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[CHAPTER 131]
Even as he rolled the pen across the documents, he could not focus at all.
‘They said she’s almost recovered…’
It had been three days since Amelia had collapsed.
It wasn’t a severe head injury, yet it was taking longer than expected for her to regain consciousness.
Oscar, watching him from the diagonally opposite desk, sighed and shook his head.
‘So many firsts for me recently.’
Vincent panicking while holding the collapsed Amelia was one thing, but seeing him unable to concentrate on work like this was likely the first time Oscar had witnessed it.
Even watching with his own eyes, Oscar still could not believe it.
The Crown Prince of all people, Vincent, behaving like that toward Amelia Wentworth.
Of course, it wasn’t completely incomprehensible. Even in Oscar’s recent awareness, he had gradually discovered unexpected facets of Amelia, whom he had strongly disliked.
Still, seeing him like this.
Vincent tapped the desk aimlessly with the tip of his pen, then, after some hesitation, rang the bell.
It was already the fourth time today, and lunch hadn’t even passed yet.
“Your Highness, did you call?”
Charles, the Crown Prince’s personal attendant, entered and bowed politely.
“Any news from the western side?”
Charles smiled awkwardly and replied,
“No, nothing yet.”
“…I see.”
As Vincent muttered in disappointment, someone knocked on the door that Charles had just entered.
Charles approached and slightly opened it, and Clark, the western side attendant, popped his head in.
“Your Highness, Princess Wentworth has awakened. Lauren just stopped by the kitchen to inform me…”
“I’m going immediately.”
Hearing that Amelia had awakened, Vincent leapt up without question.
But as he headed out, he suddenly paused, hesitating.
“Your Highness?”
He remembered that the last conversation with Amelia hadn’t ended on a particularly good note.
He intended to apologize unconditionally, but worried whether Amelia’s mood might be low.
After a brief pause, Vincent asked,
“Where are Vivian and Derick?”
Naturally, Oscar rose quietly from behind and answered.
“They’ve probably just finished their investigation.”
“Then have them return to their posts. Start with Vivian first.”
It was a precaution, thinking it better for Amelia to first see someone familiar and comfortable upon awakening.
He knew well enough that it wasn’t him.
‘It’s a relief if she doesn’t resent me.’
Having directly consumed that poison, she must have been deeply hurt and disappointed by him.
Leaving Derick out of it for now was at least a way to let her see Vivian first.
“Have Sir Derick return in an hour to guard the princess closely.”
That was the best plan he could make.
“Understood, Your Highness.”
After hearing Oscar’s reply, Vincent patiently waited a little longer.
Only ten minutes, but suppressing the urge to rush over was excruciating.
Exactly ten minutes later, Vincent moved again.
A moment where his otherwise expressionless face became tinged with the mingling of anxiety and anticipation.
He slowly moved from the east wing to the west wing, heading toward the second-floor room where Amelia was resting.
As he neared the room, he heard a woman’s startled voice calling out.
“Princess? Princess!”
The hurried sound of footsteps followed.
“Lauren, where on earth has the princess gone?”
Vivian, having arrived first, scolded Lauren.
Caught off guard by Vivian’s questioning, Lauren stammered.
“I-I don’t know. She asked for honey water… maybe she went for a walk?”
“She just awakened, and she’s moving already? Let’s go check immediately!”
Lauren ran quickly out and collided with Vincent approaching the room.
“Y-Your Highness.”
From their brief exchange, the situation became roughly clear.
Vincent, finding it a waste of time to question Lauren further, headed straight for Amelia’s room.
At first glance, the room appeared largely unchanged, aside from slightly disheveled bedding.
Vivian stood there, looking dazed.
“Vivian, where is Amelia?”
Vivian looked at Vincent, tears in her eyes.
“Your Highness… it seems the princess has left.”
“Left?”
“Her personal belongings are missing. The bag… almost all her dresses are gone, and a few valuables she brought from the duke’s residence are missing as well.”
As she spoke, Vivian indicated the open jewelry box and vanity.
Hearing her, Vincent felt the emptiness of the room.
“Impossible… it can’t be.”
Vincent slowly walked through the room, scanning the surroundings.
He noticed an envelope placed neatly on the desk.
Vivian, seeing it for the first time, quickly approached and handed it to Vincent with both hands.
“Your Highness.”
Vincent took the envelope. The seal clearly indicated that she intended for Vincent to receive it.
He hurriedly tore it open and unfolded the letter.
[To His Highness Vincent Arthur Fitzroy,
By the time this letter reaches you, I will have already left the Imperial Palace. I apologize for leaving so abruptly.
Also, I am sorry for not being able to give you sufficient trust while staying by your side.
I am leaving the palace to find something I must.
…
I will occasionally send news.
I hope there are no major misunderstandings, and please take care.
Once your fiancée, Amelia Wentworth.]
Reading and rereading the few brief sentences, Vincent’s fingertips turned increasingly pale.
When he finally stopped, the paper in his hand trembled slightly.
“Once… my fiancée…?”
This phrase struck him more than anything else.
At that moment, he heard someone running frantically outside the door.
“Your Highness, a report just came in that the princess has left the palace gates—”
Derick, who was reporting, paused mid-sentence.
Vincent’s normally pale face had turned ghostly white, his eyes shining emerald.
‘Angry? No, it’s something else.’
Vincent slowly turned to look at Derick.
Derick noticed the letter Vincent gripped so tightly that his hand had turned white. Seeing the crumpled paper and shaking hand, he found the hint.
‘Is he afraid?’
Even if a blade were held before him, would Vincent have made such an expression?
Derick cautiously approached and spoke in a heavy tone.
“Your Highness, a soldier recognized her leaving in a maid outfit. He also saw her board a public carriage. If we pursue now, we should be able to catch up.”
“Really… she left so easily.”
“The supervision over those leaving is not very strict…”
“To think she could leave so effortlessly.”
“……”
Vincent muttered with a sigh, closing and opening his eyes deeply.
Derick said beside him,
“We will bring her back.”
“Is that your own will? Or are you saying it out of concern for me?”
Derick hesitated, unable to answer easily.
Vincent sighed.
It was not really an important matter. To feel such petty jealousy when the person had already left.
Vincent smoothed out the crumpled letter and read it carefully again.
Her apology for failing to give trust probably contained resentment. He had intended to apologize, yet wasn’t even given the chance.
He gave a bitter smile and paid attention to the next part.
‘Something to find?’
What could be so important that she hurriedly left alone to find it?
Vincent silently looked out the window for a moment and quietly issued an order.
“Derick.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Trace her route, and unless it’s particularly dangerous, keep your distance and observe.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
Derick looked as if he had something to say, but obediently bowed.
