Chapter 7: Strawberry Quartz and Malachite
UPON their arrival at the Klein estate, Amelia was immediately surrounded by servants, who helped her change clothes. It was a rather hectic process that tired her out slightly.
As she rested, she noticed that Helt had changed from his modest attire as well. With him dressed to the nines, she realized that his features and appearance weren’t bad at all—he’d fall under the category of what people called a “silver fox.” Usually, he gave off the atmosphere of an elder brother or a father—no, perhaps it was most accurate to compare him to a mother hen. Seeing him like this felt somewhat novel.
“You look good in that, Helt,” Amelia commented.
“That is exactly what I have to say about you, my princess. I can tell that the young Lord Klein loves you very much.”
Wondering what he was referring to, Amelia followed Helt’s gaze, which was directed at her dress. The most striking part was its gorgeous pastel yellow fabric. Petite red, white, and pink flowers were distributed all over it as ornaments. Larger flowers were arranged adorably around her collar, as if spilling out and flowing down from her chest. Combined with the cream fabric, her dress was like a field of spring flowers.
Here and there, silver threads and pale beads sparkled like morning dew down the garment. A red ribbon accented her waist, and matching ribbons, partnered with yellow floral ornaments, gracefully fluttered down from her necklace and bracelet as well. Her tied-up hair, fastened by a scarlet ribbon, was embellished with yellow and white flowers. Tinier flowers even dotted the part of her hair that flowed down freely.
When she’d first seen it, she’d merely marveled that it was a lovely dress, but now that Helt pointed it out…was this yellow the color of Luke’s eyes? As for the crimson in the ribbons and flowers, it matched Amelia’s eyes perfectly. In short, the dress was a combination of their colors.
As that realization sank in, her cheeks grew hot. “I-It might be a coincidence.”
A voice cut into their exchange. “What might be a coincidence?”
Luke had entered the room before she’d noticed. Discovering the red and yellow flowers decorating the area around his collar, even more heat gathered in Amelia’s cheeks.
Luke slowly drank in the sight of the dressed-up Amelia. “It suits you strikingly well. You’re adorable, Amelia. No wonder they call you the silver fairy in the city.”
“Th-Thanks.”
“Looks like I’ve got to emphasize to everyone that you’re mine—and that I’m yours.”
Where in the world did that come from?! Amelia was mortified, but her heart swelled. She didn’t know how to respond. She stole a glance at Luke, who replied with a smile, and her cheeks grew a level hotter.
Helt nodded. “My princess, please keep openly flirting and drive Princess Prisca into a rage. That princess is both willful and prideful; she will carelessly expose her secrets and weaknesses whenever there are strong fluctuations in her emotions.”
Helt proposed a plan Amelia would have never imagined. Though his logic was convincing, she was somewhat appalled.
Luke lightly placed a hand on her shoulder. “Amelia, make sure to fulfill your role, okay?”
“My role? Um…”
Before she could ask him what she should do, Luke narrowed his golden eyes. “Stay by my side. You only have to look at me, and no one else.”
Amelia was slightly taken aback. “You’re…kind of scary right now.”
“I’m not scary; I simply love you, Amelia. To think that they squandered four entire years of my time with you and are trying to tear you away from me again… Utterly unforgivable.” His expression was mild, but his voice was thorny.
“A-Are you…mad right now?” she nervously asked.
His response was a dazzling smile.
🍓🍓🍓