40. Strangely, Something Felt Off
Spending time with Their Majesties had been enjoyable.
Though Leofric somehow burst in midway and started spouting nonsense at his parents, aside from that, it had been a relatively smooth time.
The emperor, as the busiest person in the empire, and the empress, who assisted him, certainly weren’t idle people, so their short time for small talk ended rather quickly.
Had there been more time, we might have even shared a meal together…
“Are you really saying nothing happened?”
Perhaps it would have been difficult because of Leofric, who was still persistently pestering me.
Even after witnessing the peaceful conversation moments ago, Leofric remained uneasy.
He interrogated me endlessly: had Their Majesties perhaps said something inappropriate, made any unreasonable demands?
Even when I told him over and over again that nothing happened, he didn’t seem convinced—honestly, it was a bit exhausting.
“Nothing really happened, Your Highness. They simply said they missed me. After all, I am their daughter-in-law.”
“I understand, but given their personalities, it’s hard to believe they just had a casual chat. Are you sure nothing else happened?”
The back-and-forth continued endlessly.
At this point, it felt like he wouldn’t stop until I made something up.
I sighed softly in frustration, and of course, he jumped on that.
He said the sigh meant I had heard something, and that it was okay—I should just be honest.
“It’s really okay, Amelia. You can speak freely.”
“Really? I can say anything I want?”
Seeing him like that made me want to mess with him.
I don’t know why, but I had the sudden urge to tease him a little.
Shrugging, I replied to him honestly.
“It was really nothing. Just… the kind of talk where parents are disappointed their son’s hiding his wife away like some big secret.”
The conversation had been very ordinary.
Complaints about how their son was acting strange lately, how he seemed to have picked up all the wrong habits, how he didn’t trust his parents anymore—nothing out of the ordinary.
Not exactly what you’d expect from an emperor and empress, though.
“They even said it felt like he wasn’t their son anymore ever since he changed the honeymoon destination.”
“…That’s really all they said?”
So I told him, plainly and truthfully.
I’d thought about teasing him a bit more, but…
Was there really any point?
Still, despite my honest answer, he looked like something was bothering him.
With a dissatisfied expression, he asked once more if I was sure there wasn’t anything else. I shook my head.
“Your Highness, your parents are not bad people.”
“I never said they were. I just find it odd. If they wanted to talk, why not invite me too? Why just you?”
Watching him worry over such a ridiculous detail, I realized something.
Leofric… was more of a worrywart than I thought.
I shook my head with another soft sigh.
“Really, nothing happened. By the way, did you receive an invitation as well?”
“Invitation?”
I figured it was best to change the subject before he started obsessing over something else again.
I brought up the upcoming ball hosted by the Marquis of Perze.
“The Marquis of Perze’s ball. I saw the invitation yesterday—didn’t you get one?”
“Ah, yes. I saw it this morning. I was planning to ask you about it before replying.”
Then Leofric looked straight at me.
His gaze was much clearer now, as though he had finally stopped worrying.
“If you’re going, I’d like to gift you a dress.”
“A dress?”
“Yes. I’d like to match outfits with you for the ball. Is that alright?”
Leofric tilted his head and looked at me.
And that’s when I realized his worries had simply shifted to another unnecessary matter.
A matching outfit for the ball? Seriously?
“I was planning to go. I sent my RSVP this morning. But the dress…”
Of course, it’s not unusual for couples to coordinate outfits for such events.
But somehow…
I wasn’t thrilled by the idea.
My father and Lloyd would likely be attending too.
Sure, I had people I needed to show that I was getting along well with my husband for, but still—it just didn’t sit right with me.
I needed to both show others we were doing well and also maintain a certain distance from Leofric.
Because of that, I couldn’t immediately give him an answer, even though he was clearly waiting for one.
“If you don’t want to, that’s fine. But I still want to give you a dress for that day.”
Even something that doesn’t exactly match mine would be fine.
As if reading my hesitation, Leofric added with a slightly exaggerated tone of disappointment.
His gaze drifted away in that subtle way that looked… oddly pitiful.
His shoulders seemed to droop, and his head tilted down slightly.
He looked just like a puppy caught in the rain.
Would it be too disrespectful to say that?
I stared at him for a moment and let out a soft sigh.
Fine. There are more people at that party we need to show our unity to than not.
Whether I’m excited about it doesn’t matter. What matters is what needs to be done.
“Alright, Your Highness. Matching outfits might be nice.”
“Really?”
And just like that, his expression lit up again.
The change was almost dramatic—I could hardly believe what I saw.
Was he pretending just to get his way?
“Thank you, Amelia. I’ll bring someone whose taste matches yours perfectly.”
“…Huh? Wait, doesn’t the palace have designers?”
“Oh, of course. But the palace designer doesn’t really like these kinds of requests.”
“…Excuse me?”
The royal palace designer doesn’t like requests for coordinating outfits for the crown prince and princess?
Can a royal designer even refuse requests from royalty?
While I was still baffled by this absurd statement, Leofric continued with a smile.
“I’ll arrange a schedule soon and contact you. Please wait just a little.”
“Ah… sure. Let me know, and I’ll make time.”
“Thank you, Amelia. Well then.”
And just like that, he left.
Before I could even question the bizarre things I’d just heard, he rushed off.
Now it really felt like he deliberately left before I could argue.
Frowning slightly, I watched him walk away.
Strangely, something didn’t sit right.
*
“We’ve begun the preparations you mentioned. We’re gathering supplies from nearby branches in addition to those in the main office. I’ll report back once everything is ready. – H.”
It was late afternoon, approaching evening, when I got a message from Hailey.
She reported that they had begun collecting supplies to send east.
Thankfully, since they were gathering not just from the main office but from nearby branches too, the total amount would likely be substantial.
Hopefully, it would be enough to help everyone—nobles and commoners alike—in the east.
Since the plague there was linked to water quality and sanitation, we might even be able to help with the infrastructure if needed.
Though whether the eastern lord would allow that was still a question.
“Betty, who’s the lord of the east again?”
“The east? The Deimar family has ruled it for the past hundred years.”
“Deimar?”
That name reminded me of something.
Alex Deimar.
The current lord of the east—and as far as I know, the most stubborn old man alive.
Before the regression, I had tried to support infrastructure improvements under Lloyd’s name and been flatly rejected by him.
“Please maintain your dignity as the Crown Princess,” he’d said.
He’d criticized me for trying to do such things under another man’s name instead of the crown prince’s.
Back then, I’d scoffed at his words.
Sure, it was the name of another man—but when it comes to supplying clean water and preventing plague outbreaks, did the name really matter?
In the end, I’d ignored his opinion and carried out the project under Lloyd’s name.
That made Lloyd’s name the most recognized one in the eastern region.
No one objected—not even Alex Deimar, who’d once told me to maintain propriety.
Eventually, as I expanded Lloyd’s influence and eliminated Leofric’s allies one by one, Deimar was one of the first to be cast out.
The Deimar family had always been neutral.
But when I ignored his stance and pushed forward under Lloyd’s name, his opinion changed.
He claimed he wanted to support the crown prince, whose future looked filled with thorns.
Back then, I’d ridiculed him for having such a twisted nature, even accusing him of sacrificing his family.
But now? To me, he was a welcome ally.
Since I was no longer supporting Lloyd, he wouldn’t back Leofric either.
And given his personality, he wouldn’t go out of his way to support Lloyd again.
He’d remain in the neutral camp.
If he’s not an enemy, that makes him an ally.
While I was deep in thought, Betty’s voice brought me back.
“Ah, Lady Hailey mentioned that if necessary, she’d try contacting Deimar.”
That snapped me out of my thoughts.
Contacting Deimar?
Is that even possible?
“I thought communication lines to the east were cut?”
“They are, but it seems they got in touch with the merchant group traveling with Enerheim. A carrier bird arrived swiftly.”
Betty pointed out the part I hadn’t read.
…What a mistake.
I quickly read the part she mentioned.
Thankfully, the merchant group accompanying Enerheim hadn’t yet entered the east, and communication had been established with them.
The message also said that if necessary, they’d use that connection to lay the groundwork for future operations in the east.
Just say the word, and they’d reach out immediately.
I nodded.
“Tell Hailey to go ahead with preparations. Say I’ll send the detailed message for Deimar later.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Betty nodded and went to write the reply.
Watching her go, another question surfaced in my mind.
Why… was the plague in the east reported so late?
