Maybe, he was acting this way because Amber had failed in capturing the actual target. So Matthias just had to be wholly on board. Because, if he wasn't, she would be tied to a man Leticia had chosen. That was a more horrible fate.
But Amber still felt pressured by the three men in the room. She was still at a loss on how to reply, when Ernest said, 'Last night, I found this in a pocket in your dress,' as he held up the pretty vial that held the remaining pink love potion pills.
'Eh?'
'What is in it?' he asked tilting the bottle this way and that.
Amber paled. She tried to reach for the bottle, but it slipped through her hands.
'It just looks like simple sweets.'
'That-'
'You look kind of panicked.' he said, looking at the bottle with an expression she could not figure out.
What should she do? Why did she forget about the vial? Why did she react so nervously?
Still, she had to do something, before it was too late.
What if he examined the contents of the vial and found out it was a love potion? If that happened, Amber and the Marquis of Reinfeldt were done for! Amber frantically thought of how to get out of this,
'Well…'
'Well?'
'I was embarrassed.'
Ernest raised an eyebrow. Was her answer unexpected? (Zuben: What? Did you want her to say it is a love potion?) He looked at her strangely.
'Embarrassed you have this vial?'
'Yes, it has been a year since I have attended the royal ball, I was very nervous about it, so to calm my heart I brought along my favorite sweets, but…'
'I found them.'
'Yes, well. It looks rather childish, I just didn't want to seem childish.'
The excuse might seem incongruous to her strong appearance, but she hoped it will be accepted,
'Amber is telling the truth, your Majesty,' Matthias said with a smile, 'I saw her with it yesterday. Would you like an affidavit to this effect?'
Amber thought it would be better if she said something logical, but her voice was stuck at the back of her throat.
Ernest waved his hand dismissively, 'No, you don't have to do that. Even if it only is sweets, I was going mad with jealousy that someone else gave it to her.'
'Awww, it looks like your Majesty is very narrow-minded when it comes to the woman he loves.'
'Is there a man in this world who isn't? Hold on, I do remember during our boarding school days, you were always in a relationship with one woman or the other…'
'Your Majesty, can you stop saying extra things before my sister in law?'
Ernest and Matthias were rather casual with each other, she thought to watch the exchange. Then she remembered, they were the same age and must have gone to the same school. Matthew was the second son of the Fairfax duchy, who was related to the royal family via a few queens.
'I will only be satisfied if you let me have it.' Ernest said unexpectedly.
'Eh?' Amber was agape with surprise as Ernest uncorked the vial and dropped a round pink sweet in his hand.
But it wasn't Amber in Ernest's gaze as he ate the sweet. It was Matthias.
Oh no! It would end up being troublesome if it ended up this way.
'Ernest!' she called out as she jumped closer to him and pressed her lips against his nose, intentionally blocking his view. (Zuben: It might have ended up being a serious thing!)
Zuben: I find it hard to believe those three didn't collapse into fits of laughter. But when are they going to put her out her misery and tell her?