Chapter 48.2
Chapter 48.2
Since his involvement would eventually come to light, I simply expedited the process.
“It’s all thanks to you, Snowy.” I said, poking Snowy’s head affectionately.
‘Are we leaving this man here?’
“If Gilbert isn’t seen tomorrow, they’ll likely send people to look for him. The poison will keep him asleep for a full day, so we can leave him as he is.”
As a precaution, I’d leave one of the snakes to watch him, and I’d subtly alter the scene to make it easier to discover at a specific time tomorrow. I slowly rose to my feet.
***
I was exhausted. Rettie, arriving at dawn, hadn’t stopped talking.
“You absolutely mustn’t forget. You know that, right? Sis.” I’d been subjected to the word “sis”—a term I hadn’t heard properly in two decades—endlessly for the past few days.
“And if His Highness Haroon comes today, you absolutely must put in a good word for me, okay?”
“…I’ll think about it.”
“You absolutely, definitely must! You can mention how I’m doing, or even better, ask if His Highness remembers me.”
Yes, it was all because of Haroon Kisha. As the day of her arranged meeting with the Crown Prince approached, Rettie’s insistence on me relaying information to Haroon intensified. She’d pestered me with requests for his information, his schedule, and more. Now, on the day itself, she’d arrived at dawn, repeating everything she’d said over the past week.
My initial impression of Haroon had apparently been quite favorable, as she constantly schemed about how to see him again. She didn’t want to appear too eager, so she’d asked me to casually mention her. She planned a “chance” encounter disguised as fate and stressed the importance of gathering information about Haroon.
“You haven’t forgotten that I told you about my parents these past few days, right? So I’ll be looking forward to it, sis.” She clung to my arm, her voice dripping with feigned affection, as I prepared to leave.
Who is this person? Amelia Hazel didn’t have a sister like this. This unfamiliar behavior was disconcerting. I’d been giving vague answers to avoid the issue, but this was only going to make things more troublesome later. I stopped what I was doing and turned to Rettie.
“Rettie Hazel, wasn’t our agreement only to bring you to the last tea party?”
“….”
“I don’t recall making any other agreements.”
My firm tone momentarily wiped the smile from Rettie’s face, but not for long. She quickly brightened and linked arms with me again.
“What’s wrong all of a sudden, sis? I’m on your side. Can’t you do this much for me?”
As expected, Rettie Hazel was a formidable opponent. She would twist anything I said to her advantage. I gently disengaged my arm from hers.
“…If His Highness Haroon is present, and if he shows interest in you, I might mention you.” If Haroon happened to be with the Crown Prince today, and if he asked about Rettie Hazel, I might consider answering.
“You say that, but I know you’ll help me.” Rettie’s voice was full of anticipation. She seemed to be laboring under a significant misapprehension. I opened my mouth to correct her, then closed it. She wouldn’t listen to anything I said now.
“Miss Amelia.” As I checked the time, ready to leave, Tepine approached. She glanced at Rettie beside me.
“What is it, Tepine?”
“You have a visitor.” After I gave her a reassuring look, she continued, her cautious tone revealing the visitor’s identity.
“Would you relay the same message?”
“Understood.” Tepine replied quickly and departed. Rettie, who had been silently observing, tilted her head.
“A visitor…?”
“….”
“Oh, are you talking about Duke Asid?”
As she’d guessed, today’s visitor was Hector Asid.
“Ha…” This is such a bother. I sighed inwardly.
***
As soon as I stepped outside the count’s mansion, I frowned. A very familiar, and unwelcome, face was approaching.
“Amelia.”
“….”
“I heard you weren’t feeling well…”
I sighed inwardly at his words. I’d assumed he’d left after hearing Tepine’s message, but he’d waited. I stared at Hector Asid with a hardened expression.
“What is it, Hector?”
“Should you be out and about? Are you feeling better?”
His seemingly concerned tone made me raise an eyebrow. What was he playing at? He couldn’t have been visiting repeatedly just to inquire about my well-being, yet his opening lines were always filled with concern.
“Hector.”
“I heard the rumors. That you almost had a serious accident…”
“I’m confused, Hector.” I interrupted him, not bothering to hear him out. His red eyes looked down at me.
“You aren’t worried about me, are you, Hector?”
Hector blinked slowly, as if I’d said something strange. His long lashes fluttered.
“…Amelia.”
“Last time, and now again, you keep sounding like you’re worried about me.”
“I am worried about you. I was last time, and I am now. I’m being sincere.”
Pfft, I couldn’t help but scoff at his words. Seeing his bewildered expression made me want to laugh even more.
This man was truly insufferable.
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