In the early dawn—
Ruby's steps towards Blossom Mansion were more energetic than they had been yesterday.
This was because her position had been changed the previous night to that of a private maid of the [Almond] Room, the room next to the Crown Prince's room that had been empty for a long time.
Just before the end of the shift yesterday.
A secret notice went out to the owls who work as maids at Blossom.
The content was a request for a maid to be assigned to Almond's room.
When a recruitment notice lands on owls, it comes with information about the difficulty level.
This means thinking carefully about your abilities and preparation before applying.
The difficulty level of the Almond Room this time was not very high.
[Average]
But there was another difficulty level attached to it.
[life]
It means that the mission itself is not difficult, but you may have to risk your life sometimes.
Ruby came forward as soon as she heard the news.
Because the reward for tasks marked with [Life] was enormous compared to other tasks.
What if she actually died during the mission?
No matter what kind of death she had, whether it was a vile death, her remaining family's path would be paved with silk.
In fact, low-ranking owls like Ruby were applying for this reason as well.
anyway.
Perhaps thanks to the lack of applicants due to [Hayat].
Ruby was accepted as Almond's chambermaid immediately upon introduction.
Ruby double-checked the precautions again before entering Almond's room.
[Average]
- You must report in detail to the head maid, Mrs.
Watch, who is approaching Almond's room and what conversations are taking place.
– All items offered as bribes are recognized as personal property.
[life]
- You must be loyal to the owner of the Almond Room.
– If [Life] conflicts with [Average], priority is given to [Life].
Ruby folded the document containing the precautions tightly and put it inside her clothes, then opened the door to Almond's room.
Ruby arrived with the dawn breeze, first opening the living room windows for ventilation, and sweeping away the dust that had accumulated during the night.
She also prepared face, but because of Atha's request not to enter the bedroom yesterday and her departure, she had to wait in the living room.
“By the way, what is the identity of the owner of this Almond Room?”
All Ruby currently knows about Atha is that she is the person she will serve from now on.
The only woman who occupies a room on the third floor of the Blossom Mansion, where major tasks related to affairs of state are handled.
And it's not just a room, but a room on the level of Prince Gerold's [Rooster] room.
Ruby tried to deduce the woman's identity based on the brief memories she saw yesterday, but it wasn't easy.
Women with light brown hair and dark brown eyes were very popular.
The dress fabric or lace was not distinctive enough to identify the family, nor was the jewelry.
His Highness the Crown Prince loves talent very much, so is she a woman who has a famous talent in a certain field?
But why was there a [life] sign in the mission?
Is she someone who receives assassination threats?
So bring her to Blossom's safe first?
Could a situation come in which I die instead of her?
Death was not scary.
What Ruby is really afraid of is worrying about money.
So if she died during the mission, that would be better.
Her younger brothers who follow her will be able to graduate from the academy, so they won't have to worry about living.
“And I will rest”
Yes.
Ruby actually came to Almond's room to die.
But the situation did not go as I expected.
If she was just a talent brought to Blossom because of her talent, His Highness the Crown Prince would not have visited the Almond Room before starting work.
Moreover, His Highness the Crown Prince used respectful language with the woman who came out of the bedroom in a shabby state.
“Was changing the sleeping position uncomfortable?”
His Highness the Crown Prince does not use the language of respect with those he takes as subordinates.
And of course, he doesn't put a smile in his voice.
Ruby felt it instinctively.
This woman is not a talent.
Rather, she is closer to being a candidate for the wife of the Crown Prince.
no?
Not closer, but certain.
If she had been merely a “nominee,” His Highness the Crown Prince would not have granted her the Almond Room.
That's why there was a clause regarding bribes.
If she was an internal candidate for the Crown Prince's wife, there would be a lot of people trying to get close to her to know her.
Maybe she could cover her brothers' education fees with just bribes.
Ruby swallowed the smile that was rising uncontrollably.
Just when she was thinking that her harsh life would finally end, a rare opportunity for advancement in life came!
Not only that, if this woman became the wife of the Crown Prince, then Empress, and stayed by her side.
Obviously, she won't have to worry about money all her life.
When her mind arrived here, a new hope suddenly emerged.
I too want to live happy, rich, without worrying about money.
Even if just once!
...Is this possible if I become a maid whom this woman loves?
***
While Ruby's eyes were shining as she thought of Atha, Atha, who knew nothing about this, sat in front of the Crown Prince and shook her head.
“I washed and went straight to sleep yesterday, so it was exactly eleven o’clock.
I slept well from then until the morning.”
The maid approached soon and placed a clean glass cup in front of Atha, pouring warm tea.
Atha waited a while, looking at the steaming cup.
Because she expected another question, but heard nothing for a while.
“……?”
Atha blinked, her eyes rolled, then she raised the cup and took a sip of tea.
When she thought that tea in this neighborhood suited her taste more than she expected.
Alisto was a little confused by the pleasure that came so suddenly.
Is sharing small everyday details without a detailed question that much fun?
If he wanted to know every move of the Saint who entered Blossom, he could easily know them.
What time did she sleep?
He can only find out by asking the maid.
He can also have the maid write a report on the saint.
But he was not curious about the saint's diary.
The fact that she willingly shared her diary, herself...
Yes.
Honestly, he liked it.
He also felt it when he asked about the early bedtime last night, Saint was like a white snow field that no one had trampled.
When he thought here, greed suddenly emerged.
If it was truly in a pure, untouched white state, couldn't he slowly approach it over time and dye it with his own color?
When Greed started to get a little bigger, he felt a crisis.
He remembered why he wanted to keep Saint by his side.
He is trying to win her heart to use her abilities whenever he wants and in the way he wants.
Not to satisfy his desires.
He looked at the woman, who was blinking her round eyes and yawning happily, and he realized.
Her excessive beauty seems to be the problem.
It is not a passing statement, the saint possessed a beauty that everyone said was beautiful.
People say that his mother, Empress Onisia, has a heavenly appearance.
But in his eyes, the saint was at least 200 times more beautiful.
It is not just that she looks beautiful in his eyes, but it is an objective fact.
I have to stay vigilant.
He cut the seed of desire sharply.
After arranging his mind somewhat, another curiosity arose.
Why did Saint try to escape last night?
The first thing that came to mind was family.
Why, wasn't she worried about her family on the way from the temple to the palace?
In addition, he remembered Marquis Cédric d'Albert who was in the same place when he first met the saint.
Her view of the Marquis at that time was not ordinary.
Of course, he had already received detailed information from Gerold, and knew that there were no points of contact between them.
It was just that the meeting place had been arranged that day.
Before that, there was no overlap in living quarters, not even a single message exchanged.
But there is a part that should not be ignored.
The saint has the power of reversing time, and the ability has already been activated.
Even if the Marquis didn't know Saint now, it couldn't be guaranteed that Saint didn't know him.