~Chapter 66~
“Yaaawn—.”
That was already my seventh yawn. And still, my eyelids kept drooping.
No matter how sleepy I was, though, Sophia’s hands didn’t stop touching and adjusting my face.
“Sophia, when will this end?”
Half-asleep, I looked at Sophia. She had woken me up three hours before my appointment and was now pouring all her focus into my makeup.
It wasn’t just her. At least ten maids were bustling around me, moving in perfect sync.
“It’ll still take a while, My Lady. I know it’s uncomfortable, but please endure it a bit longer.”
Focused Sophia was honestly a little scary.
When I finally gave up and let my body go limp, the busy hands kept going.
They oiled my hair, sprayed perfume I normally hated for being too strong, and when the makeup was done, three or four maids rushed in to dress me in an “outing” gown.
Except it was way too glamorous for something called casual wear.
“Mmm. Well… I do look pretty.”
When it was finally over and I looked in the mirror, my beauty was definitely at its peak.
But… did I really need to go this far just to meet Wudian?
“Isn’t this a little much?”
“This much is necessary! Everyone’s saying the Count you’re meeting is incredibly handsome. And they say he was once your fiancé!”
Sophia was so excited as she fussed with my clothes.
“He is handsome, yes. But that engagement meant nothing. We were just five and eight years old.”
“Even so! He could still become your real fiancé, so of course it matters.”
“That won’t happen…”
“My Lady, Count Montreux has arrived at the mansion!”
A maid came rushing in with flushed cheeks, announcing Wudian’s arrival.
Clearly, gossip about him had already spread through the household.
‘Dopamine addicts. In novels or reality, nothing entertains people more than romance talk.’
Of course, I wasn’t much different.
“Go on down, My Lady.”
“Yeah, I’m going.”
Pushed along by Sophia’s urging, I left the room.
This time, I didn’t forget—I activated the worry icon before meeting Wudian.
Passing by the servants with their little icons above their heads, I went down to the first-floor foyer.
“Wow… Amelie, you look so beautiful today.”
When he saw me descending the stairs, Wudian smiled brightly and kept admiring me.
But I couldn’t smile back.
‘Why… why does Wudian have a lock above his head?’
The lock icon hovering over him filled my eyes completely.
“After investigation, Your Highness, there’s no record of Her Majesty the Empress ever meeting Lady Amelie.”
Lux reported to her lord, Richard, after days of closely monitoring the Empress.
Richard rested his clasped hands on the desk, quietly listening.
“She may not have moved herself. Did she use someone else to approach Amelie?”
Though his tone was calm, his eyes burned with dangerous sharpness.
Lux stiffened for a moment before handing him the investigation papers.
“At present, no. Lady Amelie’s movements before meeting you were the same as usual. I even checked her counseling clients—none of them were connected to the Empress.”
She summarized her findings, waiting for his response.
But Richard remained silent, only scanning the report.
“At least she hasn’t sunk to such a low trick yet.”
The words shocked Lux.
She had expected something serious when he first ordered this inquiry—but to hear him speak so coldly of his own mother…
It was chilling. Richard had never voiced his feelings toward the Empress so directly before.
“Tell me the rest. You didn’t only investigate Amelie’s side.”
Richard demanded more information about his mother.
Lux smirked confidently and laid down another stack of papers.
“Of course. I’ve been shadowing Her Majesty these past days and ran a full investigation.”
She spoke as if her words weren’t treason. Richard gave her an incredulous look.
‘Well, that’s why I took her in.’
He chuckled dryly, realizing once again he had chosen an extraordinary person as his aide.
“Report the additional findings.”
“Yes. Recently, Her Majesty has been meeting often with the Marquis of Damart. Twice a week, the Marquis himself even visited the Imperial Palace.”
“The Marquis of Damart, that often?”
The Marquis of Damart was the Empress Kenasia’s younger brother. A man who always tried to hide his greed, but never succeeded completely.
‘So Mother has become just like him… Or rather, she’s changed into him over the years.’
Richard thought of the Empress’s past image—a distant memory now. Maybe greed truly ran in that family’s blood.
“So why were they meeting?”
“I’ll need to investigate further, but it seems they were discussing the Marquis’s business ventures.”
“Did he come begging for money again.”
The Marquis had long been borrowing money from everywhere, using his sister’s position as Empress to back his ventures.
And still, he was never satisfied, always demanding more investments.
It was a very believable explanation.
“Keep watching. Report anything strange immediately.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Knock, knock.
“Your Highness, Sir Medinael has come.”
The timing was perfect. As Lux quickly slipped away, Lyssa entered without delay.
“Send her in.”
“Richard! Do you know Count Montreux?”
Lyssa burst into the room the moment permission was given. Her cheeks were flushed, her breath uneven from hurrying.
“Count Montreux?”
“Yes! That insufferable man.”
Richard frowned at her rare, sharp words. For Lyssa to speak like that… the man must have serious flaws.
“I’ve heard a little. The former count died years ago, and his only son inherited after returning from abroad. But why?”
“Because that guy looks close to our Amelie.”
“Close to Amelie?”
Richard, who had been expressionless, immediately scowled.
As far as he knew, the count’s son had lived overseas for years.
‘So how could he possibly be close to Amelie?’
Had they written letters all this time? How long had it been?
Dozens of questions raced through his mind.
“Yeah. Their families knew each other, so Amelie grew up close to him too.”
“But Amelie never mentioned Montreux to me.”
“Same here. Apparently he studied abroad from when Amelie was thirteen until just recently. And now—he’s met her again. Yesterday and today!”
Ha.
Richard let out a low, cold laugh.
So Montreux had met Amelie yesterday, and today again?
Meanwhile, she wouldn’t even see him—using her “engagement” as an excuse.
But with Montreux, she found time.
“So that’s how it is, Amelie Garnet.”
Richard’s eyes blazed with jealousy and emotion.
Go catch her man !! 🔥