Chapter 25

Honestly, it would’ve been better if she had just said a few embarrassing things.

This is insane!

Amelia jumped to her feet, her face flushed with panic. Eclite’s eyes widened at her sudden movement.

“My lady?”

Unable to meet his gaze, Amelia turned her back to him and stammered.

“I-I’m sorry! I must be out of my mind!”

“Well, maybe just a little…”

“And that night—I mean, seriously! Yes, I must have a very low alcohol tolerance. Extremely low! What kind of nonsense was I even saying?!”

Covering her burning face with both hands, she continued in a trembling voice.

“So that’s why you said that… Oh no. I really was the one who started it. I didn’t even know I had such an awful drinking habit. This is horrible…”

In the end, her voice grew thick, and her eyes welled up with tears. She looked as though she might cry at any moment.

Only then did Eclite fully understand what she was talking about.

She remembers.

“I’m so, so sorry! I’ll never drink again! Not ever! Of course I won’t. I’ll make up for this disgrace somehow—just wait!”

Despite her flustered state, she still managed to get all her words out before bolting out of the ballroom.

Left behind, Eclite let out a small sigh and smiled faintly.

“I just hope she doesn’t remember anything else…”

After all, he’d had a bit to drink too—and said some embarrassing things of his own.

Amelia, her cheeks still burning hot, paced the hallway in a panic.

She had no idea she was that kind of woman. She always thought of herself as dignified, composed. So how had she ended up saying something so mortifying?

She came to an abrupt stop and gently brushed her fingers against her lips.

Wait… did we kiss?

Try as she might, she couldn’t remember. That part of the night was just… blank.

Why can’t I remember the most important part?!

“W-wait! What do I mean ‘most important’?! What’s wrong with me?!”

Startled by her own thoughts, she quickly pulled her hand away from her lips.

“Of course we didn’t. He already has someone he cares about. That’s why he didn’t kiss me during the vow of lips. He was just pretending to love me—it wasn’t real.”

Her words were firm, but her mind was anything but. Her thoughts were a mess, and for some reason, her heart was beginning to ache—slow, dull, and unfamiliar.

What is this? Did another petal fall…?

Just then, Mami’s voice rang out behind her.

“My lady! A letter just arrived for you—”

“Mami.”

“Yes?”

Startled by Amelia’s serious expression, Mami instinctively tensed up. Amelia, feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to sort through her emotions, decided to ask her question in a roundabout way.

“So… I was reading a letter from Nurse Rosa, and she mentioned something her friend was going through.”

“Rosa’s friend? What about her?”

“Well, she’s… been working with this man. They do business together. And lately, they’ve grown kind of close. But the thing is… that man already likes someone else.”

“Ooh.”

Mami’s interest was instantly piqued by the unexpected romantic angle.

“And Rosa’s friend… says she just can’t help but be bothered by that. She doesn’t know why it’s affecting her so much.”

“Well, why is she bothered? Does she like him?”

“W-what?”

Amelia froze at the blunt question.

“I mean, if she doesn’t like him, then it shouldn’t matter. Why worry about who he likes unless she likes him too?”

“N-no! She doesn’t like him! They just work together. They’re partners. It’s only natural to want to understand each other better—”

“Wow. So now she wants to understand him?” Mami raised a brow. “If they’re just doing business, why does she care about his love life at all?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

Mami folded her arms, unconvinced.

“If she didn’t have feelings for him, none of this would matter. But she does—that’s why she’s thinking about it. You can’t get that worked up unless you’re already falling for someone.”

“No. Absolutely not.”

Amelia spoke with conviction. Like someone drawing a firm line in the sand.
Like someone in love? With whom? With His Grace? Absolutely not!

Mami blinked, taken aback by Amelia’s overly stern denial.

“Why do you sound so serious, my lady…?”

“I’m just saying… there’s no way I’m in love. Absolutely not.”

Besides, she wasn’t the type of person to entertain those kinds of feelings anymore. She’d been hurt—deeply—because of them before. Why did she even become the head of Fiore? Why was she chasing revenge?

And now I’m getting swept up in that same emotion again?
If His Grace found out, he’d probably be so disappointed. He placed his trust in me… chose to walk beside me…

To say she had feelings for him? No. Absolutely not.

Seeing Amelia’s darkening expression, Mami hesitated before gently handing her the envelope.

“Actually… a letter from Nurse Rosa just arrived. If you’re still curious, maybe you could ask her directly.”

“A letter? From Rosa?”

Amelia’s face lit up, but as she took the envelope, a trace of suspicion flickered across her expression.

“Wait. Already?”

She had only sent her letter a short while ago. It couldn’t be time for a reply yet.

“You sent it to the right address, right? And we didn’t use any magical communication methods.”

“Of course not. Didn’t you say Nurse Rosa doesn’t even have a magical communicator?”

“Exactly. So how is this here so soon? The last one came quickly too…”

At her words, Mami tilted her head in confusion.

“You’re right… it did arrive quickly. But how did that last one get here so—?”

Before she could finish, someone called for her in the distance.

“Well, go ahead and check it. Even if it’s early, it’s still from Nurse Rosa, right?”

“True…”

With a polite nod, Mami stepped away to answer the call. Left alone, Amelia opened the letter, still feeling slightly suspicious.

But the handwriting was unmistakably Nurse Rosa’s.

Inside were the usual warm words—congratulations on the wedding, and how she always looked forward to the day they could meet again with fluttering excitement.

“To my most precious and cherished little violet…”

Even the final line was just as it always had been.

But as Amelia whispered that last sentence aloud, something strange happened. Her voice seemed to overlap with another—one that didn’t belong to her.

“…Your Grace.”

She was certain she had heard him say it—during the wedding. She remembered the flowers blooming across her dress after that moment too.

But how could His Grace possibly know what was written in Nurse Rosa’s letters?

He had never once commented on the “miracle of the dress,” and certainly showed no reaction to this letter either.

Still, the sense of familiarity was unnerving—something was digging at her, deeper and deeper.

She stared at the violet that had come with the letter, feeling something different than she ever had before.

Just then, another maid approached her.

“My lady.”

Amelia quickly hid the letter and composed her expression.

“Yes? What is it?”

“Sir Isana is requesting a private audience with you.”

“Sir Isana?”

Later that day, Amelia made her way to the Tiers’ training grounds. It had been Isana’s request to meet her there.

“Now that I think about it, I’ve never actually been here before.”

She had trained briefly during her examination period, but never set foot in the official grounds used by the Tiers.

The Tiers were Fiore’s elite sniper unit—known throughout Solra as the “Blood Iris.”
Sworn to protect Fiore and serve the Empire under the name of the Emperor.
All members aside from the commander and vice-commander operated under codenames, their identities strictly hidden to protect their lives.

The Tiers she had seen during the exam or the title ceremony were only a small portion. Most were scattered across Solra—guarding borders, conducting secret missions.

Amelia ran her hand along the surface of a weathered long rifle. She was still awkward with rifles. Covering tactics and long-distance sniping didn’t come naturally to her.

“Revolvers are just easier,” she muttered.

“No other Tier would say that, my lady. And I don’t think you realize how terrifying that statement is.”

Amelia looked up to see Isana, standing before her with his usual bright smile. Though he was no longer dressed in the ceremonial uniform he’d worn at the title ceremony—instead donning worn-out training gear—his striking appearance still made him stand out.

Beside him, another figure approached and knelt politely before her.

“I am Vice-Captain Kallen Emile. It’s an honor to serve you, my lady!”

“It’s good to meet you, Sir Kallen.”

“I only brought him along because he really wanted to meet you in person. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

Isana wasn’t lying. Kallen’s round eyes sparkled as he gazed up at Amelia. It was… admittedly, quite endearing.

“One day, I hope to watch your training from up close, my lady!”

“Training?”

Isana sighed and grabbed Kallen gently by the back of the collar.

“All right, all right. That’s enough for now, Kallen.”

“Yes, sir! I’ll leave you two to talk!”

Once Kallen had walked off, Amelia turned to Isana, still looking puzzled.

“So? Why did you ask me to come all the way out here?”

“First of all,” Isana began, his voice calm, “I wanted to inform you that the priest who ruined the Blessing Flower ritual has already left Fiore territory.”

Amelia’s expression stiffened at the unexpected comment.

“That matter should already have been handed over to the Holy Council, right?”

“They’ll handle the judgment,” Isana replied with a light smile, “but we should still look for him ourselves. If he disappears before the council finds him, that could be troublesome.”

His tone was casual, but the cold edge to his words was unmistakable.

“I won’t tolerate anyone laying a hand on the Head of House Fiore.”

Amelia knew that Isana’s loyalty wasn’t directed at her personally—it was for Fiore. And that made her even more curious. He loved Fiore so deeply and was capable, yet something about him felt different, something she couldn’t quite place.

She looked at him intently, and Isana responded with a playful grin.

“Why are you staring at me like that? If you keep looking at me so intently, my heart might start fluttering.”

“You’re good-looking.”

The words slipped out before Amelia could stop them. Isana blinked in surprise.

“Wow. That was blunt. You’ve only just gotten married, though. I guess secret talks between a noblewoman and her knight aren’t all that rare.”

Amelia ignored his teasing, pressing on with her question.

“I’ve also heard you’re quite skilled.”

“What’s your real question?”

“Why didn’t you participate in the head-of-house selection trial? I’m sure you were recommended.”

“I was. But I declined.”

“Why?”

“Because I love the Tiers too much,” he said without hesitation. “Becoming Head of House means making decisions that could hurt them. Giving orders is different from carrying them out yourself. Emotions can cloud judgment. So, I chose to serve under someone who would make better decisions than I could.”

He smiled, but his voice dropped, more serious now.

“I love Fiore. I don’t want to become a blemish on it.”

Amelia’s gaze flickered as she absorbed his words.

A blemish? What does he mean by that?

“So, you really do think I’m good-looking, huh?” he added with a teasing tone.

“What?” Amelia replied, flustered.

Isana chuckled softly.

“I thought you only had eyes for His Grace. The maids are whispering about you two—saying your love is so sweet it could melt sugar.”

Amelia felt her face flush, but before she could react, Isana leaned down slightly, bringing their eyes level.

“Well, since we’ll be working together closely, I’m glad to know you see me in a good light. Let’s get to know each other better.”

Amelia blinked, caught off guard, as Isana continued.

“I want to understand you properly, my lady. And if, in the process, I happen to develop… other kinds of feelings for you, I won’t mind.”

A strange chill settled over her. His words, though playful, felt unsettling. The smile on his face—bright and seemingly warm—suddenly seemed cold, like winter’s chill.

Something about him felt dangerous.

They stood there, both locked in an uneasy gaze, when suddenly…

“My lady.”

A familiar voice broke through, and a fierce gust of wind swept between them. Amelia squinted against the wind, instinctively lowering her head. Before she could react, Eclite wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close and shielding her from the wind.

“Your Grace?” she murmured in surprise.

Eclite held her firmly, his gaze locked on Isana with cold intensity.

As the wind settled, Isana lowered his head, his expression neutral.

“Your Majesty the Grand Duke.”

“I was looking for you,” Isana said.

But Eclite ignored him completely, his focus fixed solely on Amelia.

“For me?” she asked, surprised.

Isana let out a dry laugh, swallowing back his frustration. That icy glare from earlier still gave him chills.

So this is what happens when the Black Lion of the battlefield gets jealous. He really might kill someone with a look.

Yes, that killing intent he felt earlier—this, too—was all jealousy. He had assumed the rumors circulating among the maids were exaggerated, but now…

I thought this marriage had some secret behind it, but… maybe there’s sincerity, too?

Eclite didn’t like Isana. Not one bit. He hadn’t even told Amelia, but he’d been bothered ever since secretly watching her training session that day.

“So why exactly were you looking for me?” Amelia asked, studying Eclite’s face.

Caught off guard, he hesitated for a moment.

“Oh, well… um…”

The truth was, he had rushed over after hearing from a maid that Amelia was alone with Isana. That was it.

“M-Mami said she was looking for you…”

“Mami? But I just saw her earlier. Did something urgent come up?”

Isana fought to suppress his laughter. So the Grand Duke came running just because a maid said she was looking for her? And she believes that without a second thought?

“Well then, Sir Isana,” Amelia said, “we’ll be heading off. I won’t stop you from continuing to investigate the priest yourself—but do be careful. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”

“Of course, my lady. I’ll make sure the Holy Council doesn’t get wind of it. However…”

“You have something else to say?”

At Isana’s interruption, Eclite’s brow furrowed deeply. Isana, perhaps out of mischief—or something more—wasn’t quite ready to let them leave. There was still something he wanted to say.

“There’s a reason I asked you to come here, my lady. I wanted you to get more comfortable with long rifles, not just revolvers.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re strong, and you have talent. But relying only on a revolver isn’t enough. You need to be competent with cover tactics and long-range shooting too.”

“All Tiers are snipers, but…”

“That’s not the point. It’s about safety,” Isana said seriously, his smile fading.

“If you’re going to stay safe, it’s better to keep your enemies at a distance. Close combat is too dangerous. If you’ll allow it, I’d like to train you myself.”

Amelia looked slightly taken aback. What he said made sense—but could a sniper commander really take the time to train her? Wouldn’t it be a waste of his time? Surely someone else in the unit could do it just as well.

“There’s no need for the commander to go out of his way,” she began carefully.

But before she could say more, Eclite cut in with a voice like ice.

“Isn’t he busy? Or is the Fiore sniper unit just sitting around with nothing to do? Or maybe it’s just the commander who’s got too much time on his hands. Is discipline in Fiore this lax?”

Amelia flinched slightly.

That was a bit much…

“I’m not idle,” Isana replied calmly, still wearing a light smile. “But protecting our head of house is a top priority. It’s the commander’s duty—and it takes precedence over everything else.”

He paused, then added pointedly, “You may be her husband, Your Grace, but to us, she’s the master we serve and protect. The weight of our responsibilities might differ.”

“The weight…?” Eclite repeated, his tone sinking even lower.

“Of course it’s different. On both sides.”

The air grew heavy with tension. Eclite’s gaze darkened, and Isana’s smile widened, though it held no warmth. Between them, not even a flicker of goodwill remained.

Amelia, caught in the middle of the chilling standoff, swallowed hard.

What is going on? Why are they suddenly like this?

Just then, like a lifeline, Mami’s voice rang out.

“My lady! My lady!”

Amelia had never been so relieved to hear her.

“Mami!” she called back, her voice filled with relief.

She nearly ran to her just to escape the awkward, suffocating atmosphere.

“I thought His Grace said you were looking for me? Is something wrong?”

“Huh? Me?” Mami blinked in confusion. “I wasn’t looking for you, my lady.”

“But His Grace said…”

Amelia turned to Eclite, who immediately avoided her gaze and changed the subject.

“So… what brings you here?”

Isana could barely hold back another laugh. To think the man who’d been glaring daggers just moments ago now looked so awkward and flustered.

To think someone could disarm the Black Lion this easily… Our lady is stronger than she looks.

Mami’s expression turned more serious as she began to explain.

“It’s about that wild animal I mentioned earlier.”

“The one destroying the orchard?” Amelia asked.

“Yes. I thought it had been dealt with, but apparently not. Now it’s not just the orchards—it’s started attacking livestock.”

Isana frowned slightly.

“Is that really something worth reporting to the head of the family?”

“That’s not all. They say someone was killed.”