TMLITTKM | CHAPTER 40

Chapter 40

“The carriage has arrived, so hurry.”

“No, that’s not…”

As Zeiss muttered in disbelief, Vincent cut him off.

“Aren’t you busy? The farewell is quite enough.”

“What?”

“Go.”

Vincent delivered the final blow to Zeiss.

“Really now.”

With a face full of unsaid words, Zeiss withdrew, and I quickly took the hint and slipped outside.

“Lady Wentworth!”

Zeiss called out behind me.

“I’ll deliver the brooch to my mother! She’ll be absolutely delighted!”

“Yes!”

I hurried toward the carriage.

Sensing Vincent’s quickening pace behind me, I walked even faster.

When I saw Derek standing by the carriage, I reached out my hand.

“Sir Derek, would you help me up?”

“Yes.”

Derek opened the door and helped me inside.

I could feel Vincent’s eyes on us as he arrived a moment later.

I ignored him completely and slipped deeper into the carriage.

If it isn’t even sincere, why pretend to be jealous?

Anyone with half a brain could see that Vincent’s actions toward Zeiss stemmed from jealousy.

But how could you be jealous of someone you don’t even like?

Was that something he was acting out too?

And why did it feel so natural that it unsettled me?

Vincent climbed in after me and shut the door.

Soon the carriage rattled forward, and I turned away from him to gaze out the window.

“Amelia.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Are you… angry with me, perhaps?”

His cautious tone made me turn my head.

His face and voice looked like he was trying to read my mood, which only frustrated me more.

No, that’s not it.

The real reason for my frustration was that I had expected something from him even for a moment.

He hadn’t changed.

I had.

Realising that, the anger I felt toward Vincent began to ease.

“Amelia, if I’ve done something to hurt you—”

“No, Your Highness.”

I forced a smile and quickly came up with a plausible excuse.

“I just… woke up after lying down for so long, so I feel a bit dazed. And a little startled too…”

“Well, being directly attacked by a mage is enough to startle anyone.”

“Yes. Fire really did shoot out from his hands. I’d seen it as a spectacle before, but watching it fly toward a person was terrifying.”

“That’s why the crown keeps mages under control. Magic is convenient, but it’s also dangerous.”

I agreed, but my mind wandered to what lay ahead.

Right. This isn’t the time for feelings or grievances.

From here on, the conflict between Duke Wentworth and the Crown Prince would escalate in earnest.

And I would need to tread the tightrope with absolute care.

Most of all, I had to ensure the Crown Prince and the heroine met.

Her name was Sylvia.

She was still an apprentice mage, but she possessed extraordinary talent and ability.

I had to bring the two of them together so I could step aside naturally.

“If you’re tired, you can rest.”

With that, Vincent tapped his shoulder.

Huh?

Was he really suggesting I lean on him?

I studied his face to make sure, only to find him watching me with an oddly expectant gaze that left me flustered.

Does anyone normally act this convincingly?

As I hesitated, Vincent pressed me further with that silent insistence in his eyes.

Oh, whatever.

I really was tired anyway.

So I let my head rest lightly on his shoulder.

He even adjusted the angle so his shoulder would be more comfortable for me.

Seriously, why was he doing this?

Confused, I closed my eyes.

His broad shoulder was warmer and steadier than I expected.

Well, so what?

If he’s kind, even if only on the surface, I might as well take it.

With tension and comfort mingling inside me, I drifted off to sleep.

When I woke again, we had already arrived at the Crown Prince’s palace.

***

The next morning, under the soft warmth of the sun, I strolled through the Crown Prince’s private garden.

I wanted a quiet moment to collect my thoughts.

But staying cooped up in my room felt suffocating, so I chose to walk outside.

At this hour, only the Crown Prince and I had access to this garden.

Visitors and attendants could use the main grounds, but the inner garden was different.

Unless a resident personally brought someone inside, it was off-limits to outsiders.

That’s what makes this place so nice.

I glanced behind me with a sigh.

Something had been bothering me for a while.

After a few more steps, I finally gave in and turned around.

“Sir Derek.”

“Yes, my lady.”

That same curt reply.

I sighed.

Of course. Attendants were allowed to follow their masters even here.

So Derek and Vivian had every right to trail behind me.

That wasn’t the problem.

The problem was the distance.

“You’re walking a little too close, aren’t you?”

“Pay it no mind.”

“How can I not?”

“Just keep your eyes forward.”

The way he said it, calm but suffocating, made me want to groan.

Then Derek added an explanation, as though to justify himself.

“I heard about the attack at Duke Royce’s maze garden.

If such a thing could happen in a heavily guarded estate, there’s no guarantee of safety even here.”

So that was it.

The ambush I had suffered weighed on him, and he was determined to provide tighter protection.

“I see what you mean. Still, please, just a little farther back. You’ll bump into me otherwise.”

He conceded only slightly, retreating by two steps.

I frowned.

“More. More—”

“No.”

At that distance he stood firm, shaking his head.

“Was this His Highness’s order? Did he tell you to shadow me this closely?”

“It’s not surveillance, my lady. It’s protection. And no, these are not His Highness’s orders. This is solely my… judgment.”

Why did his face turn red as he said that?

His resolve was clear, and since it was all for my safety, I couldn’t press him further.

“All right. My head’s just… a bit cluttered, that’s all.”

“Then I’ll make sure not to disturb your thoughts.”

“…Please do.”

Unlike Derek, Vivian had already kept her distance without my asking, so I left her alone.

She always had good sense.

I turned back to the path.

This time, Derek’s presence behind me was barely noticeable.

Just two steps back and the difference is this big?

I glanced over my shoulder again, and Derek stopped as well.

His footsteps were so quiet I almost couldn’t hear them.

He must have been deliberately suppressing his presence after I complained.

Considerate and skilled, too.

I walked on through the garden.

Right now, two matters weigh on my mind.

Both centred on the power struggle between Duke Wentworth and the Crown Prince.

In the original story, Amelia had little role to play here, hardly any presence at all.

And it made sense.

She was ignored by both sides, with neither reason nor desire to intervene.

I was no different now.

I had no real part to play, no excuse or means to interfere.

It was frustrating.

If only I could confirm that events are proceeding as they should.

By “as they should,” I meant in accordance with the story after the Crown Prince’s regression.

Even if Amelia’s ending changed, the Moulton affair had to unfold just as written.

Only then can I encounter the heroine.

Thinking about it, this novel had a rather late meeting between the hero and heroine, considering it was a romance fantasy.

Each of them remained absorbed in their own lives until they crossed paths by chance.

She’s probably…

I lifted my gaze toward the Magic Tower, where violet smoke curled upward.

Sylvia was likely there now, grinding away as an apprentice mage, all while grappling with the corruption of the Tower and its master.