The weight of her secret

Amelia stood in front of a familiar door, hesitating for a moment before knocking. Her fingers hovered above the polished wood, her heartbeat steady yet uncertain. She wasn't even sure why she was hesitating. This wasn't a stranger's door—this was Lewis' room, the one place where she could let down her guard. And yet, a heavy weight settled in her chest, as though the moment she stepped inside, everything she had been avoiding would catch up to her.

Before she could second-guess herself, the door swung open.

Lewis stood there, bathed in the warm glow of the candlelight from her room. Her silver hair cascaded in soft waves, framing her delicate features. Despite her obvious exhaustion, she carried a warm, gentle smile—the same smile that had always comforted Amelia in her darkest moments. But what caught Amelia's eye wasn't the smile or the tenderness in her gaze. It was the gentle curve of her belly, her hands resting protectively over it, as if instinctively shielding the life growing inside her.

Without a second thought, Amelia threw her arms around her.

"Lewiiii!" she called out, squeezing her affectionately.

"Ouch, ouch!" Lewis winced, quickly covering her belly.

Amelia gasped, immediately pulling back. "Oops, sorry! Sorry!" she said, concern filling her voice. Her eyes darted downward. "Is my baby champ okay?"

Lewis let out a soft chuckle, brushing a hand over her belly with a fond smile. "Yeah, he's okay. But you need to be careful, brat."

Amelia sighed in relief before studying her face.

(This is my sister-in-law. She married my brother, Evan. Even though it was a political marriage, Evan truly loves her.)

Her gaze briefly dropped to her belly. (The baby is the result of their love.) She chuckled to herself before continuing her thoughts. (And he's not only my sister-in-law but also my partner in crime.)

Lewis was the only one in the entire household who knew about that—the one secret Amelia had kept so carefully guarded. Through all of Amelia's reckless decisions, her mischief, and even the times she had risked everything, Lewis had always stood by her side.

"Hellooo~ what are you daydreaming about?" Lewis teased, waving a hand in front of her face.

Snapping back to reality, Amelia shook her head. "Nothing important," she muttered, stepping inside.

The room was as cozy as ever, filled with the soft scent of lavender and the warmth of candlelight flickering against the walls. The two of them settled onto the plush couch, Lewis grabbing her knitting project while Amelia leaned forward curiously.

"What are you knitting?" she asked.

"A scarf," Lewis answered, her hands skillfully looping the yarn.

"For my brother?"

Lewis blushed, nodding shyly.

"D*mn, you two have been married for years, and you still blush at the slightest mention of him," Amelia teased with a smirk.

"Sh-shut up, brat!" Lewis huffed, her ears turning red. "And what's with you today, anyway?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Lewis lifted her gaze, giving her a knowing look. "You want something from me, don't you? That's the reason for your visit, right?"

Amelia gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. "Are you telling me I only visit you when I want something?!"

"I'm not saying it like that," Lewis sighed. "But I've known you for too many years. I know you only come here when you have something on your mind."

Amelia exhaled, leaning back. "You really know me well."

"Of course, I do," Lewis replied, shaking her head with a soft smile. But her expression shifted slightly as she hesitated before speaking again. "I tried… but Evan told me that canceling that marriage is impossible."

Amelia blinked. "Wait… wait. Wait. Cancel my marriage?"

"Yeah," Lewis confirmed.

"W… why?"

"Because you don't like the Crown Prince."

Amelia's heart skipped a beat. "Who told you that?"

"Everyone knows about it."

"Even our mother and dad know?"

Lewis nodded. "And the Crown Prince himself is aware of it too."

Amelia felt her stomach drop. She had only met him once. Could everyone really tell that easily?

"But that doesn't mean you all have to cancel my marriage," she insisted.

Lewis sighed. "It's because you already have someone else in your heart."

Amelia's breath hitched. "Wha—who?"

Lewis raised an eyebrow. "Carlos."

Amelia stiffened.

"You told me yourself that he's your hero. Everyone in the mansion knows how much you admire him."

She swallowed hard.

(That was before I knew his true colors…)

(I'd rather die than like that piece of sh—)

"Would it be weird if I told you that I lost interest in him?" she murmured.

Lewis looked at her, stunned. "What the—?"

There was a long silence between them before Lewis sighed, setting her knitting aside.

"So? What's actually going on?"

"It's nothing," Amelia said, looking away.

Lewis sighed again. "You know, if you keep avoiding the truth, it'll catch up to you eventually."

Amelia only bit her lip, staring at the floor. She wasn't sure how to explain it—not yet.

For now, all she could do was change the subject and pretend she wasn't on the verge of losing control of her own life.

"Just forget about everything and help me with something else."

Lewis narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Like what?"

Amelia simply smiled.

(I have a bad feeling about this…) Lewis sighed to herself.

Later That Night

The mansion was quiet, the usual lively atmosphere dampened by the thick weight of unspoken words. Amelia sat by her window, staring out at the moonlit gardens, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on the windowsill.

Her conversation with Lewis lingered in her mind.

(Canceling the marriage… could it really happen?)

She had never allowed herself to consider that possibility before. It had always seemed like an unchangeable fate, a decision made long before she had a say in it. But if even her family was discussing it…

Could she dare to hope?

A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.

"Come in," she called, turning to see Lewis stepping inside, still dressed in her nightgown, her long silver hair flowing over her shoulders.

"I knew you wouldn't sleep," Lewis said with a knowing look. She carried a tray with warm tea, setting it down on Amelia's desk before pulling up a chair beside her.

Amelia chuckled softly. "You really do know me too well."

Lewis smirked. "Of course. Now, tell me the truth. You don't love Carlos, do you?"

Amelia hesitated before shaking her head. "No. Not anymore."

"Then who?"

Amelia's heart pounded in her chest. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Lewis reached out, gently holding her hand. "You can trust me."

And for the first time in a long time, Amelia wanted to.

Her secrets had weighed her down for too long.