Chapter 83

“…Greetings, Your Highness.”

A blonde woman stood there wearing the maid uniform of the Order of Ralphican—a deep purple skirt fabric accented with white frills at the collar and chest, boasting a static elegance. Her cheeks were flushed as if she had been running, and she wiped the sweat from her forehead with the pale back of her hand. Her eyes were hollow, as if everything in the world was a bother. Her voice was a tone lower than that of a typical woman.

Theodore recognized her instantly. It was the very maid he had been searching for so desperately!

Realizing he had jumped up from his seat and was pointing a finger at her, Theodore hurriedly folded his hand back.

“I was instructed to assist with your reception.”

The maid was pretending not to know him. Though the reunion took a slightly different form than he had imagined, Theodore responded calmly.

“I don’t need assistance yet. The other party hasn’t arrived.”

As the maid turned to leave, saying she would return if needed, Theodore hurriedly caught her.

“Wa—! What is your name?”

“Pardon?”

“Your name.”

“…It’s Lita.”

He finally had a name.

Theodore felt his lips go dry.

And ‘Lita,’ of all names.

‘Even her name is cute?’

“We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

“…….”

“I’m right, aren’t I? The day the decoration ceremony was held at the Imperial Palace.”

Theodore couldn’t bring himself to mention the dizzying memory of being kicked in the crotch, so he phrased it vaguely.

“Ah… Yes. I didn’t expect you to remember that.”

“How could I forget?”

How could he possibly forget that pain… no, how could he forget the moment he fell for her?

“Where have you been all this time? Didn’t you know I was looking for you?”

“…Was that so? I’ve been on leave for a while, so I wasn’t aware.”

Had I been searching through an empty house?

Theodore felt a sense of futility.

“I apologize.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m just so happy to meet you like this, Lita.”

Despite Theodore’s affectionate smile, she only gave an awkward curl of her lips, seemingly uncomfortable.

‘I suppose it’s my own karma.’

Theodore had been reborn as a completely new person since then, but there was no way the woman before him would know those circumstances. To lower her guard, Theodore acted with boundless kindness.

“W-well, would you like to sit here for just a moment? Working must be exhausting. Take a little break.”

He waited quietly for an answer, but Lita’s eyes widened in surprise. After a few seconds of silence, she finally spoke.

And then…

“I have no need for that kind of consideration…”

He received a rather blunt rejection.

This was the best way to get in contact with the Crown Prince and Edelina while avoiding the eyes of that damn Cardinal Samuel’s lackeys. Disguising myself and seeking out the Crown Prince. Pretending to be a maid working at the Papal Palace of the Order of Ralphican was easy. I had help from Emily, who was currently employed there.

“You shouldn’t be caught in your current appearance, but you still have to be careful!”

I gave Emily a brief nod and left the room. From here on, I needed the power of navigation. I purchased a Character Location Tracker and selected Theodore.

It was quite close. I hurried my steps with a sense of relief. Leaving the residence through the servants’ passage and crossing a long corridor, I entered a business-like area bustling with crowds. The atmosphere was significantly different from my own quiet, luxurious residence.

“About what’s happening tomorrow… what do you think will happen?”

“Well…… A guilty verdict is obvious, but since the Saintess is involved, it’s unpredictable…”

“What will happen to ……-nim?”

“Worry not… For all of this is Ralphican’s choice…”

The snippets of conversation I overheard included mentions of Edelina and myself.
I subconsciously adjusted my wig, even though it was firmly fixed and didn’t need touching.

Perhaps it was because I had been wearing a veil in crowded places for so long; walking around without one made me feel like I had forgotten to put on clothes.

Following the navigation, I arrived in front of a secluded room within the Papal Palace, guarded by armed sentries. They approached me the moment they saw me.

“Hey, you! This is a restricted area.”

“Um. I’ve come to see His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince…”

The security was incredibly tight; I had already passed several guards just to get here.
I showed my identification (which was, of course, a fake ID Emily had prepared) and calmly appealed that I had come here following legal procedures. Nevertheless, the duty-bound guard narrowed his brows.

“I wasn’t told that a maid would be coming. Turn back.”

“Hmm? No, wait a second!”

I was worried I’d gotten stuck with an inflexible fellow and was wondering what to do when a large guard standing next to the lanky one who was doubting me stared intensely at my face and shouted.

“Is it really you…?”

“What? What’s wrong?”

“Are you blind? This is her. The one His Highness the Crown Prince has a crush on!”

“What? This maid?”

“Purple eyes! Tall! Long straight blonde hair! Rotten pupils! An expression where you can’t even guess what she’s thinking!”

The lanky guard looked me over from head to toe as he listened to that description, his expression turning bewildered. The description certainly matched Belita, but it made me feel strangely offended.

“Uh… yeah, I guess that’s her.”

“She’s got charm~ I can see why His Highness fell for her!”

Gratitude for not being turned away at the door aside, I really wanted to gag them.

“Ah! Was that too irreverent to say to someone who might become the Crown Prince’s lover? Um, I’d be very grateful if you didn’t report this!”

“Haha…”

“I suppose she is the one, but why exactly now…”

“I just returned from leave today. I only just heard the news. Is it not allowed?”

I put on an innocent face, acting as if I had no idea what was going on. The bulky guard, completely fooled by the act, let out a sigh.

“No wonder he couldn’t find you! There have been so many candidates in the meantime, you see~. He sent them all back, saying they weren’t the one! I was starting to wonder if he just didn’t remember correctly, but I guess I was wrong!”

“We don’t know that yet. This woman might not be her either…”

“Ehey! There’s never been anyone who looked this much like her! Are you really going to be this stingy? This is the person the Crown Prince has been desperately searching for for weeks. It’s only human decency to let them meet as soon as possible!”

“But the Cardinal gave specific orders to be careful…”

“Oh, honestly! Let’s just use our own discretion for something like this! Go on, head inside!”

I suppose Cardinal Samuel hadn’t explained the Crown Prince’s schedule for today very well?

He probably just told them to keep an eye out, but a vague order like that wasn’t enough to stop me.

For the past few weeks, the Crown Prince’s scandal had been the main topic of interest for everyone in the Holy State.

The Crown Prince had been searching for me so desperately that most people were busy lamenting how pitiful he was.

‘How careless of them.’

It might have been an excellent choice in terms of security, but its simultaneous laxity was a stroke of luck for me.

Eventually, the other guard agreed to let me in, and I was able to step into the room.
It was in the middle of a casual back-and-forth with the Crown Prince, who had recognized me.

“Aren’t you going to sit…?”

Ding!

…The options triggered by the Crown Prince’s advances finally did it. Biting the bullet, I pressed the option that seemed the most salvageable and quickly calculated my next move. But then.

“I’m sorry…”

…??

At this unexpected reaction, the simulation running in my head of how to smoothly smooth things over so as not to hurt the Crown Prince’s feelings evaporated into smoke.

“No. It seems I spoke too harshly. To think I would say such a thing to Your Imperial Highness…”

“No. It’s all my fault. I did something unforgivable to you that day in the first place.”

What’s with this? Why is he acting so submissive?

And his affection increases at a time like this?

‘…Ah, right.’

I forgot this man was a pervert whose affection went up even after getting hit in the crotch.

He was the type to pull the “You’re the first woman to ever hit me!” trope.

Don’t tell me the more I show my disgust, the more he likes it?

‘This isn’t going to be easy.’

Without realizing it, I looked at him with eyes full of contempt, and the Crown Prince’s face brightened instantly.

Is this for real?

This guy was despised by the heroines too; apparently, he was a guy who enjoyed that sort of thing.

But why did he have to fall for only me? Was I the only one who actually put the desire to hit him into action?

Not that I did it of my own free will, of course.

“Still, you can sit anywhere until the guest arrives. If being near me is uncomfortable, you can use that chair over there.”

Following the direction of the Crown Prince’s chin, I saw a modest wooden chair positioned by the door.

Since I was feeling rather tired, I decided to follow his suggestion.

Theodore smiled contentedly, then his expression stiffened as he asked in a deliberate, low voice.

“But, whose orders brought you here?”

…That is a very sharp question.

It seemed he had finally realized that the timing of my appearance was quite suspicious.
The meeting between Edelina and the Crown Prince was more than unofficial—it was a secret that shouldn’t be known to anyone.

In a situation like this, Cardinal Samuel had no reason to leisurely send a maid specifically to assist with the reception.

Of course, he could have sent one to appear considerate of the fact that the guest was the Crown Prince. And the very maid the Prince had been looking for, at that.

‘Or should I just say the protagonist sent me?’

No, that makes things too complicated. How would the protagonist know the Crown Prince was here and send me?

…I calmly replied, pretending to know nothing.

“I only came according to the mission assigned to me by the Head Maid. I am afraid I do not know exactly whose command it was. My apologies.”

“…I see.”

Is he buying it?

Seeing as his affection didn’t drop, it seemed he didn’t intend to press his suspicions further for now.

Clack—

After a brief knock, the door swung wide open without waiting for permission. Then, Edelina, with her hood pulled low, was practically shoved into the room.

Edelina timidly pulled back her hood with her hands bound in chains and lifted her head.
Perhaps she had suffered mentally in prison, as her shadowed eyes were wavering more anxiously than usual, and her lips were parched as if she hadn’t been able to drink water properly.

The only silver lining was that she probably hadn’t been physically tortured; Ilian mentioned that since she was a high-ranking noble who had to attend a public trial, they would avoid leaving any visible wounds.

“Lady Peyers. It is I.”

!!!!!!

Edelina’s eyes met mine, and she rubbed them with her bound hands as if she couldn’t believe it.

“…H-how.”

The Crown Prince seemed to think Edelina was surprised to see him.

Since I was standing right behind him, it made sense.

Seeing the exhausted Edelina, the Crown Prince spoke softly.

“Haha. You must be very surprised. First, please have a seat.”

Theodore glanced at me for a moment, then raised his voice as he lifted an empty cup.

“The tea is quite delicious. However, I find myself craving hibiscus more. Could you bring some?”

This was a natural prompt for me to leave.

I guess he still separates public and private matters, even with someone he likes.

I gave a light nod.

“Ah, and more refreshments as well, please.”

The Crown Prince, having finished the last remaining macaron, gave me a wink as he spoke, and my stomach turned at the greasiness of it.

Anyway…

‘I’m glad it’s delicious.’

I was worried it might taste strange.

I obediently said I understood and left the room.