A Way to Confirm Your Husband’s True Feelings - Chapter 27

“Look at her blushing. How adorable. Don’t tease the newlyweds too much, Your Highness. You do realize you might be next in line to be teased, don’t you?”

If Amelia hadn’t intervened in her usual gentle tone, the atmosphere might have turned awkward.

Thanks to her, Beatrice was able to escape both the Crown Prince’s teasing and the uncomfortable tension with Caesar just a few moments later.

“I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about, but in the meantime, would it be alright if I kidnapped Beatrice for a bit? Thanks to the Margrave monopolizing her for the past ten months, I have a lot to catch up on with my little sister.”

While Caesar fumbled to respond to Amelia’s words, taking them seriously, Edgar smiled and gave the two women permission to step away.

“Oh, Beatrice. I’ll ask you again formally later, but have you given any thought to what I mentioned in my letter last time?”

That the Crown Prince would bring that up just before parting was unexpected.

“Ah…”

“Take your time to think it over. Just let me know before the wedding. And make sure to talk it over with your husband, too.”

Her eyes met Caesar’s for a brief moment, but Beatrice looked away. Since she hadn’t told him about it yet, he likely had no idea what was being discussed.

“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll give it careful thought and let you know.”

Caesar seemed like he wanted to ask something, but Amelia took Beatrice’s hand and began to pull her away, leaving no room for further delay.

As soon as Edgar and Caesar disappeared from sight, Amelia asked,

“What’s this about a letter?”

“Oh, actually… His Highness suggested I consider becoming a lady-in-waiting to the future Crown Princess. He said by that time, I’ll have been married for over a year, and since we’re close in age, we might get along well…”

“Really? Hmm, it’s not a bad offer, but are you alright with it?”

In the Empire, most noblewomen remained socially active even after marriage. Some ran businesses, established foundations, continued their research as scholars, or managed their estates.

There were also many noblewomen like Beatrice who were recommended for and served as imperial ladies-in-waiting. Though the title was lady-in-waiting, it was closer to being a conversation partner or friend, and it was considered a highly honorable position for serving royalty up close.

Most likely, Edgar had made the offer out of goodwill toward both House Estern and Beatrice.

“I’m still thinking about it, but… Yeah, I think I might accept.”

At first, she had planned to turn it down politely. Not because she disliked the idea of being a lady-in-waiting, but because the distance between the Valentin estate and the capital was so great, and she felt she wouldn’t have the energy to manage the estate on top of everything else.

However, when Edgar sent another letter not long ago, Beatrice’s heart wavered a little.

It reminded her of Regina’s advice—that in order to overcome a rough patch with her husband, she should keep herself busy with her own pursuits.

Indeed, if she became a lady-in-waiting, her daily life would become far more hectic than it was now. With so many other things to worry about, she might be able to think less about her husband.

But since she hadn’t made a final decision yet—and her relationship with Caesar was still lukewarm—she hadn’t brought it up to him.

I’ll explain it on the carriage ride home, Beatrice resolved, when Amelia suddenly hugged her tightly.

“Alright, just do what your heart tells you, Betty. Who cares about the lady-in-waiting stuff. Let me see your face first. I heard the same rumors His Highness did—that honey’s practically dripping from the borderlands these days. But you look a lot gloomier than I expected, why is that?”

A year older than Regina, Amelia was the most affectionate and loving of the sisters. Always generous with her displays of emotion, she had been the one to hug Beatrice the most since they were young.

Maybe that’s why. Once she was wrapped in Amelia’s warm embrace, Beatrice felt like a child again, on the verge of tears. It must have shown on her face, even at a glance.

She had only wanted to show her family how happy she was.

But all of a sudden, everything felt unbearably sad.

***

“So what you’re saying is… your husband, who hasn’t even been married to you for a year yet, is already sick of you?”

“Yes, Sister… that’s what I think.”

Sensing something was seriously wrong, Amelia had taken her sister to a private lounge where they could speak alone, and Beatrice told her everything that had happened so far.

“So now you’re following Regina’s advice and keeping your distance from him?”

“That’s right. It seemed like a good idea…”

“And what’s the Margrave’s reaction?”

At Amelia’s follow-up question, Beatrice’s eyes reddened again, the tears she’d barely held back threatening to fall.

“That’s the problem. He doesn’t react at all. I mean literally, nothing. No curiosity, no complaints, not even anger. I guess that’s because… he really has no interest in me at all.”