The morning sun at the Aethelgard estate shone fiercely, reflecting off the marble floors that gleamed from the maids’ hard work.

Olivia moved quickly, her hands efficiently managing Lady Ophilia’s gown, but her mind was completely elsewhere. As she adjusted the lace on Lady Ophilia’s shoulder, her eyes darted toward Javien, who stood as rigid as a statue behind their lady.

Javien looked calm, his face devoid of emotion, as if the mysterious conversation from last night had never happened.

Every time their eyes met through the vanity mirror, Javien would immediately avert his gaze, remaining focused on his duty as a guardian.

Olivia bit her lip. She wanted to ask. She wanted to know about that ’seven years’. Yet, every passing second felt stolen by Lady Ophilia’s packed schedule.

"Olivia, could you prepare tea in the garden? The weather is beautiful today, I’d like to have it under that shady tree," Lady Ophilia said with a sweet smile.

Olivia’s heart sank a little. The garden. An open place. A place where Lady Ophilia would always stand between them. Another chance to speak secretly with Javien was snatched away by circumstance. With a slightly stiff bow, Olivia replied,

"Right away, Lady Ophilia. I will prepare it immediately."

Behind Lady Ophilia, she could feel Javien’s gaze piercing straight into the back of her head.

A heavy gaze, filled with an underlying meaning that only the two of them understood, yet forced to be locked away behind an endless mask of duty.

Ophilia, who happened to catch that passing glance, suddenly felt goosebumps on the back of her neck.

Is there a ghost here?

She thought, looking around. Little did she know, it was just the intense unspoken tension between two ordinary humans.

After Olivia finished her tasks, she began preparing all the tea and ingredients needed for Ophilia’s tea time.

The grand clock in the Aethelgard tower chimed loudly, marking the passage of time.

From the soft, fresh morning sun, the light gradually shifted into a scorching midday heat, before finally mellowing into the sorrowful orange hues of twilight.

Olivia was still in her work mode lifting trays, bowing, and adjusting Lady Ophilia’s attire. Yet, every passing moment felt like torture.

The cool morning breeze had now turned into an evening wind carrying the heavy scent of garden flowers, as if mocking Olivia’s thinning patience.

Every time she glanced at Javien, who stood steadfast behind Lady Ophilia, her heart screamed.

"Olivia, bring the tea to the garden. The evening air is very peaceful," Lady Ophilia instructed.

Olivia could only nod, but inside, she was screaming.

Evening? It’s already evening?

Time passed so cruelly, as if the world was intentionally stopping her from getting answers from Javien.

The once-clear sky was now painted with patches of crimson clouds, bearing witness to how Olivia’s chance to speak with Javien today was slipping away, swallowed by the long shadows of dusk.

The scent of jasmine filled the air, but to Olivia, it felt suffocating.

She had just finished pouring the tea into Lady Ophilia’s porcelain cup. Her hands trembled slightly, not because she was afraid of dropping the cup, but because she was hyper-aware of Javien standing right behind Lady Ophilia.

The man didn’t move an inch. With his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, his sharp eyes scanned the surroundings.

"This tea is delicious, Olivia. Thank you," Lady Ophilia praised with her never-fading, gentle smile.

Olivia bowed.

"Thank you, Lady Ophilia. It is my duty."

Olivia pretended to tidy up the tea tray, though her eyes repeatedly stole glances at Javien.

The man seemed like an impenetrable stone wall. There was no room for them to whisper, no loophole for Olivia to hurl the single question that haunted her mind.

As for Javien, though his face appeared calm, Olivia could see the muscle in his jaw twitch occasionally a sign that he was holding back immense pressure.

"Javien," Lady Ophilia called out suddenly, making Olivia almost flinch.

"Yes, My Lady?" Javien’s deep, gruff voice broke the silence of the garden.

"Could you check the main entrance? I heard a shipment from the neighboring region is arriving today. I want you to ensure everything goes smoothly."

Olivia held her breath. Just like that, the opportunity vanished in the blink of an eye.

Javien paused for a moment. He looked at Lady Ophilia, then shifted his gaze to Olivia for a brief second.

That look... it was heavy, as if he, too, actually wanted to speak, but duty wouldn’t allow it.

"Understood, My Lady," Javien replied shortly. He bowed to Lady Ophilia, gave Olivia one last meaningful glance, and then turned on his heel, walking away from the garden with firm, powerful strides.

Olivia could only watch Javien’s retreating back grow distant. She felt as if a massive boulder was crushing her chest. The questions were still trapped in her throat.

When will the next chance come?

She whispered in her heart, fighting back the urge to burst into tears. On the outside, however, she forced a bitter, resigned smile.

"Olivia? Are you alright?" Lady Ophilia asked, noticing her maid’s sudden silence.

Olivia snapped out of it immediately, forcing the sweetest smile she could muster, even though her heart was chaotic with a riddle that only grew more complicated.

"Ah, forgive me, My Lady. I was just... a little spaced out. It’s nothing."

She said, taking her place beside Ophilia after finishing her duties.

Suddenly, a female voice could be heard from afar, cheerfully calling out Olivia and Ophilia’s names. Both of them instantly knew who that voice belonged to.

Celine!!

They turned around. Celine was walking briskly, looking as if she was terrified of walking side-by-side with the man behind her.

Prince Avvion!

Olivia furrowed her brows, cursing the man in her heart, wishing he wouldn’t come to disturb Lady Ophilia’s peace. Ophilia, as usual, remained serene, though Olivia could see the tension tightening. She continued to sip her tea slowly and elegantly.

Celine took a seat next to Ophilia, smiling as she looked at her.

"Hi, My Lady..."

She whispered into Ophilia’s ear.

"That man has been asking where you were this whole time, My Lady... I was bored to death."

Celine whispered, pulling her face back. Ophilia nodded understandingly.

Someone cleared their throat right behind Ophilia. The peaceful atmosphere of the garden instantly turned dead silent.

Olivia, who was still trying to hide her annoyed expression, immediately bowed low. She knew exactly who that voice belonged to without even looking.

"Am I interrupting this lovely tea time, Lady Ophilia?"

Avvion’s voice echoed, filled with the supreme confidence of a prince.

Ophilia placed her teacup back onto its saucer with excruciatingly slow movements, as if she was gathering every ounce of her patience.

"Not at all, Your Highness. We have only just begun our afternoon tea," Ophilia answered, her voice remaining perfectly calm.

However, Olivia, standing right beside her, could see how Ophilia’s hand slightly gripped the tablecloth.

Prince Avvion immediately pulled out a chair uninvited and sat down next to Ophilia, turning his back to Olivia. He glanced at Celine, and then his gaze landed on Olivia.

"You," Avvion called out without even looking at Olivia’s face, treating her as if she were mere garden furniture.

"Bring another cup. And make sure the tea isn’t too sweet like the other day."

Olivia bit her lip.

Be patient, Olivia. Patient. He is Lady Ophilia’s fiancé, he isn’t your target.

She whispered to herself to keep from exploding.

"Right away, Your Highness," Olivia replied shortly, keeping her voice as soft as possible, even though she felt like splashing the hot tea all over the arrogant Prince’s clothes.

She walked away, but her steps felt heavy. Her heart still wondered did Javien see what was happening in the garden right now? Did Javien know that the ’nuisance’ had arrived to monopolize Lady Ophilia’s time, completely blocking the two of them from interacting?

A moment later, Olivia returned to the garden with a silver tray in hand. Her steps were perfectly measured, but her ears caught every single word coming out of Prince Avvion’s mouth.

The man was loudly rambling about palace affairs, his booming voice intentionally shattering the peace of the afternoon.

"Lady Ophilia, listen here. Regarding the ball next month, I want you to wear the jewelry I gave you. Your face will look much more beautiful wearing that," Avvion said, his tone sounding more like an order than a request.

Olivia placed the extra cup in front of Avvion with utmost care. As she poured the hot tea, she intentionally kept her face down.

She knew that if her eyes met Avvion’s right now, she wouldn’t be able to hide her sheer disgust.

Ophilia replied with a flawless smile the kind of smile reserved only for people she despised but was forced to entertain.

"Of course, Your Highness. Your Highness’s every request is the utmost priority of this estate."

Though her lips curved into a smile, Ophilia’s mind flashed back to the sharp warning she had whispered to Avvion the other day a warning that everyone’s patience has its limits.

Avvion seemed utterly blind to that warning, or perhaps he was intentionally testing her limits.

Avvion took the teacup without even glancing at Olivia, still treating her like a prop.

"Good. This is exactly what I like about you, my fiancée. Unlike your other servants who always seem... irritating."

Olivia clenched her teeth behind her lowered face.

Irritating’?

Olivia’s heart bled and boiled at the same time. She wasn’t just some ordinary maid; she was the literal intersection point mentioned by the mysterious creature last night.

Yet here, she was treated as something to be insulted.

Celine, sitting next to Ophilia, could only give Olivia a sympathetic look. She knew how difficult it was for Olivia to stand there tall without uttering a single protest.

"Is there anything else Your Highness requires?" Olivia asked, making her voice as flat and emotionless as possible.

Avvion looked at Olivia for the first time, his eyes narrowing as if he detected something amiss with the maid.

"This tea... is a bit bland. Do you not know how to brew tea properly, or are you intentionally trying to offend my palate?"

The atmosphere in the garden died instantly. Celine went silent, while Ophilia slowly lowered her teacup onto the saucer. The sharp clink of porcelain echoed loudly in the quiet afternoon.

"Olivia never makes mistakes when preparing tea, Avvion," Ophilia’s voice dropped lower, carrying a laced threat.

"If the tea doesn’t suit Your Highness’s taste, perhaps it is Your Highness’s throat that is out of order today."

Avvion let out a short chuckle, a laugh that held zero sincerity.

"My, it seems my beloved has learned how to talk back now. I like it."

Olivia stood there frozen, her hands tightly gripping the edge of her apron. Beneath her boiling rage, her mind suddenly drifted back to Javien.

Where are you, Javien?! This guy is harassing our lady!!

That man was supposed to be here, acting as the shield to stop all this chaos.

But the reality was, she was standing here entirely alone, facing her employer’s arrogant fiancé, while Javien was god-knows-where, carrying out god-knows-what duty.