~Chapter 13~
Richard quickly turned his gaze toward the 2nd Knight Order. Normally, Lysa would be there drinking with her subordinates, but she wasn’t.
He looked around, but there was no trace of either of them.
“Damn.”
Richard cursed and rushed to where Amelie had been handing out drinks. But only her servants remained there.
“Where did Amelie Garnet go?”
Richard’s harsh tone, without any explanation, made the servants flinch. With the intimidating aura of a prince pressing down on them, they shrank back.
One timid servant pointed nervously toward the back garden.
“A-Ah, the young lady said she had important business and went to the garden.”
Hearing that, Richard immediately headed there. The humid summer wind brushed against him as his expression grew darker.
‘Foolish… letting my guard down twice in one day, and all because of Amelie Garnet.’
Grinding his teeth, he finally reached the garden.
“…Why in a place like that.”
His blue eyes quickly spotted her light-colored hair.
Amelie was half-hidden in the bushes, watching something.
“Amelie Garnet.”
“Ahh! You scared me!”
Richard’s sudden voice made Amelie jump so hard she almost fell over.
“What are you doing—”
“Shh!”
Amelie covered his mouth and yanked him into the bushes.
The space was far too small for two people, so they ended up pressed close together.
“Why did you come here?”
Richard felt uncomfortable with the sudden closeness, but Amelie glared at him and asked sharply.
‘Isn’t that my question?’ he thought, annoyed.
“You tell me. What were you planning this time to trouble Lysa?”
“How could I trouble Lysa if she’s not even here?”
“Obviously, you lured her here.”
“I didn’t! So stop looking for Lysa and lower your voice.”
Whispering, Amelie poked her head above the bushes, scanning the area like a meerkat.
“Ah, they’re here!”
The brown-haired “meerkat” quickly ducked back down.
Richard, however, straightened and looked toward where she had been watching.
“Rowen Harbor?”
Rowen Harbor appeared, walking clumsily. Soon after, Claire Morren followed him into the garden.
Richard’s face turned grim. Rowen Harbor—Lysa’s loyal subordinate, and Claire Morren—meeting secretly like this? It didn’t feel like something ordinary.
“What are those two doing, meeting in secret at this hour? Don’t tell me—”
“Richard, come on. Harbor and Claire would never harm Lysa. Think simply—why do you think a man and a woman sneak out at night like this?”
Amelie gave him a look as if he were a clueless rookie. Richard didn’t get it.
“…By the way, do you know what time the fireworks start?”
Richard, tense and ready to leap out if anything went wrong, stared at her in disbelief.
“Are fireworks important right now?”
“They’re the most important! Just tell me, please?”
Her hazel eyes shone with urgency. With a sigh, Richard pulled out his pocket watch.
“It’s 8:52. So, in about 8 minutes.”
“9 o’clock, huh? It’s soon then.”
Her eyes sparkled even more with excitement. She looked almost like a different person, glowing with pure joy.
“…Do you really have to keep staring like that?”
Amelie covered her face with her hands and scooted a handspan away.
‘Staring?’ Richard blinked. He hadn’t even realized he’d been looking at her the whole time.
“You don’t need to keep watching me. Lysa isn’t even here, so the surveillance can stop.”
“Surveillance?”
Richard frowned. He wasn’t watching her for that reason… but even he couldn’t explain why.
Fwoosh—Bang!
The first firework lit the night sky.
“It started!”
Amelie shot up like a spring, her eyes fixed on Harbor and Claire. Richard followed her gaze.
“Hopefully Harbor has the courage now.”
She whispered like a prayer. But Harbor was obviously trembling.
Fireworks exploded brightly overhead as the two stood under the lights.
And then Richard finally understood why they had met in secret.
“Those two… they’re lovers? Of all people…”
“You only just figured that out? Really?”
Amelie glanced at him as if he were hopeless.
“But why are you crouched here peeping like a pervert?”
“…What? Pervert?”
Amelie shot him a glare.
“I came here to help them, okay? Do you even know how much advice I gave Harbor—”
“Harbor’s taking something out.”
“Really?!”
Forgetting her irritation, Amelie focused again.
Richard and Amelie both watched as Harbor gave Claire a wrapped gift and said something. Then Claire leaned close to him.
“Oh my gosh.”
They kissed.
“Claire’s bolder than I thought. She’s so cool!”
“…You seem more excited than them.”
“Of course! My dopamine’s through the roof right now!”
Amelie smiled brightly, her face glowing with joy.
Richard froze.
‘Did Amelie Garnet… always smile like that?’
He had seen her smile at him before, but it always felt unpleasant. Yet now, he couldn’t look away.
“Anyway, this stays between us. It’s our secret, alright?”
Her lips curved beautifully as she said “secret.”
And again, that strange, unsettling feeling wrapped around Richard.
