‘I’m glad Helen came.’

Amelia thought to herself as she watched Helen sew.

The first few days had been difficult. It was hard enough that she alone had to suffer in Olstein, but now she had brought Helen along, and that thought had kept her up at night.

But Helen, being the capable head maid she was, had cleaned the mansion effortlessly, decorated Amelia’s bedroom with trinkets she’d brought along, and even made desserts just like the ones from Brienne. Thanks to her, Amelia had been able to sleep better little by little.

Even Betty, despite the age gap, quickly became fond of Helen. When Betty would talk about her nine siblings, Helen would share stories about her mischievous grandchildren, and their conversations often bloomed into laughter. Amelia enjoyed those quiet moments, smiling as she listened.

“My Lady, I’m thinking of teaching Betty how to crochet lace.”

Helen, who was seated in the parlor, mending one of Amelia’s dresses, spoke up. She had a knack for handiwork, and after just one round around the estate, observing the nobles’ fashion, she had already begun altering Amelia’s dress to fit the latest trends in Olstein.

“Go ahead. Learning from you is probably better than any apprenticeship at a guild.”

“Thank you. I’ll make sure I serve you to the best of my ability.”

“No need to stay by my side all day. Take your time.”

Betty was quick with her hands, and Helen always anticipated Amelia’s needs before she had to say anything. Lately, Amelia was starting to feel almost lazy.

“My Lady.”

Just then, footsteps echoed down the hall, and soon after, Betty entered the room.

“I received this on my way here.”

She handed Amelia a letter. The seal on the envelope bore the crest of the Count of Clavier.

“It was delivered by a servant from the Sarnica embassy.”

Betty explained as she untied her scarf. On her way back, she had seen a gentleman lingering near the Crown Princess’s residence, but his clothes didn’t look like those of the imperial servants. When she spoke to him, he was surprised and asked for Lady Amelia.

“Sir Philip Clavier said to deliver this letter around this time.”

“…Philip?”

“Yes… Is something wrong?”

“No, thank you.”

Betty seemed a little puzzled that Amelia, who she thought would be happy to hear from Philip, had a complicated expression. But she said nothing further and brought a letter opener. Helen, who had been sewing, glanced at Amelia but didn’t say anything either.

The envelope opened smoothly as soon as the knife touched it. The rounded, flowing Sarnican script felt like Philip’s voice speaking to her.

The contents of Philip’s letter were brief. By the time Amelia received it, he would have already arrived in Sarnica. He sent the letter through a servant because mailing it from the port might cause delays. He mentioned returning with the asylum permit. That was all, except for a few lines that caught Amelia’s eye at the bottom.

[My dearest Amelia,
For a very long time, I’ve wanted to write this in a letter.
I’m glad I can finally say it now.
I love you.]

“…”

Amelia ran her fingers over the raised letters a few times before folding the letter. Reading Philip’s confession in writing felt clearer and more tangible than when she had heard it spoken. It seemed solid enough to rely on.

“Is everything well with Lord Clavier?”

Helen asked, continuing her sewing.

“Yes… He’s in Sarnica now.”

“Did you arrange to meet him at the port?”

Amelia shook her head at Betty’s question. Josef had indeed included her in the port inspection team. But based on the timing, it seemed likely they would miss each other.

“When Philip arrives in the capital from the port, I’ll probably already have left for the castle.”

“Then, if he comes looking for you, I’ll ask him to wait.”

Betty’s words made Helen smile, as if recalling fond memories.

“That’s exactly what I used to say to the Lady back in Brienne.”

“Oh, it’s true.”

Amelia smiled along with Helen. When she was young and eager to go out and play, but worried she might miss Philip’s visit, Helen would always reassure her with those words.

“My Lady, don’t worry and go on your way. I’ll tell Lord Clavier to wait for you.”

And Philip always waited for her patiently. No servant ever rushed her to return because Philip had told them not to.

Looking back, Philip had always been considerate. Even after coming to Olstein, nothing had changed. Amelia had only ever received from him. Yet shamelessly, she had hesitated when Philip finally showed her his heart for the first time.

Thinking about the hurt in Philip’s eyes made her heart ache. She recalled Philip’s voice asking if she was going to use him. She couldn’t do that. She couldn’t use someone who had been her friend since birth. How was she supposed to respond to Philip’s feelings?

Perhaps… she should just love him in return?

Perhaps… she could love him.

“…”

The only kind of love Amelia knew was the love between her parents. A love where you give up everything for the other person. She didn’t know how such a powerful emotion could come to be.

Couldn’t she love Philip in her own way? Accept his feelings, treat him kindly, and return his care with affection?

Imagining a life married to Philip wasn’t difficult. The Count and Countess of Clavier were good people, and Philip would be a good husband. If she could give Philip a lover’s love and marry him for that, it would be fine. All Amelia needed to do was take responsibility.

“I’ll give you my answer when I return.”

She had a duty to write Philip a reply. One that he could read when he returned, so that he wouldn’t have to wait for her indefinitely anymore.

Steeling her resolve, Amelia gently caressed Philip’s letter.

***

At the Emperor’s words, Chancellor Konrad frowned.

“Are you saying that His Highness, the Crown Prince, has requested the establishment of a navy?”

“Indeed,” the Emperor replied, nodding as he rolled up the scroll that had been spread on the table.

“Will there be no issue with the finances?”

“Your Majesty, are you considering approving such a proposal?”

“Do you oppose it?”

The Emperor asked, puzzled.

“Your Majesty, Olstein’s cavalry is already nearly unbeatable, unless we’re facing an army that can fly. The defense of the coast could be managed by appointing the Marquis as Admiral. Why provoke other kingdoms by expanding the military unnecessarily?”

“Still, wouldn’t it be absurd to try to manage them without a single command ship from Olstein?”

Olstein, a landlocked region surrounded by mountainous terrain, had no knowledge of naval warfare, let alone a navy. Now that the empire had expanded to include a coastline, the Emperor believed it was urgent to establish a naval force.

“…”

Konrad’s displeasure, however, was not easily concealed. He disliked that Josef had made such a proposal.

Josef was harsh, lacking in kindness and mercy, but he was also shrewd to a degree that bordered on elegance. He had no regard for public opinion or popular sentiment. Such a temperament suited a man on the battlefield, where lives were taken, but not an emperor who was to lead during a time of peace.

Konrad suspected that Josef’s habit of expanding his power through each conquest, as determined by imperial decisions, stemmed from self-interest. He had been certain of it ever since Duke Mieschko’s daughter had been chosen. To Konrad, the proposal to create a navy seemed like another step in Josef’s plan to consolidate his position by leveraging Brienne.

“Chancellor, do not forget that Josef is Olstein’s creation,” the Emperor said, watching Konrad’s expression carefully as he reiterated something he often said.

“I have invested much in educating Josef. He is the instrument by which Olstein will be remembered in history as an empire. My goal is to make full use of his abilities.”

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

To the Emperor, Josef was like a double-edged sword. He was the most powerful weapon the Emperor had cultivated to achieve his long-cherished goal of empire-building, but if that sword slipped from his grasp, it could easily turn on him.

The Emperor deeply distrusted Josef, and Konrad, ever aligned with the Emperor, was equally wary of him.

“I have no intention of granting Josef command over the navy. He can take credit for suggesting it, but should any issue arise, we will hold him accountable.”

“Understood.”

Konrad agreed with the Emperor’s reasoning. However, he was still uneasy about Josef heading to the port to greet Brienne’s ship, the *Levant*. If Josef brought the ship back triumphantly, it could influence future decisions regarding warships or merchant vessels, furthering his sway over imperial finances.

“Your Majesty, in that case, may I make a suggestion?”

Konrad proposed an idea.

“Let’s create a situation where His Highness cannot take command of the navy.”

***

Philip sat on a bench at the port, watching as the swift ship docked.

After experiencing Olstein’s winter, the winter breeze blowing in from the Sarnican sea felt warm, almost too warm.

“If Philip asked me, I had to help.”

Prince Miguel had gladly issued Amelia’s asylum permit. He even added a note personally guaranteeing her status.

Philip had anticipated that the Sarnica royal family, which placed great importance on face, wouldn’t turn a blind eye to the plight of a lady who had chosen to be a hostage in the empire. He had been right.

Moreover, Miguel, ever curious about the affairs of other countries, had already heard Philip speak about his feelings for Amelia long ago, so the request had gone through smoothly.

However, when Miguel had playfully asked if Philip’s love had finally been realized, Philip could only offer a vague response.

“That can’t be.”

Amelia had said it herself, in her gentle but firm voice. She was far too kind. Even when Philip had told her to use him, she had remained steadfast, unshaken. She cared for him too much to do something like that. And yet, she didn’t love him.

It was the answer he had expected. But knowing it didn’t make the pain any less. Just as knowing how painful it is to be stabbed doesn’t make the wound hurt any less. In fact, love can be far more agonizing than being pierced by a blade.

Philip carefully folded the asylum permit, written with the prince’s personal quill, and placed it back in his trunk.

“Has Amelia received my letter?”

Before they parted, Amelia had hesitated, but once she held the permit in her hands, her thoughts would change. Philip wasn’t sure if Amelia could ever love him, but he knew better than anyone how much she loved Brienne.

Even if not now, the longer she stayed in Olstein, the stronger her longing for Brienne would grow. When the dam holding back those feelings finally broke, she would have no choice but to agree to the asylum.

In the end, it was Philip who was trying to exploit her. Trying to win even a sliver of affection born from her gratitude and sympathy.

“…Forgive me, Amelia.”

The waves crashed against the curved bow of the ship. Blending into the crowd, Philip boarded the ferry bound for Olstein.