No, he could never know. It was a secret known only to the Master and her. It wasn’t a place just anyone could enter. But why do his eyes seem to know everything? Perhaps it’s a delusion created by her excessive guilt.

“Don’t come close…”

She should have told him not to come closer, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. This damned guilt. She thought she had almost fixed it, but apparently not. In the end, all she could do to distance herself from him was to step backward.

“What?”

“Don’t come any closer!”

Strictly speaking, she hadn’t committed a sin. She hadn’t actually committed adultery. She hadn’t done anything to be guilty of. She’d had a lot of people come up to her lately, and all of them were dangerous.

“Do you hate it when I approach you?”

Hate him approaching me? To be honest, it was more harmful than hatred. In this case, she was avoiding him because of what happened with the Master, but normally, she didn’t like getting close to him. Her heart would beat incessantly. She couldn’t tell if it was Amelia’s heart, the original owner of the body, or hers that was beating.

Regardless, he was attractive. Even she, who knew everything, couldn’t deny it. His sculpted face and splendid physique would make her body freeze. The closer he got, the more harmful he became.

“I don’t like being touched by anyone.”

“…That’s strange.”

I don’t know what’s so strange. Where did this man’s composure come from? Was it because he was born into privilege?

“It seemed like you were desperate to stick with me before.”

Is this a test? Amelia swallowed dryly, not knowing how to respond. Any answer would be strange.

To think he would say such a thing outright.

“People don’t change just like that.”

A chill ran down her spine as he whispered in her ear, slowly stroking her shoulder. She couldn’t help but tightly close her eyes. She hated his leisurely tone so much. He must have lived a life never pursued by anyone. Raphael’s every gesture was filled with ennui.

“There’s nothing you can do about it even if you dislike it.”

Her body shivered involuntarily at his smoothly flowing, low voice. A strange sensation flowed down her spine. She didn’t need to open her eyes to imagine Raphael’s face. He would be looking down at her arrogantly with that skewed smile.

“We’ll have to keep being in close contact from now on.”

***

Being in close contact. The moment she tried to ask what that meant, he was already gone. Was he talking about sleeping in the same bed every day? But they never touched even a fingertip to each other. They slept on opposite ends of the large bed every time.

What does it mean to be in close contact? If she had the ability, she wished she had telepathy. His indifferent expression, showing no emotions, was annoying. It seemed like he alone possessed all the leisure in the world.

“Did you have a good day?”

“Yes, Madam.”

“We’re starting practical lessons from today.”

Regardless of her tumultuous heart, time passed. Amelia still didn’t know what being in close contact meant. Last night in bed, they turned their backs on each other again. Recently, it didn’t seem like he was breaking the nightstand… Still, did he hate seeing her face so much that he closed his eyes as soon as he lay in bed?

“Is it about dining etiquette?”

“Hasn’t Your Highness already mastered basic etiquette?”

Amelia awkwardly smiled and nodded at that question. All she knew was that the right hand was for the knife, the left for the fork, and to use the utensils from the outside in. And to minimize unnecessary noise? So far, it didn’t seem like she had violated any dining etiquette… But it might not have been that.

“I’ll just check briefly.”

The madam seemed skeptical of her reaction and scrutinized her dining etiquette more sharply than usual. Satisfied with her more careful cutting, she gave a pleased look.

“There’s something most important.”

“What is it?”

Had she broken some order? It didn’t seem like it…

“You must not drink until you’re drunk.”

“Pardon?”

“Only drink enough aperitifs to wet your mouth.”

I wonder if Amelia’s severe alcoholism has been rumored that far. Judging by the madam’s expression, it seemed so.

“I won’t even touch it, so don’t worry.”

Besides walking, speaking, and even how to hold a fan, she had to learn everything. All of these were things Raphael did as naturally as breathing. His elegance and refinement were like flowing water.

“You’re following along better than I expected.”

It made sense why the original Amelia hadn’t entered high society. These weren’t things one could learn in such a short time. The arrogance of the upper class that oozed out unintentionally over a long time was evident. Naturally, she was no different.

“It feels like I’m just imitating.”

It’s merely an imitation. You can’t become the original.

“Can you dance?”

“Dance…?”

Amelia’s face stiffened when she mentioned dance. Was she talking about dancing, as in dance? She hadn’t expected this at all and was taken aback.

Because she was a terrible dancer.

“Are you talking about social dancing?”

“…”

Social dancing. She had absolutely no experience. Moreover, not only was she a terrible dancer, but she was also rhythmically challenged, always a half-beat or a full beat behind others. For her, even simple movements were difficult.

“Your Highness?”

The madam realized something was wrong from her silent reaction. Social dancing meant spinning around in a large hall, right? Could she, a terrible dancer and rhythmically challenged person, dance in front of people? It would surely look ridiculous. It would be lucky if she didn’t trip and fall.

“It won’t work….”

Not falling wasn’t the only problem. Every action would be awkward. A friend had once described her dancing as robotic. Like an under-oiled tin can robot, creaking as it moved its arms and legs.

“Can’t we… not dance?”

Please…. Amelia prayed silently to whatever god there might be in this world. Although she didn’t know who the god of this world was, there’s always some form of religion wherever you go.

“If a couple attends, they must dance.”

“Really…?”

Upon hearing that couples must dance if they attend, she plunged into despair. She had to show everyone her dancing skills.

“If you don’t dance, everyone will think it’s strange.”

“……”

“If you don’t even dance at an official event, it means your relationship isn’t good. Even couples who aren’t on good terms make an appearance that day.”

That was it. The reason the previous Amelia didn’t attend parties. Raphael wouldn’t even make such pretenses. He wasn’t the type to attend parties affectionately in the first place.

“But it doesn’t apply to Your Highness, so don’t worry.”

It doesn’t apply to her?

“It’s His Grace, the Grand Duke himself, who came to this old woman directly to ask for a favor. There’s no way he would just leave Your Highness alone.”

“……”

It seems he only heard the rumor that she was a heavy drinker and missed the rest. That the Grand Ducal couple wasn’t on good terms.

“If you can dance, it might be good for us to study something else.”

Unfortunately, she was someone who couldn’t even sway properly in a karaoke room during a company dinner. Department Head Kim made such a fuss about it. Thanks to that, she could easily skip company dinners she didn’t want to attend. Is it not fun if I’m the only one who comes?

“If we devote all the remaining time to dancing… I don’t think I will be embarrassed.”

“What?”

Amelia quietly touched her temple at the look of disbelief on the madam’s expression. She had no idea such a hidden problem existed.

“Madam, the truth is, I’m completely clumsy.”

Moreover, her dance partner was none other than Raphael.