Chapter 3
“Lady, how did you know he was the prince?”
I asked in a tone that suited a six-year-old—curious and a little too carefree. The nanny immediately looked flustered and apologized to Leona.
“Milady! You shouldn’t address His Highness so casually! I’m terribly sorry, Your Highness. She is still very young…”
I was six, and Leona was four. He was smaller than other children his age, too.
Only after speaking did the nanny seem to realize how awkward her excuse sounded; her ears flushed slightly.
I exchanged a secret glance with Leona and smiled.
“It’s okay.”
Leona answered slowly, carefully pronouncing the words.
His mild manner eased the nanny’s tension. Her voice softened as she addressed him again.
“Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness. We shall take our leave now.”
We had entered the abandoned palace believing it to be empty, in a moment of urgency. But now that we had been discovered by its owner, staying would only cause further impropriety.
Even if Leona was a neglected prince.
The nanny bowed with proper decorum, then hurried to lead me away before anyone else noticed.
But before we could leave his room, someone entered.
“Your Highness, it’s time to eat.”
The maid called to Leona in a disinterested tone. When she saw us, her expression darkened.
“Who are you?”
She spoke politely enough—my clothes were clearly those of a noble child—but her gaze, sweeping over me from head to toe, was rude.
The nanny, though kind, was not the type to tolerate disrespect.
“This is the young lady of House Roderick.”
House Roderick was the most prestigious noble family in the empire.
My father, the current Duke Roderick, had once been the emperor’s guardian during his time as a prince and had played a decisive role in helping him secure the throne.
A daughter of House Roderick was, to a mere palace maid, as distant and unattainable as a star in the heavens.
‘And for a great house like ours, even the nanny is of noble birth.’
The maid was not even a lady-in-waiting—only a servant assigned to the “abandoned palace.” That likely meant she came from a middle-class common background.
Compared to me, there was no contest. And socially, she was far beneath the nanny as well.
The nanny’s icy reply made the maid quickly realize the situation. Her tone turned obsequious.
“Forgive my rudeness. I am honored to meet you.”
I merely blinked at her and did not return the greeting.
Proper etiquette required that I hold my posture until the other party acknowledged the greeting.
And the palace formality was a rather difficult stance to maintain.
At first, the maid’s posture looked acceptable. But it quickly began to crumble.
This maid had also worked in the abandoned palace during my first life.
According to Leona at that time, she had been there since she was so young that she could not even remember joining the palace staff.
She had stolen provisions meant for the prince and enriched herself with them.
‘She starved a child. This is hardly punishment.’
In the past, Leona—ever tight-lipped—had allowed the maid to continue playing the role of a loyal servant to the neglected prince, secretly profiting for years. Only after he became emperor was she removed under my orders.
We would meet again—eventually.
The nanny, perhaps irritated by the maid’s insolence, took her time adjusting my clothes, pretending to fuss over them.
Nearly five minutes passed before she finally suggested that I acknowledge the maid’s greeting.
“Oh my, Lady. The maid of the abandoned palace is still waiting to be acknowledged.”
She covered her mouth in mock surprise, as if only just noticing the maid. The act was surprisingly natural.
I clutched the hem of the nanny’s skirt, pretending to be shy.
“Mm… hello.”
Finally permitted to rise, the maid straightened—though her demeanor had softened considerably.
“Yes, it is an honor to meet you, Lady.”
Even her question about why we were in the abandoned palace was careful and respectful.
“Why are you in the abandoned palace, Lady…?”
“The Lady is touring the palace with the special permission of His Majesty.”
The nanny answered for me in a dignified tone.
Of course, the permission I had was limited to a small portion of the gardens, but that detail was omitted.
“I see. If you need guidance, I would be happy to escort you anywhere you wish.”
The maid, sensing an opportunity, spoke eagerly, hoping to make a favorable impression.
“That won’t be necessary. We can manage.”
The nanny refused immediately, her gaze turning cold toward the maid—then softening again as she looked at me.
“Lady, you mentioned earlier that you wanted to visit the lake garden, didn’t you?”
“Mm, I did….”
In truth, I disliked the lake garden. It was where the crown prince often appeared.
I had only mentioned it as an excuse so we could head toward the abandoned palace instead.
But the nanny took my hand and prepared to leave, as though we were heading there immediately.
However, I still had one thing to do.
“I don’t really want to go anymore.”
I planted my feet and refused to move.
At six years old, I was a well-raised child in many ways—mild-mannered but occasionally stubborn.
The nanny looked confused, clearly not expecting my resistance.
She tried to soothe me with words, but then noticed the presence of others and stopped.
Leona, who had been quietly watching us, flinched.
‘Why are you looking at me like that?’
You’d think he was observing a state council meeting, not a children’s quarrel.
‘Look a little more innocent!’
You’re four—act like it!
Even if you can’t help, at least don’t hinder me.
I exaggerated a naive expression and tilted my head.
It was the same look I used whenever my family questioned my mental maturity after my regression.
A perfect six-year-old’s expression.
Leona jerked slightly at the sight of it.
His face stiffened, as if he had seen something he wished he hadn’t.
Apparently, even a four-year-old could make that expression.
We were doomed.
The nanny, who had relaxed her guard at our small and fragile appearances, once again grew wary of Leona due to the silent tension between us.
I signaled to Leona with my eyes.
Act cute, you little bunny!
Perhaps he understood my silent plea, because he smiled awkwardly.
It was an effort, but far from convincing.
In this situation, a frightened expression would have been better.
‘Hah, I managed to look more natural than that on my first day.’
So much for talent.
I stepped forward to cover for Leona’s poor acting.
“I want to play… with him!”
The nanny was a person who valued etiquette above all else.
She had recognized at a glance that Leona was not receiving proper treatment, yet she still insisted on addressing him with the respect due to a prince.
“Lady!”
She called me in a low, firm voice.
Just as I expected.
She had forgotten her earlier wariness of Leona and now sought to discipline me for behaving like a spoiled child.
“You should address him as ‘Your Highness.’”
Hearing her strict tone, I pretended to shrink.
“Yes, I want to play with His Highness!”
My change in wording—while still cheerful and improper—made the nanny look pained. But it was only natural; a six-year-old who obeyed immediately would be stranger.
‘Nanny, I’m sorry. But we’ve known each other for a long time—I can’t just abandon him.’
My inner adult self apologized to her.
Outwardly, however, I acted like an excited child who could not contain her enthusiasm.
“Is that not okay?”
I asked with a pleading, affectionate tone.
The nanny’s lips softened into a faint, helpless smile.
She was one of the Duke’s people who was weak to such displays of charm.
But she was not entirely easy to sway.
“His Highness is busy,” she replied.
I had expected she would not allow a random child to play with the prince—especially in this dusty, neglected palace.
“When will he be free?”
“Probably not for a while.”
I pouted, and she gave an ambiguous smile.
“Well, that can’t be helped. Let’s go to the lake garden, nanny!”
I pretended to relent, and her expression brightened.
“Shall we?”
Taking the hand she offered, I spoke loudly enough for both the maid and Leona to hear.
“But it’ll be okay if we come to play next time he’s not busy, right?”
