[CHAPTER 117]
After arriving at the Crown Prince’s Palace, Sylvia and I headed to the dressing room in the room next to mine to take off my dress.
Vivian and the other maids followed to help with changing.
Vivian unfastened the dozens of buttons down my back and said, “You finished earlier than I expected?”
“Yeah, my face was showing. I was tired, so I came early.”
Early, though, was past midnight, but people enjoying the ball sometimes stayed until dawn.
Meanwhile, Sylvia finished changing first. My dress was a bit more complicated, so it seemed it would take longer.
Sylvia, now in her own clothes, lightly nodded to me and said, “Princess, then I will head to my room.”
“Yes, Sylvia. Thank you for your hard work today.”
Sylvia smiled bitterly at my words, then turned to leave. But just before she left and the door closed, Vivian asked, “Oh, Princess! Your bracelet is gone. Did you lose it?”
Thud.
After the door closed, I spoke in surprise, “Vivian, I didn’t wear it when I went out.”
I spoke loudly enough for someone outside to hear, but the door was already closed, so I wasn’t sure if she heard.
Ah, damn. This is the perfect situation for suspicion.
“Really? I thought it was necessary since you always wear it, so I didn’t take it off even though it didn’t match the dress.”
“…Yeah, I also thought it didn’t match, so I took it off.”
“Then where did you put it?”
Vivian looked around for the bracelet, so I quickly stopped her and diverted her attention.
“Vivian! I want to wash quickly. Can you go to the bathroom and draw some water first?”
“Ah… You’re tired, right? Okay. Then come to the bathroom slowly.”
Fortunately, Vivian didn’t talk more about the bracelet and headed to the bathroom.
I put on a robe and sighed.
***
“Oh, Princess! Your bracelet is gone. Did you lose it?”
Thud.
Sylvia, closing the door, lifted her head to stare at it.
‘See, I wasn’t imagining it.’
Something feels off.
The timing of the bracelet being missing is strange, and it took twice as long to leave the room after using divination magic than expected.
‘The Princess is a good person.’
That’s true, but even if someone is kind, their stance on the Master of the Mage Tower can differ.
After all, as people say, she is the Princess of Wentworth.
Sylvia also knew that the Duke of Wentworth had a close relationship with the Master of the Mage Tower.
Even so, Vincent didn’t exclude Amelia from work, so there must be another reason… I don’t know yet. Could the Crown Prince also be deceived by Amelia?
Sylvia paused, then decisively turned toward Vincent’s room.
The hallway in the Crown Prince’s Palace was silent.
Occasionally, servants or maids passed by, but far fewer than during the day. The lamp light faintly illuminated the dark hallway.
Arriving at Vincent’s room, Sylvia hesitated before knocking on the door.
While she hesitated, the door opened from inside.
Vincent stood in a shirt, as if he had just taken off his jacket.
“What’s the matter?”
Seeing Sylvia, he asked with a slightly disappointed expression. Why was he disappointed?
“I have something important to tell you.”
Sylvia carefully spoke while glancing at Amelia’s room, and Vincent furrowed his brow slightly, opening the door wider and stepping aside.
“Come in.”
There was a sigh in his permission.
The room was dark, but the gentle glow of the fireplace filled it with warmth.
Vincent ran a hand through his hair, looking tired.
Watching him silently, Sylvia slowly spoke.
“Your Highness, are you okay? You look very tired.”
“Ah, just keep it brief.”
Vincent cut off Sylvia’s concern and leaned against the wall by the window, crossing his arms. Sylvia pressed her lips together and then spoke again.
“Yes, I suspect that Princess Wentworth may not be on the Master of the Mage Tower’s side.”
“……”
Seeing Vincent’s gaze turn cold, Sylvia unconsciously swallowed. She immediately knew he was very displeased.
Originally, she planned to speak indirectly, but Vincent’s cold attitude made her upset, so she blurted out the conclusion first.
“Why do you think so?”
Vincent’s stiff question made Sylvia cautiously share her thoughts.
“Princess was acting strange at the ball today. Her bracelet reacts to magic. Did you know that?”
“Yes, I gave it to her as a gift.”
“I wanted to use the bracelet to help find the Master’s drug, but she said it wasn’t there.”
Vincent, listening, crossed his arms and fiddled with his lips with his fingers.
“Did she lose it?”
“It would have been fine if she said she lost it, but she said she didn’t wear it from the start. I made sure it was there when I put the gloves on her.”
“Then you must be mistaken.”
“I thought so too. But just now, I heard a maid named Vivian ask where the bracelet went. So I wasn’t mistaken. Also, I asked to use invisibility magic to check the room, but it took too long, and the Master arrived.”
“……”
Vincent was silent. Seeing his serious expression, Sylvia continued.
“The Princess didn’t want to cooperate in stealing the Master’s drug… Somehow, I feel she may actually be on their side—”
“Stop.”
Vincent raised his hand to cut off Sylvia’s words.
“I understand your suspicion. It would be best if you said no more.”
“Your Highness, Crown Prince.”
Sylvia called urgently, but Vincent’s stern expression didn’t change.
“Amelia is the fiancée of the Crown Prince. That alone is insufficient to belittle her. But now you know something happened. That’s enough. You may leave.”
Sylvia realized Vincent’s feelings toward Amelia were stronger than she thought. Still, she was satisfied that he hadn’t completely ignored her concerns.
Sylvia bowed quietly and left the room.
Thud.
Vincent slumped into the single sofa.
“Huu…”
Fatigue washed over him. He leaned back, letting his head fall.
“…Amelia.”
Recently, Amelia had greatly helped with his work, and his feelings for her had deepened, though he had tried to bury them.
‘Amelia tried to poison me in my previous life.’
Remembering that caused a tight, painful feeling in his chest.
Was it indulgent to want to just trust Amelia? My head is a mess.
Vincent covered his eyes with the back of his hand and remained still for a long time.
***
‘Tomorrow, I’ll pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress and then stop by Lumière Hall. It’s relatively close to the Empress’s Palace.’
Finding a natural way to retrieve the bracelet was the only idea that came to mind. Planning it eased her mind.
I changed into slippers and stepped out of the dressing room. Though I could have used the door leading directly to my room, I wanted to speak briefly with Vincent.
After our brief conversation at the ball and the almost silent ride home in the carriage, a sense of unease remained.
Quiet voices drifted down the hallway. Following the sound carefully, I realized they were coming from inside Vincent’s room.
The door was slightly ajar, and through the gap, I could see Vincent and Sylvia together inside.
