The sky outside was still a deep blue at dawn.

Josef briefly gazed at the sky mixed with purple clouds, remembering the basket of lavender and daisies he had bought by the river and left in the carriage.

Turning away from the window, he finished wiping down Amelia’s body with a wet towel.

She was curled up like a shrimp, deeply asleep. Her sweat-drenched forehead was now clean, and she clutched the sheet tightly as if she was cold.

By the time Josef returned from the bathroom, she was still in the same position.

He lay down on the bed, sliding his arm under Amelia’s neck. The shift in the height of her head caused her to briefly open her eyes.

“……”

Her drowsy eyes, filled with sleep, couldn’t yet register her surroundings, but they were still as blue as the sea.

Josef silently watched her. Her eyes were clear and calm, yet sometimes they grew deep like water, stirring with waves.

He liked that. It made her seem as though she would never leave him.

Her eyes closed again. Josef pulled the sleeping Amelia into his arms, feeling the sound of her heartbeat. The rhythm of her breathing tickled his heart.

Even for someone who believed there was no such thing as divine mercy, this moment made him regret the passage of time.

***

When Amelia finally opened her eyes, the room was bathed in sunlight so hot it felt almost stifling.

She hurriedly sat up. Fortunately, Josef wasn’t in the bedroom. Even by the time she finished getting dressed and roughly combing her hair, he still hadn’t returned.

Outside the second-floor window, the only movement came from horses lazily swishing their tails. Amelia descended to the first floor, paced through the living room, and, driven by a faint hope, walked to the small dining area with a hearth and table, where she finally found Josef.

“I…”

Seeing Josef’s back, Amelia almost called out to him, but quickly closed her mouth. Calling out to the crown prince like that—what was she thinking?

Yet, bowing and formally addressing him as “Your Highness” seemed equally ridiculous in this situation…

While she hesitated, Josef had already turned around and was seated at the table.

“Did you sleep well?”

He spoke while lifting a teacup to his lips.

“…Yes.”

Only then did Amelia notice the crackers with cheese, a bowl of stew, and a teapot arranged on the table.

“Aren’t you going to ask me?”

After a brief hesitation, Amelia replied.

“Did you rest well last night, Your Highness?”

“I used my body a lot, so I’m hungry.”

Josef set down the teacup, his voice devoid of humor, though his eyes clearly enjoyed Amelia’s embarrassment.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

Gesturing to a chair with a tilt of his chin, he invited her to sit opposite him.

To be honest, she was hungry. The now-lukewarm tea was oddly satisfying, and the flavor of the cheese-topped crackers pleased her more than she expected.

As her hunger eased, she became curious about who had prepared everything.

“Your Highness, who made breakfast?”

“Do you think the horses did it?”

Josef smirked.

“There’s no one around here.”

“Then…”

Amelia’s face tensed as she asked cautiously.

“Did Your Highness prepare it?”

“Yes. There’s no poison.”

Josef spoke, picking up a cracker.

“That wasn’t my concern.”

Amelia’s reply was soft. In the kitchen of the duke’s mansion, she didn’t know where anything was. She didn’t even know where the refreshments were kept, let alone how to slice bread or boil water—tasks the servants always handled.

It was hard to believe that Josef, who seemed above such things, knew how to make stew.

“You learn when you go to war,” Josef said.

“When the soldiers die, there’s no one left to handle meals.”

His tone was as casual as if he were discussing the weather or the taste of the food.

***

Amelia mounted her horse and followed Josef out of the hunting grounds.

In daylight, the scenery looked vastly different from the shadowy beauty of the previous night.

But Amelia couldn’t enjoy the fresh scent of trampled grass or the river’s melody.

‘I need to return this horse to Lady Dana.’

The horse she rode seemed full of energy, perhaps thanks to its late-morning rest.

Yet, if she returned to the Calstad estate alongside Josef in her disheveled state…

It would be as good as announcing to Lady Dana and the household staff where—and with whom—she had spent the night.

Suggesting that they part ways wasn’t an option either, so Amelia, troubled, continued toward the castle with Josef.

As they neared the western gate closest to the hunting grounds, a voice called out.

“My Lady!”

Betty, standing by the gate, ran toward Amelia.

“Betty? What are you doing here?”

“The captain of His Highness’s guard explained everything.”

Betty helped Amelia down from the horse and said, “My Lady, I heard you went all the way to the royal hunting grounds. I worried you might get hurt. There could be traps.”

“Yes… Sorry for worrying you, Betty.”

It seemed Amelia was the only one unaware of the dangers of wandering the hunting grounds. Seeing Betty’s serious expression made her feel guilty.

“Um, My Lady…”

But Betty’s worry didn’t seem to be about that.

“Hmm?”

“The truth is…”

Just as she began to speak, a voice called out from behind them.

“Amelia!”

Her face went pale at the sound of her name being called.

“…Philip?”

Philip, who had been pacing anxiously in front of the castle gate, was approaching her.

“Philip, how did you…?”

Amelia froze in confusion, unable to move.

Philip’s appearance after such a long time was dignified and handsome. His golden ceremonial uniform, perfectly complementing his blond hair, fluttered under the sunlight. Somehow, he even seemed taller than before.

But this wasn’t the moment she wanted to see him. Especially not in this place, in this situation.

After all, she had gone to the Calstad estate precisely to avoid meeting him. As self-reproach twisted through her, Josef stepped off his horse and positioned himself in front of her.

Philip, who had seemed ready to rush to Amelia, hesitated.

“…Your Highness.”

Philip reluctantly bowed his head to Josef, who now stood before him.

“Are you not going to kneel?”

Josef’s voice dripped with irritation.

“Does Sarnica teach its subjects to disregard proper etiquette?”

“…Your Highness, with all due respect,” Philip replied, his expression stiff.

“This is not an audience chamber, and I am here as a representative of the Sarnican royal family. I cannot kneel just anywhere.”

“Very well.”

Josef smiled silently.

“Go back and inform the King of Sarnica that the Crown Prince is ever so grateful for your wise counsel.”

“….”

Philip’s face flushed slightly at the sarcasm. Josef wrapped his arm around Amelia’s shoulders, steering her past Philip.

“Wait, Amelia!”

Philip’s urgent voice reached her as he grabbed her hand.

“Ah…”

“My Lady!”

Amelia stumbled, feeling her wrist flung aside with unexpected force. Betty caught her from behind.

Amelia’s eyes widened.

Josef was gripping Philip by the collar and throwing him to the ground.

“Philip!!”

Amelia screamed and ran to him. Philip lay crumpled on the cobbled path like a discarded paper doll, unable to rise immediately.

“Philip! Are you okay?”

Supported by Amelia, Philip finally managed to lift his upper body. Blood trickled from his nose where it had struck the ground, and his lip was split.

“Oh no, Philip. You’re bleeding.”

Half in tears, Amelia lifted the hem of her skirt to wipe his face, uncaring that her petticoat was exposed.

“Amelia.”

“Your Highness!”

She turned toward Josef, her voice trembling with emotion.

“Stop it. Why are you doing this?”

Philip wasn’t small, and his ceremonial uniform was thick. Seeing Josef lift and throw him so easily terrified her.

“Come here, Amelia.”

Josef’s expression was calm as he looked at her.

“Unless you want to see the young lord of the Clavier family end up in prison.”

“Why would you say that…”

A chill went through Amelia’s heart. Josef’s deep eyes were steady, but she could feel his anger.

“I’m fine… Amelia.”

Philip spoke in a low voice. He pulled away from her support and rose on his own.

“Philip…”

“Your Highness, Crown Prince of Olstein.”

Dust-covered, Philip faced Josef with a hardened expression.

“What did you mean by that?”

“Exactly what you heard,” Josef replied.

“You laid hands on an imperial hostage without my permission. That calls for punishment.”

“…Are you referring to me grabbing Amelia’s hand?”

Philip’s face contorted.

“‘Laying hands’… Your Highness, she is not someone’s possession.”

“Why not?” Josef answered, his tone almost puzzled.

“She’s my hostage.”

“…”

“Isn’t that why you were thrown to the ground?”

“I only wanted to speak with her,” Philip said, forcing his expression to remain calm. But his voice trembled as he struggled to suppress his emotions.

“And that’s a problem, too?”

“Of course it is.”

Josef’s cold smile deepened.

“What, exactly, are you allowed to do in this castle without my permission?”

“…”

“Go on, tell me.”

Philip glared at Josef in silence. It was a look Amelia had never seen before.

But she had no time to decipher its meaning. Her heart was racing in fear that Josef might harm Philip even further.

“At the very least, I can inquire after a friend’s well-being,” Philip finally said, his tone defiant.

“I went to see Amelia yesterday but couldn’t find her. I simply want to know why.”

Amelia felt her body freeze.