A blue dawn light flickered between the thick curtains. It felt as though he was floating alone in the absolute stillness before sunrise.

“…Do you think I can be of any help?”

Sitting idly in the dark bedroom, Josef recalled Amelia’s voice.

Throughout the sleepless night, Josef retraced his memories of Amelia. He vividly remembered her eyes, hiding hostility with polite restraint, and her voice laced with hesitant reluctance.

Each time he faced Amelia, Josef found himself unable to look away, and he wondered what exactly he wanted from her.

“……”

His gown pockets were empty. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Josef noticed a cigarette lying atop the clavichord and got up to retrieve it.

As he lit the cigarette, he instinctively opened the clavichord’s lid. Exhaling smoke slowly, he pressed a key with one hand.

The instrument responded with a faint, hollow sound. Josef began to move his fingers lazily, playing a melancholic section of a concerto he had memorized mechanically.

The education Josef received at Olstein for the crown prince was harsh. The prince was expected to master court etiquette like a noble, be erudite like a leader, and be ruthless like a warrior. By the time he could move his fingers to play music, Josef had also learned how to kill animals.

The first thing he shot with a bow was a deer.

“This is yours.”

Before the dying prey, struggling in its final moments, the emperor instilled conquest in the young Josef instead of compassion. He instructed him to pierce the animal’s heart swiftly, ending its suffering. The boy did as he was told, and red blood spread vividly across the white snow.

“Trust no one, Josef. Judge only by what’s in your hands.”

He still vividly remembered stroking the deer’s warm fur as he listened to the emperor’s words.

As Josef wandered through his emotionless past, he suddenly noticed the light growing brighter and halted his fingers over the keys.

Dawn was retreating, and morning had awoken. Sunlight, now clear, slipped through the cracks in the window shutters.

Amelia would soon arrive at the crown prince’s quarters. The moment he thought of it, the long night seemed to shrink into a fleeting instant.

“……”

Meeting Amelia by chance at the Mieschko Duke’s residence, she appeared sacred and beautiful. It was as if the sunlight pouring through the window illuminated only her.

“You’re beautiful.”

Without thinking, he had said it aloud when her image appeared before him.

If she had been any closer, he surely would have reached out to touch her.

Just like when he watched the snowfall that night.

Just like when he wanted to take Amelia from Philip after she collapsed in the garden.

Josef was still trapped in his impulses.

* * *

“I greet His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

Amelia fought her discomfort and bowed her head.

“Sit and wait.”

Josef, standing at an angle and looking down at his desk, spoke without looking at her. He held a quill in his hand, about to sign something.

The captain of the guard stood silently against the wall with a cold expression, and a man who appeared to be the chamberlain glanced at Amelia curiously.

Yesterday, it had been in Lady Marika’s bedroom. Today, it was Josef’s office.

“……”

Amelia was still an unwelcome guest in this place.

“Um, over here, please…”

Noticing how no one paid her any attention, the chamberlain approached Amelia kindly and guided her to the sofa.

“Thank you.”

“I am Marquis Thomas, the chamberlain. Miss…”

The chamberlain smiled awkwardly as he looked at her, seemingly unsure of who she was. It appeared Josef hadn’t explained anything.

“I am Amelia Przhemysl of the Duchy of Brienne.”

“The Duchy of Brienne…”

Upon hearing this, the chamberlain’s expression changed.

“The one that recently became a province under imperial governance…?”

“Yes.”

“I see…”

The chamberlain gave a brief nod before standing up, his once-kind smile replaced by a slight air of condescension.

It seemed he had assumed Amelia was some noble of high standing, given that Josef had summoned her to the office. However, as the lady of a duchy now governed as an imperial province, Amelia was far beneath the chamberlain’s rank, someone who held a senior position in the imperial court.

“Your Highness, shall I postpone the matter of selecting your ceremonial attire for later?”

“Why?”

Josef responded without looking up, still signing the document.

“Wasn’t there a prior engagement with Miss Brienne?”

“Amelia is handling the attire.”

“Pardon?”

The chamberlain looked perplexed.

“Bring the attire now.”

“… Understood.”

Though he still seemed uncertain, the chamberlain nodded, not daring to argue further.

“Deliver this to Chancellor Konrad.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Josef handed over the paper he had just signed and added,

“And address Amelia with proper titles.”

“Pardon?”

“Before I cut out your tongue.”

The calm tone of Josef’s voice drained the color from the chamberlain’s face.

“… M-my deepest apologies, Your Highness.”

“Leave.”

The chamberlain hurriedly approached Amelia and bowed deeply.

“My sincerest apologies, Lady Amelia.”

“It’s fine…”

As the chamberlain hurried out of the office, Amelia didn’t feel any better.

‘He said that so casually…’

Cut out his tongue? Amelia frowned slightly. Shouldn’t such careful speech and conduct be something he applied to himself first?

Josef, unaware of her thoughts, sat across from her.

“Hello.”

The casual tone, as if they were close friends, only heightened her tension.

“…Did you sleep well last night?”

“Not at all.”

Josef shook his head. Amelia, unable to think of a response, closed her mouth.

“…”

As they sat in silence, Amelia could feel Josef’s gaze.

‘Again…’

She tried hard to avoid meeting his eyes, sneaking glances at him out of the corner of her eye.

Josef’s eyes, slowly tracing the area around her shoulders, moved with a deliberate slowness. Amelia awkwardly turned her head, pretending to focus on some part of the office.

His persistent gaze, though invisible, felt tangible, as if it could be touched. She tried to act as though she hadn’t noticed, pretending to be interested in meaningless objects, all while struggling to control her breathing, afraid she might provoke him further.

* * *

The silence that seemed endless was finally broken by the entrance of the chamberlain.

“Your Highness, I’ve brought the formal attire.”

Behind the chamberlain, servants lined up, each holding a different piece of clothing.

“Which one do you think is best?”

Josef’s question was directed at Amelia, causing everyone’s gaze to shift toward her.

“Are you asking me?”

Amelia, who had expected her role to be as simple as advising on fabric or material, as she had done for Marika the previous day, was caught off guard.

“You have a good eye for clothes, Amelia.”

“…”

“Didn’t Duke Mieschko say so?”

Seeing Josef urging her, Amelia felt a twinge of annoyance.

‘He’s enjoying this—watching me squirm’. He must have called me here just to bother me because of the letter incident.

The chamberlain, looking unsure, hesitantly spoke up.

“Ah, Lady Amelia… which one do you recommend?”

The servants, who had been exchanging puzzled looks, seemed to understand once the chamberlain referred to her as “Lady Amelia.” They must have assumed she was someone of high rank, considering the chamberlain, a marquis, was using an honorific.

Amelia, with no other choice, asked Josef, “Your Highness, could you at least tell me what color you prefer?”

“Something that goes well with the dress, don’t you think?”

“Would you prefer a lighter shade, then? Since the dress is ivory.”

Josef tilted his head.

“Is it? I don’t remember.”

He had clearly seen the dress the day before but was purposely acting as if he hadn’t. Resolving not to let his mischief get to her, Amelia took the white jacket offered by one of the servants.

“No need for the others.”

At Josef’s command, the servants left the room, carrying the remaining clothes with them. The remaining attendants prepared to help him change.

Amelia stepped back and watched as Josef donned the jacket over his shirt.

The white formal attire replaced the black uniform that had once enveloped him. The formal wear was just as luxurious as Marika’s dress, its sheen catching the light. Josef wore it as if he had been born for it, looking effortlessly elegant.

“Oh no. In my haste, I forgot the mirror,” the chamberlain remarked, and the servants reacted with surprise.

“We’re almost ready, Chamberlain.”

“We’ll have it prepared quickly.”

The attendants, busy adjusting Josef’s outfit, began to leave one by one, with the chamberlain following behind.

Then, something caught Amelia’s eye. A stray pin was poking out from the hem of Josef’s jacket.

“Your Highness, just a moment.”

Amelia approached him to fix the pin so it wouldn’t prick him.

‘How careless.’

It seemed as though someone, in their rush, had left a pin half-fastened on the collar as well.

Perhaps it hadn’t been noticed due to the white fabric. Worried, Amelia carefully inspected the jacket.

She was concerned that if the pin wasn’t secured properly and pricked Josef, he might threaten to break the servant’s fingers this time. The thought made her uneasy.

“Your Highness, are you all right?”

“…What do you mean?”

Josef replied in a low voice. When Amelia looked up at him, she froze for a moment. She hadn’t realized how close she was to him, being so focused on his clothing.

“…It’s nothing. I’ll be finished shortly.”

Amelia turned her attention back to the jacket. She decided to ignore Josef’s steady breathing, which she could hear clearly now.

Luckily, the only remaining pin was the one on the collar.

‘It’s done.’

Feeling relieved, Amelia reached for the pin, but in her tension, she touched the sharp end without thinking.

“Ouch!”

The sudden pain made her gasp involuntarily.

“Ow…”

Amelia grimaced at the sting, but her expression quickly changed when she saw something.

‘Oh no.’

A small spot of blood had stained Josef’s white collar. It was from her finger, pricked by the pin.

Amelia quickly looked down at her left hand. A red drop of blood had gathered on the second knuckle of her ring finger. The bright red drop seemed to accuse her of being the culprit who had soiled Josef’s jacket.

“Your Highness, I…”

Amelia, trying to explain, looked up at Josef. He was staring intently at her trembling left hand with a stern expression.

“I-I’m sorry. Your jacket… there’s blood on it. I’ll clean it immediately…”

Amelia mustered the courage to speak, but it didn’t seem like Josef had heard her.

His long fingers gently covered the back of her hand. Amelia’s body, frozen from shock and pain, was pulled closer without resistance, as if she was being led.

She couldn’t understand what Josef intended to do.

Even when he took her hand, even when he pulled her closer, even when she felt her hand brush against his face—Amelia still didn’t understand.

He brought Amelia’s hand close to his face, just barely letting it graze his skin. Then, he gently pressed his lips to the small wound on the inside of her finger, only to pull away softly.

Once. Twice. The slow, repeated motion was so unhurried it seemed like time had stopped. Only when Amelia felt the soft wetness of his parted lips and the rough texture of his tongue did she snap out of it and scream in shock.

“Y-Your Highness!”

Finally regaining her senses, Amelia quickly pulled her hand away from Josef’s face.

“…”

“W-What just…?”

Just as she was about to ask what he had done, the memory of the wet sensation on her skin flashed back, making her face flush with embarrassment. She quickly grabbed her trembling left hand with her right, trying to hide her shaking.

“I-I…”

Her heart pounded so violently she thought it might leap out of her chest. Josef was looking down at her with the same expression as before, his gaze unwavering.

“…I should go.”

“…”

“I’m leaving… I’m going.”

With a hand pressed to her chest in a feeble attempt to calm her frantic heart, Amelia took a few unsteady steps backward, breathing heavily.

Josef watched her in silence as she tried to retreat, then he stepped closer.

“Wait.”

His voice, low and gravelly, pierced through her ears.

“That’s an order.”

Ignoring his command, Amelia turned on her heel and bolted for the door. She threw it open with all her strength, clutching her dress as she hurried down the stairs, nearly tripping in her rush.

As she burst out of the Crown Prince’s residence, the sharp wind hit her face like a slap, cutting through her lungs as if it would tear them apart. Gasping for breath, Amelia ran as though she were a fugitive, desperate to escape. She needed to rid herself of the suffocating memory of Josef’s unsettling gaze, which seemed to cling to her, holding her captive.

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