Chapter 34

According to Aldous, knowledge of the incident had spread throughout the industry, and it was unlikely anyone would publish an article by her ever again. “Well, she made her bed and now she’s lying in it,” Scarlett said when she heard the news, a frighteningly beautiful smile gracing her lips. They think I’ll just give up? A sour smell assaulted Amelia’s nose. She was waiting doggedly for her prey outside the ramshackle little church. Me, give up? After being turned away by several other papers, she finally realized that her former employer must have a hand in it and flew into a rage. She would not let this be the end of her. She would stage a comeback. And to do that, she needed a scandal so big, everyone would pounce on it. Presently, a woman emerged from the church, her hood pulled low over her eyes. Amelia leapt in front of her path. “Crown Princess Cecilia!” The woman slowly raised her head, exposing an even-featured face. Contrary to Amelia’s expectation, however, her expression was scornful. “The crown princess? Who’s that? You’ve got the wrong woman, I reckon.” Amelia flinched at her tone, which contained no trace of refinement. To start with, Amelia was a commoner, and she had no idea what Cecilia looked like. She had seen her only occasionally and from a great distance at public ceremonies. Doubt boiled up within her. Maybe this really was someone else? But the woman’s eyes were rose-colored, just like the crown princess’s. Amelia decided to risk it. “…You’re not really a viscount’s daughter, are you? You’re the child of a prostitute.” The woman did not seem shaken in the least. “Most of us around here are the children of whores or criminals,” she said with a cackle. “I went to the Luze domain,” Amelia continued. “Unfortunately, I heard the orphanage where you grew up was lost in a fire. Most of the orphans burned to death, they said. Only two of them were unaccounted for. You—and a boy called Cici.” The woman abruptly stopped laughing. “I heard you were as close as lovers… Where is he now?” The woman’s emotionless eyes fixed on Amelia. A chill ran down her back. “…Cici is dead,” the woman spat out. Amelia looked up in surprise. “So it is you…!” As she stepped toward the crown princess, a knife flashed dully at her throat. “Do you want to die, too?” Her voice was chillingly calm. Amelia was too terrified to speak. The tip of the knife pushed into her skin. She felt sharp pain and the trickle of something warm. Her heart pounded. The blood drained from her face, and she broke out in a cold sweat. Trembling, Amelia shook her head again and again. The knife edged backward. She was safe. She sank to the ground. Cecilia looked down on Amelia and smiled as gently as the Holy Mother. “Then pack up your things and leave the kingdom by tonight. If you don’t—I’ll dye that pathetic hair of yours a brighter shade of red.” Lucia came flying into Abigail’s arms, her eyes red and puffy. “I wasn’t worried about you, not even the tiniest bit!” she cried. But her voice hiccupped here and there, and her small shoulders shook as if she were holding back sobs. Abigail hugged Lucia close, her expression somewhere between tears and laughter. The maids watching the scene dabbed their eyes. The elderly butler was there, too, standing beside the pair with a gentle smile on his lips.