Chapter 4 (Part 1)

Every time Amelia inserted the needle into the embroidery frame, she felt at peace, so she often embroidered whenever she was stressed. Lately, because of the stress from the royal family, she immersed herself in embroidery whenever she had free time, but not today.

“Miss, you have a visitor.”

Mary, who knocked and carefully opened the door, informed her that someone had come to disrupt her leisure time.

“A visitor for me?”

“Yes.”

Amelia had been declining all invitations to gatherings ever since she became a Crown Princess candidate to avoid any gossip. Given the situation, she wondered who would come to see her without notice.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Sir Birken.”

“What?”

“Sir Birken is here.”

Mary, thinking Amelia hadn’t heard, repeated his name once more.

Amelia momentarily thought she had misheard. She had been deliberately avoiding him since that night, but here he was, showing up unannounced.

‘Does he still have something to say to me?’

Amelia had nothing more to discuss with him. In fact, even facing him was a struggle.

It had taken three years to talk to him again after that dream. So, she thought it would take another five years before they could converse again, making it better to pretend she wasn’t there and send him away.

“Tell him I’m not here.”

Amelia waved her hand and signaled for Mary to send him away, but Mary looked troubled.

“The Duchess has already told him you are here. She also said you would join them for tea in the parlor.”

‘Mother….’

Amelia sighed, pressing her hand to her forehead, and stood up.

* * *

“You’re of age now. Don’t you have any thoughts of marriage? Or is there no lady you fancy? If it’s you, Sir Birken, I can’t imagine anyone refusing you.”

Just before entering the parlor, Amelia overheard her mother’s soft voice, holding Edwin back with unnecessary talk.

‘Why is she saying that?’ 

Amelia grumbled inwardly and was about to grab the door handle when she heard,

“There is a woman I am considering for marriage.”

Amelia paused for a moment. She hadn’t heard any news about an engagement or a woman he liked, so she was surprised.

‘Does he have someone he fancies?’

She had never sensed the presence of another woman around Edwin before, so the idea that there was someone he was considering for marriage felt strange.

‘Who could this woman he likes be?’

Curious about who had captured his heart, Amelia stood still, eavesdropping on their conversation.

“Oh, really? So you have a lover I didn’t know about.”

“She’s not my lover yet, but she is someone I feel responsible for.”

At the word “responsible,” Amelia’s eyes widened.

‘Could it be that he’s talking about taking responsibility for me because of that night? No, it can’t be.’

Some men believed they had to marry a woman after sleeping with her, feeling a sense of responsibility for taking her virginity.

Edwin, being old-fashioned, might think that way, but she couldn’t be sure. They had spent the night together by mutual consent, so surely he wouldn’t think that way.

‘No way. It can’t be.’

Even as she denied it, staying calm was difficult. Her heart raced, and she almost collapsed, but Amelia steadied herself against the wall and focused on their conversation again.

“Responsibility? Then we can expect good news soon.”

The Duchess of Hamilton sounded excited, probably surprised by his words.

“The other party doesn’t see me as a romantic interest, so it’s uncertain whether there will be good news.”

“Why do you think that? I can’t imagine any lady not seeing you, Sir Birken, as a romantic interest if you’ve reached the point of feeling responsible.”

“The situation doesn’t allow for a proposal right now.”

“Really? I don’t know what the situation is, but I hope it resolves well and we hear good news.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

Not knowing who the other party was, the conversation ended. With no reason left to eavesdrop, Amelia opened the door and entered the parlor.

“You’re here. I’ll leave you two to talk. I must be going.”

The Duchess of Hamilton quickly got up, looking regretful, as if she were an unwelcome guest.

It seemed she thought Amelia would be eliminated from the Crown Princess candidacy and was considering Edwin as a potential match for her daughter.

***

Already feeling awkward about seeing Edwin, her mother’s expression and actions only made the atmosphere between them more uncomfortable.

“You came? What brings you here?”

Despite having received his help, Amelia couldn’t treat him like a stranger now that their business was over, so she tried to be as friendly as possible.

Of course, maintaining a calm voice and forcing a smile was all she could manage.

“I wanted to see you.”

At his unexpected words, she stopped walking towards the sofa. She looked at him with a startled face, but he seemed unfazed, as if he hadn’t just said something so embarrassing.

‘Did I mishear him say he had something to discuss?’

Thinking she had misheard, Amelia sat down opposite Edwin.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Something to say? No, not really. I thought we were close again, but I’m disappointed.”

“What? We’re close?”

Amelia was taken aback, as she hadn’t expected him to think the opposite of what she did.

“Yes.”

Edwin stood up and naturally sat next to her. Amelia, still wide-eyed, silently watched his sudden action.

He leaned in so close that she could feel his breath. Thinking he was about to kiss her, her body flinched. He chuckled and whispered softly in her ear,

“I gave you everything, but was it just my illusion that we grew closer?”

After saying that, he leaned back. Amelia, her face flushed, could only open and close her mouth without speaking.

‘What is he talking about?’

She couldn’t understand his sudden familiarity. Wasn’t it just a one-night stand where they helped each other?

Amelia had been trying to forget that night as much as possible. Pushing it out of her mind wasn’t easy, but she believed time would take care of it.

But Edwin’s behavior suggested otherwise, leaving Amelia flustered.

As she squinted and tilted her head, a troubling thought crept into her mind.

‘Could it be! Am I the woman he’s thinking of marrying?’

Though she denied it, all the circumstances pointed to that conclusion, causing her heart to pound. Since her mother and the Duchess of Birken often visited each other, Amelia would have quickly heard if Edwin was getting married or engaged. However, judging by her mother’s question to him earlier, it seemed she was unaware that he had a woman in mind for marriage.

It didn’t make sense for him to have found someone he wanted to marry in the meantime. If he had told her mother, he surely would have told the Duchess of Birken as well.

Moreover, he had just mentioned it in their conversation. He had a woman he felt responsible for, but the situation made it difficult to propose. Considering all these factors, the woman Edwin wanted to marry could only be one person.

‘No, it can’t be.’

Even though her heart continued to race, Amelia tried to speak as calmly as possible.

“We have grown closer compared to the past when we didn’t talk, but how about we both forget what happened last time?”

“Can you forget? I don’t think I can.”

Edwin picked up a few strands of Amelia’s hair and gently kissed them.

‘Huh?’

Amelia was so shocked by his action that she didn’t know how to respond. But she sensed that something was definitely wrong.

‘Is he really thinking of taking responsibility for me?’

Just because they had slept together once didn’t mean they had to get married. But Edwin, being serious and earnest in everything he did, might actually be considering marriage after just one night. He might have accepted her proposal while envisioning such a future.

Knowing him, it was entirely possible. His personality had changed a bit, so she hadn’t considered that possibility before they shared the night.

“We’re good friends, right?”

However, Amelia wanted to deny her own thoughts, so she casually mentioned their friendship. It was also a term that clearly defined their relationship, and she hoped he would agree.

“Friends? Yes, we’re still friends.”

Edwin acknowledged her words, but his tone suggested that their relationship could change at any moment.

“I-I want us to stay…”

She wanted to tell him that she wanted them to remain friends forever, but before she could finish, Edwin leaned in and kissed her.

“Mm, mph!”

The kiss was sweet and tender, so she couldn’t push him away immediately. She knew she should stop this, but her mind went blank, and she couldn’t think of anything. Her mouth felt hot, as if it would melt.

But soon, Amelia regained her senses and pushed Edwin away.

“Let go. Mm.”

A moan escaped her lips as their mouths parted briefly, but Edwin kissed her again, not giving her a chance to breathe.

She wanted to continue the sweet kiss, but her rational mind was screaming at her to pull away. When she pushed him away again, Edwin grabbed her chin and sucked on her lower lip.

“Ha, mm.”

He sucked hard enough to make a sound and even bit her gently. Her lower lip swelled, but strangely, she felt a w*tness between her legs.