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At Alexandra’s words, Lucius, Angelica, and I all remained silent. Seeing Angelica’s flushed cheeks and our composed expressions, Alexandra exclaimed in a shocked voice,
“No way… really… it’s truly Brother Rayel?”
“…Yes. That’s right.”
“Heavens…”
Angelica slowly nodded as she answered, and Alexandra’s eyes widened in disbelief. She covered her slightly open mouth with her hand, her eyes darting as she continued.
“Then, the one Brother was talking about… was Lady Werner.”
She glanced at the partition wall nearby, as if recalling where we were, and spoke in the smallest voice possible. I gave a slight nod.
“Yes, it must be Angelica.”
“Since when did such a relationship… ah…”
As I confirmed it, Alexandra muttered and then froze. She stared at Angelica for a moment, as if deep in thought, before speaking again.
“Now that I think about it, Lady Werner has been visiting the Imperial Palace quite often these past few weeks, hasn’t she? Usually with Count Werner. Could it be that each time…”
“Oh, really? Was that the case, Angelica?”
So their relationship had advanced without me even knowing? Angelica had been going to the palace often?
“Ah, yes. It was for business reasons—to help Father with his work and to learn.”
“I see.”
That made sense. At present, Angelica was actively involved in her family’s business with the Count, so it wasn’t unusual. In fact, even in the original story, after the Werner family’s business was restored, Angelica had often entered the palace.
It was after that that she began meeting Rayel more frequently, and their relationship developed rapidly. If that pattern was repeating here, then it was highly likely the two had been meeting in the palace.
As Alexandra mulled over Angelica’s reply, her eyes narrowed.
“On the days when Count Werner entered the palace, Brother always seemed to meet with him. Sometimes, when I stopped by, Count Werner was having an audience. And Lady Werner… you were with him, weren’t you?”
“Ah, um…”
“And after the audience, I even saw the two of you alone together. Yes. I definitely saw you! Every time you entered the palace, I saw you talking in front of the audience chamber!”
As expected. Hearing Alexandra’s words, I could now picture how the two had met and grown closer. Rayel must have summoned the Count as an excuse to see Angelica. Under the pretense of an audience, he would meet her and spend time together. Risky, yes, but also the safest way to avoid suspicion.
But if Alexandra had even seen them together, why hadn’t she grown suspicious?
I asked the dazed Alexandra, who now held her head in her hands.
“You even saw them talking together. Why didn’t you suspect anything?”
“I never imagined it was Lady Werner. I thought she was just accompanying her father and having a brief word afterward. They never spoke for long in front of the chamber.”
“So you only saw them talk briefly, then separate?”
“Yes. I even saw Lady Werner leave first while Brother went back inside. Later, I saw him with another young lady. That’s why I was sure it couldn’t be Lady Werner.”
“But you said you couldn’t see who that other young lady was, because of a barrier spell?”
“That’s right. Ah… don’t tell me…”
Her eyes blinked rapidly as realization dawned. It was simple enough if you thought about it—classic misdirection.
“He must have been pretending to meet someone else while actually meeting Angelica. The short conversations in front of the chamber were just for show.”
“So he deliberately made it look like he was merely exchanging a few words after the audience? Then when Lady Werner left first…”
“She probably only pretended to leave, having already arranged to meet him elsewhere. Later, at the appointed time, he would visit her, use the barrier, and that’s what you saw, Alexandra.”
Having her appear in an official audience alongside the Count gave others the impression it was strictly business. Then showing a short conversation afterward served as cover. By mixing the public with the private little by little, people would grow accustomed to seeing her presence.
“I understand avoiding prying eyes. But why go so far as to use a barrier spell to make it look like he was with someone else, even to me?”
“That too was intentional, I think. He wanted to keep you safe while still letting you sense the truth. Perhaps he wanted you to piece it together.”
“He could have just told me directly…”
“But because it was you, Alexandra. Maybe he wanted you to figure it out yourself.”
There was worry, yes. Though lively and sharp, she also had a fiery temper. If she had been told outright, she might not have hidden it well. Rayel, who knew her well from being so close, surely anticipated that. And perhaps, too, he was embarrassed.
Even if he could tell Lucius and me calmly, saying it aloud to Alexandra—his own sister—was harder. The fact that he still hadn’t confessed directly, even now, suggested he was bashful about it.
“Well, we should confirm Tiana’s theory. So, Lady Werner—everything we’ve said so far, is it true?”
“Uh… I don’t know about all of it, but it’s true that I met him separately by arrangement. What Her Highness said she saw is probably right too, since he always used barrier magic when we met.”
“So it was true.”
“Good grief… He really does complicate things unnecessarily. Typical of my brother.”
Finally convinced, Alexandra sighed deeply. She didn’t seem entirely pleased with the answer, but she had no choice but to relax her frown and continue.
“So, the person Brother commissioned clothes for—it was you, Lady Werner? Well, now that I know, it’ll be easier to make, but honestly it’s a bit vexing. He could have told me sooner, instead of keeping it from me when you were right under my nose.”
“Mm, true enough.”
“Tiana, Lucius—you both knew too. It’s unfair that I was the only one kept in the dark, even if it was for Brother’s sake.”
“He seemed to have his own reasons, so I couldn’t tell you on my own. Sorry.”
As I soothed her grumbling, smiling, Angelica—who had been quietly listening—suddenly asked, looking puzzled.
“Wait… am I really the one for whom His Highness commissioned those clothes? Do you mean this dress?”
“Hm? No, not at all. That dress was just a separate gift from him. The clothes he asked me to make are… ah, don’t tell me, you don’t know?”
“…Know what?”
“Uh… Tiana, what do we do?”
Alexandra looked at me, flustered. Judging by Angelica’s blank expression, Rayel hadn’t told her what the commission was for. Most likely, he hadn’t spoken of engagement or marriage yet. Could we tell her here that he had asked for their wedding garments to be made?
I hesitated, then glanced at the clock across the room.
“Let’s continue this conversation elsewhere.”
It was already near noon, and with more guests arriving in the afternoon, it was time to wrap up. At my suggestion, Alexandra and Angelica nodded, rising with Lucius and me.
After bidding farewell to Baron Evitt and leaving Café Roland, we considered where to go next. At Alexandra’s suggestion, we headed to the Princess’s Palace. Since it was lunchtime, we ate together first, then gathered in the sitting room for dessert and tea as we resumed our talk.
“May I ask again about what you mentioned earlier?”
After sipping her tea, Angelica set down her cup and addressed Alexandra and me. Her face was full of questions, as though she had been dwelling on them the whole time.
“Before that, there’s something I want to ask you, Lady Werner.”
Exchanging glances with me, Alexandra spoke seriously. Angelica straightened her posture, sensing the shift in tone.
“Please, go ahead.”
“How far have you thought about things with my brother?”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“You know exactly what I mean. You’re not someone who wouldn’t understand.”
“….”
Angelica’s lips parted, but no answer came. She understood the intent of Alexandra’s question. Seeing her struggle, Alexandra softened her expression.
“I don’t need an immediate answer. I just wanted to know what you’re thinking. Acknowledging your relationship with him means you must have considered some part of the future.”
“…I don’t take him lightly. I accepted our relationship because my feelings are real. But…”
“But it’s not something easy to answer, is it? Regardless of my brother’s thoughts, what matters most is yours. I understand—the place he stands in isn’t simple. And for you to stand beside him means choosing a place that’s not easy to bear.”
“….”
Even if Alexandra spoke indirectly, Angelica surely understood. To stand beside Rayel, the Emperor, meant taking the position of Empress.
She must know the weight of that role all too well. That was why she could not speak easily of it.
Her gaze dropped, a shadow passing over her face. The mood was about to grow heavy again when Alexandra quickly broke the silence.
“Let’s set that aside. I have another question.”
“Ah, yes?”
“What is it you even like about my brother?”
“…Excuse me?”
It was such a blunt question—so like Alexandra—that Angelica froze, eyes darting in surprise, before her face flushed red. Watching Alexandra stare intently at her, I couldn’t help but laugh.
