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Chapter 08
‘It wasn’t just me who glanced at the Crown Prince, and I’m certain I didn’t stare long enough for anyone to notice.’
I had also perfectly suppressed my mana.
“Your Highness, is something the matter?”
The knight, puzzled, followed the Crown Prince’s gaze and looked at me.
“…No. It seems I was mistaken.”
Fortunately, the Crown Prince resumed walking and passed by me.
What on earth is going on?
I subtly turned my gaze to look at his back.
“……”
Flaxen hair covering his nape, broad shoulders wrapped in a white uniform, and a straight, steady stride came into view.
Was my longing for Mikhail making me hallucinate?
‘No… or maybe it’s just a ghost.’
So what if they looked alike?
Had Mikhail’s appearance ever meant anything to me even for a single day?
‘What matters isn’t something as shallow as a shell.’
I turned away and walked on.
The kitchen was busy preparing lunch.
“You mean the meal for the detached palace, correct? We’ve prepared it over there separately.”
Fortunately, it seemed the head servant had properly given instructions. The food all looked delicious.
They should’ve done this from the beginning.
I packed Elhardt’s portion into a large basket and glanced around the kitchen.
‘……!’
Then I saw something that made my eyes widen.
“Can I take some of those desserts too?”
Were they for central palace officials?
Cookies, cakes, chocolates releasing sweet aromas were piled up on a table at one side of the kitchen.
“Ah… if you wish, go ahead.”
No one in the middle of the chaos was watching how much the detached palace maid took.
Then I’ll take one of each.
It had been so long since I smelled such luxurious scents.
Only after the large basket was full did I regain my senses and step away from the dessert table.
‘This won’t make people think Elhardt likes sweets, right?’
I glanced around cautiously, then quickly slipped a cookie into my mouth and left the kitchen.
If I had properly returned, I could’ve stuffed myself at the banquet.
What a pity.
It was when I crossed the dining hall connected to the kitchen and reached the entrance.
‘Why is the Crown Prince here…?’
The Crown Prince stood by the door as if guarding it, alone.
‘What about his escort knights?’
Even after scanning the surroundings, I could only feel the Crown Prince’s presence.
‘So the mana scent really is different from Mikhail’s.’
Yet strangely, there was something familiar about it… what was it?
“Is that cookie good?”
After I gave a polite bow and tried to pass by, the Crown Prince spoke to me.
“…Pardon?”
Why would he ask such a pointless question to a maid he’s never met?
I hid my suspicion and answered respectfully.
“Yes, it is very delicious.”
“You don’t need to look at me like that. I’m not trying to steal your cookies.”
No.
Absolutely not because I was guarding my cookies.
“May I ask your name?”
I swallowed the impolite reply of ‘No, you may not.’
There was no reason to act suspicious in front of the Empire’s Crown Prince, who could easily find out who I was.
“Ser Brin.”
“Ser… I see.”
The Crown Prince nodded and gave a faint smile.
“It seems you already know who I am.”
“Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Do you have time right now?”
“No.”
I answered firmly, then added an explanation belatedly.
“I need to bring a meal to the person I serve.”
Don’t flirt with me using a face that resembles Mikhail.
My fist unconsciously clenched.
The Crown Prince gave a wry smile.
“In that case, it can’t be helped. The meeting ran long, so I slipped out briefly. I was planning to take some refreshments with me.”
…So that’s all it was. He just needed help.
“Shall I call someone from the kitchen for you? There are plenty who would gladly assist Your Highness.”
“Thank you, but it’s fine. I need to return immediately.”
Fortunately, the Crown Prince seemed uninterested in bothering me further and stepped aside.
“See you again, Ser.”
But if he was going to move, he should’ve moved further back.
The narrow gap between the door and the Crown Prince was so tight I almost hit his chest with my shoulder.
After giving a final glance at the soldiers and knights stationed around the outer central palace, I returned to the detached palace.
“Ser…!”
As I entered the room, Elhardt shot up from the bed.
“Nothing happened? No one bothered you?”
Seeing his worried expression made me laugh for some reason.
“Of course not.”
I proudly lifted the large basket.
“I brought lots of delicious food.”
Elhardt’s eyes widened as he took it.
“This much…?”
Watching him, the Crown Prince’s face—resembling my old friend—flashed through my mind.
Meeting them for the first time wasn’t different for either side. If anything, the one who resembled Mikhail was clearly that Crown Prince.
But I felt more at ease when I was with Elhardt.
Maybe because their mana scent was the same.
“Wait a moment.”
I began taking out the spoils I had collected from wandering the palace all morning.
A soft carpet appeared on the floor, followed by a luxurious table and two chairs.
“How is it? I thought it looked nice, so I brought it.”
“Did you get permission?”
“Hmm… probably?”
I had told the head servant I would procure what I needed, so it should count.
Elhardt looked at me as if trying to confirm my vague answer, but I simply stared back.
“……”
In the end, Elhardt looked away first.
“…It does look good.”
His ears were slightly red with embarrassment.
“Right?”
Feeling proud, I placed the food from the basket onto the table.
Elhardt helped me as well.
“If you haven’t eaten, join me.”
I sat beside him as if reluctantly giving in.
I had only planned to eat a few cookies and cakes, but Elhardt kept pushing plates toward me, so I ended up tasting everything.
As expected of the central palace chefs, everything was delicious.
Well, compared to the battle rations I had been eating for years, what wasn’t?
After we had eaten for a while, I asked what had been on my mind.
“Elhardt, do you know anything about the Crown Prince of Cradion?”
“Auriel, you mean. What do you want to know?”
“Is he a womanizer?”
Elhardt’s gaze turned sharp in an instant.
“Did he approach you?”
Oh… that expression changes quickly. I didn’t know he could make such a face.
“No, I’m just asking. He seemed rather friendly with the maids.”
Elhardt frowned, thinking deeply before speaking carefully.
“The Crown Prince is a man of deep thought. I don’t think he would openly act like a womanizer. However…”
“However?”
“Since the Crown Princess died last year and he has not remarried, he may be looking for a bride.”
Ah, a widower?
“Then it would be better to avoid meeting him as much as possible.”
If he’s looking for a bride, then it has nothing to do with me.
I’m just a maid from Vardia, not Cradion.
“…Ser.”
“Hmm?”
Elhardt grabbed my hand holding the cookie.
“Don’t ignore what I’m saying. Try not to leave the detached palace for a while.”
“That’s a bit difficult.”
Whatever else, I still had to fetch food from the central palace.
There was no kitchen in this detached palace.
“Is there a reason I must?”
“The Crown Prince currently holds real power in Cradion. As a maid, it would be difficult to refuse any order he gives.”
Well, that was true.
“If he notices you, he might fall in love at first sight and try to make you his bride…”
I laughed in disbelief.
“There’s no way that would happen.”
“When a man falls in love, he sees nothing else.”
“Is that from experience?”
“……!”
Why was he opening and closing his mouth like that in shock?
Before the awkward silence could continue, a knock sounded from outside the door.
Startled, Elhardt let go of my hand at the same time the door burst open.
Without even pretending to be polite, a servant spoke after a small cough.
“A message from His Imperial Majesty: you are to attend the banquet tomorrow night.”
A banquet at the palace for Elhardt? Did he even have formal attire to wear?
“And Lady Brin as well.”
…What?
