~Chapter 9~
Even in the empty place, Lysa looked around several times before finally letting me go.
‘My big mouth… If I had known it was something this serious, I wouldn’t have even asked.’
“Lysa, really, you don’t have to tell me. I’m not even sure I should hear it…”
“If you’re a noble of Biender, you’d already know. You don’t because you were shut in the mansion for health reasons when it happened.”
“Can’t I just… live on not knowing?”
“You said you wanted to be close to Richard, Amelie. Then you should know what he hates, don’t you think?”
“…Mm.”
Whatever the event was, it had to be the reason Richard avoided women.
In the original, Amelie Garnet might have been killed by the male lead, Richard.
Knowing what he hated and avoiding it would be the best way to survive.
Reluctantly, I nodded.
“Then don’t tell me in too much detail—just what everyone knows.”
“Alright. First… you know Richard’s sister, Princess Patricia, died in a fall accident, right?”
“Oh? Ah, yes.”
I pretended to know.
From Amelie’s diary, all I had learned was that Richard had an older brother, the crown prince.
That he had a sister who died in an accident—I didn’t know at all.
“But actually, Princess Patricia was murdered.”
“…What?”
Murdered? A princess? Who would dare?
The shocking truth made me ask again.
“At that time, Her Highness had a lover and fiancé. But there was a young lady who secretly loved him. Out of obsession and jealousy, during a hunting competition she…”
Lysa bit her lip, unable to continue.
I too covered my mouth in horror.
“Wait, but at an official event? Surely she had guards, and other nobles were there?”
“She was a very close friend of the princess. No one imagined she’d do such a thing. And it all happened in an instant.”
“…A very close friend.”
The relationship of the princess and her dear friend immediately made me think of Lysa and myself.
Now I understood why Richard had looked at me with such suspicion and hatred from the very first day.
“Richard admired his sister deeply. After that, his whole personality changed. You know he used to be warm and kind to everyone.”
“…I see.”
“To prevent something so terrible from happening again, he avoids involvement with women. It must have been a huge shock for him.”
“If it were me, I’d do the same. He must have suffered a lot… I didn’t even know this happened.”
From Richard’s point of view, I looked no different from the lady who killed his sister.
I felt guilty for always calling him an annoying obstacle.
From now on, even if he treated me coldly, maybe I could be a little more understanding.
“No wonder you didn’t know. Everyone hides the matter. The viscount and viscountess also worried you’d be too fragile for such a shock.”
“Thank you for telling me.”
“No need for thanks. Anyway, that’s why Richard hates it when women show romantic interest in him, or cling to him obsessively.”
“Ah…”
Her words pierced my heart like an arrow.
“And especially if someone bullies others because of that.”
“Haha…”
I had hope, but it just died. Completely.
The three things Lysa listed—all of them were exactly what the original Amelie had done.
So Richard never liking me… was forever impossible.
“But Amelie, you’re a good person, so I’m sure you’ll become close to him soon!”
Lysa, pure and kind, only smiled brightly.
‘No, Lysa. At this point, if Richard doesn’t kill me, that’s already lucky…’
I gave a bitter smile, imagining some hidden bad-ending route.
“What happened?”
As the sun set, Eric came to escort me back and asked curiously.
What happened? My dreams and hopes had cracked apart, that’s what.
I tried to keep my composure, but I must not have succeeded.
Still, I couldn’t explain, so I had to make an excuse.
“I just feel a little tired.”
“You do look it. Let’s return to the mansion.”
“Yes, we should.”
“Lady Amelie!”
Just as Eric was helping me into the carriage, someone called out to me.
“Sir Claire?”
I turned to see Sir Claire running toward me quickly.
From that far, her voice still carried clearly. Impressive—and delightful.
“Not again.”
Eric rubbed his forehead, but still helped me down from the carriage.
Nagging or not, he was thoughtful.
“Lady Amelie, are you leaving now?”
Despite her run, Sir Claire wasn’t even out of breath.
Like Lysa, the knights really were monsters of stamina. I admired and feared it.
“Yes, I was about to return.”
“I regretted not being able to talk earlier because of duty. But then I saw you, so I came.”
“Really?”
A short moment of emotion—and new hope sprouted.
First Harbor, now Claire. Another big fish falling into my net.
Eric was right, I really should be thankful for such chances.
“Then shall we talk a bit in the carriage?”
“I’d love to.”
Sorry, Eric. That’s how it is.
I smiled awkwardly at him, then got into the carriage with Claire’s escort.
“Wow. Lady Amelie, your carriage seems nicer than a marquis’s.”
“Really?”
I honestly didn’t know. I had only ridden this one since yesterday.
Until recently, I had used Amelie’s original carriage. But Viscount Garnet had gotten rid of it, saying it was disgraceful.
‘Maybe because I suddenly started using a carriage a lot, it bothered him?’
The Garnet family ran a trade monopoly with foreign nations, so maybe it was to save face.
Either way, this one was more comfortable, so I was satisfied.
“But Sir Claire, where were you headed?”
“I was on my way to check the training grounds for tomorrow’s Night of Duels. You’ll be coming too, right?”
“Yes. Thanks to the 2nd Order’s commander, I got permission.”
“Of course Lady Amelie must be invited! You’re the one who raised our order’s morale.”
Claire’s eyes shone as she nodded firmly. Her praise was filled with sincerity.
“That’s flattering. I just enjoyed spending time with the knights.”
“We also enjoy having you with us.”
Her steady compliments lifted the corners of my lips.
They say praise makes whales dance—it was true. My dampened mood instantly lifted.
“Ah, will you also join the cheering event tomorrow?”
“Cheering event?”
“Yes. Each knight order selects five duelers. You choose one and give them a ribbon. The knight ties it on their sword scabbard.”
Of course I knew this event—it was a classic in romance novels.
Usually it was a handkerchief, given as a blessing for the hero’s victory. Romantic and traditional.
“The one who predicts the champion correctly wins a prize holiday. And you, Lady Amelie, will probably get something special too.”
“By the number of ribbons, you could also see who is the strongest knight.”
“Exactly. All who duel are skilled, but I expect to receive the most ribbons myself.”
Even if said jokingly, Claire’s confidence wasn’t unfounded.
I had seen her duel with Lysa once—she had kept up without falling behind. Truly impressive.
“Then I’ll definitely join. It sounds fun.”
“It’s much more thrilling with cheering. But… Lady Amelie, who will you support?”
“Hm…”
Naturally, I should cheer for Lysa.
In truth, I wanted to cheer for everyone. But the ribbon could go to only one.
So I hesitated a little.
“…You’ll support Sir Harbor, won’t you?”
“…What?”
Harbor? Out of nowhere? I had been thinking only of Lysa.
But Claire’s face looked nervous, almost desperate.
‘Could it be?’
I quickly blinked twice, activating the emoji-vision.
“Oh my…”
The heart above Claire’s head was much larger than when I last saw it—floating high and strong.
