The Crown Prince immediately stood up when he saw Viscount Pearson.

“Let’s talk outside.”

He hurriedly approached the viscount, grabbed his shoulder, and forcefully pushed him toward the door.

“?”

Amy and Noah were puzzled by the Crown Prince’s sudden change in behavior. He had acted as if he would explode with anger at any moment, but now he seemed agitated and unable to leave this place.

The Crown Prince turned awkwardly to the door and smiled.

“Well, let’s talk later.”

“…Please check it carefully.”

Although hesitant, Amy put aside her doubts and quickly brought up the matter that had brought her here.

“Please formally appoint Lady Weaver as a lady-in-waiting.”

“…”

Unexpectedly, Noah just stared at Amy without responding. He had always been quick to agree with her words, so his silence was unusual. Amy was puzzled as she gazed at him.

“Why are you hesitating, Your Highness?”

Amy asked, and Noah scratched his neck nervously, wearing a troubled expression.

“Well… thinking about it now, it seems a bit strange.”

“Strange? What do you mean?”

Amy tilted her head in confusion, and Noah looked at her meaningfully and said slowly.

“With Amy here, do we really need to appoint Lady Weaver as a lady-in-waiting?”

“!”

Her heart sank, but fortunately, her unease didn’t show. She had always felt it, but Noah, who usually appeared laid-back, was surprisingly perceptive in certain situations. Amy looked at him and whispered to herself inwardly.

“Because I’m planning to leave this place someday.”

But she couldn’t reveal that openly. The way Noah looked at her… It might sound strange to say this, but it seemed like he was desperately holding on to her.

“That wouldn’t be necessary.”

She dismissed her fleeting thoughts. It wasn’t the right time to reveal such plans. The system of the Duchy wasn’t fully established yet, and now was the time for everyone to work together toward a common goal.

Amy replied calmly, “The responsibilities I have can’t be handled with just the title of a lady-in-waiting. Your Highness knows how much work I’m doing, right?”

“…”

Noah stared at Amy sharply as if trying to read her thoughts. But he couldn’t find any specific doubts, and his expression softened.

“That’s true.”

At the same time Amy breathed a sigh of relief, Noah gently took her hand.

“Sorry for being so busy with the preparations for the event… I feel like I’m acting impatiently.”

Ah, it was burdensome for him. Only now did the tension in the air ease, and Amy replied calmly.

“It’s understandable. Your Highness, as the Duke, is stepping into the spotlight for the first time in front of everyone.”

“…”

“Everyone feels nervous and scared the first time. When I first became a lady-in-waiting, I was so disoriented that I tripped over my own feet as soon as I got back to my room.”

Amy chuckled, using her free hand to cover her mouth. But instead of joining in the laughter as she had expected, Noah’s expression grew serious. However, that serious look quickly disappeared, and Amy could only see his usual gentle face as he nodded.

“That’s true.”

At the same time, Amy felt her heart sink as she tried to pull her hand away. Noah tightened his grip and gently wiped her cheek with his thumb.

“I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately.”

“Well, that’s not good.”
Amy frowned suddenly. She had immediately forgotten her concerns about insomnia when she sensed something amiss. Worriedly, she reached out with her other hand and touched his forehead. Thankfully, there was no fever…

“Is there any discomfort, Your Highness? Should I call a physician?”

Come to think of it, she also needed to summon physicians to reside at the ducal residence, but she had been too busy and had forgotten about it. Rebuking herself for her negligence, Amy quickly turned her thoughts.

“For now, I should consult with the steward and the abbess… It would also be wise to hear Lady Weaver’s and James’s opinions.”

Seeing that Amy seemed genuinely concerned, Noah raised his head with a cheerful expression.

“It’s not that bad. Let’s finish the banquet first and take it step by step.”

He smiled brightly, as if a flower bud had just burst open.

“After all, we won’t be living here for a day or two.”

“…Oh, there’s something else I wanted to mention.”

Amy, who had barely managed to calm her heart after it had sunk, pulled a letter out of her pocket and extended it to him.

“Jack and Dwayne, who went to look for magical equipment, sent this.”

Noah received the letter and skimmed through it, raising an eyebrow.

“Does this mean they’ll be back soon?”

“Yes. So, the thing is… I’d like to briefly enter the ducal residence’s vault.”

“…”

Noah looked up and stared at her silently. Amy felt a slight tension. The ducal residence’s vault was a place that only direct descendants of the duke could enter. Noah possessed the key to the vault, which had been passed down through the lineage of previous dukes.

“Okay.”