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Chapter 16
After finishing his meal, Vincent returned to his office.
On the way back, he happened to run into Viscount Oscar Cobran.
“Oh, Your Highness.
Did something good happen?”
“Something good?”
“Well, you were smiling.
You looked to be in quite a pleasant mood.”
“That can’t be.”
Vincent’s face hardened as he touched the corner of his lips.
Was I… smiling?
When Vincent’s expression suddenly turned grim, Oscar lowered his voice, careful with his words.
“Um… Your Highness, there’s something I need to report.”
“Speak.”
“The Duke of Wentworth recently registered a trading company under a false name.”
“Which means he’s up to something he doesn’t want exposed.”
“Exactly.
Shall I investigate?”
“Yes.
And while you’re at it, look into the Marquis of Moulton as well.”
Oscar blinked in surprise.
“The Moulton family, Your Highness?”
“Yes.
I hear the Duke of Wentworth recently sought to arrange a marriage alliance with them, but then withdrew.”
“The Marquis of Moulton has only two sons.
With whom could he possibly…?
Don’t tell me, with Lady Amelia?
Good heavens, it hasn’t even been a full week since Your Highness recovered and rose from bed!”
While Oscar grew agitated, Vincent remained calm.
“More likely, the Duke decided it would be difficult to sway me through Lady Amelia.”
“And may I ask how you came to know of this?”
“Lady Amelia herself told me.”
“Hah!
To think she’d say such a thing to her fiancé.
Lady Amelia truly isn’t the brightest.”
“Well…”
If he thought back to the Amelia he once knew, he might have agreed with that.
She had been neither clever nor kind in nature.
Yet, the Amelia he had spoken with today felt… different, somehow.
“Your Highness, I’ll take my leave then.”
“Go.
You’ve done well.”
No come to think of it, this was probably the first time he had ever truly held a long conversation with her.
Until now, they had only exchanged perfunctory greetings or else avoided one another altogether.
Vincent decided to adjust his judgment slightly.
‘I must admit I hardly know Amelia at all.’
“Ugh.”
The moment that thought crossed his mind, the memory he had forced down his dying moments before returning to the past flared up, dragging a headache with it.
It was a kind of trauma.
But thanks to the pain, his shaken resolve steadied again.
The purpose of this second life returned to the forefront of his mind.
Yes, talking with Amelia had been unexpectedly pleasant.
But trauma and the sharp throb of his headache forced him to dismiss that truth.
Such emotions were not ones Vincent could allow himself now.
The next morning, I ate breakfast alone.
It was a relief not having Vincent there, but I had to admit it was a hassle going all the way down to the first floor just to eat.
‘Next time, if I’m eating alone, I’ll just have them bring a tray up to my room.’
I dabbed my lips with a napkin and rose, only for a servant to step forward and pull my chair back for me.
“My lady, allow me to escort you to your room.”
“Charles, isn’t it?”
I glanced at him as I stood.
The young servant flushed in surprise.
“You remembered my name.
I’m a bit embarrassed, to be remembered for such a small thing.
But, my lady please, do not speak to me so formally.”
It seemed Charles had not been here long; he carried no fixed notions about Amelia.
There was no trace of bias in the way he looked at me.
“Mm… All right.
Truthfully, I only know His Highness here, so I feel awkward.
A little lonely, even.
I’ll be counting on you from now on.”
“Ah of course, my lady.”
I smiled warmly, and Charles’s face grew even redder.
‘One more won over.’
Amelia’s beauty clearly made even a touch of kindness doubly effective.
Charles walked ahead, while Derek, silent, but with a presence that loomed large, followed behind me.
Feeling his gaze prickling at my back, I glanced over my shoulder.
“How long exactly are you planning to follow me?”
“Until His Highness summons me back.”
“Ah, when he calls you in to report on my every move, you mean?”
My blunt words made Derek’s eyes waver.
“That… I cannot answer.”
I slipped quickly into my room as Charles opened the door.
Derek could not step inside; he was forced to wait at the threshold.
The first thing I saw inside was a vase on the table.
This time, it held a bouquet of red roses.
“No lilies, huh.”
A small laugh escaped me.
Knock, knock, knock.
Moments later, a knock sounded at the door.
“Come in.”
It was the same young maid who had guided me here yesterday.
She stood nervously in the doorway, so I greeted her first.
“Hello, we meet again.”
“Ah… g-good morning, my lady.
My name is Vivian, and I’ll be serving as your attendant for the time being!”
So she was my personal maid.
Typically, only a noble’s wife or a crown princess would have such.
No doubt she would report my daily life to the crown prince as well.
Still, the thought didn’t bother me.
What power could a young maid have?
Vivian had short black hair and brown eyes that reminded me of people back in Korea.
I plucked a single rose from the vase and held it out to her.
“Nice to meet you.
I’ll be counting on you too.”
Her eyes flew wide.
“F-for me?
You’re giving this to me?”
“Do you not like roses?”
“Of course I do!
Thank you so much!”
Her cheeks flushed scarlet as she accepted it. Adorable.
In truth, flowers were expensive, even in this world.
The palace just happened to be abundant with them.
Watching her, I let my thoughts wander.
I couldn’t allow myself to tread the same path as Amelia in the novel.
That meant I had far too many things to manage my reputation, first of all.
And I needed allies to be my eyes and ears in places I could not reach.
Even if Vivian was technically the crown prince’s person, it was still better to get along with her.
“I see you’ve already finished unpacking.
If I need anything, I’ll call.
You may go now.”
She nodded, and from her apron pocket she drew out a small, round black stone.
She showed me how it worked it was essentially a summoning bell.
So this world had not only developed magical tools, but even communication devices.
Truly, it had everything.
“All right.
I’ll call for you later.”
I accepted it casually, as though it were no big deal.
After Vivian left, I sprawled onto the bed with a groan.
“Ugh, I’m already tired.”
It was still morning, but there was so much to think about that exhaustion hit me hard.
I was doing what I could moment by moment, but truthfully I had no idea if I could really escape Amelia’s fate.
The main events of the novel unfolded just as written.
On the one hand, it was good that I had the chance to prepare.
But what if even the ending stayed the same?
The thought sent unease crawling up my spine.
“Ugh, whatever.”
I rolled onto my side, clutching my head, and drifted into a light sleep.
The moment Vivian stepped out of Lady Amelia’s room, she was summoned to the crown prince’s office alongside the knight Derek.
As Amelia had suspected, Vivian, too, was tasked with reporting the details of Amelia’s daily life.
She stood before the crown prince, tense to the point of trembling.
Vincent, however, was staring not at her face but at the pocket of her apron.
Why…?
Following his gaze, Vivian looked down and froze.
A red rose petal was peeking out like a handkerchief.
Only then did she realise her mistake.
The crown prince spoke.
“Did the lady give you that?”
“Yes, Your Highness.
She said it was a gift, asking me to take good care of her.”
It wasn’t wrong, so she told the truth.
Vincent fell silent, offering no comment.
It was his aid
e, Oscar, who broke in instead.
“Well, that’s peculiar.
That lady, of all people?
A rose?”
“Oscar.
There are servants present.”
Chastised, Oscar lowered his head quickly.
“Ah, yes.
Forgive me.
Still, Lady Amelia must be in quite high spirits to offer flowers to a maid.
That’s hardly like her.”
