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“Today, I see a new side of you, Young Lady.”
It was the comment that came out of the Crown Prince’s mouth after he spent some time choosing his words.
I thought that nothing would change even if I made excuses about all this now.
As expected, everyone in this house clashes with me.
Yet, in the meanwhile, my mom giggled as though she were excited.
These last few days, there was nothing special she did except for being together with the Duke in the mansion, or calling the seamstress to make new dresses.
Looking at her smiling face, I wondered if I thought too far.
Still, let’s wait and see for a while.
I couldn’t stop what I had started.
There were also some things I couldn’t be convinced of yet.
“How is Jeremy doing here?”
“He’s doing well.”
Orion answered lightly.
The Crown Prince was silent for a moment at that answer, then changed his question.
“How is Young Lady Miller doing here?”
“When morning comes, she opens the door to her daily life with a fresh orange juice, and for breakfast, she has it with light meals. Then, she likes to take a stroll in the garden before going to the academy. She usually goes to school . . .”
He looked like he would talk about my daily life right up to the moment I went to bed if he was left to be.
Meanwhile, Jeremy wore a calm expression as though he was used to it.
No one was surprised, as they were used to it, so they looked as though they didn’t know if anything was wrong.
The Crown Prince’s gaze stayed on me for a moment and then disappeared.
He quickly talked to Jeremy to halt Orion’s words.
“What do you do these days?”
Jeremy, who turned stiff as he was flustered at the unexpected question, blinked his eyes and looked at me.
Then, he carefully answered with a trembling voice.
“These days, I receive basic training from Master, and . . .”
“I heard you recently asked the maintenance expenses for your dignity to be sent to this mansion.”
Jeremy’s face turned red.
The Crown Prince looked like he didn’t think much about it and asked.
“I’m just asking if there’s a reason you needed quick cash.”
“I made some investments.”
The Crown Prince looked surprised at the small voice.
The prince who left the palace for a while for his psychological stability invested out of sudden?
This could be seen as a bad thing.
“Investments.”
I, who knew about Jeremy’s investment, quickly recommended something to the Crown Prince.
“I think it’d be good if you two took a walk together in the garden after the meal. His Highness can properly explain about his investments then.”
The Crown Prince, who still looked unconvinced, eventually nodded.
As the conversation ended, the music once again filled the wide space.
It hadn’t been an hour since he arrived in this mansion, yet the Crown Prince already looked like he lost all his energy.
* * *
“Young Duke, I need to speak to you for a minute.”
When the Crown Prince called Orion, Jeremy quickly went to his room.
He looked like he was wary, in case his name would be called.
I was planning to suggest he join me for dessert, but I decided to leave him alone.
I thought it would be better to call on him later after the guest left.
A maid passing by subtly approached me, looked around then whispered.
“The Duchess is having a love conversation with the Duke in his office now.”
“Mm, I see.”
She, who had determined expression, quickly disappeared as if she had accomplished her mission.
I had been listening to Mom’s whereabouts a few times a day, so I wasn’t surprised.
However, I suddenly realized it while I was walking down the hallway.
Orion was walking with the Crown Prince outside the house, and Mom was in the office downstairs with the Duke.
Jeremy must be in his own room.
Everyone was serving the Crown Prince’s attendants in the living room.
My steps grew faster.
* * *
I walked the messy room familiarly and headed to her dressing table.
The box where she put the earring she received from me still lingered faintly in my memory.
A red light was revealed inside the piled accessories.
“This is it.”
A pair of bright red ruby earrings were placed on the palm of my hand.
When I was about to leave the room in a haste, someone suddenly opened the door.
Surprised, my eyes first caught the maid uniform.
At this time, it was impossible for a maid to enter the room when Mom wasn’t present.
“What brings—”
I opened my mouth at the curious thing, but then,
“I was surprised because you’re not in your room, Young Lady.”
It was a familiar voice.
A voice pretending to be friendly and kind, but with a strange sense of hostility.
The maid raised her head.
“I was worried that I might not be able to find you.”
Said Mago Philip while smiling at me.
There was a small dagger in her hand.