Anblyn felt resentful.

“It wasn’t me. No. I swear to God.”

Alex, the crown prince of Brit, let out a long sigh.

“Just because you say it wasn’t you doesn’t mean it wasn’t. If Johan believes so, then that’s how it is. I told you, Ann. Don’t act rashly.”

“Why are you really like this? It wasn’t me.”

“Why did you meet the daughter of Seymour?”

“……”

Anblyn fell silent at the unusually cold question.

“Don’t think about denying it. Someone saw you in the West Palace.”

Anblyn’s whole body trembled with shock for a moment.

She had secretly called her through the secret passage leading outside. Even if someone had seen, she was wearing a hood so it would have been impossible to identify her.

Besides, wasn’t it in the middle of the night?

How on earth.

Anblyn recalled the faces of her maids one by one. Even the secretaries and court officials of the West Palace, one by one.

There’s a spy.

Otherwise, how…

Who is it?

Who dares.

“Ann.”

Snapped out of her thoughts by Alex’s call, Anblyn composed herself and spoke calmly.

“It’s someone who has been asking to join our gathering for a long time.”

“So you decided to accept them at this time of all times.”

“Is that wrong now too?”

“Ann.”

“I wasn’t alone. Kayla was with me too. So ask her directly. Tell them to ask Miss Seymour directly too.”

Her transparently swollen eyes turned red.

“I know well what my fault is. My fault is… that I loved Ed too much.”

Anblyn sobbed.

“So whenever something happens to that woman, everyone suspects me. Isn’t that right? I just had a meeting that I could sufficiently have from my position, why do I have to receive such insulting misunderstanding?”

A regretful sigh flowed through lips that seemed to have been firmly closed.

Alex stared numbly at his sister who was crying sorrowfully.

“Don’t touch that woman. Ann.”

“What on earth is that woman that everyone is like this!”

Anblyn shouted hysterically.

His sister, who had lived a life where everything was prepared, did not know how to get what she wanted.

It was one of the things that their father and he had failed to teach her.

‘Alex, if you truly love the princess, don’t become weak. That’s not the way to be good for your sister.’

“Refrain from going outside except for your game schedule for the time being.”

“…O, elder brother…”

Anblyn’s eyes, which had been dropping tears drop by drop, grew large.

“I can’t do that.”

It wasn’t something the crown prince she knew would say. Anblyn’s mind went blank.

To her who had no mother, Alex was like an elder brother and a mother. Always gentle and warm.

“This is an order I’m giving not as your elder brother, but as the crown prince of this country. Don’t disappoint me. Ann.”

“Elder brother!!!”

Alex left Anblyn’s bedroom, leaving behind a scream-like cry.

Even after the door closed, the sound of sobbing that poured out hit Alex’s heart.

The urge to rush in and comfort her was earnestly held back by Louise’s voice.

‘The world has changed, Alex. A royal family that doesn’t gain the trust of the people will lose its place to stand. The things you have to protect aren’t just the princess, right?’

She carefully pulled Alex’s arm and placed it on her belly.

That’s how his wife announced the news of her pregnancy. He clenched his jaw.

“Kayla.”

Kayla Johansson, Anblyn’s friend and cousin, looked up at the crown prince.

“I leave Ann to you.”

“Yes.”

Alex, who had clenched his fist, turned around.

“Don’t cry. Ann.”

Kayla stared at Anblyn and stroked her back.

“He’s changed. He’s never been like this to me before.”

Anblyn sobbed endlessly.

“He’s trying to protect you. You know, Ann. How much His Highness cherishes you.”

As always, Kayla offered words of comfort. She ordered the maid to bring some warm tea.

Then she calmly watched Anblyn, whose shoulders were still shaking.

That position could have been mine.

Her mother, who was the eldest daughter of the late king and the noble princess.

Pitiful person who couldn’t ascend to the throne just because she was a woman and lived the life of an ordinary woman.

Although they were both granddaughters of the late king, their status was starkly divided.

Companion, playmate.

Anblyn claimed they were friends, but they had never been equal even once.

“Calm down. Ann. Calm down and try drinking this.”

Kayla personally poured the tea brought by the maid into a blue cup and placed it in front of Anblyn.

The bitter scent of herbs rose above the teacup. Eyes wet with tears stared blankly at the tea.

From a young age, she couldn’t be better than Anblyn in anything.

Even at the debutante, which happens only once in a lifetime, she couldn’t wear a prettier dress than the princess, and the number of accessories she could wear was set.

She always couldn’t walk ahead of her, and if the princess wanted a man she had her eye on, she had to give up.

So Kayla always envied Rondos, which was ruled by a queen.

If Brit had been such a country, the princess would have been her, not Anblyn.

Kayla picked up the cup and placed it in Anblyn’s hand. Amber eyes with blurred focus looked at Kayla.

Anblyn’s era, which had shone brilliantly, seemed precarious like the flickering light of a gas lamp.

At that moment, she thought that the princess’s solid life could crumble for the first time.

“Don’t worry. You and that woman won’t stand on the same stage. I promise.”

Kayla said, carefully watching Anblyn’s face gradually regaining its color.

“No. Don’t do anything. Kayla.”

Anblyn wasn’t stupid.

“I appreciate your feelings. Kayla. But even if that woman falls while walking alone, people will blame me. So don’t do anything.”

“I understand. My thinking was short-sighted. I’ll do as you say.”

Kayla gently stroked Anblyn’s back. After a while, she looked down at Anblyn’s red hair with gentle eyes and whispered.

“I won’t do anything.”

Anblyn, with her head resting on Kayla’s chest, couldn’t see Kayla’s eyes darkening.

After Anblyn’s seclusion, Olivia was sailing smoothly towards the finals like a ship with a tailwind.

Articles praising the rising star graced the front pages of newspapers daily, and public sentiment towards the brazen hussy was rapidly changing.

Olivia Blanchet was so charming on the green grass that anyone who had seen her even once couldn’t help but fall for her.

“Where’s Olivia?”

Edgar, who had entered the VIP exclusive suite located on the top floor of the Lancelot Hotel, asked Mary the maid who was cleaning the room.

“She went to the tennis court with Countess Elaine.”

Mary reported respectfully.

The townhouse on Riverside 3rd Avenue where Olivia was staying had been exposed.

Due to reporters camping out in front of the house day and night, causing complaints from neighboring residents, they eventually had to move.

Edgar nodded briefly and then headed towards the tennis court.

His steps were determined as he strode across the lobby and through the corridor leading to the garden.

As he descended the terrace stairs and passed through the neatly trimmed hedge maze, the tennis court gradually came into view.

Edgar stopped and narrowed his eyes. His gaze, which had been sweeping the empty grass, fixed on the caretaker.

“Where’s Olivia?”

“She went to the lounge with her companions.”

The midday sun poured down clearly over the empty green space.

Edgar frowned as if dazzled, nodded lightly, and turned back towards the main building.

He thought the hotel grounds were unnecessarily large.

As he entered the lobby, the piano melody flowing from the lounge gently echoed in the high-ceilinged marble space.

Edgar slowly looked around the lounge filled with the aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans and asked the manager who had rushed out.

“Where’s Olivia?”

Edgar, repeating the same question, was running out of patience.

“It, it was full so she left.”

As expected, the polite answer was not much different from what he had heard earlier.

“Do you know where she went?”

“I don’t know that much… I’ll find out.”

“Never mind. Go about your business.”

And so, back to square one.

Edgar was standing in front of the door of Olivia’s room. He clenched his fist that he had lightly raised to knock.

From inside, that damned Russell Junior’s frivolous laughter was flowing out shamelessly.

Following that, a woman’s laughter rang out, fortunately not Olivia’s.

Edgar let out an annoyed sigh and knocked politely.

Of course, it was the maid who opened the door.

As Edgar entered, Olivia, who was sitting at the round table, stood up as if surprised.

“Edgar!”

Her blue eyes, round like a rabbit’s, soon rippled with joy.

As he met those eyes, he felt his depleted patience being fully replenished.

Olivia approached with small steps and stood in front of him with a smiling face.

“You came?”

“Looks like you were having quite an enjoyable time?”

Although it was said in a reproachful tone, Olivia answered with a smile, unconcerned.

“After practice, we were taking a short break and the coach was telling us stories from his days as a player.”

Still a pathetic guy.

He felt quite unpleasant thinking about the woman who must have been listening enthusiastically to his disorderly boasting every time he opened his mouth.

“I see.”

Edgar looked at Russell Junior with intent. He flinched slightly.

“We meet often.”

Elaine, standing next to Russell Junior, greeted him.

It was an unfriendly gaze. Edgar nodded adequately, ignoring her.

“I have something to say.”

He wanted to drive out the intruders immediately. But Olivia wouldn’t like that. Instead, Edgar lightly pointed to the balcony with his chin.

“I’m sorry. I’ll be back in a moment.”

Olivia apologized as if she was committing some great rudeness and went out to the balcony with Edgar.

“Did something happen?”

Olivia looked up at him and asked. Her blue eyes reflecting the sunlight sparkled.