TMLITTKM | CHAPTER 47

Chapter 47

“Brother, my younger brother and my mother are different.”

This was something the Duke of Wentworth had to hide, for Amelia Wentworth had to be treated as precious.

So most of society did not know this fact.

That was the same for Vincent and Oscar.

“That’s… something I didn’t know.”

Oscar carefully lowered his voice.

I gave a bitter smile and looked at Vincent.

“On paper, it must all look clean.

If the fact that I’m not the legitimate daughter troubles you, you may ask my father for a dissolution of the engagement.”

At that, Vincent let out a laugh of disbelief and said to me.

“You really do like to speak of breaking engagements.

Amelia, even if you are not of the Duchess’s blood, you are still without a doubt the daughter of the Duke of Wentworth.”

“Yes, and that’s exactly why you cannot trust me.

Because I am the daughter of Wentworth.”

As I said this, I looked at Oscar.

It was similar in nuance to what he had told me in the office.

Oscar closed his mouth as if he had nothing more to say.

“Anyway, what I want to tell you is this.

Yes, I am the daughter of Wentworth, but I am not as deeply attached to that family as you might think.

So you don’t need to act with me in mind.

Not that you were, anyway.”

Neither of them replied to that.

After a short silence, Vincent spoke.

“Oscar.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Step out for a while. You can go on ahead.”

“Ah, yes. Understood.”

Oscar seemed uncomfortable in this situation, for he rose immediately at Vincent’s words.

Then he gave me a small bow.

“Once again, I apologise for today, Lady. I will take my leave now.”

I, too, rose and bent my waist lightly in proper courtesy.

“Go safely, Viscount Cobren.”

He looked at me with thoughtful eyes at my polite farewell, then turned and walked quickly out of the garden.

And then only Vincent and I remained.

Derek was at a fair distance, not close like when it was just the two of us, and Vivian had already gone inside after bringing tea.

I took a sip of the lukewarm tea.

How many times had Vincent and Amelia shared this tea, until it ended in poison.

And how many more times would I drink tea with this man.

As I thought such things, a small box, carefully wrapped, was placed on the table.

Vincent had suddenly taken it out.

I looked at it with questioning eyes, and he said.

“Open it.

The one you chose before has finally been crafted and arrived.”

“Ah, that’s the— no, the red diamond.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

With pleased eyes, I reached out and picked up the small jewel box.

Looking closely, I could see the care that went into it.

The palm-sized octagonal box was made of dark wood.

Each corner had intricate silver patterns carved into it, and the lock was also made of silver.

I carefully undid the lock and opened it, and a smile spread across my lips.

It was a bracelet in the exact style I liked.

Large pieces had been cut into several smaller ones and linked together with a gold chain.

More than a necklace, a bracelet let you see the gem’s state clearly.

And the design was not too flashy, nor overly ornate, which I liked.

“Let me put it on.”

Vincent reached out and picked up the bracelet.

I obediently extended my wrist before him.

The slender metal chain brushed my wrist, and as he clasped the lock with both hands, he said.

“That smile isn’t bad either.”

“Excuse me?”

“I mean, you look good when you smile.”

“Mm, have I not been smiling much?”

“A real smile.”

“……”

So he had noticed my fake smiles.

This man was no ordinary person.

Click.

The bracelet locked, and I shook my wrist lightly.

The red gems jingled on my pale wrist, which pleased me.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.

I wanted to give you something better, but you happened to like this the most.”

“……”

Hearing his words, I suddenly wondered, could he have known whether my smile when choosing the gem was real or fake?

I was truly curious, but the question itself was too embarrassing, so I could not ask.

The conversation that followed turned to lighter topics.

The weather, the trees and flowers in the garden, the library and the librarian Tina, and gossip about Oscar.

In this season when chrysanthemums filled the air with fragrance, sitting under the autumn sunlight chatting with a breathtakingly handsome man should have made me happy.

But while talking, I unconsciously looked at his teacup.

Unlike mine, which I had emptied, Vincent had barely drunk any.

He still had not gotten past it.

Of course. I would be the same.

When our eyes met, he smiled faintly.

Seeing myself reflected in those emerald eyes, I too smiled back at him.

***

The next morning, a letter came to me.

It was from the Lois Duchess.

I cut the envelope with a paper knife and pulled out the contents.

Humming lightly, I unfolded the paper, and Vivian sidled up with curiosity.

“Something good, my lady?”

“Hmm? Ah… well.

The Lois Duchess says she wants to thank me for finding her brooch.”

“Wow, a thank-you gift! What will you receive? Jewelry, maybe?”

“Well, I’ll think about it from now on.”

I folded the letter and slipped it back into the envelope.

Considering the Duchess’s position, I felt I could receive something more valuable than material goods like jewels.

In the original story, Sylvia had found the Duchess’s brooch a,nd in retu,rn had been allowed to use the Lois family’s villa as a hideout for about a month.

That must have been when Sylvia briefly left the Crown Prince’s palace… maybe I could too, if it came to that.

If things really went wrong and I had to flee the palace, perhaps I could ask.

“But that’s far too dangerous.”

The Lois family was pro-Emperor, and Jais was Vincent’s closest friend.

At best, they would lock me up in the villa and summon Vincent.

For now, I’ll think slowly about what to ask for…

And by now, the results should be out.

The truth was, I had been waiting for a certain message for days.

To cool my throbbing head, I leaned against the window and stared blankly outside.

The garden was slowly turning yellow and red, welcoming autumn.

Blinking slowly, I gazed far along the path lined with autumn leaves.

There, I saw a small dot.

Hm?

That dot grew larger.

“Oh, could it be?”

I lifted my head from the glass and threw the window wide open to see more clearly.

Cool air rushed in, making my violet hair flutter behind me.

And the dot had now become a person.

I blinked a few times.

“Finally, they’re here.”

An attendant from the Empress’s palace was walking quickly toward the Crown Prince’s palace.

The livery of attendants differed from palace to palace, so they were easy to recognize.

My heart wanted to rush down immediately, but I didn’t want to show I had been waiting, so I restrained myself.

Instead, I sat back down at my desk and opened a book I had prepared in advance.

Its title was The Paradox of Neutrality.

Then, to Vivian, who was watching me curiously, I said.

“Vivian, would you bring some tea?”

“Tea? But you just had… yes, right away.”

Though puzzled, Vivian went obediently to the tearoom, while I pretended calm, staring at the unread lines.

In fact, I had read the book enough to remember its contents, so the words went straight into my head.

But after waiting a while, the attendant did not come to me.

Ah, maybe they came for other business?

That would be bad.

The Empress needed to summon me now for things to go smoothly.

Just as I was about to grow anxious, there came a cheerful knock at the door.