Amelia didn’t know what was in her mind for her to run all the way here. There was no time to catch her breath, exhausted. There was nothing else to do but desperately cling to Edward, who had appeared before her.

“Your Highness, could you please let go for a moment.”

She came to her senses with his calm yet business-like tone, contrasting with her urgent manner of speaking. She’d shown too much panic and excitement. The other person disliked her. He was someone she couldn’t afford to show weakness to. If he noticed anything slightly off, he would pounce on it.

“If you’re referring to the head maid, May, she quit her job about a week ago.”

It was true. Ann and Jane had told her the same thing, but it was still shocking each time she heard it. Especially because Edward spoke of it so nonchalantly.

“Did she quit her own because she wanted to?”

“Yes, she said her health was too poor to continue working.”

That couldn’t be. May wasn’t sick. She remembered cursing her so much because May just wouldn’t die and kept sticking by Leonel’s side.

“That can’t be right. Isn’t there some other circumstance?”

“Didn’t you hate her?”

“What?”

“I thought Your Highness did not favor the head maid.”

That was true. But since when did the Grand Ducal family care about her feelings? Even though Amelia disliked her, even though Leonel was spoken ill of, they just stood by. And now they were talking as if they let her go because of her.

“It’s a good thing that she offered to leave on her own.”

“……Where’s May.”

Was she so ill that she couldn’t work? Unless she was injured, it made no sense for her to suddenly fall ill…… She feared the future she knew was changing. What she wanted wasn’t to send May out of Siegfried, but for her and Leonel to leave.

“I don’t know. She mentioned something about traveling to another empire.”

“She’s not in Siegfried territory?”

“I guess not. We’re busy hiring a new head maid……”

Even to the extent that she supposedly left for another empire so that Amelia couldn’t meet her. It dawned on Amelia during her conversation with Edward. May hadn’t left Siegfried of her own accord. No matter how sick she claimed to be, May was the kind of woman who would want to stay close and watch over Raphael.

“Is there a problem with the former head maid? Shall we issue a search for May?”

“No, that’s enough. Didn’t you just stand there even when the head maid disrespected me?”

There’s no need to pretend to be concerned now. It seemed better to find out about May’s whereabouts through the Master.

“I was just curious if May quit by herself or not.”

“She quit on her own. She said her body was in no condition to continue working.”

That was a lie someone would tell who didn’t know May at all. If they knew May even a little, they wouldn’t speak like this.

“Wait.”

Just as she was about to leave, having finished her business, a familiar voice called out from behind. A voice devoid of any pitch, emotionless, and indifferent. It sent a chill down her spine the moment she heard it.

It was Raphael.

“Weren’t you coming to see me?”

“I came to see Edward.”

“You did the same last time; you didn’t come looking for me at all.”

When did he hate whenever she came to see him? And now he complains when she doesn’t. She couldn’t figure out what rhythm to follow.

“Your Grace told me to ask Edward about the head maid.”

That was exactly what he had said this morning.

“I did say that. But I didn’t expect you to turn around and leave so soon.”

“My business is finished.”

By now, Edward had long since gone back inside. Why did this man keep talking to her?

“So I’m not included in that business.”

She wanted to say ‘don’t you understand now?’ but decided it was better to keep quiet, so Amelia pulled up the corners of her mouth. That should be enough as an answer.

“The grand duchess is……”

His characteristic leisurely pace and slow speech, as well as the arrogance emanating from him, made her feel suffocated. The ever-closing distance between them contributed to that feeling.

“You always avoid giving important answers.”

“……Is that so? I didn’t realize that.”

Why would she give an honest answer if it only put her at a disadvantage?

“I want to hear the answer from this morning.”

“Pardon?”

“Yes.”

The answer from this morning? What did he say to her in the morning? Something about going out together?

“Oh, wasn’t that something you were going to do with Leonel, just the two of you?”

“No, not that.”

Then what else could it be?

“I want to be a good husband.”

“You……?”

“So, will the wife cooperate?”

Since when did he start calling her his wife? Amelia’s lips quivered in response to Raphael’s feigned affection.

“The Grand Duke is already a good husband.”

They say a person cornered will say anything. She lied without batting an eyelid.

“I don’t think so. I want to be a better husband.”

“That’s, that’s okay!”

That’s something he should say to his first love, not her.

“You don’t have to do anything. I’ll be on my way then.”

She couldn’t afford to be caught here again. Amelia moved her feet with all her might.

She had to escape this place as soon as possible.

***

Before she knew it, the tables had turned. Raphael seemed bent on revenge, following her around. His appearance at mealtimes was just the beginning. She actually longed for the days when she would follow him instead.

“Ha……”

Was this how Amelia felt when she used to follow him? Even without doing anything special, the days felt too long. And it was so tiring. The person who’s running away couldn’t afford to rest. And she might have to live like this from now on.

She never thought it possible before, but recently she was beginning to change her mind. If she ran away with Leonel, it felt like Raphael would come after them.

“It’s not even a manhunt…… what is this.”

And the bounty hunter was Raphael Lloyd Siegfried. The odds were almost zero. Being hunted by the strongest in this world. Just the thought was suffocating.

“Mother……”

“Ah, Leonel.”

These days, she hadn’t been able to pay any attention to Leonel. Even when she was with Leonel, if she saw that blonde hair from afar, she was too busy running away.

“Are you okay? You don’t look good.”

“I’m fine.”

In truth, she was anything but fine. If Raphael’s goal was to make her life miserable, he had succeeded. She wanted to go out just to avoid him, but she hesitated, fearing he might follow her.

“Do you feel neglected because I haven’t been going out recently?”

“No! Not at all!”

The child, clenching his fists and shaking his head, looked adorable. Amelia smiled brightly and rubbed her cheek against Leonel’s hair.

Ah, this feels so healing.

“Is it hard…… because of Father?”

“Hm……”

She couldn’t deny it. The game of tag between her and Raphael was so notorious that even the child noticed. After all, she would run for the hills at the mere sight of Raphael’s hair. The silver lining was that he no longer pursued her. Honestly, he could come up to her room if he wanted to, but he hadn’t.

“Not really?”

She was going crazy waiting for the Master to reply. She wanted to scream at him to come and help her right away.

My husband, who used to ignore me, is now trying to dry me up.

“It seems His Grace has a lot to say to me. Let’s make sure to go out tomorrow.”

“You don’t have to push yourself.”

“We planned to visit the new dessert shop, remember?”

She would have to stop by the merchantry on the way and send another message. No matter how much she tried to persuade that person, her patience was wearing thin. It was understandable, considering someone was constantly provoking her from the side.

Raphael at night seemed so different from the person who chased her during the day that it was hard to believe they were the same person. She wondered if this man was just acting to torment her.

“Let’s just sleep now.”

Let’s just sleep? After all that chasing during the day, just to say this! She wanted to confront him and demand he get up, but Raphael had already laid down on the bed and closed his eyes. This wasn’t just playing with someone’s feelings…

“Hmph.”

Amelia deliberately made a loud noise as she covered herself with the blanket and turned her back. It was her fault for expecting anything from that man. He was just tormenting her…

“……He left first again.”

Having ended up in this situation, she considered following Raphael around just to annoy him, but when she woke up in the morning, all she saw was an empty bed. She could never keep up with Raphael with her level of stamina. The original Amelia was admirable in that regard.

“I’ll go on my own, so you don’t have to do that.”

Now she understood. Why the maids were watching her every move. It was surprising that she hadn’t noticed such a simple thing before. The maids were not watching her, but Raphael.

“……”

Amelia kept her lips tightly sealed and didn’t say a word throughout the meal. The same went for Leonel.

“Mother……?”

Leonel approached her with a worried face.

“Uh, Mom……?”

“Let’s run away.”

Ah, she couldn’t take it anymore.