Episode 83
They say you can’t sleep well when you’re in love. But I slept soundly. I woke up feeling refreshed, having forgotten all my worries.
“Yawn. I slept well.”
I stretched and ran a hand through my messy hair.
Thanks to Sylvia’s consideration, I was enjoying the luxury of a single room, even though I was a maid. I lazed around in bed for a while before getting up.
‘It’s a good thing I’m at the County mansion. They even care about the servants’ beds.’
With that thought, I stood up and looked at my reflection in the small mirror.
Wavy, light brown hair and green eyes.
I was used to it now, but it still felt strangely unfamiliar at times.
‘Come to think of it, after Cesar cast the spell again, I had brown feathers and green eyes even as a bird. Why didn’t the Tower Master change my appearance as a bird…?’
The sudden question filled my mind.
If my bird form had also been different, the Crown Prince wouldn’t have recognized me so easily.
At first, I thought it was because it was difficult to change a bird’s appearance with magic, but it didn’t make sense that Cesar could do it, but his master, the Tower Master, couldn’t.
“What was his reason?”
Even if I asked, that sly Tower Master probably wouldn’t tell me. He would just avoid the question, like when he sent me to the Imperial Palace with a smile.
“Sigh, let’s stop thinking about it. I’m just working today.”
I patted my cheeks and got ready to go out. Then, I noticed my lips were still slightly chapped. My face flushed.
‘But there’s one good thing… that my feelings, which I thought were unrequited, have reached him.’
After my face flushed, a smile crept onto my lips. I felt shy, wondering how I should face Cesar when he visited the County mansion next time.
‘Should I try dating him after everything is settled?’
Of course, I knew the significance of social status in this world. In novels, the heroine and the male lead often overcame such differences, but even then, the heroine usually had a hidden noble lineage or was a fallen noble.
But I wasn’t.
I couldn’t, and wouldn’t, wish for the position of Duchess.
‘But I can at least try dating. If it doesn’t work out, we can just break up.’
I pushed aside thoughts of the complicated future and hurriedly left my room to accompany Sylvia on her outing.
“The weather isn’t too hot today.”
I tilted the parasol to shield Sylvia from the sun and replied playfully,
“Yes, Miss Sylvia. It’s the perfect weather to buy a gift for His Highness.”
“V-Valerie!”
“Ahaha.”
Sylvia’s flustered reaction was cute. He might be an annoying Crown Prince to me, but seeing him treat Sylvia so well made me think he was indeed the male lead.
Of course, the fact that he couldn’t prevent Sylvia’s kidnapping in the novel was a minus.
‘I don’t know what will happen this time, but if you just stand there and watch again, you’re not the male lead.’
Sylvia, oblivious to my inner thoughts, whispered to me, her face flushed,
“Lily, do you think this gift will be burdensome for His Highness?”
I checked if anyone was listening and whispered back,
“Of course not. He’ll love it. His Highness loves you, Sylvia.”
She covered my mouth, vehemently denying my words,
“That’s not true. Love?! His Highness is just… kind… He’s kind to everyone, and he’s so gentle, and…”
Her voice, listing various reasons, trailed off. Sylvia’s eyes blinked slowly as if lost in thought.
Soon, a bright smile bloomed on her face, her cheeks flushed like the sunset.
“But when he gave me beautiful flowers, saying he was thinking of me, it made me feel special.”
It felt like I was witnessing a scene from the novel.
As a reader, I had wished to see Sylvia in love, even if I had to become a pebble.
So I was satisfied, but…
“Mmph!”
‘I can’t breathe! You’re covering my nose, too, Sylvia!’
“S-sorry!”
Sylvia hurriedly removed her hand and checked on me. I gasped for air, feeling like I had just escaped death.
‘Phew. I almost died.’
“I’m fine, Miss Sylvia. Let’s go.”
“But Valerie… are you really okay…?”
Seeing her worried, teary-eyed expression, I pushed her forward.
“I’m fine, really. We’ll be late for the auction, let’s go!”
Sylvia snapped back to reality at my words and hurried towards the shopping district where the auction was being held.
Sylvia, who had been struggling to find a gift that would satisfy the Crown Prince’s discerning taste, said she was going to buy some ancient sword at today’s auction.
I was a little anxious about the outing, but she had brought guards just in case, and the auction house was said to be secure.
‘Nothing will happen, right?’
Contrary to my worries, we safely entered the auction house and sat in our designated seats.
Sylvia whispered,
“Lily, doesn’t this feel like we’re at a masquerade ball?”
As Sylvia said, colorful masks of various shapes and sizes caught my eye.
Everyone at the auction house was either wealthy or of high status. So they were given masks to conceal their identities.
It seemed like even the servants accompanying the nobles had been given masks, as I saw people who looked like maids and butlers, including myself, wearing them.
I fiddled with my mask, decorated with bright yellow feathers, and nodded at Sylvia’s words.
‘In other novels, things like slave auctions and other incidents happen in places like this. Slave auctions are illegal in the Empire, and His Majesty is upright, so illegal slave traders don’t seem to be active.’
A bright light shone on the stage, signaling the start of the auction. I relaxed and watched the various items being presented.
There was one item that caught my eye – a jewel shimmering with vibrant colors. It was said to be from a distant continent and was called the “Tear of the Sea.”
Unfortunately, it was immediately won by a man who bid a large sum.
‘The currency unit was different, right? If he can casually bid that much, is he as wealthy as the Duke?’
I stared at him curiously and then turned my attention back to Sylvia when the item she wanted appeared.
Fortunately, the bidding didn’t go too far beyond the budget she had brought, so the ancient sword was successfully won by Sylvia. I could see her happy expression even from behind her mask, and I smiled.
Sylvia successfully acquired the gift for the Crown Prince, and the auction ended without any problems. She told me to wait while she received the item.
Since guards weren’t allowed inside the auction house, I waited for Sylvia alone.
‘I should just stay put and not do anything. I always seem to cause trouble at times like these.’
After waiting for a few minutes, I heard Sylvia’s voice,
“Let’s go, Valerie.”
Even though the auction was over, Sylvia hadn’t taken off her mask.
‘Is it because we’re still inside the auction house?’
“Yes, Miss Sylvia.”
I quietly followed her.
The auction house was dimly lit, so I stayed close, worried I might lose her in the crowd. Hearing her bright laughter,
“It’s okay. Nothing’s going to happen.”
“…I know, but just in case. Where are the guards waiting?”
“I told them to wait by the carriage. We’ll be leaving the auction house soon, so follow me closely, Valerie.”
Looking out the window, it seemed like quite some time had passed, as dusk had settled.
‘It’s strangely peaceful.’
The thought suddenly crossed my mind.
And as if on cue, as soon as we left the auction house, a chilling premonition washed over me. A feeling that I shouldn’t leave this place kept holding me back.
“Miss Sylvia.”
“Yes?”
“…You bought the gift for His Highness, right?”
“Yes. Thanks to you coming with me, I think I got a good gift.”
Her gentle tone, her laughter, her attire… it was definitely Sylvia, but why…
I stopped and looked at Sylvia walking ahead of me. She turned around, puzzled by my sudden stop.
“What’s wrong, Valerie?”
The entrance we had come out of was shrouded in darkness, and there was no one around. A sense of dread washed over me.
“Now that it’s just the two of us… can I speak informally, Sylvia?”
“Yes, of course! You always do, Valerie.”
At her reply, I smiled as if nothing was wrong and took a step back. I could go back inside the auction house if I just took a few more steps.
“I just remembered that I left something at our seats…”
“You can just tell the auction house staff.”
“No. It’s something precious, so I have to go back.”
“Really?”
A sharp, malicious glint flashed in her eyes, which had been smiling gently behind the mask. A hand suddenly shot out and grabbed my wrist tightly.
“Are you actually trying to run away?”
“Ouch!”
As I winced in pain, she smiled. This person definitely wasn’t Sylvia.
But then who was she? Why was she impersonating Sylvia? And why would she kidnap a mere maid?
My questions were interrupted by a voice.
“I don’t want to hurt you. But I’m very angry that you didn’t come, Valerie.”