Henrik spoke as if it were no big deal.

He said that Josef had once drunk poisoned tea as a child. Although he vomited it out immediately and took an antidote, he reportedly took a long time to recover.

The “Crown Prince Poisoning Conspiracy” had already been well-known among the imperial officials for a long time and was hardly a story worth concealing. At that time, the Olstein royal family was in such turmoil that even a few noble deaths were not taken seriously. There was also speculation that the tea was actually meant for the Emperor, not the Crown Prince.

Thinking that this was enough to prove the point that “Josef never drinks tea,” Henrik ended his explanation there.

“Couldn’t he have gotten better by now?”

Amelia, who had been listening quietly to Henrik’s story, raised a question. After all, Josef had just recently drunk two cups of tea at the Crown Princess’s residence. If that, too, had been an act, she had nothing more to say, but he had looked annoyingly carefree.

However, Henrik shook his head.

“Even during training, and certainly while dining, he only ever drinks water. Perhaps it’s not that he can’t drink it…”

“…”

“No, forget it. I’ve said more than I should. I’ll take my leave.”

Henrik closed his mouth, turned around, and disappeared. Amelia thought she understood what he had been about to say.

Perhaps Josef, because of his near-death experience with poisoning, had become suspicious of any liquid with color. Given his nature of trusting no one, that was understandable. Henrik had stopped himself upon realizing that he was presuming too much in analyzing the Crown Prince.

“Just like me…”

As Amelia walked the familiar path back to her residence after parting from Henrik, she felt deeply uncomfortable. She never liked hearing gossip about others, as it often led to unnecessary preconceptions. She felt the same way even about Josef, whom she already disliked enough.

She would have stopped Henrik from saying more about Josef if he’d tried to. She couldn’t help what she had already heard, but she decided not to judge Josef based on it.

As she climbed the stairs, she paused, thinking that the way the afternoon sunlight filtered into the hall looked like curtains. In fact, she had been on her way to meet the Viscountess of Romberry… but Henrik’s unexpected visit had complicated things for today.

“…”

Lingering on the staircase for a moment, she gave a faint, self-mocking smile.

Gathering information about others from behind the scenes, using it to judge them… Wasn’t that exactly what she was doing in deciding to meet with the Viscountess of Romberry? While she could justify it as being “for Dana’s sake,” she couldn’t claim her actions were noble.

What had changed her? Amelia thought that living in Olstein might have made her a bit more shameless.

Her thoughts naturally drifted back to Josef, as if a spring had carved a new path. Should she ask him to have tea the next time he unexpectedly showed up? Would it seem strange if she suddenly brought it up? As she headed toward her bedroom, she was lost in such thoughts.

* * *

The next day, Amelia, along with Dana, met with the Viscountess of Romberry and, to her surprise, received a warm welcome.

The drawing room was cozily and meticulously decorated. The colorful cushions on the sofa looked freshly placed, and the fruit cake was topped with syrup-soaked cherries, making it quite charming.

It was clear these weren’t things a middle-aged woman like the Viscountess would typically enjoy. She must have prepared such thoughtful touches for Dana, who was likely experiencing her first tea invitation. Amelia appreciated this consideration.

“I never expected you to come visit me first, Amelia.”

The Viscountess said this as she poured tea for Amelia and Dana, who was utterly captivated by the ornate teacups and the cake.

“I’ve been wanting to meet you, too, Amelia, but I refrained from inviting you because it seemed you were avoiding social gatherings.”

“I wasn’t avoiding them intentionally.”

Amelia explained that she had only recently begun to adapt to life in Olstein and had just been put in charge of redecorating the Crown Princess’s residence. She didn’t want to give the impression that she preferred to stay secluded, as the Viscountess might think less favorably of both her and Dana.

“Oh my, you must have such refined taste, Amelia.”

The Viscountess’s expression brightened upon hearing this.

“And did you know? The parasol you brought with you today is quite the talk among the ladies.”

Amelia had a parasol on her lap that Helen had made for her. She had barely managed to save it from Josef’s mischief.

“…Is that so?”

“Yes, all the shops in the capital are scrambling to make similar items.”

The Viscountess seemed to be under the impression that Josef had assigned Amelia her duties because he valued her keen sense of style.

‘That’s not true. His Highness the Crown Prince simply finds pleasure in tormenting me.’ Amelia couldn’t say that out loud, so she merely smiled awkwardly.

“…Viscountess Romberry, it’s your first time meeting Dana, isn’t it?”

When Amelia changed the subject, Dana, who had been sitting quietly, nervously lowered her head, her movements stiff with tension.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Viscountess Romberry. My name is Dana Karlstad. I am the sister of Baron Henrik Karlstad, the Crown Prince’s captain of the imperial guard.”

It seemed Dana had received thorough coaching from Henrik after meeting Amelia, as her self-introduction was perfect, apart from a tone that sounded like she was reading an official document.

“What an adorable young lady.”

“Th-thank you.”

“Dana will be attending this season’s debutante ball but hasn’t found a chaperone yet.”

“Oh my, there’s not much time left, is there?”

Viscountess Romberry looked a bit surprised.

“Would it be possible for you to be her chaperone, Viscountess?”

Amelia seized the moment.

“Dana hasn’t been in the capital long… She wasn’t sure who to ask.”

“Oh dear… that’s unfortunate.”

“So I insisted,” Amelia continued, “that a chaperone should be someone like you, My Lady, who has raised her children so admirably.”

The Romberry children had all married into wealthy noble or merchant families, and while the Viscountess gave Amelia a warm look, she couldn’t quite hide her pride.

“It’s true that I raised them with love. I can proudly say that. Titles and wealth were just things that came afterward.”

“Absolutely, My Lady,.”

With Amelia’s agreement, the Viscountess looked even more pleased.

“In truth, I hadn’t planned to chaperone this time. I’d heard this year’s debutante ball would be a grand affair, and I’ve grown a bit weary of such things. As one ages, one starts to avoid too much commotion, you know.”

“But isn’t it at these large gatherings that someone as poised as you is needed to keep things elegant and balanced?”

“Well, Amelia, I can’t say I mind hearing that from you.”

The Viscountess laughed softly, waving her hand as if to dismiss the flattery but clearly pleased.

“Well then, if you put it that way, Amelia, I suppose I have no choice.”

She turned to Dana.

“Now, shall we start by discussing a dress color that will suit you?”

* * *

“Thank you so much for today, Lady Amelia!”

Dana’s eyes sparkled as they left the Romberry estate.

“This was my first formal invitation to tea! I felt like a real noblewoman. Do you think I’ll get to attend more such gatherings after the debutante ball?”

Amelia smiled quietly and adjusted the ribbon in Dana’s hair, a gift from the Viscountess as her new chaperone. Dana, who had been bouncing with excitement, suddenly looked a little shy.

“…I still have a long way to go to be like you, Lady Amelia.”

“There’s no need for you to be like me, Dana.”

Amelia spoke with a gentle smile, but Dana shook her head earnestly, looking up at her with a look of complete admiration.

“You’re not only beautiful, Lady Amelia, but every gesture you make has such grace. I envy that. I want to be like you someday.”

Dana’s open admiration nearly made Amelia blush. Her sincere honesty was something Amelia felt she could learn from.

“Don’t worry, Dana. Viscountess Romberry has promised to teach you all the etiquette you’ll need for the debutante ball.”

“Do you think I’ll be able to do well?”

“Of course. You’ll get used to it in no time.”

Amelia encouraged Dana, whose face looked worried.

“When you enter society, you’ll find there are many other ladies who make even better role models than I do. Since you’re from Olstein, you’ll learn more by observing them.”

“Society…”

Dana tilted her head in thought, then asked a question out of curiosity.

“So, Lady Amelia… you truly have no plans to marry?”

Her question was similar to one Viscountess Romberry had asked just a little while ago.

As they discussed Dana’s debutante ball, it naturally came up that Amelia might need to assist Dana’s entrance into society. The Viscountess had even broached the subject of matchmaking.

“Since things are as they are, shall I also look for a potential match for you, Amelia?”

She had asked as if that had been her primary intention all along. Had Amelia not skillfully steered the conversation elsewhere, the topic of debutante balls might have taken a backseat entirely.

“I’m not really in a position to do that.”

Amelia smiled faintly.

“It’s difficult for someone in my position to go around freely choosing a husband.”

“Oh… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be insensitive.”

Dana’s face fell, seeming to realize she’d said something out of place.

“No need to apologize. Honestly, even without those circumstances… I’m not sure.”

Amelia idly fiddled with the parasol in her hand.

“It just doesn’t feel like the right time yet.”

When she’d heard the word “marriage” earlier, Amelia had felt her heart race—not out of excitement but more like the unease of touching an unhealed scar. The sharp edges of those fragments from her past with Philip still lingered, having taken considerable effort to recover from.

“I think I understand.”

Dana nodded.

“Marriage is something you do with someone you love, isn’t it? So, you just haven’t met that person yet.”

“…That’s true.”

Since she wasn’t wrong, Amelia gave her a sincere smile.

To Amelia, true love was something sacred and absolute, like her mother and father’s love. Who the other person was or what circumstances they faced shouldn’t matter.

But on the other hand, it was almost impossibly idealistic, like a candy that melts away in a dream, and she doubted it would ever happen in reality. Could she ever love someone with such complete devotion as her parents had for each other? Right now, it felt distant and almost too much to hope for.