“Did you sleep well today?”

Amelia was at a loss for words when she saw Raphael in the dining hall. She thought he disappeared again after he came in a hurry last night. But instead, he casually sat down and greeted her and Leonel. He even sarcastically mocked her for sleeping separately.

“Good morning.”

“…….”

“I guess the Grand Duchess isn’t feeling well?”

Just say something else, you annoying bastard. Good morning. Amelia held back the anger she wanted to say out loud.

“You come early, Father.”

“How come?”

Some time ago, Leonel had gotten comfortable talking to Raphael. So she couldn’t avoid him at times like this. For Leonel’s sake, she had to endure that person.

“It seems like the Grand Duchess is not in a good mood.”

“…I’m okay.”

Knowing very well who was responsible for her bad mood, Amelia forced a smile in response to the disgustingly polite words.

After that conversation ended, only the sound of forks and knives could be heard in the dining hall.

“…….”

Maybe I should go back to the room like this. She slept in Leonel’s room, but she couldn’t stay there forever. But if she went back, she would encounter Raphael. He wouldn’t be in the room during the day, but… he might not go out today either.

“You don’t have to think about it so much.”

“What?”

“I’m busy until dinner.”

Amelia’s body trembled at Raphael’s words, which seemed as though he noticed her thoughts without even looking at her.

“Mother?”

Her face turned red with embarrassment. He enjoyed her reaction, even though he already knew everything.

“Are you sick?”

“No, it’s not like that.”

It was a great mystery to her how a kindhearted Leonel was born from such a despicable human being. Raphael was not someone who said two different things, and he truly did not appear in the room. This was no different from admitting that she was avoiding him.

“Of course, it’s not a lie, but…”

Is there a possibility that he could use this as grounds for divorce later? Surely he thought that there was no way Amelia, who was a thorn in his side, would leave first.

“The auction… was it a mistake to participate?”

In the past, Raphael might not have cared, but now he could have taken issue with her attendance at the auction. There’s something off about him these days. He was supposed to be consistently indifferent to her…

What annoyed her the most was that her headaches disappeared as soon as he came back. Strangely, she hadn’t even noticed the moment the headache disappeared. Was it because there was a more troublesome person around?

“If I continue like this, the future won’t change.”

She will die next year, and Leonel will be devastated to find her like that. So, let’s not be swayed by temporary whims.

“What are you doing like this… right now?”

In order to no longer be swayed by him, Amelia came to Leonel’s room early to get ready for bed. If it’s because of that ridiculous custom, she should be the one to use the guest room first. In fact, Raphael would want that too.

“Mother? Why did Father come, too?”

“….”

Leonel, who was excited at the thought of being able to sleep with her again, grasped the hem of her clothes and looked up at her. Seeing the anxiety in his eyes, Amelia pulled Leonel into her embrace.

“I came to find my wife.”

***

His coming for her was completely unexpected. Naturally, she had thought that if she used the guest room first, he would be pleased. His visit was a variable that she hadn’t anticipated in her scenarios. She couldn’t say anything in response to his confident statement about coming to find his wife, Amelia.

Was it because the sight of him wearing his robe and leaning against the door with wet hair looked overwhelming? Or was it because of his strong chest peeking through his open robe? Although she denied it in her mind, her eyes followed him involuntarily.

She had to admit it. Raphael Lloyd Siegfried was a charming man. Despite knowing how bad he was and how much she disliked him, she couldn’t deny that. Looking at him, who looked like a mesmerizing beast with shining golden eyes, her body shivered, and as if under a spell, she found herself staring blankly into his eyes. His face, like a well-sculpted piece, made her forget all about his danger.

“I think you’re old enough to sleep alone.”

“……”

“Surely you’re not one of those kids who can’t sleep unless you’re in your mother’s arms?”

Now, his target was not her, but Leonel.

“Your Grace!”

“Why else would you be in the child’s room?”

He asked, knowing full well why she was here. Amelia looked at Raphael, undeterred.

“It seems like the one who can’t sleep alone is someone else.”

Raphael’s face wrinkled in response to her remark, but Amelia pretended she didn’t care. Wasn’t it he who had run over here instead of sleeping alone?

“Leonel, let’s meet tomorrow.”

“……Okay.”

Amelia followed him after giving a kiss to the disappointed child’s forehead. Raphael entered the room without saying a word as if nothing had happened. They slept without looking at each other, just like they always did. What’s the point of this?

But if she tried to use another room again, Raphael might come to find her, so Amelia’s resistance ended.

“Ah, Mother. Have you heard?”

“What are you talking about?”

Amelia was spending time in the garden with Leonel, as usual. Halfway through, she received a call from the Master, who said that everything was going smoothly.

“The treasure of the founding myth! They’ve discovered a brooch.”

She heard the rumors spreading throughout the empire, but she never expected to hear it from Leonel’s mouth.

“I heard that brooch brings success to its owner.”

If it has reached the ears of young Leonel, then surely everyone in the empire knows. Is that why there has been such excitement in the past few days? The significance of the first emperor’s brooch was tremendous. It was inevitable for everyone to take an interest in the hidden treasure resurfacing in the world.

“I heard that the treasure will be auctioned!”

She never thought he had any desire for materialistic things, but even when the timing wasn’t the same, he still wanted the brooch.

“Mother…?”

“Ah… I was just lost in thought for a moment.”

No matter how much Leonel wanted the brooch, she didn’t want to give it to him. She knew all too well how much misfortune it had brought him. She didn’t want to repeat that mistake once again. Unlike what was said in the founding myth, she also confirmed that the brooch was not intact.

“Do you want the brooch?”

“What?”

“You can be honest.”

Leonel believed in the power of the brooch. She remembered how he wished to see his mother until the moment of his death while holding the brooch.

“Wouldn’t everyone want to have it?”

In the end, Leonel still wanted the brooch. Although said he didn’t want to become the grand duke, she thought he would make a different choice after all.

“Are we going to that auction house?”

“Yes.”

Leo was still young. The mystical treasure from the founding myth was an object of envy for young children. The clever child immediately realized what the auction she mentioned was.

“I don’t want the brooch.”

Naturally, she thought Leonel would want the brooch, but the words that came out of his mouth were completely different.

“Didn’t you want it?”

“It’s something everyone wants, but it’s not something I want.”

His lack of enthusiasm for the brooch seemed true. Every time the brooch was mentioned, his cheeks trembled ever so slightly.

“So, if you’re going to the auction because of me…”

Amelia immediately understood why the child brought up this topic. Along with the rumor of the brooch’s appearance, another rumor spread throughout the empire. It was that Siegfried had an interest in the brooch.

“It’s not because of you. I’m interested in it myself.”

Fortunately, the previous Amelia had an insurmountable obsession with collecting things. She extravagantly spent her personal funds to acquire precious treasures. Even if Amelia were to participate in the auction, it wouldn’t raise any suspicions.

“So, don’t think strange thoughts.”

A sense of peace filled Amelia’s heart as she gently stroked Leonel’s curly hair. The rumors had spread, and everything was progressing smoothly. After all, the Master was a capable person. She just had to wait patiently.

Even though Raphael must have been aware of the rumor that Siegfried was interested in the brooch, he didn’t say anything to her.

“We’ll be going out in two days, Leonel.”

“Are you telling me because you want to hear me say to be careful?”

It was a good thing that he didn’t say such things. He didn’t even ask where they would be going when she mentioned they were going out. He clearly knew that she would be attending the auction. No, is that why he wasn’t telling me, because he already knew?

“Your Highness, I received a message from headquarters.”

“Really?”

Ann and Jane were massaging her tired body. The power of money was truly great. To think a few items could buy such meager loyalty.

“Everyone, go out.”

If it had been before, they would have hesitated or they would not immediately obey her. But they quickly lowered their heads and disappeared. Amelia opened the letter. This time, it was still completely sealed and intact.

‘I will not be attending the auction.’