Just as Oliver said, gossip of what happened at the party quickly spread throughout high society. Unlike the current soft-spoken emperor Howard, the sudden, brutal appearance of Oliver was the prime topic among the nobility, compounded by the fact that he had spent years in the battlefield before appearing in capital society. While there had been stories about the Prince Leon, word about the Imperial Household now was far different from the past.
Inevitably, Amanda’s name became a topic of conversation as well. The revelation that she and Oliver had been in a relationship for a while now completely destroyed any other rumors. Oliver had even killed the nobleman who tried to frame her. As a result, only the rumors about Layla started by Amanda remained, and recently people began to make reference to Layla in a negative way.
“Why are you so jealous of me? You’re just like Lady Brown.”
“When was I jealous of you!”
This kind of conversation was common among the aristocrats these days, and it was said that Layla locked herself up in her mansion.
However, there was another issue that Amanda had to concentrate on just around the corner. She originally intended to tell her family that she would marry Oliver, whom she met at the ball…
But now it was out in the open that she had been in a secret relationship with him all this time. Amelia did not yet know that Amanda was secretly seeing the prince, however. The moment Amanda had to confess. They had never hidden anything from each other, and she was nervous that Amelia would be upset with her.
Amanda uncharacteristically gave a dry gulp.
“Amelia, I need to talk to you for a moment…”
“Hmm? What is it?”
Amelia, who was sitting leisurely in her room, stepped out when she heard Amanda’s call. Amelia was the picture of sweetness, but Amanda could not smile at the scene. Her face stiffened.
“I have to confess something to you. It’s a little bit too much to say here, um…Should we move somewhere else and talk over a cup of tea? “
“What? Why are you so serious, sister? “
Amelia was worried about her. Amanda was normally more straightforward and didn’t usually talk in a roundabout way.
Amelia wordlessly followed Amanda to an outside patio table, and they didn’t speak even after Mary brought Amelia’s favorite milk tea. Amanda found herself not knowing where to begin. Soon the silence became too oppressive.
“Amelia, drink your tea when it’s warm.”
“I will. But can you tell me what you want to say first?”
Amelia looked up curiously but Amanda remained hesitant. Amelia knew that her sister was struggling, so she patiently took a sip of her tea.
As Amanda watched Amelia cup her tea with both hands and blow gently on it’s steaming surface, she realized that this moment truly was real. Her words really would lead to a marriage with Oliver. She had already made this decision in her head over and over, but this was the first time that she would reveal it to her family.
“…Amelia.”
“Yes.”
“The truth is…”
Amelia tried to prompt Amanda further.
“What is it?”
After another moment, Amanda answered with a tight voice.
“…I’m in love.”
Amelia blinked owlishly a few times, then came to her senses.
“W-what?”
Her voice was louder than before.
“Actually…there’s a man I’ve been seeing for a while now.”
“Whaaaaat?”
Amelia’s mouth dropped open, before realizing her rudeness and covering her mouth with both hands. For a moment there was silence again. Amelia could not believe it. She suspected that Amanda was nervous about something, but she never dreamed that it was because she was seeing someone. Amanda hadn’t expressed any interest in men or relationships at all before. Of course, in reality Amelia’s suspicions were not wrong, as Oliver’s and Amanda’s marriage was one of convenience.
“‘A while now’…How long have you been seeing each other? No, no, wait. Who’s the man?”
The moment was finally here for Amanda. It was one thing to tell her sister that she had been seeing someone, but was even more nerve-wracking to tell her who it was.
“Well…”
“Is he in the capital city?”
“…It’s His Highness.”
“His Highness? Who…Oh my!”
Amelia eyes widened even more. She inferred it was Oliver as he was the one that danced with Amanda at the ball. Amelia stared at her sister in disbelief as if to ask, Are you really dating Oliver? Instead of answering, Amanda slowly nodded.
“Oh my God!”
Amelia squealed and leapt from her seat and ran in a circle around the table several times. She thought they looked beautiful together dancing at the ball…but she never imagined that the two would be together. Her words were a scramble in her mind. Amelia forced herself to calm and returned to the table and sat down. Her eyes shone with curiosity.
“How long have you been seeing each other? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Amelia’s questions left Amanda in a nervous sweat. She had already talked with Oliver about their new love story, and she was perfectly prepared this time. No matter what, this had to be seen as a loving marriage by everyone. It was the first term on the contract as well.
Pretend to act in love in public.
She didn’t want to worry her family, and Amanda spoke the words she had practiced in the mirror.
“The prince didn’t want to reveal our relationship. Since he had been at war all this time, he had planned to come to the capital later and meet our family…He had asked me to keep it a secret until then.”
She felt bitter about having to lie to her beloved sister, but life sometimes had to go by in ignorance.
“Since when did you meet him?”
“I ran into him…It just happened. We didn’t see each other often because he was always so far away.”
“I’m a little sad that you didn’t mention it to be.”
Amanda felt a pang of guilt in her heart. This love affair with Oliver was a complete lie, but this situation was real. She didn’t want to hide anything from her sister as much as possible.
“…I’m sorry.”
Amelia’s disappointed expression melted away at the sincerity of Amanda’s words. They had been together for a long time, and they didn’t need many words to understand each other. From Amelia’s point of view, Amanda must have liked Oliver so much to keep the secret to herself.
“So…was the Crown Prince the shy acquaintance who sent you the dresses and jewelry?”
“…Yes.”
“Wow, that’s great.”
She had wondered how important this mysterious acquaintance must be, but it turned out to be the crown prince.
“So he’s not just a handsome face. He must have deep feelings for you, too.”
Amanda nodded awkwardly and suddenly felt ashamed of her position. It really felt like she was introducing the man she liked.
“How about you?”
“…What?”
“Do you love him too?”
“Ah…”
She paused for a moment, then quickly came up with her answer.
“Yes. I love him so much.”
Hearing this, Amelia felt no need to ask any more questions.
“Then that’s enough.”
“…?”
“My sister is in love. That’s what love is all about. Like there is only one person in the world.”
“Y-yes.”
Amanda nodded in agreement. Amelia then took Amanda’s hands and continued on delightedly.
“Congratulations, sister! The last time I saw him at the ball, I thought he looked with great you…but yes, this is incredible!”
Amanda was still on edge despite the cheerfulness of Amelia’s response.
“Is…is that it?”
“Hmm? Is there something more?”
Amanda thought that Amelia would be more upset, but instead she seemed to be taking this too easily.
“I only need you to be happy. As long as you love the Crown Prince I will be too!”
Though the situation itself was fake, the warmth of Amelia’s heart was real. A smile flickered on Amanda’s features.
“…Thank you, Amelia.”
It may seem trivial to others, but Amelia always seemed to teach Amanda what happiness was. Because of her, Amanda valued every minute of this new life.
“Oh! I’m grateful you told me, but I don’t think this should be a secret from Father…”
“Yes, I think it’s time to be honest with Father. It’s because I’m thinking about marriage.”
“M-marriage?”
Amelia had only just found out they were seeing it each other, but now there was talk of marriage? She was worried how their father would react.
“Sister…”
Amelia once again gathered Amanda’s hands.
“I’ll help you when you talk to Father.”
Amanda smiled. In the aristocratic society where political marriages were common, she had no idea how her father would accept it either.
“Thank you for your support, Amelia. I’ll send a letter and let Aaron know about it.”
It would take some time before a letter would reach him. If possible, Amanda wanted to tell him as soon as possible before the rumors in the capital traveled south.
After a long conversation with Amelia, Amanda sat at her desk and began to pen her letter to Aaron.
She did not know at the time the commotion this letter would cause in the future.