Whitney, startled, raised her head as she entered the bushes.

Whitney’s body shrank at the cool gaze looking at her, with eyes as blue as the sky. Her captured wrist ached, but Whitney’s eyes sparkled.

“Prince Cheston, Your Highness.”

She was glad for his appearance, which she had been seeking so earnestly. He seemed to feel differently from her. She could tell just by looking at his eyes.

“What’s your purpose? Whitney Orlean.”

“…Purpose? I have no such thing. I just.”

I just wanted to protect you.

Whitney swallowed her words. She could predict the reaction he would show if she said such things. So she quietly looked at Cheston, then stared at her captured wrist and said.

“It hurts. Are you going to keep holding it?”

The strength in Cheston’s hand holding Whitney’s wrist loosened. Whitney looked at her throbbing wrist for a moment, then raised her head.

“I thought I might leave without seeing Your Highness.”

“Are you saying you came here because of me?”

“No. The Queen summoned me. We’re on good terms with the Rubeness family, you know. But I did think I might get to meet Your Highness while I was here.”

Whitney smiled brightly. She was glad to have met him after all.

“The debut you mentioned, Your Highness, I think it will go well. So please wait a little longer.”

“…Are you saying you’ll spy for the Queen?”

“If that’s what Your Highness wants. I should go now, it seems people are coming. Oh, I heard there’s a secret correspondence used by the royal family. Please contact me that way if you need me.”

“You’re asking me to contact you?”

“My aunt knows too. That I’ll be on Your Highness’s side.”

Cheston’s brow furrowed. He seemed unable to understand what she was saying.

Startled by a rustling sound, Whitney grabbed Cheston’s hand and ducked down. Then she looked around and stood up first.

“I’ll go ahead. See you again. And if you need Bellonia, please let me know.”

After saying she would send her anytime, she came out of the bushes and dusted off her clothes. Then she walked towards the carriage as if nothing had happened.

Cheston blankly looked at his own hand. The warmth still seemed to linger on his hand. The only person who would have casually grabbed his hand like that was undoubtedly Whitney Orlean.

“Are you alright, Your Highness?”

At Aaron’s words, Cheston came to his senses and looked towards where Whitney had left. He laughed dejectedly, recalling Whitney who had already disappeared.

“…Wasn’t Lady Rubeness on the Queen’s side?”

“In fact, the reason Her Majesty the Queen keeps the Rubeness family close is to check the King, isn’t it? The young lady’s words don’t seem to be lies.”

“I didn’t think she was the Queen’s spy. But her actions are suspicious.”

“There are certainly many suspicious points. Shall we look into it a bit more? There’s still some time until the debut, so it might not be bad to keep an eye on her.”

“But what brings you here again?”

“The Queen has summoned Lady Elenia again.”

Cheston gritted his teeth.

“Then I can’t just sit still either. I need to meet His Majesty the King.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“I’ll have to interrupt the tea time. In the way the Queen hates most.”

He headed straight for where the King would be. At this hour, he would have finished lunch and be in his study. The only person the Queen was wary of, only the King could save his mother. Sadly, Cheston’s power alone was limited in protecting his mother.

Arriving at the study, Cheston greeted His Majesty the King.

“Well, what brings you here?”

“I came wanting to have tea together after a long time. If I’m interrupting, I’ll withdraw.”

“How could that be? The weather is nice, so it would be good to drink outside.”

The King looked out the window and rose from his seat. He didn’t hesitate at all, as if he had been waiting for Cheston to come. Perhaps he knew and had been watching, unable to find a way to step in.

“Yes, the weather outside is nice, so it might be good to go to the garden and have tea together after a long time.”

“Yes. Let’s do that. I had something to talk to you about too, so you’ve come at a good time.”

He headed to the garden with the King. His mother would be in the Queen’s palace, but he couldn’t go there. It would be showing his intentions, so he had to use another method.

The Queen’s minions were watching him from all over the palace. So the moment she heard that he was having a private tea time with the King, the Queen would surely come right away.

And not alone, but accompanied by her son.

And Cheston’s prediction was not wrong. The Queen, with a slightly flushed face, and Karl appeared.

“What brings the Queen all the way here? You seemed busy, so I didn’t call for you separately.”

“I was taking a walk with my son and happened to see you. May we join you for tea since the weather is nice?”

The King nodded. Cheston inwardly sighed in relief. The Queen coming here meant that his mother had safely returned to her room.

“I hear Karl received excellent grades again this time.”

“Of course, he’s my son. Cheston has already become a Swordmaster, but there’s no sign of that from Karl yet, so there’s a lot of talk.”

“Don’t worry. Your Majesty, Karl will soon create an aura too. Didn’t Your Majesty also open your aura after coming of age?”

Queen Adelaide raised the corners of her mouth while holding her teacup.

“I already possessed an aura before that. Isn’t it truly strange? Despite inheriting my blood, you have no aura.”

The King clicked his tongue and looked Karl up and down. Cheston knew the meaning of the King’s words. It was as good as saying that if he wasn’t superior to Cheston, the successor would be Cheston, not Karl.

“But elder brother excels in scholarship and is respected by others. Elder brother will surely become an excellent lord to succeed Your Majesty. I’ve only awakened my aura, but my sword skills are poor, so it’s a useless power.”

Cheston shook his head and carefully added to the King’s words. The more the King belittled Karl, the more dangerous it became for him and his mother. So to avoid upsetting the Queen’s mood, lowering himself and turning the King’s attention to his elder brother was the way to avoid trouble.

“Your Majesty. Why don’t you have tea with Her Majesty the Queen and elder brother after a long time? I just remembered an urgent matter, so I’ll take my leave first.”

“Alright, do so.”

The King didn’t stop him. It was because of the Queen’s gaze, but also because he knew whom Cheston was going to see.

Cheston immediately turned and walked quickly to where his mother would be.

Whitney returned to the Rubeness estate by carriage.

Sonia welcomed her as if she had been waiting for Whitney to come. Judging by Sonia’s gloomy face, it seemed something had happened.

Whitney headed to the reception room as Sonia guided her.

“Did something happen?”

“Young Lady Melissa is here.”

“Elder sister? Did mother come too?”

Sonia shook her head. Fortunately, it seemed only her elder sister had come to check the atmosphere. When Whitney arrived in front of the reception room and entered, she was relieved to see Melissa dressed splendidly. It seemed nothing else had happened at the duke’s residence, judging by her usual appearance.

On the other hand, Melissa frowned as soon as she saw Whitney.

“What brings you here without notice, elder sister? It would have been better if you had contacted me first.”

“Look at how you’re talking. What contact between family? I came to see if you were doing well. It’s your first time leaving home.”

Melissa approached Whitney and hugged her tightly. Uncomfortable with this behavior, Whitney gently pushed Melissa away.

“As you can see, I’m doing well.”

Whitney shrugged and said to Melissa.

“I see. I thought you’d be struggling after leaving home, but you’re doing quite well?”

Melissa asked grumpily, seemingly displeased that Whitney’s situation was different from what she had expected. It seemed she thought that even though she was her aunt, she wouldn’t be able to act as a proper guardian since there had been no contact until now.

‘The reason they haven’t been making a fuss about me coming back and have been quiet all this time is probably because aunt sent money.’

She could guess without being told. Having received a large sum of money, they must have become curious about how Whitney was doing. They must have become anxious about whether she was having any other thoughts, and come to check if she was still a child in their hands.

“Aunt is treating me well. I have to work hard too, so I can be of help to elder sister, right?”

“Hmph. You’re not harboring any other intentions, are you? I heard you went to the palace……”

A glance.

Melissa looked at Whitney carefully, trying to sound her out. The reason she had rushed here so quickly was because she had heard unbelievable news.

“That’s right. I met Her Majesty the Queen. I might really be of help to elder sister. She seems to regard me favorably.”

“……Is that true?”

Whitney nodded. Then, taking Sonia’s hand, she said,

“Elder sister will achieve what she wants.”