Amy studied Katelyn’s expression. Seeing that Katelyn looked fine, she nodded. “Oh, okay!”
Katelyn felt relieved that Amy didn’t pursue the matter further.
The two eventually decided to have the hotel deliver food to their room. Katelyn had the table set up on the balcony, where they poured themselves a glass of red wine and enjoyed the evening view. The scenery in Yata was truly breathtaking.
Amy leaned back in her chair and asked curiously, “Miss Bailey, what’s Granville like? I’ve never been there. I’ve only heard about it.”
She had spent her whole life in Yata. She had always dreamed about the world beyond, and now that Katelyn was here, she couldn’t hold back her curiosity.
Katelyn smiled and chuckled softly. “Granville is beautiful. But it’s not just Granville—every city has its own charm. If we get the chance, we should explore them together.”
She had expected Amy to bring up something else, but it turned out to be the scenery. Amy really was a young girl at heart.
Looking at her, Katelyn asked, “You’ve never been to another country? At your age, shouldn’t you love to travel?”
Amy looked younger than her, and with Amy’s family’s wealth and protection, she should have been carefree, traveling the world without a worry. At least, that was what all the wealthy young ladies Katelyn knew did.
But the smile on Amy’s face faded. With a sigh, she murmured, “It’s not that I don’t want to. My family is too strict… And after that incident…” Disappointment flickered in her eyes.
Katelyn immediately knew what she was talking about. Setting down her wine glass, she met Amy’s gaze with a gentle smile. “You mean the Ruiz family incident?”
Now that Amy had mentioned it, Katelyn had to ask. Otherwise, she wouldn’t know how to bring it up.
Amy looked at her thoughtfully, as if debating something. Then, as if making up her mind, she said, “Honestly, from the moment I met you, I felt you were trustworthy. So I guess it’s okay to tell you. But you have to promise not to tell anyone else.”
Katelyn raised an eyebrow. She could tell Amy had already decided to open up, which was a relief. At least she wouldn’t have to find an excuse to pry further.
She nodded. “Okay.”
That single word seemed to put Amy at ease. She took a deep breath and continued, “The Ruiz family was already gone before I was even born. I only heard about it from my mother as I grew up.”
The weight of her mother’s words still lingered in her heart. This was also why, no matter how much Amy wanted to leave Yata and see the outside world, she never did.
Katelyn didn’t interrupt. She simply waited for Amy to go on. Amy’s expression turned solemn. “The Ruiz family was once one of the most powerful noble families in Yata. They even held a noble title, which was a huge honor for a foreign family here.”
That meant they had contributed far more to the country than local families ever had. Katelyn could imagine how prominent the Ruiz family must have been. Even without Amy saying it, she knew they must have faced countless challenges.
Amy took a small sip of wine before continuing, “But they were too powerful. That’s why they were destroyed.”
She hadn’t lived through it, but she could still feel the tragedy of it all. “At the time, the Robles family, the Crane family, and the Cromwell family—the current royal family—joined forces against them. First, they crushed their businesses. Then, they framed them for crimes. Eventually, the Ruiz family was completely wiped out.”
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