This man was too dangerous. Since when? The change in his gaze towards her, the start of his obsession with her.

“……”

“It’s too precious just for me to see.”

Amelia trembled under the fingers that were still tracing her lips. She wanted to escape but couldn’t. The moment she looked into his eyes, she felt as if something had bound her body, unable to move. It was as if an invisible chain had tightened around her from the toes up.

The deep desire in his golden eyes made it impossible for her to move. She hadn’t noticed. That his gaze towards her had started changing gradually.

“That’s not it?”

Raphael Lloyd Siegfried wasn’t supposed to like Amelia Seraphin. Because she’s a character meant to be disliked.

“……”

“See you in a bit.”

Unable to say anything, Amelia stood frozen as Raphael smiled and let her go. All she could do was tremble quietly.

Why? Why… Raphael started obsessing over her, she couldn’t understand.

“Your Highness, you’re so beautiful!”

“Really!”

Despite the busy hands of the maids dressing her, Amelia kept her lips sealed in shock. She didn’t even know what they were talking about. Was there a glitch in this world? Raphael, of all people, shouldn’t be doing this.

“Your Highness? Are you feeling unwell?”

Looking at herself in the mirror, she looked like a woman who had just attended a funeral. Her face was pale without a hint of blood, and her eyes were downcast. Enough to be misunderstood by others.

“No, no. Just a bit… nervous.”

Normally, people would have a face full of excitement or happiness. However, she looked as if it wouldn’t be strange if she died soon.

“It’s your first time attending the Founding Festival, so it’s understandable.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll be going together with you.”

Ann and Jane tried their best to ease her tension with their sweet words. She couldn’t show any signs of weirdness here.

“Thank you…”

Yes, it could all be her misunderstanding. Why would Raphael Lloyd Siegfried be obsessed with her? There must be another reason. If not, it doesn’t make sense. She must be tired from preparing for their attendance at the Founding Festival.

“If you want to touch up your makeup, please visit the powder room.”

“We’ll be waiting there.”

Is there a need to touch up makeup during the party?

“Do I need to touch up my makeup?”

“Ah… maybe…”

Is it because of eating? But according to Emila’s story, they hardly eat because they’re too busy looking at each other…

“Is it because of the food?”

I was going to say not to worry if that was the case.

“But… at parties, there’s usually a lot of physical contact.”

However, the answer that came back was completely unexpected. Physical contact? So… does that mean she and Raphael are going to kiss? Amelia staggered in shock. Then she realized it wasn’t just Raphael who had changed. At some point, the people of the Grand Duchy had also started to take it for granted that he and she were together.

If it had been before, the thought of Raphael and Amelia kissing wouldn’t have even crossed anyone’s mind. It didn’t make sense for the two of them to attend a party together.

“That won’t happen.”

Amelia spoke colder than anyone else. It was right to eliminate any vain hopes. There was a reason why the maids’ attitudes had recently become unusually kind. It was all because they were afraid of Raphael, not her.

“Ah… Your Highness… that is… we…”

There was no need to hear more. People’s reactions were really funny. Raphael, who used to dislike Amelia so much, changed? In such a short time? It seemed like everyone was inflated with grand dreams.

Knock knock.

“Is everything ready?”

At the sound of his voice from outside, Amelia frowned. How could he come right after everything was ready without someone telling him? Raphael was the cause of all this trouble. What kind of scheme was he up to with these actions?

Was it his last mercy before her death?

“Almost done.”

Amelia looked at Ann and Jane for the last time, unable to lift their heads. Then she turned around and looked at herself in the mirror again. A woman dressed in a glamorous dress, beautifully made up. It was an utterly unfamiliar sight. Now, she would wear jewels so luxurious they could suffocate just by looking at them.

For a moment, she felt as if someone had covered her eyes with their hands. Maybe she was intoxicated with the comfort he provided. It was convenient to pretend to know nothing and close her eyes.

“Amelia.”

She shouldn’t get used to that address, either. Since when had it become natural for him to call her by her name? Without her knowing, she had let many things flow as he wanted.

“You finished early.”

Raphael had approached without her noticing, and she deliberately did not turn around, continuing to stare at the mirror instead. She could feel him getting closer in the mirror’s reflection. His golden hair shone more brilliantly than usual, making him appear even more sharp and rigid.

She understood why everyone was so captivated by this man. Even more than her, who was dressed as glamorously as possible. His sculpted face and the dangerous aura emanating from him kept drawing her gaze. It would probably be the same at the Founding Festival party. All the women would sneak glances at his face.

“The jewels have arrived.”

“Is everything already completed?”

She did her best not to be shaken by him, avoiding eye contact. If she looked into his mysterious golden eyes, she would be swept away.

“Very pretty.”

A shiver ran down her spine at his breath near her neck. He completely enveloped her from behind. The word ‘pretty’ could be so terrifying.

“Huh…!”

When he unexpectedly took out the jewelry, a strange sound leaked out of her at the touch of cold metal. She hadn’t thought he would personally put it around her neck. Amelia closed her eyes tightly at his careful touch, placing the necklace around her neck. Maybe it was better not to see.

“… Haah”

But that wasn’t a good choice. Closing her eyes only made her senses sharper. Every move of his hands touching her skin was too stimulating. Just putting on a necklace made her palms sweaty with tension.

She held her breath as much as possible, hoping he would quickly lower his hands.

Click.

Finally, the clasp clicked into place, and the wandering hands near her neck disappeared. Only then did Amelia exhale the breath she had been holding. It felt like she couldn’t live a normal life with this man, even if it wasn’t painful.

“It suits you well.”

His softly whispering voice made her stomach flutter, stirring. True to his words, when she looked in the mirror, she saw a woman wearing a large red diamond necklace. The woman shone brilliantly. Fitting of the expression ‘dazzling’. From head to toe, there wasn’t a single thing that wasn’t expensive.

“I can wear the bracelet myself.”

“It might be difficult to do it alone.”

Again with this act? She didn’t know what action he would take this time.

“Just stay still. I’ll do everything for you.”

His words meant he would take care of everything, but it made her anxious. Why did she have to be standing in front of a mirror? Closing her eyes made her senses too sharp and stimulating, and opening them was a problem because of what was reflected in the mirror. The posture, too, looked as if she were being held in his arms. The face that came close enough to bite her neck. It was all too hard to endure.

“I can wear the bracelet myself…”

Of course, it might be difficult for her to hook the chain by herself… But it was better than him doing it. It wasn’t strange why the maids said such things after seeing these scenes. Fortunately, as soon as Raphael entered, everyone quickly disappeared.

“Let me put on at least the bracelet.”

“…”

She had no intention of hearing an answer anyway. Amelia tried her best to look away as he grabbed her wrist and put on the bracelet. The way he held her wrist… was excessively sensual.

Why does he hold onto a wrist in such a manner? As if she was the only one, his eyes staring up into hers with such intensity made her face flush.

“You’re beautiful.”

It wasn’t an illusion. Raphael Lloyd Siegfried wanted her. And very intensely so.