[CHAPTER 127]
“Ah, that….”
“The man who claims to be your brother did this to you, my lady! He locked you up and beat you without restraint!”
While I hesitated to decide how to explain it, Vivian jumped in and tattled without warning.
My eyes widened, and Vivian huffed as if her anger had not cooled down.
“Your Highness, the truth is—”
I thought a bit more explanation would be needed, but when I saw Vincent’s expression, I couldn’t continue.
His features had not changed, yet his emerald eyes had grown frighteningly cold.
Without listening to me, Vincent looked past me and glared at Derek behind me.
“Derek Crafhton.”
“Your Highness, I am deeply sorry.”
Derek instantly knelt, but Vincent ignored his apology and continued speaking.
“How many imperial knights can we mobilize immediately? Gather them at once.”
Before Derek could estimate the number and answer, I grabbed Vincent’s arm in surprise.
“Your Highness, what are you planning to do?”
“Naturally, I must arrest the one who laid a hand on my fiancée.”
“No, you can’t.”
“I can’t? Amelia, even if you want to overlook this, it is no longer only your affair.”
“I know, Your Highness. I’m not stopping you to protect Aiden.”
I gripped his arm tighter and met his gaze.
Vincent looked into my eyes, then turned toward Derek.
Derek seemed to have finished calculating and finally answered Vincent’s earlier question.
“With only the Crown Prince’s command, we can call upon about fifty knights. Anything beyond that would require the Emperor’s order.”
“About fifty, then. Enough.”
I hurried to add clarification.
“Your Highness, my father, Duke Wentworth, is still unharmed.”
“And?”
“If Aiden is arrested, my father will use any means to get him released.”
“……”
Vincent’s breathing deepened, a sign that he was trying to control his emotions.
He seemed to understand what I meant.
To punish Aiden properly, Duke Wentworth must be dealt with as well.
After calming himself, Vincent met my eyes again.
His emerald gaze stopped at my cheek, and I instinctively covered that area with my hair.
His voice fell low and firm.
“Never go back there again. That is an order.”
“…I understand, Your Highness. Let’s go inside and talk.”
Vincent nodded, held my hand as if escorting me, walked a few steps, then suddenly stopped.
“Your Highness?”
He moved behind me without warning and lifted me up, supporting my back and legs.
“Your Highness, Your Highness! I can walk on my own.”
“Quiet. You can barely stand right now.”
I was tired, but not enough to need carrying.
Embarrassed, I hid my face against his shoulder, then suddenly looked back.
Vivian was hurrying after us, and Derek stood motionless behind her.
Our eyes met, and Derek bowed deeply toward our retreating figures.
“…….”
I kept watching until he grew small in the distance.
Vincent climbed the stairs while carrying me, his hold stable and warm despite his firm grip.
I leaned against his shoulder, and he glanced down at me briefly, but said nothing.
Was it consideration or doubt that kept him silent?
Either way, he was waiting for me to speak first.
Where should I even begin?
Amelia never intended to kill you, and neither did I.
How could I explain that without mentioning a past life?
Even if I tried to twist the story carefully, would he believe it?
I looked up at him. His expression was calm, yet coldly devoid of emotion.
His sharp eyes didn’t waver at all.
It was impossible to read his heart.
Candles lit the long hallway with a gentle glow.
Portraits of emperors and noble families lined the walls, including one from Vincent’s childhood.
A smiling boy.
He resembled the man holding me, yet seemed nothing like him at all.
I knew nothing of the life he had lived.
Perhaps the Amelia of his past life had a hand in shaping his coldness.
He remembered his death, yet he was carrying the one responsible for it in his arms.
His heart must be just as conflicted as mine.
Vincent’s steps stopped at a door, and he carried me inside.
“Now, that’s eno—”
Before I could ask to be put down, he gently set me on the bed.
At that moment, something slipped and fell from my clothes.
Thud, roll—
A small bottle dropped to the floor, rolling clearly across the dim room.
“…Ah.”
My heart dropped to my stomach.
Vincent froze for a moment, staring at the bottle.
I also held my breath, looking down at it.
The atmosphere in the room grew heavy, as if time itself had stalled.
I reached out to grab the bottle, but Vincent was faster.
He picked it up, and his fingers slowly traced its surface.
“Duke Wentworth gave you this. Am I right?”
I inhaled sharply before I could answer.
“…Yes.”
“And you brought it with you into the Crown Prince’s palace.”
His voice sank, heavy and strained, as if forcing out something painful.
“I thought that perhaps… you might choose differently.”
He didn’t even ask why. He just sighed, sounding genuinely disappointed.
“Your Highness, please listen to me. I didn’t mean to use it.”
His voice grew sharper in response.
“Not use it? Is that what you call being ordered by your father to kill me, and bringing poison to put in my tea?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Lies. You’re also close to the Tower Master. And before—”
Before, you poisoned me. Those words were left unsaid.
Just as I couldn’t openly speak of possession, he couldn’t directly utter the idea of returning in time.
Our conversation circled awkwardly, unable to reach the heart of it.
But if he listened carefully, he would know the truth.
Yet Vincent refused to believe anything the moment he saw I had brought the bottle.
He had already decided.
Even if his suspicions came from his past life, the hurt still stung.
Frustration, anger, injustice… and something deeper, more painful.
It’s useless to explain. He won’t believe me right now.
No matter how clever the excuse, unless he truly understands, nothing will change.
Even so, I am innocent. And the Amelia before me was tricked, not malicious. She never meant to kill him either. Vincent needs to know that.
If words won’t work, then I’ll show him.
I snatched the bottle from Vincent’s hand.
Thank you very much🌺🌺🌺🌺