Whitney doubted her own eyes. She saw the carriage of the Orleans ducal residence heading towards the palace while taking a walk after finishing her education.

‘Could it be Mother who has come?’

It was clear that someone had come by invitation. Whitney’s eyes sank at the sight of the ducal seal she hadn’t seen in a long time.

Originally, she too should have been at the ducal residence, not here. If it was Mother visiting, the host of the meeting would probably be the Queen.

It was likely that the Queen had summoned Mother because of the scandal with Melissa. Whitney narrowed her eyes as she looked at where the carriage had passed.

‘Orleans.’

After Father died, that name went to Mother. Lady Orleans. And it didn’t take long for her to become the head of the Orleans family. Cecilia, who had entered as a second wife after remarrying Father, had secured that position in just a few years.

‘I will take it back soon enough.’

Whitney was planning to return to the ducal residence once she resolved the impending incident. The social season was in full swing now, with everyone hosting parties, and the Queen would not miss this opportunity.

The kingdom of Reowen in June was hot and incomparably beautiful. With green vegetation and clouds floating in the clear sky blown by the wind, ladies came out with parasols to enjoy the sunshine in the blazing sunlight. Although it wasn’t a country where it rained often, showers would fall between June and August during the social season.

After August, the rainy season would begin, and the sky wouldn’t be this clear. People were busy trying to finish important matters before the rain came. As a result, endless parties were held, and love between men and women persisted even on hot summer days.

The eyes of couples who had fallen in love would burn brighter than the hot sun. Anxious parents, fearing their daughters might miss this period, hurriedly dressed them up and sent them out. In fact, Whitney too should have been looking for someone other than Cheston, aside from their engagement, but she didn’t have the luxury to do so.

‘It’s impossible anyway.’

No matter what, Cheston was His Highness the Prince. It was difficult for others to easily propose marriage to her, who had been mentioned in engagement talks with him. If rumors spread that she was fooling around behind his back, both of their reputations would immediately plummet.

Whitney turned back on her walk to see who was getting out of the carriage. The lavishly dressed woman was not her mother, but Melissa. With a dress design she didn’t usually wear and her hair pinned up, her slender neck was exposed.

‘… Melissa?’

Her eyes involuntarily twisted at the similar appearance that could be mistaken for Whitney if seen from afar. The maid standing beside her seemed to feel the same, alternately looking at Melissa and Whitney.

“Oh my, isn’t that the young lady’s elder sister? I was surprised because she looks so similar to you, young lady, if it weren’t for the hair color.”

“I see… It seems my sister’s taste has changed. If it looks that way to others as well.”

She smiled slightly as she watched Melissa’s excited appearance. Whether it was to make a good impression on the Queen or if there was some other scheme, whatever it was, it seemed to have succeeded in arousing curiosity in those who saw her.

The Queen greeted Melissa with a broad smile.

With her red hair neatly pinned up, her appearance as she bowed looked quite different from before. She looked elegant and calm, as if emulating Whitney.

‘Did they get their clothes tailored at the same place?’

It wasn’t just the dress that was different from her previous attire; her softened gaze and expression kept reminding of Whitney.

“Thank you for inviting me. I was waiting for Your Majesty’s letter.”

“It seems you were expecting it because of the scandal. Sit down.”

Melissa carefully sat down. Her violet eyes and red hair looked deeper and more captivating. The redder it became, the more it would stand out as the summer sunlight intensified. Unlike ordinary brown hair, red was special.

‘No wonder Karl was enticed.’

No matter how much she tries to imitate her sister, she can’t change her true nature. The Queen was pleased with Melissa’s efforts. Isn’t it interesting? She was curious to see how far the desire of someone who covets what they can’t have would go.

She gestured as if to tell her to pick up the teacup. Melissa carefully sipped her tea while watching the Queen’s reaction. Her long eyelashes trembled, and she looked with abandoned eyes, pleading for sympathy.

“I really had no other intentions. I simply shared love with His Highness as our hearts connected. Loving feelings aren’t a sin, are they?”

“It’s not a sin. But doing it with my son is. Lady Melissa, do you think I don’t know what you’re thinking? You’re trying to seduce my innocent son and take the place beside him, aren’t you? Are all the women of Orleans so ignorant of their place? Or is it the season that wrongly gives everyone hope?”

The Queen stared at Melissa, who was putting on airs. She certainly looked subdued, which seemed good for taming. When she found out that the docile Whitney was actually a child who would stab her in the back, the Queen felt betrayed.

She had thought she could be used as a good card if utilized well, but that too had gone awry. The Queen decided to use Melissa, who was harboring vain hopes for Karl, since things had come to this.

She was a child who would have no impact even if discarded, and once Whitney took over as the head of the family, she would be a relationship to be cast aside. So even if she used her while she could and then discarded her, others wouldn’t be able to point fingers.

“What do you think is the reason I called for the young lady? Do you think it’s to punish you because of the scandal?”

The Queen sipped her tea, trying to gauge Melissa’s thoughts.

“… Yes, that’s what I thought. Everyone is talking about His Highness and me, so it must be troublesome for Your Majesty. Princess Violet, who is to be the fiancée, must not be pleased either, and I know that the Kingdom of Petontra won’t take this well either.”

The Queen snorted at her words. She was full of hope that the engagement with Princess Violet would fall through. Even if the scandal dies down, as Melissa said, the Kingdom of Petontra would try to use this as an excuse to extract something.

“Scandal, you say. It’s closer to a passing happening, but if you exaggerate it, others might misunderstand. I won’t write an article saying you seduced and tried to block my innocent son’s future. However, if you listen to me well, I might be able to find you a decent marriage partner.”

“Your Majesty. I have not taken anyone else to heart except His Highness Karl. I swore to His Highness. I promised to stand by his side for life and give him my love.”

Melissa spoke pitifully, lowering her eyes. The Queen didn’t mind playing the villain. At least the son she knew wasn’t acting stupidly. It meant he was a child who knew how to distinguish between a woman who could be of help and a woman to play with.

“Are you saying you’ll devote everything to Karl?”

“… Shouldn’t I do at least that much to become His Highness’s woman? I am prepared to that extent. Princess Violet is not someone who would move docilely at Your Majesty’s words, is she?”

The Queen smiled as she looked into the violet eyes. The boldness of having clear desires while not hiding her true intentions seemed like it would be of good use in the future.

“Then I’ll give you a task. If you resolve it well, I might whisper in Karl’s ear to keep you by his side. Of course, if you wish, you could also marry someone decent within the kingdom.”

“… Is that true?”

Poor Melissa. She didn’t expect her to fall for it so naively.

The Queen smiled broadly and handed Melissa a piece of cake. A foolish child who would stake her life on a piece of cake.

However, the Queen found Melissa lovely just for today. Because she would become the bait to put her son on the throne.

Whitney returned to her room and looked out the window. Melissa appeared from the Queen’s palace after quite some time.

“Young lady, a letter has arrived from Lady Rubeness.”

At the maid’s words, she immediately checked the letter, which contained bellonia. It looked good enough to brew into tea right away. She carefully transferred the bellonia into a small container.

‘I should have tea with Lady Elenia soon.’

It would be fine to hand it over naturally then. Or it wouldn’t be bad to set a regular time for tea and drink the tea she brewed together.

‘Since Her Majesty the Queen will be thinking of other things, should I go briefly now?’

No, there was no need to rush. It’s something that could be delivered to Cheston tomorrow. But the incident in the water kept coming to mind, making it difficult to face him.

She would be busy hiding just at the sight of his hair, so it would be difficult to see Cheston’s face for a while. She tried to shake off various thoughts and focus on the current situation.

‘The Queen didn’t call Princess Violet.’

That means she had something to discuss alone with Melissa, which was like saying she would include Melissa in the Queen’s plans. Perhaps the Queen doesn’t know that her choice is a bad move.

Whitney gazed at the ducal residence’s carriage passing through the blue fields. She touched her lips and then smiled.

By the way, what will happen to Princess Violet in this situation?

‘She won’t be able to return to her home country. But staying here won’t allow her pride either… Judging by how she’s keeping quiet, the Queen must have made her an offer she can’t refuse.’

Would it be faster to persuade Princess Violet? It was uncertain whether she would listen to Whitney’s words and return to her home country. She might even despise Whitney more due to a greater sense of betrayal.

Whitney felt heavy-hearted. She only wanted to save him, but with so many people entangled, it wasn’t easy to untangle the threads.