“No! This is unfair! I was only using an aphrodisiac—!”
They had taken away the tea, but Layla had nothing to hide. The onlooking nobles began to whisper among themselves after Layla’s startling confession.
“Oh my God, did you hear what she said?”
“Lady Brown tried to give the Crown Prince an aphrodisiac.”
Whatever the context, this was pure entertainment for the guests. Tomorrow morning, the social circles would be awash with gossip about the party. Layla spoke quickly, her eyes darting frantically around the room.
“Well, I was forced to!”
“By who?”
Amanda stared at her coldly, and Layla racked her thoughts.
“It-it was Hailey! Hailey Jenner told me to approach the Crown Prince this way—”
Ttubeog ttubeog.
But before Layla could finish, Hailey slowly walked into the room. There was a variety of emotions playing on her face, but mostly fear. Layla murmured to herself in shock.
“Y-you…”
Amanda watched as Layla was taken aback.
“It was Lady Jenner that informed me that you would commit this crime.”
“W-what?”
Layla’s eyes widened once again. She couldn’t understand why Hailey would suddenly betray her. The fact that Layla had just placed sacrificed Hailey for her own life had already been forgotten.
“You! How dare you set me up? You think you’ll ever be safe in this palace?”
Layla screamed in rage, but Hailey didn’t respond, her expression darkened. There was no need to exchange words anymore.
Amanda deliberately allowed the scene to play out before the other nobles. Only when this became known in society could punishment be made more fairly. Amanda achieved what she intended, so she turned to the guards to give them an order.
“Take her to the interrogation room.”
In order to prevent an intervention from the Brown family or Empress Madelyn, Amanda had assigned an interrogator in advance. This time, Layla wouldn’t be let off so easily. Amanda was going to take this opportunity to make her pay.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The guards began to drag Layla out of the room.
“Let go! Let go of me!”
Layla resisted with all her strength, but it was futile against the muscled guards. Soon after, Hailey silently bowed to Amanda and then followed the group out the door. Hailey would testify against Layla as promised. There was also plenty of evidence that Layla had secretly purchased the aphrodisiac.
When the scene was over, the guests went back into the party, whispering among themselves.
*
*
*
Before long, only Oliver and Amanda remained in the room. The door was closed behind them, and silence hovered awkwardly in the air. It was Oliver who broke the silence.
“Did you know someone would give me an aphrodisiac?”
“…Yes.”
“Is that why you looked so angry?”
“What?”
She fixed him with a blank look, and he spoke again.
“You looked at me like you were jealous of other women.”
Amanda couldn’t hide her surprise. Despite her attempts to hide her inner thoughts, he seemed to have read her mind, and she gave him a hasty reply.
“No. I was only watching just in case you needed my help.”
“…Ha.”
Oliver gave a sudden low chuckle. His forehead was creased, however, and his laughter was not a good one.
“I didn’t know that. I was imagining things.”
Amanda couldn’t understand the meaning of his muttered words, but as soon as he finished speaking, Oliver stood up from his seat and strode towards Amanda. His eyes seemed to burn in a heated stare.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this plan earlier?”
“No matter how much I knew about the plan in advance, there is nothing as certain as being at the scene.”
“What if I drank the drug?”
Amanda quickly fished out a small glass vial that she had.
“Did you drink it? Then take this antidote quickly, just in case.”
Oliver quietly looked between the antidote and Amanda, his frown deepening. He sighed and swept his hair roughly with one hand.
“I don’t know why I’m so angry.”
“I don’t know what this is about, but if I’ve upset you in any way…I apologize.”
As soon as Amanda finished speaking, Oliver grabbed her slender shoulders with both hands. He lowered his head and made eye contact with her, his voice taking on a deep tone.
“…Amanda.”
She was unused to him calling her by her first name, and her heart began to race. A line had been drawn in the past, but it was her first time realizing that hearing her naming coming out of someone’s mouth could be so exciting.
“What would have happened if you didn’t discover this plan in time? What if I spent the night with another woman like a fool?”
Amanda didn’t understand the purpose of the question. But if that were to happen, there was only one path.
“…Then I would have to live with you having a second wife.”
Oliver’s grip on her shoulders tightened.
“Eut.“
Amanda gave a faint gasp of pain, and the power in Oliver’s grasp suddenly melted away. He looked at her with an expression of regret.
“You won’t even get jealous if I bring in another woman?”
“…”
The question struck Amanda dumb. Of course she would jealous. She grappled with it every day. She tried to persuade herself to be satisfied if her family were simply alive and Oliver became emperor. But it was hopeless…she couldn’t help the greed she had for him.