Amanda spotted Layla the moment she entered the party. Layla was wearing a more noticeable dress today, and so she stood out from the crowd.
According to the intelligence Amanda received, Layla would attempt to give Oliver an aphrodisiac. It was most certain that Layla would wait until the most opportune moment. She had the advantage of being the only daughter of Brown Marquis, as well as having the backing of Empress Madelyn, one of the two great pillars of the Keith Empire. If Amanda couldn’t avoid the situation, she would have to deal with it as calmly as possible. And so, she bid her time until she would spring her trap.
‘I gave you my last warning.’
Amanda didn’t intend to hold back this time. She had already looked away once when Layla had spread rumors about her. Of course, she was more concerned about the damage to Oliver’s chance in becoming emperor, but Layla was once again acting hostile towards Amanda without a trace of repentance. It would be foolish to let this situation repeat. Amanda was going to trample the other woman under her feet.
‘To do so…’
Amanda would release the bait to trap her. For a moment, her red eyes darkened over. Oliver noticed her strange expression and looked at her curiously.
“What are you thinking of, my wife?”
“N-nothing. I’m married and I’m at my first public event, so I’ll need to introduce myself to the other noblewomen.”
“Go ahead.”
Even with Oliver’s permission, however, Amanda was reluctant to part from him. She knew the moment she left him, Layla, but also countless women, would descend upon Oliver. When she hesitated, Oliver took a step forward, and she instinctively grabbed his arm.
*
*
Oliver was beginning to get annoyed. Everywhere in the party, multiple women constantly dogged his footsteps. He was interrupted by an older woman stepping in his way and introducing her daughter. The nobles never approached him much before, but now they came upon him like hounds. He was feeling uncomfortable in this party, and yet …
When he sensed someone’s gaze on them and turned around, he found that Amanda was looking at them. Her red eyes were sharply raised as if she were unhappy…
Or as if she were jealous.
‘No way.’
This was too much wishful thinking.
However, the scenario repeated itself several times, and Oliver couldn’t ignore Amanda’s unusual behavior.
‘Don’t tell me…’
He couldn’t help but feel hopeful. His thoughts were filled with Amanda, when—
Dadadag, kuung!
A woman approached Oliver and spilled the wine she was holding. The action was so obviously deliberate that his brow furrowed.
“Oh my goodness, how could this have happened?”
The woman looked up at him helplessly, and Oliver could barely contain his already rising irritation. However, he stole a glance towards Amanda. Again, she was staring in this direction. What’s more, her expression was far more serious than before.
‘…Why?’
Oliver wondered why she would give such a look. He let the other woman approach, curious about her reaction.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. Please let me make it up to you. How about I clean your jacket?”
Oliver glanced at his wine-stained jacket and replied brusquely.
Updated from lightno/v/el/world[/.]com
“Do it.”
The woman’s face flushed as permission was given.
“Would you please follow me for a while? There are so many people here. I’ll take you to the room upstairs while I have your jacket cleaned.”
It was not something done under normal circumstances, but Oliver’s blue eyes once again looked in the direction of Amanda, who nodded gently.
“…Very well.”
The woman’s smile deepened at the answer. Her identity was Layla.