Chapter 130
At Leofric’s appearance, Betty excused herself.
I even sent her a pleading look, silently begging her not to go, but without knowing what was going on, Betty whispered that the two of us should sort it out ourselves and left.
And so, an unbearable silence settled over the room.
I sat on the bed. He pulled over a chair and sat across from me, and that was all we did—sit there quietly.
I couldn’t bring myself to look at him properly, yet I also couldn’t make myself speak first.
I stole a glance at him, but he seemed lost in thought as well.
Watching him like that, I let out a small sigh.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
“There’s nothing for you to apologize for, Amelia.”
I’d opened my mouth thinking I should say something, but he cut in before I could finish.
At his voice, which seemed to carry a trace of hurt, I lifted my head.
The eyes that had seemed to hold all the light in the world just moments ago—
“This time as well, I was too hasty. There’s no need for you to apologize.”
—now looked dim and sunken, as if all that light had vanished.
On top of that, he couldn’t even meet my gaze.
Keeping his eyes lowered, he continued speaking in a calm, quiet voice.
“I thought that since we had confirmed each other’s feelings, everything would be fine. But my desire to grow closer seems to have ended up hurting you. I’m sorry.”
“No, Your Highness. That much—”
There was no need for him to apologize that far.
At a loss for what to do, I fidgeted restlessly.
I was the one who, flustered and embarrassed, had shoved him away and run off, unable to deal with my heart that felt like it might burst.
Even before returning to the imperial palace, I’d been agonizing over whether I should leave him, what I should do—yet whenever I touched him, it was me who struggled to suppress the smile tugging at my lips.
I hadn’t disliked sitting beside him, holding hands while he fed me cake bite by bite—yet I was the one who made things awkward for him.
Honestly, I didn’t dislike it.
If I had, I wouldn’t have sat next to him in the first place.
But staying with him while unable to resolve the worries in my head felt awkward and even guilty.
And yet, I liked every kindness and affection he showed me, so I kept hesitating and dragging my feet.
So why had it turned into a situation where he had to apologize?
Watching him keep his eyes down, I bit my lip.
Then, I reached out and took his hand.
“I didn’t dislike it, Your Highness.”
“…Pardon?”
Holding onto his hand tightly, I squeezed my eyes shut and forced out the words with courage. I felt Leofric lift his head.
When I cautiously opened my eyes, I saw his red eyes looking back at me.
Still holding his hand, I tugged it gently toward me and continued, hesitantly,
“…I was just embarrassed. And a little flustered, that’s all.”
“Then… does that mean it’s all right for me to touch you… I mean, to be with you?”
“It is. If I’d hated being with you, I wouldn’t have agreed to tea time in the first place.”
The way he asked so cautiously made my heart ache—and made me feel guilty too.
I raised my voice slightly and looked straight at him.
My face was probably flushed red and completely flustered, hardly a sight worth seeing.
But when he saw me like that, he smiled brightly.
Then he turned his hand over to cover the back of mine, and with that same hand, gently cupped both of my cheeks.
“I thought so.”
“…You did?”
You thought so?
Did that mean he’d expected this from the start?
Then why had he come in looking so dejected?
As I blinked, unable to understand what he meant, Leofric smiled like he couldn’t help finding me adorable.
“I’m sorry, Amelia. I acted a bit—just in case you were thinking differently than I expected.”
“…What?”
What was that supposed to mean?
Just as I was widening my eyes at the absurd explanation—
“I’m relieved that you feel the same. I was worried I might have misunderstood your feelings…”
He murmured softly as he drew my face closer with his hands.
In an instant, he was right in front of me, and then he leaned down.
Even though we were both seated, he was tall enough that I had to tilt my head up.
“Like this… is it all right?”
He asked in a voice that was almost a whisper.
Even as he spoke, his face kept inching closer.
It was sudden, and I was flustered—but I couldn’t bring myself to say I didn’t want it.
All I could do was watch him draw nearer, then quietly close my eyes.
Across both of my lifetimes, it was my first kiss with him.
“So what happened after that, Your Highness?”
The next morning.
Betty came charging into the office at full speed, her eyes sparkling as she asked about what had happened the night before.
Her face was stamped all over with the words burning curiosity—she must have been dying to know.
But I didn’t really have anything I wanted to tell her.
“What do you mean, what happened? We talked things out just fine.”
“No, no! After His Highness went in yesterday, you didn’t call for me at all! You didn’t even ask me to help you prepare for bed!”
For some reason, Betty asked with extreme excitement.
I mean, I understood why she felt that way, but…
It was true that I hadn’t called for Betty last night.
But it wasn’t for the reasons she was imagining.
I laughed awkwardly and looked away.
“Changing clothes is something I can do on my own. It’s not that hard.”
“Well, sure—but this morning too, you said I could just bring the wash water and leave! And His Highness was there with you!”
“Haha… ha.”
An awkward laugh slipped out—one that didn’t even sound like my own.
I didn’t know what else I could possibly say.
It was true that I hadn’t called Betty yesterday or today.
But what was I supposed to do about the fact that I’d been with Leofric both times?
My last memory from last night was his warm embrace, murmuring that we had finally reached each other after a long kiss.
The time had stretched on so long that I didn’t even remember how long it was before I completely passed out.
Just like the first night after our wedding, when I’d lost consciousness from sheer nervousness.
And just like then, I remembered nothing.
When I opened my eyes in the morning, I was met with red eyes above my loosely dressed body.
At first, I thought it was a pleasant dream and tried to fall back asleep—but the moment he touched my cheek, I jolted awake.
And then I realized.
I was dressed extremely lightly.
My corset and petticoat—everything had been removed.
When I stared at him in shock, he smiled and said I’d looked uncomfortable, so he’d helped me take them off.
Then he added that I didn’t need to worry, since he hadn’t looked at anything else.
Was not looking the important part?
Or the fact that he had undressed me?
Or should I resent myself for not remembering the night we’d spent together?
My head was filled with confusion the moment I woke up, and I couldn’t even raise my voice—I could only hurriedly cover myself with the blanket.
He laughed, calling me adorable.
In that situation, how was I supposed to call for Betty?
I averted my gaze and changed the subject.
“Did you sleep well, Betty? What are we starting with today?”
“I always sleep well! No, Your Highness—don’t change the subject! The auditors for the support project are coming to the palace for an interim report today, but that’s not the important part right now!”
As I tried to dodge the topic, Betty sighed in frustration.
Seriously—what exactly was she so desperate to know?
But I truly didn’t want to tell her even a fragment of what had happened last night.
Setting aside the embarrassment, there was no need to broadcast matters between husband and wife.
Honestly… I had a feeling that once I started talking, something irreversible would happen.
I didn’t know what—but I wasn’t confident I could deal with the aftermath.
So I chose to keep my mouth shut.
Seeing that I wouldn’t say anything, Betty grumbled but didn’t press further.
She just muttered now and then.
“Honestly… I told you so many times not to get swayed by a pretty face…”
When did you ever say that, Betty?
Swallowing the words rising up inside me, I pretended not to hear.
That uncomfortable morning dragged on until—
“Your Highness, it’s Hayley.”
A welcome voice broke through the awkwardness.
“Come in, Hayley!”
So glad to hear it that I moved before I could think, I jumped to my feet and called out. Betty shot me a mildly annoyed look.
“Are you that happy?”
“H-haha…”
I got up and opened the door for Hayley.
As always, the ever-professional Hayley was dressed in a formal suit today.
Though she was a woman, her tall, slender frame suited the outfit perfectly, and she greeted me with the same politeness as ever.
“I greet Your Highness.”
“Welcome, Hayley. Did something bring you to the palace today?”
“Yes, Your Highness. His Majesty summoned me regarding the support project.”
“…His Majesty?”
I’d seen Leofric summon people about the support project before, but this was the first time the Emperor himself had done so.
I tilted my head, puzzled.
Betty looked just as confused.
“Isn’t the support project under the Crown Prince’s authority? Why would His Majesty call for you?”
Hayley only smiled in response.
Adjusting the documents she was holding, she glanced toward the sofa.
“Before that, may I sit down?”
“Of course. I should have offered you a seat earlier.”
I’d been so surprised and happy to see her that I’d forgotten basic courtesy.
With an apologetic expression, I gestured for her to sit.
“Please.”
“Thank you.”
Hayley and I sat first, while Betty stood up to prepare tea.
Thankfully, there was a teapot set up in one corner of the office.
Otherwise, knowing Betty, she would definitely have asked us to postpone the conversation.
Just as I was watching her prepare the tea—
“Your Highness. Did you know that selecting two recipients for this support project was planned from the beginning?”
In a calm voice, Hayley revealed a startling piece of information.
