Even after Isaac’s visit to the palace, Amanda remained busy with further preparations. Not only did she have to work out the details of the date, but she was taking painstaking care to select her dress tonight, far more than with any party or event so far.
Amanda turned to Mary, who was helping her with her fitting.
“How about this? Does this look alright?”
“Of course. All of the dresses you tried so far are beautiful.”
“I’m glad that they are…”
Amanda peered at herself in the mirror.
“…but tonight I want a look that can’t easily be forgotten.”
Oliver complimented her every day for looking beautiful, but tonight she wanted to give him a memory that years from now he would remember with stunned appreciation.
Mary gave a quiet smile.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so meticulous, Your Highness. You seem even more nervous than the wedding.”
“Do you think so?”
“Yes. Are you looking forward to going on your date?”
Amanda’s cheeks colored. She couldn’t bring herself to deny it. It was the first time she and Oliver would go out together since she realized her feelings for him.
“Is it that obvious? That’s embarrassing…”
Mary’s smile widened at Amanda’s honest words. It wasn’t often that she saw Amanda look this happy.
“Why? Wouldn’t you prefer to be more honest with the Crown Prince?”
“I do have something to tell him tonight.”
She couldn’t say to Mary that she was in love, as the maid long believed they were already so. Amanda continued, pointing to another dress on a hanger.
“I’ll try that on, too.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Mary picked up the dress Amanda indicated. For the first time in Amanda’s life, she experienced the dissatisfaction of being unable to choose what to wear, and went through a dozen dresses before making a final selection. After finishing with hair and makeup, she looked around and studied herself in the mirror again.
‘I wish a were a little prettier…’
It would have been a shocking statement to anyone who would have heard her say that. Her flowing golden hair, clear skin, and ruby eyes would turn anyone’s head. She had almost a doll-like perfection to her, but Amanda had never paid much attention to her appearance before. However, love could make one do anything. She wanted to be the most beautiful person in the world to Oliver’s eyes.
Mary approached her from behind and spoke.
“The Crown Prince has arrived.”
“Very well.”
She surreptitiously tucked the ring box away and stepped out.
Ttogag ttogag—
As the couple were not going on official imperial business, their departure was a quiet affair. Oliver stood in front of a plain carriage waiting for Amanda, but he himself looked so handsome that even an ordinary vehicle somehow seemed luxurious.
“Oliver.”
Oliver looked up, his blue eyes widening when he spotted her. His gaze was fiery as she approached, and when she arrived he spoke in a husky voice.
“You’ll make things more difficult for me if you become any more beautiful.”
“…?”
“What if I want no one else to look at you?”
Amanda smiled gently at the possessive longing in his words.
“You don’t have to worry what other people see. You already said that I was yours.”
For a moment, Oliver froze. Then he burst out laughing, covering his forehead with his hand.
“…My wife dominates me more and more.”
However, Amanda didn’t hear him clearly.
“Hm? What did you say?”
“Nothing. I’m looking forward to tonight.”
He chuckled and held out his hand to escort Amanda to the carriage. As she took his hand, Amanda ran the schedule in her head again and became even more excited with anticipation. Tonight, she would give him a ring and confess to him the true feelings of her heart. Oliver would smile warmly at her, and say there was nothing more he could wish for.
Oliver safely escorted Amanda into the carriage before boarding himself. He took his seat, then looked at her with tender eyes.
“Where to?”
“First, let’s go to the opera house.”
*
*
*
Amanda and Oliver were seated together in a box at the opera house. It was intimate, luxurious, and—most of all—private.
As the opening performance began, Amanda opened her mouth to speak in a soft voice.
“This performance is the same one I saw with my mother when I went to the opera for the first time.”
“I see. So holds a lot of meaning for you.”
“Yes. This was the performance I wanted to show you when we were children.”
“…!”
Oliver’s eyes widened. They had only met briefly, but their childhood encounter remained vivid in his mind. He had repeated their conversations countless times in his head when he fought in the hellish battlefield.
— Of course. So are you coming to my home? I’ll watch the opera with you, and we can go to the bakery…I’ll show you a lot of other fun stuff. Promise!
Since then, Oliver had longed to watch the opera with Amanda and stroll around the streets freely. He turned his eyes back to the stage with a peculiar look on his face.
“Yes. You did say that.”
Amanda looked at Oliver seated next to her and continued.
“Yes. Tonight I’m going to fulfill the promises I made to you.”
“That means…”
“When this opera is over, let’s visit Charlie’s Bakery together.”
Oliver turned to her with mild surprise.
“The bakery still exists?”
“Yes. The bakery is so popular that they have stores in the provinces as well as the capital. The man who ran the bakery at the time passed away, and the business is now run and named after his son Charles. Their bread is something to boast about.”
A soft smile played across Oliver’s face as he listened to her speak. It wasn’t his usual smile, and Amanda remembered that he did not forget the conversation they had as children.
‘He must have gone through as many hardships on the battlefield as I did.’
In the beginning, she had suffered harshly as a woman on the battlefield with no proper skills. Maybe Oliver wasn’t so different. It was hard to imagine how much he experienced before he was even an adult. She wished she could return to their childhood and protect Oliver from the suffering and hardships of the world. But she couldn’t. It was in the past.
But that didn’t mean she could do nothing at all. They could still start from the beginning. With that in mind, Amanda planned their night out together accordingly. Although she would be late in expressing her feelings, she wanted to be honest with him.
‘…I love you too.’
Her feelings weren’t unrequited. If he said to her “I love you”, she could reply “I love you, too.” A tender ache started to form in her chest.
“Can I lean on your shoulder?”
Oliver looked at her in surprise, and then his gaze softened.
“You don’t need to ask for something obvious.”
Amanda smiled at the sparkling heat in Oliver’s blue eyes. His feelings were directed only to her.
With his permission, Amanda gently leaned her head against Oliver’s shoulder. It was solid and broad, but it was the most comfortable place in the world. As Amanda was watching the opera—
Seueueg.
Oliver’s large hand cupped her face, and he lightly pressed his lips against her forehead. Amanda looked up at him in wonder, and he smiled.
“Tonight is the best gift.”
She didn’t express it in words, but she had the same feeling.
She secretly fingered the ring case. The night wasn’t over yet.
*
*
*
The same time.
The news of Oliver’s and Amanda’s outing was not only passed on the Marquis Brown, but the Empress as well. She received news faster than anyone else in the Imperial Palace. Her lady-in-waiting, Cassana, leaned down to whisper in Empress Madelyn’s ear.
“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince’s carriage has departed.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Will Marquis Brown follow?”
“It’s good if he does, and it doesn’t matter if he fails.”
A venomous smile crept on Madelyn’s mouth.
“Now that Layla is involved in a murder attempt of an Imperial Family member, the Brown family is also getting weaker. They will be to my advantage until they’re no longer useful.”
Layla was beyond even the rescue of the Empress now, as Layla’s attempts to administer the aphrodisiac were too obvious. Madelyn could have softened the punishment, but she had no interest in dirtying herself in the crime. Using Layla’s father, Oswald, brought her far greater gain, while Layla acted as a shield. It was for this reason that Madelyn made her a lady-in-waiting. Madelyn was pleased that her pieces were falling into place.
Cassana nodded, as if she understood the Empress’ goal.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Then we’ll just have to watch.”
“Oliver’s death will be the most desirable outcome, but if the plan fails, Marquis Brown will take full responsibility.”
“You mean…”
“Send more troops, but do not alert Marquis Brown. If it appears that the Crown Prince is slipping from his grip, have them assist.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Oswald’s forces were already substantial, and the addition of the Empress’ men would further bloat their numbers. Madelyn did not want to miss the satisfaction of the Crown Prince crying in agony.
A sly smile spread across her lips.
“I hope Oliver’s neck falls before me tonight.”