The queen frowned after hearing the story from Jane.

“Do I have to hear such a tale on a pleasant day?”

“……I apologize.”

“If there are those spreading rumors that Lady Melissa and Karl behaved vulgarly in front of everyone, bring them to me.”

“I will convey your message.”

“If this reaches His Majesty’s ears, I will go mad.”

Jane’s eyes settled calmly. Everyone around trembled at the queen’s words, spoken in an elegant voice, saying she would go mad.

“I will silence them. Do not worry. Your Majesty, please take care of yourself.”

“I feel dizzy. Call Cheston.”

At the queen’s words, Jane immediately bowed her head and headed for the separate palace. Her good mood after meeting His Majesty hadn’t lasted even half a day. So Jane’s insides were burning black. Her mother always used to tell her:

‘The only way to preserve your life is to serve the queen well.’

She said that serving like her mother was the way to capture the queen’s heart. She always did her best. If it weren’t for the interference of others, the queen wouldn’t have been so broken.

Jane headed to the separate palace. To Prince Cheston, whom she hated the most.

Cheston sat down in the chair after being summoned by the queen. He already knew why he had been called, having heard the story from Aaron beforehand.

“It seems you’ve been calling for me often lately.”

“I see my son often, but it’s hard to see your face. That’s why I have to call you like this.”

“I thought staying quietly in the separate palace would be helpful to Your Majesty and my elder brother.”

“Your thinking is admirable, but showing your face often wouldn’t be bad either.”

He nodded with a smile. Recently, he hadn’t called her mother, perhaps because he wasn’t in a bad mood. Come to think of it, he seemed to have been too preoccupied with other matters lately to think of his mother.

“What business do you have in calling me?”

“I don’t need a reason to call you, do I?”

“You don’t enjoy having tea together either.”

“I heard you met Whitney Orlean. Do you have any other intentions?”

The queen seemed to be probing his true feelings. Cheston answered with an impassive expression.

“I just happened to meet her by chance in the garden.”

“Well, I’m curious if there’s any lady you have in mind.”

“How could I have anyone in mind? I just meet whoever is arranged for me. I don’t expect anyone to want to be by my side, so I don’t have any expectations.”

Cheston took a sip of tea and waited for the queen’s words. After pondering for a moment, she spoke about Princess Petontra.

“Didn’t His Majesty talk to you about Princess Petontra?”

“He did. However, I refused.”

“Why?”

“Because she is not meant for me.”

The queen smiled with satisfaction. Then she threw incomprehensible words at him.

“It would be better if you remain uninterested in the House of Orlean until the end. For the lady’s sake as well.”

Whitney received a letter from Cheston and made a puzzled expression.

“‘Don’t believe what I do from now on’? ‘It’s an action without any ulterior motive’? What does this mean? And what’s this about being careful of Her Majesty?”

He had written only those words without any explanation. Whitney tilted her head to the side, watching the white bird that had already flown away.

Whatever it was, it was clear that Cheston was about to do something he hadn’t done before.

“My lady, a letter has arrived from the salon. It seems your dress is ready.”

“It was completed exactly a month ago. Will I really be able to do well?”

“Of course. What you’ve done so far is already more than enough. Have confidence.”

“Thank you. Then I should go to the salon to pick up the dress.”

“Ah, it’s already here at the mansion.”

She had clearly asked them to come in person because she was anxious. But when Sonia said that Lebellom had sent the dress directly to the mansion, she frowned.

“Really?”

“Yes, a carriage from the salon came with escorting knights, then left.”

“……Escorts?”

At Sonia’s gesture, a maid entered carrying boxes and carefully set them down. There was more than one or two boxes, even though she had only commissioned one dress.

“What is all this?”

“I’m just delivering what we received.”

Whitney carefully opened a box. Inside was the dress for her debutante ball. She hadn’t known her mother’s heirloom could be reborn so beautifully. Gold thread was laid over beautiful green fabric, and the overlaid fabric was split, with layers of pure white fabric at the hem that would flutter with every step.

“This is indeed Lebellom’s dress. But what could be in that box beside it?”

When she opened the box, there were accessories and shoes that matched the dress. Looking at the seemingly expensive items, Whitney raised her head to look at Sonia.

“These shoes seem to be made by a quite famous artisan in the capital. Even the emerald necklace would be hard to obtain… This Monsieur Lebellom’s connections seem too impressive to just call them excellent.”

“I agree. I should meet with Lebellom.”

Whitney prepared to go out. There was too much to ask about, including the previous dress.

Whitney arrived in front of the salon and knocked on the door. However, the firmly locked door did not open. Judging by the lights being off, it seemed he had gone out.

“What’s going on?”

“Shall I inquire?”

“No need. Everyone probably doesn’t know anyway.”

Lebellom hadn’t taken orders from others. So no one would have communicated with him recently. With no other choice, she slipped a short note under the door.

“He’ll contact me.”

If he had nothing to hide, he would at least answer her. Whitney ended up returning to the mansion without gaining anything.

“Do we really have to go this far? I think it would be fine to just say His Highness sent it……”

“Then she won’t accept it, which would be troublesome.”

“Didn’t you say it was an investment? The young lady will understand.”

Lebellom read the note slipped under the door and made a pitiful expression. The young lady would probably think he was hiding something.

“You’re making me a liar.”

“I’d like you to be a liar just until the debutante ball, when she’ll find out.”

“Isn’t this too much in return for an investment?”

Cheston shook his head. She wouldn’t accept it. She didn’t seem to like receiving help. She was doing well on her own, so he didn’t want to dampen her spirits.

He just wanted her to shine more on the day of the debutante ball. He wanted her to capture everyone’s attention and become the star of the debutante ball.

“I hear you’ve been getting a lot of work as well.”

“Thanks to you, I’m finally getting other work, but I don’t regret it. The young lady will be the most beautiful person on that day.”

Monsieur Lebellom puffed out his chest proudly. Cheston watched him for a moment before standing up.

“Your skills are excellent. You’ll make quite a name for yourself in the capital from now on.”

“I’m just sorry it took people’s eyes so long to recognize me. That’s why I’ve vowed to always make the young lady’s dresses first.”

At Lebellom’s words, Cheston chuckled and left the salon. Donning his cloak, he rode swiftly to the separate palace with Aaron.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Just because. I thought it might make her more curious.”

“When I look closely, Your Highness has a mischievous side too. It seems like something you could just tell her.”

“But that wouldn’t be fun.”

The horses that had been galloping for a while gradually slowed down. As they approached the back road to the palace, Aaron pulled on the reins and stared intently at Cheston’s face.

“This isn’t just for fun, is it?”

“It’s good that you’re quick-witted, but sometimes it’s not so good.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. Have you developed feelings for the young lady?”

At Aaron’s words, Cheston looked up at the sky. He couldn’t say for certain yet either. He just found himself thinking of her often, and acted out of a desire for her to think of him more.

“We’re allies, aren’t we? There’s nothing strange about taking a bit more interest in each other. Aaron, you tend to view people too negatively. I’m always very interested in you too. I have a lot of interest in my elder brother, Her Majesty, and everyone here.”

At Cheston’s glib response, Aaron frowned and said:

“It doesn’t seem like just interest, that’s why I’m asking. You know what I mean by my words, don’t you?”

“I’m curious how I look to you. What do you see that makes you ask such questions?”

Aaron looked at Cheston’s handsome face basking in the sunlight and frowned in annoyance.

Seeing Cheston’s innocent eyes that hadn’t realized his own feelings, yet wanting to hear how others saw him, Aaron kept his mouth shut.

“I’m curious what expression I’m making that makes you ask if I’ve developed feelings.”

“I won’t tell you. As Your Highness said, it seems to be nothing more or less than an alliance relationship.”

He smiled as if he had read Aaron’s thoughts. Seeing that smile, Aaron rubbed his arm with his other hand and said:

“Don’t make that expression! It gives me goosebumps!”

“Don’t worry. My interest in you won’t change. I didn’t know you’d feel hurt by something like this. Looking closely, it seems you liked me quite a bit.”

“Enough! Please pretend you didn’t hear what I said!”

“Why? I’m asking if you’re hurt that I couldn’t give you attention. Why are you trying to distance yourself from me?”

Aaron made a disgusted expression and kicked the horse’s rear to ride away quickly. Cheston followed closely behind, not letting his smile fade.