~CHAPTER 93~
As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Vincent’s worried face.
“…Ah.”
He supported my back and helped me sit up, and I absentmindedly accepted the glass of water he handed me.
After glancing at him once, I gulped down the water first.
When I set the cup down, he took it and placed it on the nightstand.
“Your Highness.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Hmm.”
I took a moment to assess my condition.
“A bit sluggish.”
“Have you always been this weak?”
“Uh… well.”
I briefly recalled Amelia’s childhood memories and nodded.
“I used to get sick easily if I overworked myself.”
Amelia had grown up poor, in unsanitary conditions, and rarely ate well.
Maybe that’s why she wasn’t very strong.
Even after she came to the Ducal House, she often fell ill, but usually endured it alone or occasionally called for a doctor if things got too bad.
“I see.”
Vincent let out a sigh.
I stared at him quietly.
Since when has he been here? Where’s Vivian?
Looking around, I noticed the room was dim but several lamps were lit here and there.
“It’s evening. I found you this morning.”
“Ah, I see.”
So I’ve been sick for a whole day since I went to bed with a fever last night.
“Duke Wentworth will enter the Imperial Palace tomorrow.”
“Ah.”
It seemed the Emperor planned to deliver his formal judgment.
After that, the Duke would be banned from entering the palace for three years.
“If he asks to see you then, I intend to refuse. Do you wish to meet him?”
“No, not now.”
Honestly, what would I even say if I met him?
What the Duke wanted from me was to win the Crown Prince’s favor and move him according to the Duke’s will.
But since I was doing the opposite, I’d only be scolded and pressured.
Thinking that far, I fiddled with the blanket covering my legs and cautiously glanced up at Vincent.
“Um… Your Highness, is it all right for me to stay here?”
“What do you mean?”
“My father can’t enter the palace, so I wasn’t sure if I should be here either.”
“That’s needless worry. You’re still my fiancée. Until the Imperial Family annuls the engagement, that remains true.”
He’s just stating a fact, yet somehow it feels touching. Must be my imagination.
“And there’s something else you should know.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve dealt with the maids who were bullying Vivian. They were interfering with work, so I took care of it.”
“Took care of it? What do you mean by that?”
“I replaced them all.”
“Oh…”
That’s… drastic. Is that really okay? Wasn’t there a reason it wasn’t done before?
While I was quietly staring, Vincent suddenly stood up.
“Your Highness?”
“I think you might be hungry. I’ll tell them to bring food. I should go now.”
“Ah, all right.”
As he hurried out for some reason, I called after him with something I should’ve said earlier.
“Your Highness, thank you.”
“……”
He stopped abruptly.
The silence made me tense up.
Vincent seemed about to turn his head but walked out instead.
In the lamplight, I caught a glimpse of his ear, flushed red.
*Click.*
The door closed behind him.
I turned over and buried my face in the pillow.
My heart was pounding too hard to calm down.
Really, is it okay for me to stay here feeling like this?
It was a night filled with both worry and quiet excitement.
***
The next day, in the Emperor’s audience chamber.
“So, think of it as taking a three-year break, Duke Wentworth.”
Duke Wentworth bowed deeply to hide his stiff expression.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I am grateful for your generous judgment.”
“Your family has contributed much to the Empire. And though unrelated, your daughter is quite clever. You’ve raised her well.”
“Pardon?”
Caught off guard, Duke Wentworth blinked, then quickly composed himself.
“Ah, she still has much to learn.”
“Ha-ha, you underestimate her. Both the Empress and I were impressed. Anyway, since we might become in-laws, I can’t be too harsh. But this leniency is only for this once.”
The Emperor’s voice turned stern even as he smiled.
“Once you truly become in-laws, the public eye will be much harsher. Conduct yourself carefully so neither side suffers embarrassment.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I apologize for the trouble.”
“Good. The Imperial Ball will be held soon. Send your wife and children to attend.”
It sounded polite, but the meaning was clear—he himself was not welcome.
Duke Wentworth swallowed his anger.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Then I shall take my leave.”
“Do that. Perhaps you should travel during your three years of rest. It must be your first long break, isn’t it?”
The Emperor’s words blurred the line between sincerity and mockery.
Duke Wentworth bowed and stepped out of the audience chamber.
“Damn it.”
He cursed under his breath but suddenly fell silent.
Because at the end of the corridor, he saw two people standing together—ones he least expected.
It was his right-hand man, Viscount Alfred Layton, and Crown Prince Vincent.
Why are they together?
They seemed to be chatting pleasantly, which could only mean bad news.
He deliberately made his footsteps loud as he approached.
Both men turned toward him.
The Crown Prince wore his usual faint smile, while Viscount Layton forced one after briefly stiffening his face.
That smile—what’s he trying to hide?
Piercing Layton with a sharp look, the Duke bowed slightly before Vincent.
“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Duke, did your meeting with His Majesty go well?”
The question was almost mocking, given what had just transpired.
But showing anger now would only make him look foolish.
So the Duke replied with a polite, practiced smile.
“Yes, it did. By the way, I haven’t properly thanked Your Highness for looking after my daughter. I should at least see her face…”
“The Lady is doing well. However, she’s unwell at the moment, so it would be difficult for you to see her. Perhaps next time.”
Next time? What next time—he’s banned from entering the palace.
And why is the Crown Prince acting like her guardian already?
“Amelia is unwell? How serious is it? She’s always been frail… I’m so worried. Could I not see her, even for a moment?”
“You may see her when she’s well, Duke.”
Vincent smiled but refused firmly.
The Duke clenched his jaw to suppress his rage.
“Then please tell Amelia this: Eric’s academy graduation is coming up. As family, she should attend, shouldn’t she?”
“I’ll let her know.”
“Thank you, Your Highness. The siblings have always been close. I hope she can come.”
“Very well.”
Close?
Vincent nearly scoffed.
He’d already seen Aiden and Eric speak to Amelia twice.
At least the Duke mentioned Eric instead of Aiden—small mercy.
“Then I’ll take my leave. I must meet His Majesty about finalizing the punishment for those involved in the slave auction.”
Vincent deliberately mentioned what the Duke hadn’t asked and walked away.
The Duke’s eyes reddened with fury.
He turned his glare to Alfred Layton.
“You—what were you discussing with the Crown Prince?”
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