Chapter 15: Seeds of Doubt

“Send these out immediately.”

Handing the meticulously sealed invitations to the butler, Iris pressed her tired eyes and began observing the silver-haired girl sprawled on the sofa.

Evrys, who had stormed out as if she would never return, had come back in the afternoon, claiming she would supervise Iris to make sure she wasn’t training.

And yet, she was now engrossed in a book.

Her expressions changed with each turn of the page, reflecting the story’s progression.

Smiling, frowning, blushing.

After a while, Evrys rested her arm on the table and began fumbling around, as if searching for something.

Seemingly unwilling to tear her eyes from the book, she continued to grope the table until she finally located the plate of snacks.

Her small hand grabbed a handful and shoved them into her equally small mouth, munching away without a glance.

A little later, she yawned, rubbing her eyes, perhaps finding the book a bit boring.

She stretched her legs, then hesitated, as if wanting to change positions.

Iris thought she could watch Evrys like this forever without getting bored.

She rose from her chair and sat across from Evrys.

Seeing Evrys still smiling at her book, Iris became curious about what she was reading.

The title of the book caught her eye:

[Why Did Her Highness Give a Potato to the Second Son of the Count?]

Iris froze, taken aback by the bizarre title.

She was surprised that such a book existed in the mansion’s library, but more so, she couldn’t even begin to guess the content from the title.

‘Why would the Imperial Princess give anything to the second son of a Count?’

‘And even if she did, why a potato?’

Iris pondered if there was some hidden meaning to the potato she was unaware of, then shook her head.

There wasn’t.

‘If the goal was to pique interest, it was certainly effective.’

Nodding inwardly, Iris turned her attention to the plate Evrys was reaching for.

The sweets looked sickeningly sweet.

Iris didn’t have much of a sweet tooth.

As she watched Evrys stuff her mouth with the snacks, Iris picked up one of the pieces Evrys had dropped and put it in her mouth.

She slowly rolled it around on her tongue, savoring the taste.

The sweetness that melted on her tongue felt strangely bitter.

Too sweet for her liking. Unable to spit it out, she swallowed.

Perhaps noticing that her snacks were dwindling, or realizing Iris was there, Evrys looked at her and asked,

“How is it?”

Her confident gaze seemed to ask, “You like it too, right?” Iris felt reluctant to tell the truth.

But Iris didn’t lie.

“It’s too sweet for me.”

“Oh… i-is that so?”

“Yes.”

“I see…”

Evrys’s face clouded over like a gloomy sky, though it wasn’t raining.

She reminded Iris of herself at the fishing spot the other day.

So, Iris decided to change the subject.

“What are you reading?”

“T-This?”

“Yes. The title is…”

Evrys blushed, closed the book, and tucked it under her arm.

“It’s… a bit too mature for you.”

Though the explanation didn’t make much sense, Iris was satisfied with the change in mood and decided not to dwell on it.

“Is that so.”

“By the way, are you done with the invitations?”

“About halfway.”

“You still have that many left? Haven’t you been writing since this morning?”

“There are many, and I have to personalize them for each family, so it takes time.”

“You memorized all of that?”

“Most of it.”

“Impressive…”

“It’s nothing.”

Evrys narrowed her eyes at what she perceived as bragging, but Iris seemed oblivious.

This time, it was Evrys who shook her head.

“It’s getting late. Why don’t you finish the rest tomorrow?”

Looking at the setting sun through the window, Iris replied calmly,

“Wouldn’t it be better to finish them today?”

“I told you to rest because of your injuries. Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”

“It’s not that tiring.”

Iris held out her hands as if to prove her point.

But Evrys didn’t like the sight of either her outstretched hand or the bandaged one.

With a disapproving frown, she took Iris’s hand and rose from the sofa.

“Let’s stop for today and rest.”

Iris, her hand held by Evrys’s small one, felt a strange sensation.

Unfamiliar with the warmth emanating from Evrys’s hand, Iris spoke curtly,

“You seem bored.”

“That’s not it. I’m worried about you—”

“Let’s just say that’s the case.”

“Hey! I have plenty to do even without you!”

“Are you coming or not?”

“…Let me get my book.”

Grumbling, Evrys gathered her things.

Iris waited patiently.

The butler, who had returned after delivering the invitations, watched them with a warm smile.

Inside a lavishly decorated bedroom…

Despite the opulent interior, the atmosphere was gloomy.

It was a space that embodied melancholy.

On the bed, the centerpiece of the room, lay a woman with hair like a sunlit meadow, her face buried in her knees.

Her tear-filled golden eyes seemed consumed by an unspeakable fear.

A knock echoed in the somber room.

A man with golden hair entered.

After surveying the room, he sighed and dismissed everyone.

Once the women who had been hovering anxiously around the woman on the bed were gone, the man spoke.

“Amelia, how long are you going to stay like this?”

“…Brother?”

“The atmosphere in the palace is dreadful because you’re so downcast.”

“I apologize.”

“I didn’t ask for an apology…”

The troubled man sat in a chair beside the bed and continued.

“What happened? You have to tell me so I can help you.”

Fear-filled eyes looked up at him.

“Didn’t I tell you…?”

“About your dream where the world ends?”

“It wasn’t a dream…”

“It’s not exactly easy to believe… and it’s rather ominous.”

“That’s why I only told you. What am I supposed to do if even you don’t believe me?”

“Hmm…”

After pondering for a while, the man spoke with a determined expression.

“I’ll look into it, as you asked.”

“Really?”

“Yes, but I also hope you’ll recover soon.”

“I’ll try.”

Though her reply lacked energy, the man, satisfied with the positive response, pressed on.

“As a… consolation, how about going here in my stead?”

He presented an ornate envelope.

The woman immediately recognized the sender.

“The Duke?”

“To be precise, the next Duke.”

“Oh.”

“She’s holding a coming-of-age ceremony and debutante ball. I believe she’s around your age. It might be a good opportunity to make a new friend and lift your spirits. How about it?”

The woman took the invitation, broke the wax seal, and pulled out the letter.

It seemed to carry the scent of winter.

She stared at the carefully handwritten letter with complex emotions, then placed it back in the envelope.

“Will you go?”

“I need some time to think.”

“Alright, take your time.”

“…Okay.”

The man gently stroked her hair and rose from his chair, thinking he was done.

“Oh, by the way.”

“Is there anything else?”

“It’s nothing important, but I heard there’s a new face at the Dukedom.”

“A new face…?”

“Yes, a silver-haired girl who has been seen with Lady Iris lately.”

“A silver-haired girl…?”

“I heard she’s a distant relative… I don’t know the details.”

A spark seemed to ignite in the woman’s dull eyes.

“I’ll go.”

“Go where?”

“To the Dukedom.”

“You were going to think about it. Have you already decided? I don’t mind, but…”

The woman nodded, her green hair swaying.

A new emotion filled her once fear-filled golden eyes.

“Alright, then I’ll let them know. When will you go?”

The revitalized woman replied softly,

“As soon as possible.”