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I coughed awkwardly once, then followed him again.

“So, what I mean is, we can’t just rely on memory, so I’ve thought of a plan. Instead of just wandering around, how about throwing the bait? We don’t know what fish will bite.”

Etienne had an unreadable face.

“I don’t feel like I did this on my own. If I did it myself, why would I steal such a document instead of a valuable item to sell? Someone must have ordered it. And it might be….”

It was likely Versus. However, I didn’t finish my sentence. I had suspicions, but no evidence.

There was also no certainty that Etienne fully believed my words.

What if he reports me for insulting the crown prince? I don’t want to be arrested.

Besides, I couldn’t ignore the assumption that there might be other culprits involved.

“So let’s find out who ordered it. The method is simple. They’ll be anxious by now. They must have noticed that I’ve changed. That’s when you drop breadcrumbs subtly. To make them approach first. Then we wait and snap, we catch them.”

Etienne crossed his arms.

“There are flaws in your plan.”

“Really? It sounds like a perfect plan to me!”

“First.”

He raised one long finger.

“In case your words are lies.”

“Sigh, you still don’t believe me? When will you? Do I have to take out my heart?”

“Second.”

Ignoring my overreacting, he raised a second finger.

“If they believe you betrayed them, they won’t approach you easily.”

“No, they would rather wonder why I betrayed them, and where the document is now. And they would be worried if it could go into Etienne’s hands. They won’t have the luxury to measure this and that.”

Etienne stopped and turned towards me. He put down the two raised fingers and clenched his fists. The lamp light reflected in his eyes flickered.

“Third, it’s too dangerous for you.”

This time, I had no retort. Being labeled a traitor meant there could be retaliation.

“It’s okay, Etienne will protect me.”

I smiled and playfully nodded my head. Well, half of it was my true feeling.

Etienne stared at me for a while.

* * *

A few more days passed, and it was finally the day to leave for the royal palace. I got up before sunrise and was dragged around by Penny.

She smeared my body with a strangely scented oil.

“My Lady, raise your hands.”

“How many times are you going to do this… Honestly, tell me. You’re applying oil and perfume to my body… Are you trying to roast and eat me? Or are you trying to get rid of my natural scent?”

As the banquet approached, the schedule got significantly busier. Plus, Etienne’s nagging here and there.

I felt like a week-old banana pudding.

I wanted to quit everything and take a break.

“I have food to eat, why would I eat someone as thin as Lady Dahlia? I’d rather chew raw radish.”

“Tsk. Your argument is flawless.”

“Anyway, bear with it a little longer. To look beautiful at the banquet…”

“I don’t need all that now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Um, it’s nothing.”

I saved my words. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Penny, but there was no need to gossip about the plan I had barely set up.

“Prepare the clothes I used to wear.”

“If it’s the clothes you used to wear…”

“The gloomy and depressing… no, I mean, the one with the dark color that fits my taste perfectly.”

Penny’s eyes widened. It was natural since she must have thought I would wear the dress I had diligently prepared for the past few days.

“I want to wear that. Get that dress ready.”

Although Penny showed a puzzled look, she helped me put on the navy blue dress without a word. 

It was a pity that I couldn’t wear the dress Nathan made in the royal palace. But I thought it would be better to give the impression that I hadn’t changed much from before.

If I seemed too different, as if someone else had taken over, they might refrain from approaching me.

Four carriages that could carry people, three baggage carriages, and a large number of horses and knights set off. The journey would take two days.

Fortunately, I was alone in the carriage I was in. If Etienne had ridden with me, it would have been uncomfortable for the whole two days.

Once out of the mansion, it was mostly pasture. Animals grazing in the boring, unchanging landscape were seen here and there.

Resting my forehead against the carriage window, I stared mindlessly at the strange animals and started to doze off.

Except for spending the night in a small village, the carriage kept going non-stop. My body was so stiff that it was bent out of shape.

Around the time when the sunset dyed the sky yellow, the massive city walls began to come into view.

As soon as we crossed those walls, the first thing I heard was a loud noise.

Groups of people had gathered to welcome the prince who was visiting the capital after a long time. Those with children hoisted them onto their shoulders and waved their hands.

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