IPUTETCP 77

~Chapter 77~

After parting ways with Erman, Amel returned to the mansion with a lighter heart. But then—

“Amel…”

“…Father?”

Count Conrat Winterfall was waiting right at the front gate.

“What is it?”

Amel, still holding a grudge, spoke with a sharp tone. Conrat didn’t frown at her coldness and said calmly:

“I heard from your mother just now. You were invited to the Imperial banquet.”

“And?”

“Come with me for a moment.”

She couldn’t stay outside forever, so Amel reluctantly followed him inside. On the table in the room sat a jewelry box she had never seen before.

“What’s this?”

“Something I prepared. Go on, open it.”

“…Alright.”

Curiosity won over pride. Amel hesitated, then lifted the lid carefully. Light spilled out, dazzling her eyes.

“Wow…”

Her lips, sealed tight like a clam, fell open. Inside was a jewelry set radiating elegance.

A necklace, earrings, and a ring crafted with blue diamonds—not overly flashy, but delicate and unmistakably precious.

Amel couldn’t help but like it.

Still staring, she asked, “Why… all of a sudden?”

“As I said, I heard about the banquet. I went out for a while and saw this. It felt like it suited you, so I brought it.”

“…It does suit me.”

Nodding, she picked up the necklace and held it against herself. It seemed enchanted—the surface left no fingerprints, only glittered brighter where she touched.

‘Beautiful.’

Without realizing it, Amel smiled faintly. But when she glanced in the mirror, her father’s reflection looked dark.

“Father?”

“My child… I was wrong.”

“What?”

Tears welled in Conrat’s wrinkled blue eyes as he apologized suddenly.

“Why are you crying?”

Startled, Amel set down the jewelry box and tried to comfort him. His voice shook with emotion.

“After you said those words to me, I thought long and hard. I knew I had done wrong—treating His Grace so harshly. But realizing you saw it… I felt so ashamed.”

“….”

“And these past days, I secretly watched you. You’ve stayed in the house, but your face never looked bright. So I bought the jewelry to apologize. But even when I give it to you, your expression is still dimmer than when His Grace was by your side. What have I done…?”

He broke off, choking back his feelings.

Hesitant, Amel reached out and gently patted his back. The moment she did, time seemed to stop.

“I know you acted because you care for me. Your intention may have been good, but His Grace must have been hurt. And so was I.”

“His Grace never played with me. He’s kinder than you think. So… he’ll forgive you too. Just trust me.”

Meeting her father’s eyes, Amel gave a deliberate smile. Conrat looked into her red eyes—so like his own, yet different—and at last returned a heavy smile.

“Thank you, my child.”

“It’s been a while. You look thinner.”

“…Thanks to you, I’ve been losing weight lately.”

Christan, resting at a hotel, chuckled at the familiar visitor. But his aide’s face wasn’t so cheerful.

“You wrote you were staying at Winterfall mansion. Why make me waste my time? If you’d moved to a hotel, you should have told me.”

“Explanations can wait. For now, good work coming here, Gerard.”

Christan’s only aide, Gerard Siad, shook his head with a sigh.

“I really suffered, you know. Of course, it’s because I’m too competent. Still, I think you should hire another aide before the year ends. Please consider it.”

“Fine. Just hand me the documents I asked for.”

“Yes, yes.”

Gerard pulled a file from his bag and handed it over. Christan sat at the desk, brows furrowing as he read.

“White Rock Mountain…?”

“Yes. In the far west of Siad territory there’s a pale-colored mountain. Suspicious signs have been spotted there. Some parts look like cracks, almost like Rifts.”

“Demonic plants… monsters appearing now and then… And a red magic circle?”

He frowned at the strange report. Gerard quickly flipped another paper forward.

“Our informant sketched the circle. Take a look.”

“….”

Christan grimaced at the crude drawing. It looked more like scribbles than a proper sketch.

“This is supposed to be a magic circle?”

“…Sorry, my lord. It seems none of the informants could draw.”

“No matter. I’ll confirm it myself this week. For now, restrict access to White Rock Mountain immediately. If it really is a Rift, the royal family may interfere—so Count Siad won’t have a choice.”

Giving his orders, Christan leaned back in his chair. Gerard stood awkwardly nearby.

“Anything else to report?”

“Ah—don’t you want to check the gift?”

“…Ah.”

Christan remembered. He had asked Gerard to bring a token of thanks for the Winterfall family, who had hosted him.

“But really… you’re a newly risen noble. If there were family heirlooms, I’d have brought one. With none of those, choosing was hard.”

“….”

Christan shot him a look, then eyed what Gerard placed down.

“Wine.”

“Yes, wine.”

It was a deeply aged bottle, something Christan had taken from the palace when he moved to Bellerophon.

“It was brewed before His Majesty was even born. No fear of poison. And very fine quality.”

“I’ve never seen the Count drink, so I don’t know if he’ll like it… Not that it matters anymore.”

“What do you mean? I carried it all this way!”

Annoyed, Gerard protested. Christan explained calmly:

“The Count found out.”

“Found out what?”

“That I love her.”

“….”

Ignoring Gerard’s silence, Christan muttered on.

“Isn’t it ridiculous? I rejected her so firmly before… but now I’ve come to love her.”

“….”

“Oh, I forgot to explain. There was… an incident. I even suggested a contract relationship to her. But after seeing how she responded… I ended up falling for her instead. Foolish, isn’t it?”

“….”

“In any case, the Count discovered it and threw me out. That’s why you found the mansion empty earlier.”

Christan looked at Gerard. Their eyes met—Christan’s gray, Gerard’s blank and dark.

“Do you understand now?”

“…I really never wanted to know, my lord.”