“You bought dye?”

It was unexpected news. She hadn’t been expecting it, but a letter came from the informant.

The purchase was made just a week ago.

‘Was it for attending the banquet?’

Recalling Melissa’s hair from a few days ago, it did look unusually red. She tapped the table pensively.

They said all the dye was bought up, and at several times the price. It seemed they were buying it whenever it came in. Unless there was a big reason not to let it run out, there was no need for that.

It was probably necessary to hide their identities. Red was indeed suitable for naturally covering dark brown hair.

‘I suppose I’ll have to go to Heartfeil.’

She might be able to get information about Marquis Weston there. Talking to people directly might yield more than finding out through informants.

Mother and Louise Anne needed to find solid evidence. Dye alone would be difficult to prove.

‘They said they kept the receipts and ledgers, so that’s taken care of…’

It would be good if they could expel the two from the family and turn them over to the guards. They had to be prevented from ever setting foot in the capital again.

She wrote a letter to inform her aunt of this news. The secret royal correspondence was quite useful to her.

It was fascinating how a bird would fly in to deliver notes, and she felt at ease knowing others couldn’t see the letters.

It seems we’ve finally started to find some clues. I’ll bring all the evidence to the upcoming family meeting.

Do I need to meet with other relatives?

There will be a royal banquet soon. After dealing with a big issue that will occur then, I plan to return to the duchy.

I thought you should know that what I agreed upon with His Highness Cheston will end after I become the head of the family.

I’ll invite you here soon.

Whitney Orlean]

Whitney carefully tied the folded paper to the bird’s leg after placing the quill pen on its stand. The snow-white bird flew out the window.

“Hmm, I suppose all that’s left is to tell His Highness about that day’s events.”

She needed to ask him for tea, but somehow felt shy. Whitney pondered it alone several times before abruptly standing up.

‘It’s just having tea. We need to talk too.’

It would seem strange if she kept avoiding him. He was perceptive, so he probably knew she’d been avoiding him.

Whitney stood up resolutely.

Cheston sighed as he read documents. He was distracted by the anxious presence coming and going outside the door.

‘Does she think I don’t know?’

Otherwise she wouldn’t have been out there for 30 minutes. He pressed between his brows with his fingers and ran a hand through his hair.

“Aaron.”

“Yes, shall I open the door?”

“So it wasn’t just me who noticed.”

“The princess probably doesn’t realize.”

Perhaps due to countless threats to his life since childhood, Cheston had keen senses. He could detect presences instantly, so there was no way he wouldn’t notice Whitney pacing outside the door.

It seemed she had no intention of hiding it anyway.

He didn’t understand why she was suddenly there after avoiding him before. If she hadn’t finished collecting her thoughts and couldn’t come in, he could just wait.

“Never mind. She’ll speak when she comes in.”

“I wonder what brings the princess here after so long? I’m curious.”

At Aaron’s words, Cheston glanced at the door. What expression would she make as soon as she entered?

He recalled her slightly flushed cheeks, but doubted she’d show him such an expression.

Knock knock knock.

“Your Highness. The princess is here to see you.”

It was unexpected – he thought she would just turn around and go back to her room.

At his word to enter, the door opened and Whitney cautiously appeared.

“I have something urgent to tell you.”

“So it seems. Sit down.”

She sat on the sofa and took a deep breath. Glancing at Aaron, it seemed the content needed to be discussed privately.

“Aaron, you may go now.”

“Please call if you need anything.”

Only after Aaron left did she adjust her posture. Seeing her somewhat tense appearance, he offered tea, but she shook her head vigorously.

“I’m fine! It’s not a long conversation anyway.”

He nodded and got up from his chair to walk to the sofa. As he sat across from her and stared intently, her green eyes trembled slightly.

It was enjoyable watching her eyes wander uncertainly, but he had much to do. He had more work to handle due to requests from his father.

However, he didn’t rush her and met her gaze with folded arms. Silence fell in the study and tension built between their gazes.

“Princess.”

“…Yes?”

Whitney’s body flinched slightly at his low voice.

Ah, this wasn’t good.

Cheston covered his mouth with his hand.

For some reason, seeing her flustered face made him want to tease her. He leaned slightly towards her and smiled.

With nowhere to escape, she pressed her back against the sofa and clasped her hands together.

He tapped the table with his finger and tilted his head.

“Speak. You said you had something to say.”

“Ah…!”

“At the upcoming royal banquet, His Highness Karl will nearly die.”

“How unfortunate.”

Nearly dying? It would be better if he actually died – almost dying was a different issue. He realized why she had come to see him.

“It seems I’m the one who nearly killed my brother.”

She nodded. Perhaps that was why she had shown interest in the cliff then?

Cheston sighed as he drank his tea.

“Is the Queen planning to push her own son off a cliff and blame me? In reality, she’d probably push him in a cave, not a cliff. She likely intends to deal with me in the process, but the princess interfering would anger her quite a bit.”

“…It’s alright. I’ll still stop it. I absolutely won’t let Your Highness die unjustly.”

He lowered his head. Somehow, it felt like he could no longer hide it. She was a person clearer and brighter than the blue sky.

Suppressing his spreading smile, he raised his head and asked her.

“Then, I just need to not leave your side that day. So no one can suspect me. What better alibi is there? Don’t you agree?”

She hadn’t thought that far, it seemed, as her eyes widened in surprise for a moment before she nodded.

“By the way, princess, are you feeling hot? Your face is red.”

He placed the back of his hand against her flushed cheek, and she stood up abruptly with wide eyes.

Then, before he could stop her, she said she’d be leaving and quickly exited the study. As if she were running away.

Whitney leaned against the door and fanned herself.

She was screaming internally, afraid he might hear her heart pounding from their close proximity. Though she had hurriedly left the study, from his perspective he must think she was acting strangely.

‘Ah, really, why am I like this?’

His face suddenly coming close was vivid in her mind. Perhaps she was more flustered by his calm, unbothered expression.

It was too close. Whitney’s gaze naturally went to his red lips, and the moment she realized where she was looking, her face heated up.

Where his hand had touched felt burning hot, and she couldn’t stay there any longer.

Quickly returning to her room, Whitney requested cold lemonade. As soon as the maid brought it, she gulped it down refreshingly, finally coming to her senses.

‘Haa… How am I going to face him like this?’

They had to stay together all day at the banquet, so it would be problematic if she kept acting like this. The one fortunate thing was being able to prepare for what would happen on the day of the banquet.

As Cheston said, if they stayed together without separating, it would be impossible for him to be accused as the culprit.

If necessary, they could say they were together in a private room, or they could endlessly show others that they were together.

‘But why won’t my heart calm down?’

At the thought of being together all day, not only did her face redden, but her heart raced uncontrollably.

This clearly wouldn’t do. Whitney had to get rid of these strange, fluttering emotions before the banquet.

To do that, she needed to see him often and get used to it. If she repeated like a mantra that the kiss meant nothing, maybe it would be okay.

‘Right, that was nothing.’

She was an adult, and it was something that could happen again anytime. It was just first aid that had to be done to save someone from drowning, not a first kiss.

That’s how she should think of it. By not attaching meaning to it and telling herself she hadn’t yet shared a kiss with feelings, it would be fine.

Whitney requested lemonade again and immediately drank it. The cold drink, chilling enough to make her head ache, snapped her back to her senses.

“Um, Princess.”

Even at the maid’s call, Whitney tried to shake off the problems filling her mind.

He would probably think even this was nothing, so why was she agonizing over it alone?

“Right, this wasn’t my first kiss.”

“So it wasn’t the princess’s first kiss.”

“…”

Whitney’s head turned towards the door. Cheston was standing there with folded arms, though she didn’t know when he had arrived.

“It was my first kiss, though.”