She couldn’t understand why the Master appeared where she had followed the First Prince. And why he looked so angry.

“Why are you here…?”

The Master had been out of contact until now. It was shocking that he suddenly appeared. Anyone would think she had done something terribly wrong. Trying to suppress his anger, the Master took deep breaths, and Amelia watched him, holding her breath. She was too surprised to notice how close they were.

“Um…”

“It’s better if you don’t speak.”

She only asked him to move because there was a dead-end wall behind her, but his response was terrifying. Amelia had no choice but to keep her mouth shut. But the position was uncomfortable. Being pressed against the wall with the Master’s body over her felt strange.

She was also worried that someone might see them. This was Siegfried territory, and she was the Grand Duchess. There was no one in the territory who didn’t recognize her face.

“…Please move.”

When the Master’s breathing calmed down, Amelia spoke cautiously. She felt she needed to get out of this situation quickly. Although the Master’s large body shielded her for now, she didn’t know what might happen.

“Master?”

He didn’t respond. She wondered why the Master appeared where she had followed the First Prince. How did he show up? And while they were standing there, Patrick was probably moving somewhere else.

“Could you step out for a moment? I’m looking for someone.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“What?”

Did he just ask if she was out of her mind?

“Do you know who you were chasing?”

“Of course, the First Prince.”

Was he holding her just because of that? Amelia frowned and tried to push him away. But the Master didn’t budge an inch. She was taken aback by his unyielding shoulders.

“You knew and still tried to follow him.”

“Yes, I was curious about why the First Prince appeared in Siegfried. Why is he here?”

She couldn’t understand why he was frowning so seriously. Moreover, the Master had been the one out of contact. After dropping a bombshell like that. She still didn’t know if the Master had given her information to the Emperor.

The Master was the head of the merchantry. He had no obligation to protect only her information.

“Does Your Highness not understand caution?”

“What?”

“It could have been dangerous.”

The Master wasn’t wrong. It was indeed dangerous. It was a mistake to run off without an escort.

“But… it was urgent.”

“Do you know why the First Prince came?”

Seeing the Master, who was so angry that he ran his hand through his hair, Amelia hesitated. She didn’t expect his gentle face to change like Raphael’s. It was true that she had acted recklessly…

“Did he visit the guild?”

There was a guild in the capital too, wasn’t there? There was no need for him to come all the way to Siegfried territory. Moreover, the relationship between the imperial family and Siegfried was very strained. Didn’t Raphael get furious when someone from the imperial family visited last time?

“Yes, he visited the guild.”

“For a request….”

“He came to deliver a message from the Emperor.”

So, he might have accepted the Emperor’s request. Amelia looked at the Master with anxious eyes. She didn’t even know what information there was about her.

“He came for matters related to the old downtown. You don’t need to make that face.”

She must have failed to manage her expression.

“The condition set by the Emperor was an investigation about Your Highness.”

“…”

“I said no. I told him Your Highness is shrouded in mystery and that I couldn’t find out anything.”

As soon as the Master finished speaking, Amelia let out a sigh of relief without realizing it. She naturally thought the Master would hand over her information.

“Did you really think I would hand over your information?”

“Of course… the Master accepts requests…”

Although it wasn’t the current Master, the head of the guild in the original story had accepted Aaron’s request.

“I’m disappointed. I don’t drag my partners into the mire. Instead, he wanted the land where Your Highness’s business district is to be established.”

As expected, the Emperor was the Emperor. She clicked her tongue at his desire for that prime piece of land.

“Just give it away.”

“I didn’t give it away. Didn’t you say it was land meant for the Grand Duke? Negotiating that took some time. The First Prince came today to convey the Emperor’s intention along with the payment.”

So, everything was resolved now? Then why did the Master’s expression still seem unsettled?

“This time, the First Prince made a personal request.”

Her heart pounded with anxiety. She could hear her heart beating in her ears.

“The First Prince also requested an investigation on Your Highness.”

It felt as if her lips were glued shut, unable to speak. It was as if time had stopped.

“I don’t like that you accepted the Empress’s invitation.”

***

At the sound of Leonel calling for her, the Master vanished as suddenly as he had appeared. When she asked how he knew, he just smiled. There was no way the Master wouldn’t know about the Empress’s public tea party… Honestly, she hadn’t expected this much attention from the imperial family.

The Emperor and the Prince had made requests, and the Empress had sent someone directly.

“…….”

“I’ll be back.”

Raphael’s expression still didn’t ease up, as if he didn’t like her going to the imperial palace.

“I think I should go too.”

“It’s a party for ladies.”

“I have business at the palace.”

Amelia shook her head at his transparent lie. Of course, it might be better to go with Raphael than alone. But if she did that, it would be just like when she visited the temple. She would return with nothing gained.

“I can go alone.”

It took a long time to reach the imperial palace, as she had to leave Raphael and Leonel behind, who insisted on coming. Surely, nothing would happen since the Empress had personally invited her. Raphael, anxious, had assigned many escorts to her.

“…….”

Why were all the imperial family members so interested in her? The First Prince wouldn’t have made a solo request. Outwardly, he was loyal to the current Emperor.

“Your Highness the Grand Duchess, we have arrived at the imperial palace.”

The knight’s loud announcement pulled her out of her thoughts. Raphael had excessively assigned escorts, making it a fuss.

“Escort knights are not allowed entry into the palace.”

“I know.”

So Raphael had disguised two female knights as maids to accompany her. Despite being invited, she found the imperial family’s attitude towards her unpleasant.

“Her Majesty the Empress is waiting. This way, please.”

“Have the other ladies arrived?”

“I’m not sure about that.”

How could he not know? It was normal for palace entries to be strictly managed.

“I was invited to Her Majesty the Empress’s tea party today. Are you aware?”

“Yes, I am. Her Majesty also instructed us to bring Your Highness.”

Had she arrived too early? Or perhaps too late. It was a call from the Empress herself. Many would arrive early to gain favor.

“Has the Marchioness of Blake arrived?”

If Emila had arrived, she would feel a bit more at ease.

“Please, go in. The maids will wait at the door.”

“Oh…”

“We will wait here by the door.”

Despite being called a tea party, the room was eerily quiet, making her hesitant to open the door. Perhaps sensing her reluctance, the palace maids opened the door, and she had no choice but to bow her head in greeting.

“Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress.”

“…….”

Despite her greeting, there was no response. And most importantly, there was no sign of anyone else. If it were a party, there should have been other ladies, but the room was empty.

“Your Majesty…?”

Raising her head at the oddity, she saw the Empress sitting alone in the room. No matter where she looked, there was no one else. And despite it being called a tea party, there were no preparations. Realizing the Empress’s cold reception, she understood there had never been a tea party from the start.

“It’s been a while, Grand Duchess.”

“Yes…”

If a tone could be sharp as a knife, this was it. Each word dripped with coldness. She realized that the Empress’s ‘it’s been a while’ didn’t just mean since the founding festival.

“It seems you’ve completely forgotten our promise.”

It felt like it had been much longer than that.