The royal family was in an uproar. It became an unavoidable scandal when Cecilia Weston, who witnessed Melissa Orlean and Karl de Clifton coming out of a private room, shouted for everyone to hear.

“Was this also planned?”

“I merely informed him that Karl was alone.”

Cheston de Clifton looked up from his newspaper and stared intently at Whitney Belle Orlean. Unable to avoid his gaze, she raised her head and met his eyes.

“Is Your Highness not pleased?”

“It’s good for me, but there’s nothing to gain from provoking the queen.”

“It wasn’t my doing. So Her Majesty won’t harm me. Rather, my elder sister might be in danger.”

Whitney closed her book. The immediate fire was extinguished, but an important task remained. She had to prevent the staged incident at the upcoming royal banquet where Cheston might lose his life.

“Your Highness. Is Lady Elenia feeling better?”

“She’s much better. Thanks to the bellonia you told me about. She’s even able to focus more on recovery since the queen doesn’t have time to pay attention to my mother.”

“I’m glad. Do you remember I said I had something else to tell you?”

He nodded slightly. As if to focus on her words, he folded the newspaper and set it down on the table.

“Her Majesty is plotting something. This time, it may be more than just a threat to Your Highness. I think something big will happen at the upcoming royal banquet.”

“How do you know that? The queen wouldn’t have told you such things, and if she let it slip, it must be a trap.”

“I promised to protect Your Highness. And that’s why I’m telling you this. On that day, Karl will fall from a cliff and barely survive.”

“…Are you saying she plans to frame me for attempting to kill my elder brother?”

“Yes, I know what I’m saying lacks credibility. But Her Majesty is planning something that could potentially kill her own son. She must have designed everything already. You said His Majesty is a fair person, right? This time too, they’ll say it was Cheston’s doing, and His Majesty won’t be able to take your side.”

Cheston seemed to finally realize why she had killed his cousin. This time, she had acted in advance to prevent him from taking his side. Above all, the crime of attempting to harm Karl, who was first in line for succession, by him, an illegitimate child, could never be overlooked.

His eyes sank in an instant. The clear blue eyes became cloudy, and a blue aura rippled around him. Whitney felt a tingling sensation all over her body from the murderous intent, but she didn’t back down.

“…You didn’t just happen to find out all this by chance. Lady Orlean.”

“That’s right. I didn’t learn about it by chance. I just noticed what Her Majesty was thinking. As Your Highness knows, I didn’t grow up in a peaceful place either, so my sense for survival is more sensitive than others.”

“So what are you trying to tell me? If the queen has already finished planning, there’s no way for me to avoid it.”

“That’s not true. With me here, Your Highness won’t be framed. As long as you don’t leave my side. I’ll be your circumstantial evidence.”

Back then, she had unwillingly sided with Karl and become a witness, but this time she intended to stand by Cheston’s side and be his evidence. No matter what the queen did, she would prevent him from being implicated. That was why she had come to his side.

“Why are you going to such lengths?”

“Because I’m Your Highness’s fiancée.”

“…”

“Didn’t we join hands to protect each other? I want to do my best to fulfill the contract. So please don’t give up no matter what situation arises.”

She didn’t want to see his eyes fill with resignation again. She hoped his lively blue eyes would remain as they were.

Because that would make her feel at ease too. Even if it was her selfishness, Whitney wanted to help him breathe a little easier in this hell-like place.

“Please promise me, Your Highness.”

“…I promise.”

Whitney hooked her finger with his pinky and smiled with relief.

Life in the palace was not easy. The scandal between Melissa and Karl did not subside easily, and the face of Violet, who had come to Reowen for the engagement, grew darker by the day.

But she couldn’t return to Petontra either. Because negotiations between countries were ongoing, Petontra’s feelings were not important.

‘I’ve only seen her in passing since that day.’

Whitney felt heavy-hearted. Would things have been different if she had given her a heads up? She thought it would be fine since she knew Karl wasn’t in her heart.

Perhaps she had turned a blind eye out of fear that her heart might turn to Cheston. She was someone who would stay briefly and then disappear.

So shouldn’t she have pretended not to know and helped connect the two? Whitney frowned as her chest stung.

After Karl’s engagement fell apart and Whitney disappeared, would an engagement be arranged between Cheston and Violet?

From Violet’s perspective, she would be happy about it. She might even send a letter to her home country asking permission for an engagement with Cheston, saying it’s better than a prince involved in a dirty scandal with someone else.

“You seem deep in thought.”

“Ah! I’m sorry.”

Whitney came to her senses at the gentle voice. Several times a day, her head would become complicated and she would fall into thought. She gently looked at Elenia sitting in front of her.

She was much more beautiful than when she had seen her briefly before. Her silver hair made her pale face stand out even more, and that deep color, darker than the blue eyes Cheston had, reminded one of the sea.

Whitney felt relieved to see her looking much better.

‘She must not be taking Livenia anymore.’

Unlike before, there was no scent of Livenia coming from Elenia. It was worth diverting the queen’s attention elsewhere. Elenia smiled at her while drinking tea.

“I heard from my son. He said you noticed my illness and helped a lot. Is that true?”

“I’m just interested in herbs, so I happened to notice and let you know. I’m glad you seem to be improving. Elenia, you can speak comfortably to me.”

“How could I do that to someone who saved my life? I wondered why Cheston has been smiling more these days, and it seems to be thanks to you, my lady.”

Whitney couldn’t help but recall Cheston’s smile. Come to think of it, he smiled more than she expected. Sometimes he would smile faintly when alone, but when talking with her, the corners of his mouth were always turned up.

“I think it’s because he’s relieved that you’ve recovered a lot, Elenia. I haven’t been much help. Rather, I’m the one receiving help.”

“I’m relieved that Cheston seems to have someone he can open his heart to. I was always worried about him being left alone… I’m so grateful that you’re here.”

Whitney felt warmth in her heart at Elenia’s smile. It felt strange to glimpse a mother’s love for her child.

‘But I’ll have to leave eventually.’

Whitney couldn’t smile comfortably at Elenia’s words. She didn’t know how long she would be here. In fact, once she receives the position of head of the family, the engagement can be broken off.

‘Although they said it could be broken off by mutual agreement, in reality, there’s no reason for His Highness not to break it off…’

But there was one thing she could say for certain.

“His Highness will become stronger than before. He won’t give up or resign, so you don’t need to worry. If you recover, His Highness will be happier than anything else, so please focus on your recovery.”

“Thank you for saying that. Could we have tea like this often?”

“As long as you call for me, I’ll be your companion while I’m here. If you’re okay with me, that is.”

“For the first time since coming to the palace, I’ve made a friend.”

Elenia held Whitney’s hand and said, as if making a request.

“I hope you become someone who can soothe Cheston’s wounds.”

When Whitney saw Elenia’s hand placed on top of her own, her heart ached. Elenia’s hand was so warm that she felt like she might cry.

She intended to return to the annex after meeting with Elenia. However, her steps halted at the path leading to the annex garden.

Whitney’s face froze at the unexpected encounter with Karl, whom she had not wanted to meet alone and had not even thought of creating such an opportunity. It was her mistake for not anticipating that he would use this path.

“We finally meet, Lady Orlean.”

At Karl’s words, Whitney instinctively sensed danger. The fact that those words came from his mouth meant that he had deliberately chosen this path to meet her.

‘Why? For what reason?’

Whitney tried to control her expression while gripping her trembling hand with the other. For some reason, the maid following behind her retreated.

“I didn’t know it would be this hard to see you with Cheston keeping you so close. It’s even difficult to have a cup of tea… You don’t come out of the annex, so I was curious what you’ve been doing here that makes it so hard to see you.”

“…I have much to learn, so I rarely left the annex. Have you been well?”

She lifted her skirt and bowed her head. Karl had already approached Whitney. He reached out his long hand, grasped her chin, and gently lifted it.

“Raise your head. I came to see your face, so it’s a shame to only see the ground. I can’t sleep wondering what aspect of you my younger brother fell for. I’ve been having headaches lately because of your elder sister Melissa.”

“…If my elder sister’s actions have caused you trouble, I apologize.”

“No. You don’t need to apologize. Besides, I honestly had a very enjoyable time.”

Her eyelashes trembled. She felt an urge to escape immediately, but doing so might harm Cheston.

“The skin of Orlean’s ladies is all…”

His finger slid down from her chin to her neck. Whitney tightly closed her eyes and clenched her fists.

Thwack-

With a dull sound of a hand being struck away, her body was quickly pulled back.