The problem was that she couldn’t acknowledge knowing him.

Whitney glanced at Prince Cheston. She couldn’t help but keep looking his way.

“Here he is. May I ask why you’re here?”

Melissa asked with a bright smile. Cheston’s gaze was fixed solely on Whitney. He ignored Melissa’s question and stood up.

“Lady Orléans. Were you aware that there was a mix-up with the item?”

“An item?”

Whitney’s eyes widened, clueless about what he meant. A slight twist appeared on the face hidden within the cloak. Then, he leaned slightly towards Whitney and said.

“The book you took from the bookstore.”

“…Book? Oh!”

Whitney hadn’t even unwrapped the book she bought that day. Remembering the forgotten book, her eyes widened again.

“It seems I haven’t unwrapped it yet. I’m sorry, but I opened the packaging in a hurry.”

Whitney gestured dismissively, indicating it was alright. Melissa seemed to have her pride hurt by being ignored. She glared at Whitney, biting her lip.

Whitney took a step back as he approached.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll bring it right away.”

“I’ll accompany you.”

Melissa stood up abruptly, then turned to him with a friendly smile.

“Let me show you to the drawing room. It wouldn’t be good for a man to enter a woman’s room, might stir up bad rumors.”

“I’ll just take what I came for.”

“It seems better to wait in the drawing room, as my sister said. I’ll bring it quickly.”

Whitney didn’t want to show her room. If he knew she was living in the attic… She closed her eyes tightly.

Hadn’t she already been disregarded by the knight? Whitney was afraid of how Cheston would view her.

“Then I’ll wait in the drawing room.”

Cheston followed a servant to the drawing room.

Whitney clutched her racing heart as she headed to the attic.

‘An opportunity has come.’

Melissa seemed unaware of his identity. Whitney held the book she had bought from the bookstore, bowing her head. Her heart was still not calm, so she took slow breaths.

She inhaled and exhaled deeply, focusing on her breathing. As she listened to the beating of her heart, its pace gradually slowed.

Whitney opened her eyes, which she had closed, and looked in the mirror. She looked better than before, but he had already noticed the treatment she received at the Duke’s house.

Her green eyes and plain millet-colored hair, compared to Melissa, were reflected in the mirror. She adjusted her posture.

‘It was definitely the scent of Libenia.’

Libenia was known as a herb but poisonous to the weak. It also had adverse effects on those with aura. This was not well-known, but it was seldom used on the weak. Continuous use could even lead to death due to its strong toxicity.

She needed to ask why the scent of Libenia was coming from Prince Cheston. If she could talk to him today, she might be able to propose something first, potentially preparing for events several months later.
She cautiously took out some herbs from the drawer and put them into an envelope, then wrote a note. It was a precaution in case he refused to speak the truth.

She felt she needed to show a hand that could request help to seize an opportunity.

Whitney hid the letter in her sleeve and was about to head to the drawing room where he was waiting.

“You, what’s this about? How do you know a royal knight?”

A royal knight?

It seemed that Cheston had lied to conceal his identity. It was a smart move, as he could easily deflect any questions with secrecy. Whitney blinked slowly without responding. She hadn’t expected Melissa to follow her to the attic, but it seemed she was curious about someone related to the royal family.

“Why don’t you answer?”

Melissa glared at Whitney, arms crossed. Her purple eyes twisted fiercely, as if ready to pounce on her at any moment.

Whitney, knowing Melissa wouldn’t step aside, spoke.

“I don’t know. I bought a book at the bookstore, and it seems there was a mix-up.”

“Is that all? You weren’t out there playing games and met him? The knight said the man was a royal knight.”

“I didn’t know he was a royal knight at that time.”

“How can I believe that?”

“That’s up to you. Are you going to block the way like this? If he’s a royal knight, he must be on an errand. If you don’t want to keep him waiting, please move aside.”

Melissa bit her lip and stepped aside. Whitney then moved towards the drawing room where Cheston was waiting.

Standing at the drawing room door, she took a deep breath and entered. The maids preparing the tea glanced nervously at Whitney.

“Shall we give you some privacy?”

Cheston nodded. The maids hesitated as if not wanting to leave but then quickly exited at his stern glance.

“Sorry about this. Here’s the book I accidentally took.”

“It’s fine.”

Whitney took the book Cheston handed her and her eyes widened.

‘What is this?’

Seeing the title of the book she had purchased, Whitney hurriedly flipped it over and coughed.

[The Secret Life of a Lady]

She had just picked any book, but to choose such a title… Whitney fanned her flushed face.

“Just, well. Consider it my taste.”

“I haven’t said anything.”

Cheston’s calm voice made Whitney even more embarrassed. Cheston stood up as if his business was done.

“Wait a moment!”

At Whitney’s call, he turned to look at her. She couldn’t let this hard-earned opportunity slip away.

“The scent of Libenia… are you taking it?”

“……You can smell it.”

Cheston tilted his head and looked down at himself. Whitney seized the moment and asked.

“May I ask what book you bought? I might be able to help.”

“……Help?”

Even though he was wearing a cloak, Whitney could almost see the expression on his face. She approached him and handed him the note.

“Read this when you get back. If you need help, please call on me. I’ll be waiting.”

“You speak as if you know who I am.”
“She said you were a royal knight. And the emblem on your chest… Since you revealed your identity, I was able to meet you.”

“It seems even for a lady, meeting someone is not an easy task.”

Whitney smiled faintly and shrugged. Cheston put the note into his pocket and turned away.

“It’s a book about herbalism.”

“Then you might need my help. I know quite a bit about herbs.”

Cheston, without looking back, left the drawing room. Whitney watched his retreating figure, pondering. Handing him the note was almost like a gamble.

But the choice was his to make.

Cheston got into his carriage and took off his cloak. He took out the note from his pocket and unfolded it.

[If you are taking Libenia flowers, your health must not be good. Try this. It might help you feel better. Prince Cheston.]

“What?”

He hadn’t expected her to know his identity, let alone know about Libenia flowers.

Cheston stroked his chin, lost in thought.

A disregarded lady, who chose an odd book. Her behavior, knowing his identity yet acting nonchalantly, was puzzling yet intriguing.

‘She was a strange lady from the start.’

The memory of how the knight treated her and the maids’ disrespectful behavior towards her came back to him. It was clear how she was being treated in the Ducal House. The fact that she couldn’t accompany him to her room also had a reason.

He examined the herbs she had given him.

“What makes her think I would trust and use this? She’s a strange woman.”

Cheston thought of her green eyes watching him and smiled lightly. Her taste, behavior, and everything about her were unusual. Her gaze seemed somewhat bitter.

He was initially flustered to find out about the book swap, and even more so upon seeing its title.

Returning to the bookstore, he learned of the mix-up and reluctantly sought her out. If there had been another book on herbalism, he wouldn’t have visited the Orléans Ducal House.

Now, he felt it was good that he had gone. Her eyes didn’t seem to be lying. But Cheston lacked trust in people.

‘I need to look into these herbs.’

Her desperate appearance lingered in his mind. Maybe it was she, not he, who needed help.