Chapter 6

The moment Isabella returned to her room, she pulled the smartphone from the pocket of her nightgown and unlocked the screen.

A notification immediately popped up.

『 The first mission for Player “Isabella” has begun. 』

Make use of your unique trait through this mission!
Mission Reward: Discount Coupon for Interdimensional Travel Fees

“How expensive are these travel fees supposed to be, anyway…?”

She was already paying outrageously inflated monthly charges. The thought of how much the system’s so-called interdimensional travel fee might cost was almost impossible to imagine.

Dismissing the notification that seemed intent on urging her forward, Isabella let out a sigh and packed everything she would need for today’s outing into her bag.

Even after becoming accustomed to Korean and modern technology, one question still lingered in her mind.

If I can travel between dimensions by paying the fee, why make me complete these missions first? What’s the point?

To find the answer, she’d have to locate the suspicious man who had handed her the smartphone and vanished without explanation.

She had visited the park where they met countless times, but never once managed to catch so much as a glimpse of a single strand of his hair.

Staring briefly at her reflection on the dark screen, Isabella tucked the smartphone away and stepped out of her room.

Selly, who had been trailing after her ever since hearing about her sudden outing, spoke with a worried expression.

“You’re really going out alone, Miss?”

“Mm. I’m meeting a friend from the Academy. Someone I used to be close with. You stay at the estate, Selly.”

“But going alone is still—”

“It’s not like I’m a child. What are you so worried about? I’ll be back before it gets late.”

Only after much effort did Isabella finally manage to stop Selly from insisting on accompanying her.

At last, she left at the scheduled time.

The moment had come to carry out the first step of her plan to reach South Korea.

After arriving safely before the Imperial Palace’s main gate, Isabella carefully stepped down from the carriage.

Unlike her usual elegant appearance, she wore a shabby dress, and her bright golden hair was completely concealed beneath a brown wig.

Standing before the enormous gates, she pulled a forged identification card and a one-day employment certificate from her bag—documents she had secretly prepared for this very day.

“…I just can’t get caught. Right. As long as I don’t get caught.”

She had been confident while preparing the plan, but standing before the heavily guarded entrance inevitably made her nervous.

The moment she approached the gatehouse, a small window slid open.

“State your reason for visiting the Imperial Palace.”

“I’ve been hired to help prepare for Princess Elena’s birthday banquet today.”

“Present your identification and employment documents.”

Isabella handed over the papers she had prepared beforehand.

The palace knight carefully inspected both the identification card and supporting documents before finally issuing her a permit.

“Do not lose this permit.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Glorium Hall, where the banquet is being held, is west of the main gate.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

After successfully passing through the gate, Isabella examined the permit in her hand.

Both it and the identification card bore Selly’s full name instead of her own.

Sorry, Selly.

Still, she had successfully cleared the first hurdle.

Now all that remained was completing the mission without anyone discovering her true identity.

The mission had specifically instructed her to use her unique trait.

Perhaps that simply meant cleaning quietly throughout the banquet.

Recalling the rather unhelpful mission description, Isabella hurried toward the Crown Prince’s palace.

The residence of Crown Prince Kairus was so vast that it was divided into a main palace and a separate annex.

And Glorium Hall, located within the main palace, was famous even among those who rarely visited the Imperial Palace.

As the venue for important imperial ceremonies, it was said that anyone entering for the first time would be overwhelmed by its grandeur and elegance.

To me, it’s just a place with a larger area to clean.

Hopefully she would be assigned somewhere with as little human interaction as possible.

Carrying that modest wish, she showed her permit to the knights guarding the main palace and entered.

The spacious lobby was already filled with other hired workers.

Taking the hint, Isabella quietly blended into the group.

Jessica, the head maid of the palace and the person overseeing preparations for Elena’s birthday banquet, was checking each worker’s face while assigning duties.

Eventually, Isabella’s turn arrived.

After examining her employment papers and identification, Jessica looked up at her.

“Selly Brown?”

“Yes.”

“Your reference is Martin, the head butler of Baron Ludia’s estate.”

“That is correct…?”

Seeing the question in Isabella’s eyes, Jessica shook her head.

She handed Isabella a task card and smiled.

“If you’re someone recommended by Baron Ludia’s head butler, then I can trust you with your work. I’ll be counting on you today.”

“Thank you, Head Maid.”

Jessica returned her smile before moving on to the next person.

Isabella checked the card.

“Morning duties: Clean the East Wing corridor and organize the library.”

After changing into a prepared maid uniform, she fashioned a headband from a handkerchief and tied it firmly around her head to secure her wig.

Once everything was ready, she collected cleaning supplies from the utility room and headed toward the East Wing.

Since most of the hired workers had been assigned to Glorium Hall in the West Wing to help prepare for the banquet, not a single person could be seen in the East Wing corridor.

“Hmm… Why does it feel a little…?”

Creepy.

Only the soft sound of Isabella’s footsteps echoed through the silent hallway.

Standing in the center of the corridor, she quickly began sweeping away the dust.

Though her movements were somewhat clumsy, her unique trait ensured that every surface she touched became spotless.

“Whew. The corridor’s already done.”

Next, she began wiping the stained windows with a damp cloth.

The more she cleaned, the more the glass sparkled as though it had just been replaced.

Strangely enough, it brought her a sense of satisfaction.

“Maybe I’m actually talented at cleaning.”

At that moment, a strong vibration came from her pocket.

After confirming no one was nearby, Isabella discreetly pulled out her smartphone.

『 Your level has increased through use of your unique trait! 』

▶ < Whether it’s people or objects, all stains and grime disappear completely~! Lv. 4 >

Instead of a mission completion notice, the screen displayed a notification informing her that her unique trait had leveled up.

Suppressing her disappointment, Isabella put the phone away and resumed cleaning the remaining windows.

The mission wasn’t ending as quickly as she’d expected, which was somewhat frustrating.

Still, there was something deeply satisfying about seeing the windows shine brighter with every wipe.

Keeping herself busy also meant she had no time to dwell on her endlessly delayed engagement cancellation or think about Ikanuel.

Cleaning really is the best way to get rid of distracting thoughts.

Before she realized it, she was even humming a song under her breath as she worked.

“Holding your hand that feels just like yesterday~
For you, V.E.N.U.S!”

As though the corridor had become her personal stage, Isabella enthusiastically performed the song’s highlight choreography, completely unaware that the knot securing her handkerchief headband had come loose.

Then—

She suddenly felt someone’s gaze.

Her movements froze instantly.

No way… Someone saw me dancing, didn’t they?

“…?”

Flushing with embarrassment, Isabella quickly looked around.

The corridor was completely empty.

There wasn’t a single soul in sight.

“It’s… probably just my imagination.”

She cautiously picked up the rag she’d left on the windowsill, gathered her cleaning supplies, and hurried away from the East Wing.

Left behind where she had been standing was a single handkerchief embroidered with a yellow tulip.

Silence once again settled over the corridor after Isabella’s departure.

Then, at the very end of the hallway, a door quietly opened.

A man stepped out.

The corridor, freshly cleaned, was noticeably more immaculate than usual.

Slowly surveying his surroundings, the man murmured,

“She certainly worked hard.”

A faint smile appeared on his lips as he recalled Isabella’s figure, so absorbed in her cleaning that she hadn’t even realized she was being watched until the very end.

Soon, he bent down and picked up the fallen handkerchief.

At that moment, his left hand—which had been habitually pressing against his temple—slowly fell away.

The terrible headaches that had plagued him for months, as though needles were being driven through his skull, had completely vanished.

So had the burning heat that felt as if it would scorch his eyes.

The oppressive heaviness that constantly weighed on his head and shoulders was gone as well.

The air felt unusually fresh.

No—

It was undeniably different.

His body was eagerly absorbing the refreshing energy lingering within it.

“Could it be… that woman just now?”

His gaze dropped to the white handkerchief in his hand.

Embroidered delicately in one corner was a familiar yellow tulip.

A meaningful smile slowly curved his lips.

“A yellow tulip, hm.”

The refreshing aura still lingered within the cloth resting on his palm.

As if he had realized something, his eyes flashed like a predator spotting prey.

His sharp gaze swept toward the empty corridor Isabella had disappeared down.

“It seems I’ll have to verify it myself. Now then… where has the owner of this handkerchief run off to?”

The Crown Prince Kairus—the little sun of the Vertus Empire and master of this vast palace—continued staring in the direction she had vanished for a long moment.

Then, carrying the neatly folded handkerchief, he leisurely walked away down the corridor.