When the conversation drifted as far as the carpenter William’s second daughter from the house two doors down, the uncle quickly gave his wife a meaningful glance. The aunt, shaking her head, turned to me with a tone that was almost pleading.
“Anyway, what I’m saying is—keep your eyes open and find yourself a good man. I’ve been looking around too, you know. So if a good match comes your way, don’t you dare turn it down, got it?”
“Yes, ma’am. If I find someone good, I’ll do that, so please don’t worry too much.”
“Goodness, how could I not worry?”
I mumbled something noncommittal and poked absently at the lettuce on my salad plate with my fork, pretending to be absorbed in it. It was Arthur who came to my rescue.
“W–wow! The stew’s amazing today. Can I have some more?”
“Really? Maybe because I put in plenty of the meat you like. All right, eat as much as you want. Amel, you too.”
“Yes, I will. The stew is really delicious. As expected of our chef Alex!”
“Oh, stop it. Flattering me just to get out of trouble, huh?”
The laughter that followed, the empty plates, and the sound of the ladle dipping again into the pot soon lightened the mood.
I seized the moment and successfully steered the conversation away to safer topics. The tension at the table melted away, but the heaviness in my heart did not.
You don’t know what they meant?
That’s a lie.
Of course I knew. I knew exactly what the aunt was worried about, and what she wanted from me.
I had just turned twenty this year—the perfect age for marriage.
Among noble families, girls as young as me were often already engaged to heirs of other powerful houses. But for people like us, ordinary folks, most married once they reached a proper age and found a suitable partner.
So it wasn’t strange at all that I was starting to hear these things.
I did have a dream of my own, though.
To work hard, pay off debts, save enough money, and one day open a small pastry shop.
Marriage had never been part of that plan. I hadn’t even given it any real thought.
But Alex the baker’s wife, who knew nothing of my plans, probably wished I’d quit the hard life of a maid in the mansion and find stability—through marriage, of course.
To meet someone kind, someone like myself. To marry a man who could care for me, and build a small, warm household together.
That, I knew, was what she hoped for me.
And even if he didn’t say it aloud, the uncle likely felt the same.
“Arthur, have you finished getting ready for school tomorrow?”
“Um… not yet. I still have some homework left.”
“Then finish it after you eat. You’re not usually the type to leave things till the last minute.”
“Well… I was going to do it last night.”
Right. Last night, he’d been playing with me instead. Neither of us had even thought about his homework.
Tomorrow, both Arthur and I would return to our daily routines.
It was time for me to be the big sister again.
“Arthur, finish your homework first after lunch, then let’s have strawberry crepes together. We didn’t get to eat them yesterday. I’ll go buy some.”
“I want to come too!”
“You can come if you finish your homework first. Think of it as a reward. If there’s anything you don’t understand, mark it down for me, okay?”
I didn’t know exactly what ten-year-olds learned at the academy these days, but I was sure I could handle it. Arthur, a little disappointed that I’d go without him, finally nodded.
After breakfast, it was Alex the baker herself who gently ushered me out when I offered to help.
“You came all this way. Don’t waste your time working—go have fun instead.”
“Hmm, then does that mean you’re doing the dishes?”
“The dishwashing at Alex Bakery has always been my job, Amel.”
Her solemn declaration made both Arthur and me laugh.
After sending Arthur upstairs, I headed into town.
On a day like this, the strawberry crepes were sure to taste sweeter than ever.
________✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧𓉞___________
Princess Lylaina’s promise that today would be the best day ever wasn’t a lie.
Everything seemed perfectly prepared for this day, and naturally, Dianther found herself caught up in the flow of it all.
Dianther watched Lylaina twirl before her.
The princess’s dress was a little less dazzling than usual, her hat a little less ornate—but the delicate lace parasol she carried brought out her charm all the more. She looked truly adorable.
When Dianther smiled faintly, Lylaina’s eyes sparkled.
“Dian, don’t just stand there! Go change into the outfit I picked for you!”
“Pardon? But, Your Highness…”
“Lucy, Judy, help her, will you?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
At Lylaina’s order, two maids approached Dianther, silently asking her to follow. She had little choice but to comply.
The dress she had put on earlier that morning was neatly folded and placed in a box with her belongings at the Heren Palace annex.
When she finished changing, Lylaina looked at her in delight.
“Dian, oh my—this looks so good on you! I wasn’t sure if you’d like it, but I spent so much time choosing it…”
“Yes, Your Highness. I like it very much. Thank you.”
“Really? Look at us—we could almost pass for sisters, couldn’t we?”
Lylaina’s excitement overflowed as she spoke, clearly relieved by Dianther’s approval.
Though Dianther could guess what today’s plans might be—from her talk with the Queen and Prince Kian—she still asked,
“But, Your Highness, may I ask what today’s plans are?”
“That’s a surprise. Just trust me and follow along.”
“It’s hardly a surprise, Lylaina,” came a familiar voice.
“Ordinary clothes, a plain carriage, inconspicuous guards… I think Lady Dianther can already tell where we’re going.”
Prince Kian approached, dressed not in his uniform or formal attire but in a simple coat that made him look like an ordinary young nobleman.
When Dianther greeted him with a bow, he returned it with a polite nod.
Lylaina stiffened at his teasing words.
“Ugh, you always ruin everything, brother! You’re such a nuisance.”
“Who do you think got you permission for this little trip? I even gave up my day off, you know. You could at least show some gratitude.”
“Oh, please. You’re just using this as an excuse to take a break yourself, aren’t you?”
“Lady Dianther, the carriage awaits,” Kian said, smiling faintly.
“Yes! Let’s go, Dian!”
In front of the annex stood a simple, unmarked carriage—so plain it could pass for any noble’s vehicle. Only two carriages were prepared, perhaps to avoid drawing attention.
As they approached, a man stepped forward and bowed deeply.
“Luke Benedict of the 1st Order of Knights of Martina, at Your Highness’s service. I will be escorting Princess Lylaina and Lady Aspania today.”
“Sir Luke?”
Lylaina blinked in surprise. Kian stepped in to explain.
“The one who gave up his day off isn’t me, it’s Sir Luke. Technically, he wasn’t scheduled for rest today anyway. But he insisted on accompanying us—said that if the Princess of Martina goes out, her knight commander should not be absent.”
“Prince Kian speaks the truth, Your Highness. It is my duty to ensure the safety and peace of mind of Your Highness and His Highness, wherever you go.”
He bowed again, the sunlight gleaming on his lightly tanned skin and well-toned frame. His sincerity and quiet strength seemed to move Lylaina.
She had told her mother that if all else failed, she could always ask Sir Luke—but she knew how busy he was. To have him come personally was something she hadn’t expected.
She might be willful at times, but she wasn’t thoughtless. She understood her limits—and it was that balance that made her the Emperor’s most beloved youngest daughter.
The playful child who pouted before her brother now smiled gracefully, extending her hand.
“Sir Luke, thank you. I feel so much safer with you here. Oh, and since you’re coming, my brother doesn’t need to!”
“Hah, thrown aside already, am I? How cruel.”
“Well, suit yourself then!”
Her laughter was bright and unrestrained. Even the stoic Sir Luke’s expression softened a little at the sight.
The first carriage carried Lylaina, Dianther, and the maids. The second, Kian and Sir Luke. Quietly, the two carriages rolled away from the palace annex.
________✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧𓉞___________
Just like yesterday, there was a long line outside the strawberry crepe shop.
I sighed.
Maybe because it was the last weekend’s lunch hour, the line was even longer than before.
At least they were handing out number tickets today. Still, the number on mine was so high it made me dizzy just looking at it.
The shop stood at the edge of the marketplace that opened from the main square.
If you turned toward the square, you could see the tall spire and clock tower. That meant the time was… not quite eleven yet.
Since I had to return to the mansion before sunset, there was still plenty of time.
As I waited, I thought of the old world map pinned above Arthur’s desk.
It looked like something secondhand, reused by someone before him.
Next to it were a few books—the ones Edward Callinan had bought for him. Arthur must have been reading them diligently.
What exactly do academy students his age study?
Arthur never said much about what he needed, and besides that map, I had no idea what else to get him.
Maybe Karl could help,
I thought, and headed for his bookstore.
But when I pushed open the door, it wasn’t Karl behind the counter who caught my eye.
“……”
Forgotten memories came crashing down like a wave.
The overdue assignment I had been avoiding wasn’t Arthur’s. It was mine.
I turned to leave—
“…Amel?”
—but I couldn’t.
