“You left home and got more extravagant. Your face has grown shameless too. I’m busy preparing for tomorrow’s banquet, how long do you plan to stay?”

Cecilia said, glancing at Whitney’s dress. Judging by her mother’s gaze, the dress must have been pretty.

“Is that so? It’s the first dress I’ve had tailored, so I’m glad you seem to think it’s nice. I’m just going to take the books from the attic. Could you offer me a cup of tea?”

Only then did her mother let her sit at the table. Whitney recalled the woman in the flyer with red hair. Louise Anne.

It was all suspicious. Whitney wanted to interrogate her mother right away, but she swallowed it. There was no conclusive evidence yet.

“…Sit down. What’s that in your hand?”

“I bought a trendy lace handkerchief. I even had my initials embroidered on it.”

When she placed the handkerchief on the table, Cecilia’s eyes sparkled. She looked satisfied as she examined the lace handkerchief.

“Your eye for things has improved too. Your aunt must have taught you well.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. Is the attic still the same?”

“You look like you’ve come to collect your belongings. Are you planning not to return at all?”

Her sarcastic tone was still the same. But perhaps because of the guard knight and Sonia by her side, she seemed to have taken a step back today. Sonia had informed her that the banquet was canceled after she got very upset.

It would save face to cancel rather than hold a party where invited guests didn’t show up. She was quite quick-witted in these matters.

Whitney sipped her tea and replied.

“Of course not. This is my home, where else would I go? I just came to get the book I was reading and brought a pretty gift. How’s elder sister Melissa?”

Cecilia’s eyes suddenly changed.

“She’s not feeling well, so she’s in her room. Just gather what you need and leave quickly. And don’t forget to return home as soon as the debutante ball is over.”

“Of course. I always want to come back here.”

Whitney stood up, told Sonia and Harwin to wait, and went up to the attic. In the attic, Whitney bent down to find the well-hidden book and opened the door under the bed. Then she gathered the book and seeds.

Fortunately, there were some Bellonia seeds left.

‘The ones planted at the Marquis’ mansion will take a long time to bloom, so I can plant these somewhere else.’

No. What if I give this to Prince Cheston?

Whitney recalled his figure fleeing that day and tapped her lips with her finger. Would he be happy?

He might get angry again, asking if she’s pitying him.

She shook her head vigorously and carefully tucked them into her bosom for now. Just in case, she put a novel cover on the book that organized the finances of the Duke’s mansion. It was to prevent anyone from checking the contents. She was glad that the book that had been switched with Cheston’s was being used like this.

Thinking about it again made her face flush.

“You! Why are you here?”

“I heard elder sister wasn’t feeling well. You look fine.”

“…What’s with that outfit?”

Melissa’s gaze turned to Whitney’s dress. Liking the unfamiliar design, she strode over, linked arms, and glared.

“I had it made at a little-known place. I received it as a gift from the salon where I ordered my debutante dress.”

“…That salon gave you a gift? I heard it closed down.”

“You went there?”

“Why would I go there! Me, who orders dresses from famous salons in the capital?”

“I suppose you wouldn’t have a reason to go to such a small salon. Don’t come up to the attic. You might get attached.”

Whitney stood up and brushed off her skirt. Then she came down from the attic and returned to the mansion.

The Queen put down her teacup with a clatter and made an interesting expression. Karl watched his mother’s reaction while glancing at the newspaper.

“Hmm. Interesting news these days.”

The newspaper had a story about Whitney Orlean wearing a new dress. The Queen’s eyes sparkled at the mention of women searching the capital’s salons, unable to find where it was made.

“A new fashion trend… Interesting that it’s being led by a child who hasn’t even had her debutante ball yet.”

“I’m curious about this child you seem to like, Mother.”

“Yes, you might like her too when you see her. She could be quite useful. She has kind eyes, looks like she would make a good wife.”

The Queen clicked her tongue as she looked at her son. With his mind so slow, his emotions showing in everything, no wonder he was getting beaten by Cheston.

“She’s from a Duke’s family, so you can just extract what you need and divorce her. And she’ll be useful soon, so wait and see.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“Yes, it’s time to end this ridiculous situation.”

The King loved Elenia, not herself. What was that love, when she had given him everything, yet he was obsessed with that woman and trying to create a succession plan when he had a legitimate son?

So this yoke had to stop too.

‘She must be quite weak after taking Libenia for so long. It’ll be over for that woman soon.’

The Queen felt relieved.

“So don’t do anything and don’t provoke the King’s mood. The King has everything calculated. You’ve acted on your own, so that’s one more thing to deal with.”

“…That was just a sparring match.”

“For a sparring match, I hear his body was a mess. Covered in blood, they say. Don’t go to the separate palace from now on. Not if you don’t want to create more work for your mother.”

The Queen spoke sternly as she put down her teacup. Karl nodded silently.

“Stay quiet for a while.”

Karl bowed his head and left. Only after her son had gone did the Queen call a maid and give one order.

“Because of my child, one poor person is about to die. What can we do, it’s a noble sacrifice for the greater good, a sublime death for the one who will be king.”

“You speak wisely.”

“This is why I like you. Jane, I trust you’ll handle this matter well too.”

The Queen drank her tea with a much-improved mood.

When night fell, knights with torches searched for someone in the Queen’s palace. The Queen, her face wet with tears, embraced a limp woman and wailed.

Everyone was solemn at the sight of the Queen sitting dejectedly on the blood-stained carpet.

“My cousin! Driana! How could such a tragic thing happen!”

The Queen’s acting and the maids’ gloomy expressions filled the Queen’s palace with sounds of grief. Soon after, the King, having heard the news, arrived leading the royal guard.

“Please catch the culprit. I can’t sleep, it’s too unjust. How could someone kill my cousin Driana!”

She glared at the King with wide eyes.

“Take the body for an autopsy! It must be someone who meant to kill me.”

“I understand the Queen’s words, so calm yourself. Have the body taken care of. There’s no need to find the culprit.”

“Your Majesty!”

The Queen rose and stood before the King. The King lowered his head and whispered in the Queen’s ear.

“Don’t overdo it. I won’t ask about what Karl did, but the culprit would be you anyway. Even if we search, the evidence would point to Cheston, who knows nothing.”

“…Oh my, how could that be.”

“The Queen, a terrible person who kills even her own cousin for her son, truly unchanging.”

“Isn’t it all because of Your Majesty’s love that I’ve become like this? There’s a simple solution, yet you turn a blind eye, so this catastrophe has happened.”

If he just named Karl as Crown Prince, that would be enough. If he just officially designated him as the heir everyone acknowledged, she wouldn’t have touched Cheston and Elenia. They weren’t worth it anyway.

“Your Majesty loves equality, so next time something happens to Karl, it will be difficult to turn a blind eye. Remember that.”

The King frowned and left the Queen’s palace with the royal guard. He didn’t forget to pick up the sword that had fallen on the floor. Thanks to Jane bringing the sword with Prince Cheston’s power imbued in it.

The Queen wiped the blood on her hands with a handkerchief and said to Jane.

“I need to write a letter to Father, so follow me to my private room. And there’s someone I need to summon discreetly.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll have someone sent.”

The Queen hummed a tune as she headed to her room. The King’s expression after being dealt a blow – tonight seemed like it would be a good night.

Whitney returned to the mansion from the Orlean Duke’s residence without incident.

The problem came the next day.

A carriage arrived in front of the mansion where she was staying. She was surprised to see the seal visible through the slightly raised curtain.

‘I didn’t expect to be called so quickly.’

Although it was a public carriage, she seemed to know who had come for her. Whitney turned her gaze from the window and pretended to open a book.

“A guest has arrived. What should we do?”

“Please tell them I’ll be out soon. It’s probably someone sent by Her Majesty the Queen.”

Whitney checked the seeds in her bosom and looked in the mirror. She planned to tell him what she wanted before the debutante ball.

The Queen must have started moving, so she needed to find courage to protect him too. When desperate people meet desperate people… what lies at the end?

As Whitney got into the carriage, she looked up at the sky for a moment. It was unusually clear and bright. Someone seemed to overlap with the dazzling sun and blue sky. She felt her steps towards the palace were light, almost giddy.