Chapter 143: Amelia Frost [5] (Bonus Chapter)

A few days before Amelia Frost paid her visit to Alice, the plan had already taken root.

It had come to her in pieces—small moments of irritation, the quiet pang of jealousy every time she saw Julies Evans standing beside Alice, as though he belonged there.

She knew it wasn’t right to feel this way. He was only a servant—a baron’s son who, by all rights, should never have had the chance to stand in the same light as Alice, let alone share in it.

And yet, he was there. Always.

She could picture it even now: Alice speaking to him in that calm, unhurried tone; the faint, rare smile she would give when he said something clever. It made Amelia’s chest tighten in a way she didn’t like.

The worst part was the way Alice allowed it—no, welcomed it.

The thought gnawed at her until it became unbearable.

That was when the idea struck her.

Brilliant. Simple. Effective.

If Julies Evans were engaged to her, then his place would no longer be at Alice’s side. He would be bound to her, tied by duty, status, and name.

She told herself it was strategy—good politics, nothing more. But deep down, she knew it was more than that.

This wasn’t just about keeping him away from Alice.

It was about keeping Alice for herself.

That night, Amelia lay awake long after the candles had guttered low, staring at the ceiling while the embers in the fireplace faded to ash.

She turned the thought over again and again—examining every angle, every possible objection. By the time the pale light of dawn crept through her curtains, the idea was no longer just an idle fancy. It was a plan. A decision.

In her mind, it was perfect.

The only problem was her father.

Count Frost was not simply her parent—he was the steward of the North’s gold veins, a man who weighed every alliance in terms of land, influence, and coin.

A daughter of House Frost, carrying the bear emblem, was a piece on the political board too valuable to squander on a mere baron’s household.

Still, Amelia told herself, there were ways to move even her father if she struck the right chords.

At breakfast, she waited until the servants had stepped back, until it was just the two of them across the long table. Then, with the same calm tone she had rehearsed all night, she said,

“I’ve been thinking about an engagement—to the Ethan baronial family.”

Count Frost looked up from his papers, his pale eyes narrowing. “The Baron Ethan’s Evans family? Amelia, I trust you’re joking.”

“As expected,” Amelia thought.

“There’s no value in wasting a House Frost marriage on such a pitiful family,” he went on, flicking his hand dismissively. “Step back from this nonsense.”

“Father,” she said, her voice polite but edged, “aren’t you interested in anything beyond the North?”

That made him pause. His brow twitched. “Beyond the North?”

“Expanding trade routes to the West,” she continued smoothly. “My engagement could be… strategically helpful. Even if the other party is only a baron, it’s still a foothold in a region we have no reach in. Better to enter with noble support than stumble in blind.”

He regarded her, still unimpressed, so she pushed further.

“And didn’t you see it yourself, Father? Julies Evans—the one who made Alice kneel at the tournament.”

Count Frost’s eyes sharpened slightly at the memory.

“He’s young, yes, but where else would you find such skill? Recruiting someone like that is nearly impossible, especially here. The North bleeds soldiers to monsters and demons every year. Talents of his caliber are claimed long before they can be hired.”

She leaned forward slightly. “A political marriage would be the only way to bring him here permanently—without provoking the ducal house he currently serves.”

Count Frost’s fingers stroked his white mustache as his thoughts shifted. “Hmm… your point has some merit. But it remains… difficult.”

Amelia kept her expression serene, but inside, her heart beat faster.

Difficult was not a no.

Count Frost stroked his white mustache as he vocalized his thoughts.

“The North is unique in its insularity, making it hard for other regional merchants to exert influence… but we wouldn’t be extending a hand without reason. If this Evans boy truly holds the skill you claim, and if the Ethan barony can provide an opening into western markets…” He trailed off, his gaze growing distant, already weighing numbers in his head.

Amelia said nothing, afraid that pushing too soon would make him dig in his heels. She sipped her tea instead, her calm mask firmly in place while her mind thrummed with anticipation.

He finally set the papers aside.

“I will speak with Baron Ethan. If the terms are favorable—and if the boy is agreeable—then perhaps this match is not entirely without merit.”

The rush of satisfaction hit her instantly, sharp as the bite of winter air. Still, Amelia kept her expression composed, merely inclining her head.

“Of course, Father. I’ll leave the matter in your hands.”

It was enough. She had planted the seed, and in House Frost’s soil, seeds did not wither without reason.

Count Frost didn’t return to his papers right away. Instead, his pale eyes lingered on her.

“…But before we go further, I’m curious.”

“Curious?” Amelia tilted her head, feigning innocence. “About my plan? First, by staying close—”

“No,” he interrupted, leaning back in his chair. “I mean your motive for going to such lengths.”

His tone carried a hint of irritation. The fact that her chosen match was from a baron’s household—and worse, the third son—rankled him. In his mind, the only explanation was that his daughter was swept up in some girlish infatuation.

But Count Frost was not a man who dismissed things entirely. He wanted to know the truth. If her reasoning was sound, he might even indulge her in this… peculiar little game.

Amelia studied him for a moment. Then, slowly, she let a small smirk curl her lips.

“It’s nothing important, Father. It’s just that I want him here… away from the Darken family.”

…And away from Alice.

That last part she didn’t say out loud.

—-

Author Note:

As promised, 3 Bonus Chapters for completing the goal of 50 GT tickets!

Thanks for reading.

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