be able to wear all of these?”
“You’re supposed to bring more than you can actually wear.”
“Ah… I see.”
With a suddenly serious expression, Amelie began selecting what to wear for that evening’s banquet.
‘Come to think of it… surely the Duchess won’t skip the banquet as well, right?’
She glanced out the window. A flower garden filled with colorful blooms came into view.
‘Even with gardeners… the design of a garden usually reflects the lady of the house.’
If such a garden existed, the mistress must exist as well—but why had she not shown herself?
Unable to hold back her curiosity, Amelie suddenly stood up.
“Miss?”
“I’m just going to ask something. You rest here.”
“P-pardon? Please let me do it instead.”
“No, I’ll go myself.”
Ignoring Nina’s insistence, Amelie left the room. The hallway was eerily silent.
Unfamiliar with the layout of the Grand Duke’s castle, she walked aimlessly, muttering to herself.
“Hmm… what should I even ask to make it sound natural?”
“Indeed. But what are you planning to ask?”
“Eek!”
Startled, Amelie turned around.
The person behind her smiled leisurely.
“I told you to call me or Sir Adolf if you needed anything.”
“Oh, Sir Siad.”
Recognizing Gerard, Amelie sighed in relief. Gerard tilted his head.
“So, what do you need?”
“Well… I was just a bit curious about something.”
“What kind of thing?”
“Um…”
After hesitating, she carefully spoke.
“I was told His Highness is married, but I haven’t seen his wife, so I was worried. Is she perhaps unwell?”
“…Hmm.”
Gerard hummed meaningfully, smiling without answering as he started walking. Amelie tilted her head in confusion.
“…?”
“His Grace… meaning Grand Duke Kristan…”
Gerard stopped walking and finally spoke.
“He is unmarried.”
“…Huh?”
Amelie’s eyes widened in shock.
“Unmarried?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
She was confused.
Then who was the woman standing beside Kristan at last year’s debutante ball?
Those gentle eyes, those gestures, that intimacy—everything looked like a couple deeply in love.
“Th-then the woman he was with last year…?”
Just as she was about to ask again—
Bang.
“What are you doing here?”
The massive door beside them suddenly swung open, and a handsome man with a slightly furrowed brow appeared.
Amelie froze in shock.
‘D-don’t tell me… he heard everything just now…?!’
Meanwhile, Kristan had a lot of work to do before the subjugation.
As the leader of the expedition, he had to personally write the official report.
Moreover, since the witch Amelie Winterpool had been dispatched directly by the Emperor, he also had to prepare a separate report about her.
He doubted the Emperor would read it carefully—but if he wrote it carelessly, it would still cause trouble.
“…How annoying.”
He stood up, looking down at the still mostly blank paper, and decided to step out for a moment to clear his head.
But then—
“…He is unmarried.”
“…Huh?”
Kristan’s attention sharpened at the faint voice outside the door.
Normally, he wouldn’t care about casual chatter, but the word “unmarried” had caught his attention.
“Gerard…”
He muttered the name of his aide, instantly piecing the situation together.
He didn’t know why his marital status was being discussed, but it was obvious that that irritating man was treating it as entertainment.
Unable to ignore it, Kristan immediately opened the door.
There stood Gerard—and a startled girl with rabbit-like eyes.
He glanced at her briefly, then turned to Gerard with a frown.
“What are you doing here?”
“My lord.”
Gerard replied immediately, gesturing toward Amelie.
“Lady Winterpool had a question, so I simply answered it.”
“What question?”
Through his glasses, Gerard’s dark eyes curved slightly.
“Why, about Lady Brittany… no, about Your Highness’s marital status.”
“….”
“….”
Amelie cautiously glanced at Kristan, clearly uncomfortable. Gerard had completely exposed everything.
‘I have some dignity too!’
However, Kristan only let out a deep sigh and said to her,
“I was once engaged. However, it was broken off.”
“Oh… yes…”
Amelie was internally shocked—it was not marriage, but a broken engagement—but she managed to keep a neutral expression.
Kristan gestured to a maid standing nearby.
“You there. Escort Lady Winterpool back to her room. And Gerard, come inside and finish your work.”
“Yes, my lord. I will see you later, Lady Winterpool.”
As Amelie nodded slightly, the door closed firmly.
After staring at it for a moment, she turned and followed the maid.
“This way, please.”
“Alright…”
The maid did not speak further, so Amelie walked in silence, thinking about Kristan.
‘So… he broke off an engagement with Lady Brittany… but still…’
A memory from the debutante ball resurfaced—Kristan with his arm around a woman.
Even though it was a long-forgotten first love, the faint ache in her chest was still there.
“Synthia, where were you?”
Why did they break up, even though they seemed so close?
It was a question she could only answer by asking directly—but judging from Kristan’s firm attitude, she could never bring herself to do it.
“We’ve arrived, my lady.”
While she was lost in thought, they had already reached her door.
“If you need anything, please call us.”
“Okay, thank you.”
After the maid left, Amelie collapsed onto the bed.
Nina, who had been sewing while sitting nearby, looked at her.
“Are you tired?”
“No… not really. I just have a lot on my mind.”
“On your mind?”
Nina blinked.
Amelie stared at her for a moment, thinking carefully.
‘Maybe I should tell Nina…’
She was about the same age, but unlike Amelie—who had grown up only among witches—Nina had also lived among boys and girls. She might know more than she did.
Finally, Amelie spoke cautiously.
“Actually… I used to like the Grand Duke…”
