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Chapter 30
“It’s raining like this, and she’s carrying all that without even an umbrella?”
Muttering to himself, he walked a little closer to her. The palace maid was trudging through the rain, her slender body struggling to hold a large basket full in her arms. Even at a glance, her unsteady steps looked painful.
He glanced into the basket—inside were clothes that looked like laundry.
She must be from the laundry department. Is it that heavy?
The soaked clothes and basket would certainly be heavy, but that alone couldn’t explain how terrible her face looked.
She couldn’t walk far in one go. Over and over, she set the basket down, rested briefly, then picked it up again.
Radak watched from a distance, yet she didn’t notice his gaze at all.
As Roabellin lifted the basket again, dizziness suddenly struck her, and she lost her grip.
“Ah…!”
The basket overturned, and the laundry spilled out onto the muddy, rain-soaked ground.
“Oh no…”
She hurriedly picked up the clothes and tried to brush off the dirt, but muddy water had already soaked into them.
Her skirt hem was already stained brown, and with her body in such bad condition, everything going wrong at once made her eyes fill with tears.
“Haa…”
Watching her struggle to sit up and gather the laundry, Radak walked over, holding his umbrella above her. Startled by the sudden shade, Roabellin looked up. For a brief moment she wondered if it was Kai—but the man standing there was someone she didn’t know.
“W-Who are you…?”
His expensive clothes and noble-looking face told her at once that he wasn’t a commoner. Flustered, her voice trailed off.
“I am Grand Duke Shulett.”
As he answered, Radak quickly scanned her face.
Oh. Not someone who should be doing hard labor in the outer palace. And Kai, that brat—leaving a pretty girl like this stuck in a place like this. Tsk. I’ll have to take care of her myself.
Radak was kind to women—especially beautiful ones. Of course, his kindness was never free.
At the word Grand Duke, Roabellin’s mind began racing.
Grand Duke Shulett? Not just a duke, but a grand duke…
From the information she had gathered before entering the palace, there was only one grand duke in Prahenfelt: the Emperor’s second brother. The eldest brother had lost his title and been confined after committing treason.
Then… the second prince—no, the Emperor’s brother… Ah, that means he has mana too?
Ordinarily, a mere palace maid should have immediately bowed in proper greeting. But instead, she simply stared at him blankly with a face soaked in rain and tears.
Radak frowned slightly.
“Are you unwell?”
Still staring vacantly, Roabellin snapped back to her senses at his question.
“N-No, I’m fine. Please forgive me. I was rude to Your Grace.”
She wiped her tears and hurried to stand, but dizziness made her stumble. Radak quickly caught her with the hand not holding the umbrella.
Her rain-soaked body was burning hot.
He let out a small sigh.
“You don’t look fine. You have a high fever.”
But Roabellin’s thoughts were elsewhere.
A prince with mana suddenly appears…
Wasn’t he one of the closest candidates to her goal? If she failed to have the Emperor’s child, she might have to try him next. But in her current condition, she had no energy to try to attract him. Instead, caution rose in her chest.
If he has mana… could he see through my real face?
Her worry deepened.
I should get away from him for now.
He was only someone to consider if her plan with the Emperor failed. It wasn’t time to reveal herself to him yet.
“It’s just a cold. A little… just a little. I’m fine.”
She tried to lift the basket again. Or rather, she tried to—but Radak reached out first and lifted it by the handle.
Normally, Roabellin had to hug the basket to lift it at all. But Radak picked it up with one hand. All her struggle suddenly felt pointless.
Startled, she waved her hands weakly.
“N-No, it’s fine, I—”
But Radak had already moved the soaked basket outside the umbrella and placed the umbrella over her head.
“It’s heavy for a woman. Let’s go.”
Having dealt with many women, he was skilled at this kind of courtesy.
“Th-Then the umbrella, I’ll—”
She reached for it, but Radak lifted it higher, out of her reach.
“No. If you hold it, it’ll be too low for me.”
She had no choice but to comply. This was a man standing near the very peak of imperial power—arguing further might only offend him.
“Th-Thank you…”
She bowed and stepped under the umbrella beside him. As they walked, Radak kept stealing glances at her profile.
Pretty enough. Judging by her work, she must be a commoner with no backing—perfect. I can play with her lightly and discard her. What could she possibly do to me? Heh… I should ask her to meet outside the palace someday.
Even in this situation, Radak felt pleased with himself for already thinking about both enjoyment and disposal. Forcing down the smile creeping up one corner of his mouth, he asked gently,
“What’s your name?”
“Yuli…” she answered in a timid voice.
“Right. As I said, I am Grand Duke Shulett. The Emperor’s older brother.”
Unlike Kaisertern, who revealed his identity only when necessary, Radak liked to use his status openly—especially when seducing women. It was a powerful weapon on top of his looks.
Now that her head felt a little clearer, Roabellin thought:
As expected. If I fail with the Emperor, this one is next… I should make it look like I’m interested in him, just in case.
Having made her calculation, she forced a bright voice.
“Oh my, for someone so exalted to show kindness to a commoner like me—I’m overwhelmed. How can someone so noble be so humble… and so handsome…?”
She squeezed out what little strength she had and spoke exaggeratedly, trying to sound like an ignorant commoner eager to please a noble. She worried it might fail, but fortunately, Radak took it as affection and felt pleased.
“Haha. I was born and raised in the palace, but I take interest in commoners’ lives too. Since we met like this, I should come see you again sometime.”
Not knowing what to say, Roabellin only smiled weakly.
When they reached the laundry building, Radak set the basket down at the entrance.
“Thank you.”
As she bowed politely, Radak deliberately spoke kindly.
“If you’re this unwell, rest today. Palace maids are paid workers, not slaves. Shall I speak to your department head?”
To anyone unaware of his true intentions, it sounded very considerate. For Roabellin, it was the first warm thing anyone had said to her in this vast, cold palace. Of course, she couldn’t actually rest—but she was still grateful for the words.
“No, it’s all right. But thank you very much for your concern. Please go safely.”
“Very well. We’ll meet again.”
Radak turned away with a faint look of regret.
Roabellin immediately dragged the basket inside. As soon as she entered the courtyard, a senior maid saw the state of the laundry and shouted,
“What is this? Can’t you even collect properly? How am I supposed to get this mud out? This won’t do. Take all this and wash it in the yard right now.”
It was still raining heavily. Even so, they ordered the sick, rain-soaked Roabellin to wash the clothes outside.
There was a washing area in one corner of the yard, usually used for stomping blankets on clear days. The senior maid dumped the basket there and went back inside.
Left alone with the scattered laundry, Roabellin felt bitterness surge up again.
It’s my fault, but… does it have to be this bad?
With tears welling, she crouched down and picked up the muddy clothes. Both she and the laundry were already soaked through.
After checking that she was alone, she finally let the tears fall. Bitter drops splashed onto the wet cloth and disappeared at once.
Once sorrow rushed in, everything felt miserable: being sick with no one to rely on, being treated harshly while washing clothes in a foreign land, losing her entire family at a young age, living in hiding, and having to run away from the first man she ever loved…
Crouched in the rain, face buried in the laundry, she cried silently for a long time—because even crying had to be hidden.
From far outside the laundry gate, Radak was watching her.
