Amanda couldn’t help but smile at the place Oliver brought her too. Sometimes she wished she could see what was inside his head. Amanda admired the river as it flowed serenely past them. But when she returned to her mansion, Michael brought her a letter sent by Leon.
[I understand that you’re too busy with wedding planning. I’d like to help you a little, so how about I make you some time? If you refuse me, I have a feeling that things won’t go as smoothly.
Please don’t refuse me. Sincerely – Leon]
Amanda crumpled the letter in her fist, and Michael looked on in shock. She ignored the butler’s reaction and tossed the letter into the trash.
“Ah, My Lady…”
“The Second Prince must find it amusing to look down on me like this.”
All the shops abruptly said they wouldn’t be able to work, and the letter pointed to one thing–If she didn’t accept the invitation right away, Leon would sabotage the wedding. Amanda was dumbfounded for how he dared pull off this insane stunt. This was not just about Amanda. It was also the first wedding of Oliver, the Crown Prince of the Keith Empire. The Second Prince could not openly threaten them, but Leon still seemed determined to make a demonstration if she chose to ignore him. Most of all, Amanda was unhappy having to deal with these little games by Second Prince.
‘I can’t even show this to the Emperor. No one while testify that it was the Second Prince that made them do this.’
Leon had the support of Empress Madelyn and the Anita family, and not even Emperor Howard could lay a finger on his son. Amanda could not question a prince with evidence and witnesses.
‘If I tell Oliver, he won’t sit idly…’
She had been with Oliver long enough to understand his personality. If he found out that Leon tried to ruin wedding, he would use extreme means to punish his brother, but that wasn’t an appealing thought to Amanda either. Leon only made a slight provocation to force her to attend the party. If Oliver got involved, it would be an all-out war, and there was no telling what Leon would do. It would not stop at childish play. If the wedding ceremony were to be further sabotaged, there would be little time to fix it and it would lead to trouble.
‘Why on earth is he inviting me, anyway?’
A foreboding feeling shadowed her since she received the first invitation, but she didn’t understand his strange behavior. Was it simply out of curiosity because she was marrying Oliver? Or was it something else?
Michael looked at Amanda’s troubled expression and spoke up carefully.
“What are you going to do, My Lady?”
“If he wants to see me so much…then I’ll have to accept.”
“Are you sure you want to attend? It seemed strange when the message was sent again.”
Amanda’s jewel-like eyes flashed at his words.
“I need to go. I need to know who he is.”
If Oliver were to take over the throne, Leon would ultimately have to be cut out. Empress Madelyn’s and House Anita’s influence were great, but without the fact that the Second Prince inherited imperial blood, they were only a little more powerful than the other families. Still, while Oliver was crown prince, many nobles still believed that Leon would overthrow him and become emperor. To remove the threat, they had to defeat the Anita family, overcome Empress Madelyn, and finally face Leon.
Suddenly, Amanda recalled the words Leon said to her at the ball.
— Dance with me next time. I’m better than my brother.
Her lips curved in a smile. To her, Oliver was already beyond Amanda’s expectations in every way. He was smart, bold and a skilled swordsman. Oliver was indeed her chosen man.
‘How about I see this Second Prince?’
Her red eyes fell upon the decorated mask sent by Leon. He must have wanted her to wear it.
*
*
*
Amanda secured a red handkerchief to the window. She didn’t mean to tell Oliver about the wedding incident with Leon, but she wouldn’t keep the party secret.
It was the middle of the night. As usual, Amanda sat at her desk attempting to address the new complications regarding the wedding planning. She sensed someone enter the room, and she looked up from her work and noticed Quinlen.
“You’re here?”
Quinlen’s gray eyes gradually emerged from the dark.
“As I sensed last time, you have very good hearing.”
“So I do.”
Amanda turned around. She could sense subtle Quinlen’s presence near her, which was difficult for any ordinary person to do. Since she had detected him in the past, it didn’t make any different that he was caught now. Though mildly curious, Quinlen didn’t pry any further.
“Why did you call me?”
“I need to tell you something, and I thought a letter would take longer to arrive.”
“Please go on.”
“The Second Prince sent me an invitation to his party. I thought over it, and I decided to accept.”
“…That does seem suspicious.”
Amanda nodded in agreement and continued.
“I also mistrust the reasons for the invitation, but seeing as the Second Prince invited me himself, there’s no reason to refuse.”
That wasn’t entirely true, but that was Amanda’s approach for now. To put it plainly, Oliver wouldn’t allow her to attend the party otherwise, and hostilities with Leon could escalate. Although Oliver and Amanda decided to consult with each other on certain matters, she decided to take this on alone and discover what Leon planned for her herself.
‘I can’t always lean on Oliver.’
She would not be a crown princess that sat around obeyed Oliver’s orders. He must remember that Amanda was his sharpest sword that would cut down the enemies in his path.
“Are you asking me to protect you at the party, My Lady?”
“I’d appreciate that. The Second Prince officially invited me, so I don’t think he’ll hurt me…but just in case.”
There was not much that could directly harm Amanda, but Oliver would most definitely refuse if she didn’t at least protect herself. She was Lady Amanda now, not Len the guard, and so she couldn’t simply run around with a sword.
“I see. I’ll report it to the General and obtain an answer on what to do.”
“Yes. Please do it as soon as possible.”
“Is something wrong?”
Amanda glanced at the mask sent by Leon.
“The party is very soon.”
“When?”
Amanda answered the question with a faint smile.
“It’s tomorrow.”
She had already turned the invitation down once, so there was little time left. Quinlen’s expression quickly shifted when he heard Amanda’s words.