“My Lady?”

It was Betty’s voice that snapped Amelia out of her daze as she sat on the flowerbed, oblivious to the grass stains likely seeping into her dress.

“…”

“Honestly, My Lady, were you napping? It’s time to leave now.”

“…Ah, yes…”

Taking Betty’s hand, which she offered with a smile, Amelia rose to her feet. The narrow path that had felt so enclosed opened up after just a few steps, revealing the lakeside view.

“You must have been very tired. Helen’s waiting for you. Let’s hurry.”

Amelia barely listened as Betty explained she had to come find her because she hadn’t returned. They walked along the path, and in the corner of her aimless gaze, Amelia spotted Josef by the lake.

Amid the swaying daffodils, Josef stood with his usual impassive demeanor. She couldn’t fathom why he was still here. Whatever had upset him, his face betrayed no enjoyment as he stared straight ahead, avoiding her gaze entirely.

“Betty, let’s go quickly.”

Turning her head, Amelia urged Betty to pick up the pace.

‘Unbelievable.’

Amelia felt anger rising as she thought of Josef’s indifferent expression. If people knew what this clean-cut crown prince intended to do in broad daylight, they would be horrified.

‘Was that all I could do?’ Even in that moment, bound by her role as a hostage, she resented her own rationality for not properly confronting Josef.

Fueled by that defiance, Amelia maintained a composed expression and walked along the path with as much poise as Josef.

—

After Admiral Licht’s return, Leonid prepared a comprehensive report detailing the budget, manpower, and overall plan required to build ten warships and sent it to Olstein.

Surprisingly, the Emperor of Olstein approved it with little resistance. The approval came with a promise to cover monthly expenses to ensure smooth progress.

“Hm…”

Leonid frowned as he studied the missive bearing Olstein’s imperial seal.

The Emperor’s lack of objections made him suspicious, wondering if there was a hidden agenda. After all, Leonid had deliberately inflated the budget required for the shipbuilding project.

‘Yet they approved it so readily.’

Two possibilities came to mind.

First, the Olstein imperial family had seen through his ploy and was planning another form of retaliation.

Second, the royals, lacking experience in naval operations, simply trusted Leonid’s proposal.

The latter seemed more plausible. The swift response suggested that the Olstein court had not detected the inflated figures or devised a countermeasure.

‘Perhaps they had no one to consult.’

Olstein’s ambitions for a navy were bound to provoke strong resistance from nations like the Kingdom of Kut and other territories not yet under the Empire’s rule. Even the lords in the occupied lands might stir unrest, fearing increased taxes.

It seemed Olstein, with no experience in naval dominance, had no choice but to rely entirely on Leonid’s judgment, their confidence and arrogance evident in their response.

‘Did even Crown Prince Josef have no doubts?’

Leonid scrutinized the missive again.

While it bore the signatures of Chancellor Konrad and the Emperor, Josef’s was absent.

For some unknown reason, Josef had not participated in this decision, presenting a golden opportunity for Leonid.

“….”

Deep in thought, Leonid instructed the head steward to summon Admiral Licht.

It was time to seek cooperation from nations equally displeased with Olstein.

—

Philip sat listlessly on the terrace of his bedroom.

Lately, these moments had become more frequent—watching the garden from sunrise to sunset. The sight of sunlight playing across the estate’s greenery and birds fluttering about was undoubtedly beautiful, a view he often missed during his time away from Sarnica.

But beauty alone wasn’t why Philip stayed cooped up here. It was the only way he could manage to endure reality.

“I’ll stay here.”

Amelia had spoken with an expression that seemed to mark a final farewell. The memory shattered Philip’s heart into fragments that stabbed him with sharp, piercing pain.

That was their last meeting. On the day he left Olstein, he tried to sneak out of the embassy to bid Amelia a final goodbye, but the constant watchful eyes of those around him made it impossible.

“Philip.”

His mother’s voice called from behind, breaking his thoughts. He turned to look at her.

Since returning to Sarnica, she appeared more energetic but still carried a look of concern for him.

“What is it?” Philip asked.

“It’s such a lovely day. Why don’t you go out for a bit?”

“I’ve already visited the royal palace,” he replied dryly. Not wanting to hear more advice from his parents, he had diligently prepared for his official duties and followed his father’s instructions to learn from the ministers.

“You seem so down, Philip,” she said gently.

“I’m…” He started to say he was fine but stopped, knowing his mother would see through the lie. Her gaze from across the table pierced his pretense.

“You’re still thinking about Olstein, aren’t you?” she said, as if he were reminiscing about some long-forgotten, fleeting memory. Her tone unsettled him.

“You speak as if it’s something I shouldn’t think about.”

“It doesn’t do you any good.”

Her composed expression reflected the dignity of the Countess of Clavier.

“You’re too young to dwell on the past. You must learn to move forward.”

“You don’t need to control my thoughts as well, Mother,” Philip snapped, standing abruptly. Her usual advice grated on him more than ever.

“It’s an important time right now.”

“……”

“What I mean is, this isn’t the time to be investing your emotions in personal matters, Philip.”

His mother was watching closely, clearly gauging his reaction. She knew exactly how he would respond if she dared to reduce his relationship with Amelia to something as trivial as a mere “personal matter.”

“…Understood.”

Philip offered no further retort. He had no desire to expose his emotions in front of her. No matter how he reacted, it would only serve as fodder for her disdain toward Amelia.

“I’ll do as you wish.”

But his unstable emotions betrayed him, leaving a trace of sarcasm at the end of his words. Frustrated by the intrusion on his solitude, Philip grabbed his hat and left the room with a displeased expression.

—

‘He still hasn’t let go of Lady Amelia.’

The Countess Clavier confirmed her suspicions after their conversation. Philip was angry, and such intense emotions inevitably stemmed from love.

She closed the terrace door and took a brief survey of Philip’s room. Her gaze landed on a letter sealed with red wax on the nightstand.

From Philip

The small handwriting on the envelope caught her eye. The countess picked it up and, with a calm expression, left Philip’s room, carrying the letter to her own chamber.

There, she broke the seal and unfolded the letter.

My dearest Amelia,

Amelia, how have you been?

I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise to forget you.

The image of your face during our farewell is still so vivid.

That’s why I find myself writing through the night, as if I were a man who’s forgotten how to sleep.

Amelia,

I love you as much as ever.

No matter how I live, I sincerely wish for your happiness

I will become a diplomat in Sarnica.

Once I’m able to stand on my own without anyone’s help, so that you won’t feel any guilt at all,

then, I will come back to you.

I live each day waiting for that moment.

The countess silently folded the letter.

“……”

“I understand, My Lady.”

Lady Amelia is a wise young woman. She had understood the countess’s subtle warnings and had stepped back. Though her true feelings remained a mystery, there was little more she could do as a hostage in the empire.

In that case, perhaps it was fine to let this letter reach her? If she resealed it with the Clavier family crest, the letter would appear untouched, as if nothing had happened.

Amelia might receive it, gaze out the window reminiscing about Philip, or perhaps sit at her vanity and pen a brief reply.

The alcohol lamp for melting wax was on the table. Without hesitation, the countess lit it.

Then, she burned the letter slowly.

As she watched the flames consume it, she recalled the words she had once spoken to Lady Amelia.

“He still loves you. Even if you don’t want it, he would do anything for your sake. I trust you won’t act as though you’re innocent when that time comes.”

Love makes people impulsive and foolish. It provokes uncharacteristic anger, clouds judgment, and ultimately drives them to madness. Love, at its core, feeds on pain.

Such things were unnecessary for Philip at this stage in his life.

“This is the right thing to do, Lady Amelia,” she murmured.

For Philip’s sake—and for yours.

The letter was now reduced to charred fragments. She cast the remains into the extinguished fireplace and left the room with a serene and dignified expression.