The slanting sunlight bathed the reception room entirely in golden hues. In the quiet silence, time flowed slowly.

“You, today.”

Olivia broke the silence.

“You owe me a great debt. Madam Lauren.”

The emerald ring scattered from Madam Lauren’s hand faintly shimmered.

“You have to repay that debt. Absolutely.”

Olivia’s blue eyes, sitting upright in a proper posture, were calm. Her elegant face stared at Madam Lauren.

“…Thank you.”

Madam Lauren raised her stiff head.

The pride that hadn’t been broken even in front of a princess who hadn’t experienced it once crumbled easily in front of Olivia Blanshet.

“I won’t disappoint you.”

At least, as long as she was in partnership with Edga, it was a genuine commitment.

In the Twoallet Room, filled with the refreshing sound of a large fountain and vibrant laughter, an abrupt silence descended. Anblin raised her trembling hand. The maids who were gently styling her hair stopped their touches and took a step back.

Anblin, who had been staring at the mirror, slowly turned her head.

“……What did you say just now?”

Even though she heard it clearly, she couldn’t believe it.

“Madam Lauren declined.”

Cecil bowed apologetically.

“Declined?”

Anblin’s gaze, filled with unexpected circumstances, shook with anger.

How dare a mere seamstress!

It was as humiliating as being compared to a bastard.

“What’s the reason?”

“……. Well.”

Cecil couldn’t bring herself to let the words out.

She was afraid that the already dizzy princess might be deeply disappointed.

With only her lips twitching, Anblin coldly urged her.

“Cecil, speak.”

“…Lady Ranslot has decided to take over.”

At the sudden mention of that name, Anblin frowned.

“Edga?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The veins on the back of her hand, gripping the chair’s armrest, bulged with a bluish hue. She tried to calm her increasingly labored breath.

‘The one who spoke of parting was you.’

Edga’s cold and indifferent words were like a dagger in her heart.

‘We’re done.’

When she divorced and came back to find him for the first time, he heartlessly said sorry to the sobbing Anblin.

“That’s not the reason you can’t come to me.”

Since Edga didn’t block her, and he wasn’t a heartless person, she hadn’t wronged him to the extent of receiving such treatment.

If Madam Lauren had privately declined due to the incident the other day, Anblin would have generously shown mercy.

“Speak, Cecil.”

The secretary, who hesitated for a moment, finally spoke.

“That’s because… she decided to take charge of Olivia Blanshet.”

“……. ”

Anblin’s face turned bluish as if ice-cold water was splashed on it, and her jaw trembled.

“Could it be… under Edga’s instructions?”

“According to Madam Lauren’s words, yes.”

Anblin’s reddened eyes gradually turned crimson. Shivers ran down her spine from the sense of betrayal.

How could this happen to me… How could you…

A wide-open window let in a gust of wind.

With the wind carrying a hot heat, Anblin approached the terrace.

The flower-covered garden seemed terrifyingly like a blood-red world today.

“I have to meet Edga. Prepare for it.”

It took Anblin a long time to force her lips apart.

She held back the tears that seemed to fall at any moment.

Edga gazed at the sunset over the Litton city with a lazy look.

As the opening day of the Dumbline Championship approached, there was more work than usual, and he wasn’t particularly thrilled about unannounced visitors, especially if it was the princess.

“How can you… How can you do this to me?”
Anblin bit her quivering lips.

It was difficult to endure his indifferent, if not cold, gaze.

He was her first love.

Memories with him, passionate and still painfully etched in her heart. It felt as maddeningly poignant as yesterday’s events.

The man who seemed indifferent was resented.

“You’re too much. Really, too much. You.”

Upon seeing the face of the beautiful man who had once fallen asleep in her embrace, tears that had been welling up in her eyes spilled down powerlessly.

Edga looked at the woman with an unresponsive gaze.

It was starting again.

A languid sigh escaped.

“How… can you take away my designer too? How is that possible?”

The tears that had been flowing silently turned into sobs in an instant. There seemed to be no sign of them stopping easily.

Edga closed his eyes tightly. How could he make this woman understand? Irritation began to creep up.

“Why go to such lengths? What is the reason? Did rumors spread that a thief entered the hotel? Is that why you’re being threatened by that woman?”

Edga burst into laughter.

Anblin, too surprised to react, blinked her long, tear-drenched eyelashes.

“Hey, Princess.”

The calling voice was unnaturally harsh, causing Anblin to stop her stuttering.

The intensely grayish-blue eyes narrowed as if facing something dreadful.