“Whew, seriously. I was so embarrassed that I got scolded.”

The two said they were a little late getting out because the cafe owner kept giving them suspicious looks.

They said they almost died trying to make up excuses and get out because the owner was so curious and kept questioning them.

Zero, who got in the carriage with Arnold instead of John, who was driving the carriage in front, shivered.

He described the situation so vividly that I had to try hard to hold back my laughter.

“You have a talent for storytelling, I see.”

“Me? Whew, no way. I usually like to talk, but I can’t say a word when I’m next to the young duke.”

Zero slightly shook his body and this time recited how neurotic and self-centered Lloyd was.

Seeing that, I could tell how much he had suffered mentally by being at Lloyd’s side.

“Anyways, he thinks he should only use the highest quality for himself. I don’t know if it’s because the duchess raised him that way, but he despises his mother’s extravagance while he does even more.”

Revealing that he had lost a lot of weight after coming to the capital because of that, Zero let out a deep sigh.

And around then, the carriage stopped.

“We have arrived.”

John announced their arrival inside in a heavy voice.

At those words, Zero moved his body while sighing again.

“Then I’ll go back to that hellhole again. By now, Count Philipa must be furious and burning up.”

“I guess Count Philipa works hard?”

“Oh my, don’t even mention it! I don’t know why he demands so many things from morning to night, to the point that I think I could get a job as a butler or tax official anywhere even if I quit here.”

Zero, who was disgusted, shuddered again.

Then, as if he was really going to leave, he pulled his hat down deeply.

“Then I’ll get going now. If you need anything, please contact me through the chief of staff, Your Highness.”

“Sure. Thank you.”

He smiled at my words and then quietly opened the carriage door and quickly disappeared.

After he got off, the carriage started moving again.

And thanks to Arnold, who continued to keep his mouth shut, silence came again.

What could Arnold be thinking about?

I tried to go without thinking about it, but the silence that had continued from earlier somehow made people uncomfortable.

I eventually glanced at him and opened my mouth first.

“Is Count Philipa His Majesty’s person?”

“You mean the count? He is not anyone’s person yet.”

“‘Yet’?”

If it’s ‘yet’, does that mean he will soon take someone’s side?

When I asked, Arnold seemed to ponder for a moment before nodding his head.

“Count Philipa is an upright person. He has clear grounds for his arguments and clear goals he wants to achieve. And those goals are usually related to achieving his own justice.”

“Does that mean someone will soon help him achieve the justice he seeks?”

“Something like that. Even such a person has weaknesses, after all.”

Weaknesses.

I frowned slightly as I listened to Arnold’s words.

“As you say, Count Philipa is an upright person. There’s no good in forcibly breaking such a person.”

“Both you and His Majesty already know that part.”

“Then shouldn’t we find another way instead of exploiting his weakness?”

When I asked, Arnold again seemed to be thinking for a moment.

It seemed like he was debating whether to speak or not, or perhaps thinking if there was another way.

Then he finally opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind after moving his lips.

“Did you know that Count Philipa has a daughter who left home a long time ago?”

“…What? The count has another daughter?”

When I was surprised, Arnold nodded.

Then he continued with a serious face.

“We are thinking of using that. I’m talking about that daughter who could be the count’s greatest weakness and at the same time, his bane.”

After arriving at the imperial palace, I immediately went to find Leoprick.

I wanted to discuss what to do based on what I heard from Arnold on the way back and the information I got from Zero.

“Welcome, Amelia.”

When I entered his office with Arnold, Leoprick greeted me with a bright smile.

He put down the documents he was reading and immediately got up from his seat, walking over to me with big strides and tightly holding my hand.

“Did you have a good trip? Are you not tired?”

“What? Oh… Yes. I had a good trip.”

“I was very worried about sending you alone. You’re not hurt anywhere, are you? If I had known this would happen, I should have gone with you…”

I was dumbfounded by the unexpected reaction.

He acted as if he had been apart from me for months.

His eyes were so sorrowful and his tone was so affectionate.

I couldn’t find the words to answer him as I looked at him who seemed to have become a slightly different person in a short time.

So, I momentarily forgot that there was someone who followed me in behind me.

“Your Majesty. May I come in?”

Arnold, who followed me in, spoke in a very sarcastic tone as if he too found the situation absurd.

We weren’t exactly blocking the entrance, but it was true that we were obstructing the passage.

I smiled awkwardly and gently pulled his hand.

“Hm? Arnold. Were you there?”

“…I went out with Her Highness and came back with her.”

Arnold replied in an irritated voice.

He had an expression that he really couldn’t get used to this side of his superior.

But Leoprick didn’t care and was still holding my hand.

“Don’t say ‘with her’. I don’t like it.”

“…Ah, yes.”

On top of that, he frowned and said he didn’t like it, and this time even Arnold couldn’t hide his expression.

He made a face as if all the respect he had was suddenly gone, and turned his body this way and that to avoid us and return to his seat.

“Are you not hungry? Shall I have something brought out?”

“No, it’s okay. I just had tea earlier.”

When I shook my head, he seemed a little disappointed, but soon began to fiddle with my hand.

And as if he had found some stability, he smiled again.

“But you came to tell me about what you did today, didn’t you?”

So sit for a bit before you go.

His already beautiful eyes narrowed as he pulled me towards him.

What, is he determined to charm me today?

What day is it?

I blinked in bewilderment, but I didn’t have the strength to refuse him.

I was helplessly led by his hand towards the reception room attached to his office.

“Did you see Zero well? Is he doing well?”

“Yes. He seemed to be doing we… Betty?”

When I opened the door and entered the reception room with him, Betty, who should have been in my bedroom, was there.

And on the table, there was an array of snacks that seemed to have been prepared in advance.

When I looked at Leoprick with a puzzled look, he smiled with his eyes and patted my hand.

“I was disappointed that I couldn’t go with you, so I told Betty to prepare a tea time with the things you like. It would be better to go outside, but I prepared it close by in case you were tired.”

Instead, I had flowers from the back garden picked.

When I turned my head at his softly whispered words, I saw vases scattered all over the place.

I was dumbfounded by the large amount of flowers that I didn’t even need to go to the flower garden.

“You prepared all this? You, Your Majesty?”

“With Betty’s help, Amelia. I prepared it hoping you could enjoy it even a little comfortably, do you like it?”

He asked, his eyes shining with anticipation.

He looked just like a puppy waiting for its owner’s praise, so I had to try my best not to laugh.

“Mm, yes. I like it. Thank you for preparing this even though you’re busy.”

“If you like it, then I’m glad too. Betty, thank you for your help.”

“Don’t mention it, Your Majesty. It’s my pleasure.”

While listening to their conversation, I was examining the flowers all around, so I failed to see the secret looks exchanged between the two.

If I had seen it, I would have immediately questioned the two of them.

“Then, I’ll get going now. Please call me if you need anything.”

“Sure. Thank you.”

Before I could turn my gaze back, their conversation was over, and I saw Betty off as she turned to leave.

“Let’s sit, Amelia.”

Leoprick escorted me to the seat that had been prepared in advance.

As I sat down like that and was about to thank him.

He took a seat next to me.

“You’re sitting here, Your Majesty?”

“Is it not allowed?”

I want to sit next to you, that’s why.

He smiled again, curving his eyes, and gently rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb.

And as he slightly leaned his body towards me…

Even if I lacked experience, I could tell without even trying to think about it that these actions he was doing gave the feeling that he was deliberately trying to seduce me.

Seriously, what day is it today?

I felt like my eyes were spinning, and I slightly pulled my body back.

“You can sit wherever you want. It’s Your Majesty’s reception room after all.”

“Still, if it makes you uncomfortable, I will move my seat.”

Fortunately, he didn’t lean in again.

He just smiled softly and considered me.

I shook my head at him.

“It’s okay. I’m not uncomfortable.”

It’s just awkward and I don’t know what to do.

I swallowed my words inwardly and smiled awkwardly.

Then he smiled as if relieved and lifted the back of my hand.

And then.

“I’m glad. It’s something I really wanted to do with you at least once.”

He gave a short kiss on the back of that hand, and just raised his gaze to look at me like that.

He really seemed determined today, for real.

Now my eyes were really, truly spinning.

In front of this man who was giving me a very seductive smile.