~Chapter 48~
‘Baron Britney was also just an ordinary noble who never entered politics.’
Maybe this whole matter wasn’t for some grand reason, but only another one of Gaspar’s schemes to weaken Christan.
“Now that I think of it… Lady Amelie told me to deliver a message to you, but I completely forgot.”
“What message?”
“Well… she said she would face His Majesty the Emperor for your sake. Don’t tell me you revealed everything to her?”
“What?”
Christan was shocked by the unexpected words. After that, he didn’t even hear what Gerard was saying.
“Why are you telling me something this important only now?”
“I’m sorry, my lord. I… forgot.”
“How could you forget something like this?”
He guessed why Amel hadn’t told him directly. It was something he would immediately stop her from doing. And because she liked him, if he insisted, she would lose heart and give up.
But he couldn’t let her throw herself into the fire just to help him. That wasn’t in his nature—and besides, he could never just ignore her when she occupied his thoughts every day.
No need to think further. He stood up at once and asked Gerard an odd question.
“Is there anything you’ve been wanting lately?”
“That new wristwatch that costs 80 gold coins…”
“Good. I’ll get you that watch. In return, take care of all my work for now.”
“…What?”
Gerard froze, staring blankly. Christan moved busily, like a man about to leave somewhere.
“What are you doing all of a sudden?”
Gerard, with a strange expression between laughing and crying, grabbed his arm. Christan spoke casually.
“I’m going to Barvate.”
Time passed quickly, and Friday—the day of the tea party—arrived.
Even though she wasn’t going to a ball, Amel was surrounded by maids from morning, receiving all sorts of beautifying treatment. She groaned.
“Do we really have to do this much…”
“Of course! This tea time is hosted by the young lady who keeps sending marriage proposals to His Highness the Duke! You must look much more wonderful than her!”
“…I knew I shouldn’t have told you that.”
The night before, while receiving massages, Amel had shared funny stories with the maids so they wouldn’t get bored. Unfortunately, she had mentioned Chiara Esmeralda, who had once been part of marriage talks with Christan.
Now, her maids were fired up with rivalry toward this unseen Chiara, and the result was all being poured onto Amel.
Eve, who was fixing her hair, gasped.
“Wow…”
Amel awkwardly looked at the mirror. Honestly, this was beyond decoration—it was practically a scam.
“Beautiful…”
Her big eyes now had false lashes, making her look like a doll. Her rosy cheeks were lightly dusted with pink powder, highlighting her cuteness.
The makeup was light overall, but her long, silky blue-silver hair was partly curled into soft waves and the rest braided neatly.
It was perfect—neither too plain nor too flashy, and it emphasized Amel’s own charm.
“You’re really beautiful, Young Lady!”
“As expected… amazing.”
“Well, it’s only possible because you’re already so lovely.”
Amel reluctantly pulled herself away from the mirror. If she didn’t leave now, she’d be late.
“Should I carry this, Young Lady?”
“Yes, it’s a bit heavy, but thank you.”
“It’s not heavy at all!”
Amel stepped out with Nina, who carried the elegant box prepared as a gift for the tea party.
At the stairs, Count Conrad and Countess Rosaria were waiting. They tried to smile, but their unease was obvious.
“Amel…”
Rosaria took her daughter’s hand tightly.
“If anything dangerous happens, come back immediately.”
“Come on, I’m not heading to a battlefield, just to drink tea. You worry too much.”
Amel secretly winked at her father, signaling him to calm Rosaria.
But…
“Don’t be foolish. A noble’s social gathering is always a battlefield.”
“…What?”
Conrad didn’t catch the signal and spoke as seriously as his wife.
“Always put your life and Nina’s life first, no matter what happens.”
“Count…”
Nina was touched by his kindness in valuing even a maid’s life, but Amel only gave a weak smile.
‘There won’t be any situation where we’ll need to think about life and death… right?’
Still, she decided to just go along with her parents’ mood. Considering the prejudice she had faced all her life, their overreaction wasn’t surprising.
“Yes, I’ll be careful.”
“That’s our good daughter.”
They followed her until she boarded the carriage. Amel stuck her head out the window.
“I’ll be back~!”
Smiling, her parents waved until the carriage slowly disappeared.
At the Esmeralda Marquis’s Mansion.
The Marquis of Esmeralda, one of the most active nobles in politics, lived lavishly in an old-fashioned mansion in the center of the capital.
His second daughter, Chiara Esmeralda, still lived there as well.
‘I want to return to the estate…’
Looking out the window, she muttered to herself.
With golden honey hair and gem-like teal eyes, she resembled her elder sister. Though she had passed the usual age for marriage, her beauty was still striking.
Today too, dressed like a blooming flower, she followed her father into the garden.
“Chiara.”
The voice calling her was so cold, it was hard to believe it came from her father.
“Yes, Father.”
“Are you sure that witch of Winterpool will attend the tea time you’re hosting today?”
“You saw her reply yesterday morning, didn’t you?”
Her rebellious tone made the Marquis stop walking. Chiara, ignoring him, continued to provoke.
“I worry you’re getting old, Father… maybe your memory is failing?”
“…How insolent.”
He clicked his tongue but resumed walking. With the tea time about to begin, he couldn’t risk striking her face and ruining it.
“You’re right—I’ve grown old.”
His graying golden hair shone pale under the sunlight.
“Do you know why I’m still cleaning up after you at this age?”
Chiara’s red lips, once curved in a smile, pressed tightly shut.
“If only you had seduced Christan back then, I would have retired already!”
“…I apologize.”
“Don’t give me empty words!”
The Marquis roared, his faded brown eyes burning fiercely.
“Show me with actions. Make the witch of Winterpool unable to rise again.”
At that moment, Amel still knew nothing.
And in the seemingly peaceful capital of Barvate, something dangerous was about to happen.
