Chapter 17
“Don’t lay a hand on Trillinia.”
What did I just hear? Haon blinked, unable to believe her ears.
“Pardon…? What do you mean?”
Her heart thudded wildly in her chest. Her mouth went dry, and her head spun.
Was Prince Si… defending Trillinia? Was he taking her side? Trying to protect her?
So he hadn’t listened to a word Haon said and instead dragged her here after hearing only Trillinia’s ridiculous, nasally voice?
Haon’s mind was in chaos.
Her favorite prince was taking care of another woman—and that woman was the villainess of the novel?
“Haon.”
Prince Si called her name. But Haon was too overwhelmed by her spiraling thoughts to respond.
“Haon.”
He called again, this time tightening his grip on her shoulder.
“How could you do this? Since when?!”
Haon burst out, her voice trembling with emotion.
“There was never anything like this in the story. Is this another out-of-story setup? I can’t believe you’re interested in Trillinia…”
“What nonsense are you saying?”
One of Prince Si’s eyebrows drew inward. His expression had subtly darkened, clearly laced with displeasure.
“What kind of absurd imagination are you running with?”
“You just told me not to touch Trillinia.”
“I meant don’t go picking a fight with her carelessly.”
“So you’re protecting her?”
“…I’m protecting Lady Trillinia?”
“Then what is it if not that?!”
Haon’s eyes flared as she stared at him, panting with frustration.
Prince Si let out a sigh.
“The House of Sis is one of the more influential and long-standing noble families.”
“Oh, I see. And here I was, failing to recognize such a precious noble lady, being all rude—how terribly uncomfortable for you to watch.”
Her words came out sharp and dripping with sarcasm.
Prince Si, resigned, continued his explanation.
“Even if you’re favored by Princess Fireone, you’re still just a handmaiden. She’s someone far above your reach.”
“Of course. I should’ve bowed and served her from the start, but I failed to do so.”
“You could end up getting hurt for no reason, so I’m telling you not to stir up trouble.”
“Right, so I could get… hurt?”
Haon had been parroting him without thought, but then she paused, something dawning on her.
She looked up at him with wide, round eyes.
Prince Si stared back impassively.
“Your Highness…”
Her voice trembled as she pointed at herself.
“Are you… worried about me?”
Prince Si scowled again.
“What are you talking about?”
He removed his hand from her shoulder—and even took a step back, as if putting distance between them.
“Why would I worry about a mere handmaiden like you?”
“Exactly. So why are you worried about me, Your Highness?”
Despite herself, Haon’s eyes sparkled, and she tried to suppress the smile rising to her lips.
“But you did say it, didn’t you? That I might get hurt, so I shouldn’t do it. That’s you worrying about me, right?”
Prince Si remained silent, only looking down at her.
Even his refusal to answer didn’t deter her. Haon’s brightening eyes grew more persistent, and eventually, he caved.
“…I just don’t like unnecessary fuss in the palace. I hate noise.”
“Ehh~.”
Haon nudged him with her elbow.
Prince Si grimaced and brushed off the spot where her elbow touched.
“I’m leaving.”
He turned on his heel like a blade and walked away swiftly.
Left alone, Haon couldn’t contain her laughter and shoulders shook with mirth.
“What was that? Was that… a green light?”
Her entire body squirmed.
After finally finding the cleaning tools, Haon returned and tidied up the terrace before rejoining Princess Fireone. By then, Prince Di had already finished dancing with the princess and disappeared.
She was disappointed to have missed the sweet moment between the male and female leads. But then again, maybe she had just experienced her own “green light” moment with Prince Si. Haon decided to console herself with that thought.
As she resumed her duties beside the princess—
“Oh, them.”
She spotted the group of ladies who had been with Trillinia. They also noticed her and flinched.
Haon deliberately stepped closer to Princess Fireone and gave the ladies a hard stare.
‘They must’ve been gossiping about our princess.’
Even if she hadn’t chimed in, being present during it didn’t paint her in a favorable light. Haon glared daggers at them.
The young ladies, who had been whispering behind their fans, suddenly approached Princess Fireone.
“Your Highness.”
“Greetings, Princess.”
They greeted her one after another. After the standard introductions, one of them hesitantly spoke up.
“We don’t share those views.”
“Yes, that was only Lady Trillinia’s personal opinion.”
“We were just about to say something ourselves.”
“That’s right.”
As soon as one spoke, the rest chimed in, eager to echo the sentiment. They nodded in agreement, exchanging glances like they were in perfect harmony.
“What are you talking about?”
Princess Fireone tilted her head, clearly puzzled by the sudden flood of words.
“One of your maids told us something…”
One of them glanced at Haon nervously.
The princess looked over at her. Haon was still shooting icy glares at the group.
From Haon’s hostility and the mention of Trillinia, Fireone could piece together what had likely happened.
“My maid—and I—are not ones to gossip. There’s no need for concern.”
She tried to wrap things up neatly with those words.
The young ladies’ faces brightened instantly.
“As expected, your heart is as beautiful as your appearance.”
“We’re actually on your side, Princess.”
“It must be terribly lonely, coming all this way to a foreign land by yourself.”
“We’d love to be your companions. Wouldn’t we?”
“Of course.”
The ladies chirped.
Haon, observing all this, felt uneasy.
‘First they clung to Trillinia, now they’re trying to cling to our princess?’
Perhaps it was because of her first impression of them, but she couldn’t see them in a positive light.
As they continued to talk, Princess Fireone quietly added,
“However, I’m not particularly fond of excessive chatter.”
Though her tone was gentle and her smile gracious, the effect was immediate—silence.
“Of course.”
“It’s always best to be mindful of what we say.”
“Quite right.”
The ladies quickly agreed, nodding awkwardly before saying their farewells and returning to their original place.
Once they were gone, Princess Fireone turned to Haon with mild curiosity.
“Haon, what exactly have you been up to?”
“Haha… well, you know.”
Haon laughed sheepishly, scratching her head.
The princess didn’t press further.
“Let’s return to the detached palace now.”
Though the night of the ball was still young, Princess Fireone left early. The main events had ended, and Haon tried to convince herself she wasn’t disappointed.
‘Still, I’m already here at the palace ball… I wish I could eat more and enjoy the sights a little longer…’
She couldn’t help the lingering regret.
Her stomach rumbled at the thought of the lavish finger foods lining the ballroom’s edge. It wasn’t just hunger—it was curiosity. They looked so extravagant.
She had seen all the princes of the palace, but beautiful things weren’t just for tasting—they were also for admiring. And she wanted to admire them a bit longer.
Haon’s gaze remained fixed on the ballroom as she hesitated to leave.
“What are you doing?”
Antenn pinched her lightly on the arm and walked ahead.
The small sting snapped Haon back to reality.
“Y-Yes, I’m coming!”
She rubbed her arm and hurried after Princess Fireone and Antenn with quick steps.
The dazzling music and chatter faded behind them. As the royal guards saw them off, Haon felt the ball had truly come to an end.
She hadn’t even officially attended, yet she felt both relief and sadness.
She glanced around, trying to take in as much of the main palace as she could before they left.
Surrounding the ballroom was a vast garden. The distant orchestra played like a perfect soundtrack.
A few guests strolled through the garden, having left the hot ballroom for some fresh air.
They reached the edge of the garden, where the lights dimmed and the path grew darker.
“Shall we take a short walk before returning?”
Princess Fireone turned her steps away from the palace and began to circle the garden’s edge.
“You were disappointed too, weren’t you, Princess?”
Haon smiled and followed happily. The main palace garden was even more beautiful. She looked around at the flowers and trees, delighting in the view—until something caught her eye in the shadows of the shrubbery.
‘A person?’
At first, she thought it was just someone else out for a walk. She glanced at the vague silhouette unconsciously.
But when she fully registered what she was seeing—
‘What the hell is that?’
She nearly cursed aloud.
The smooth progression of the evening shattered, and her thoughts were swept into another tornado.
“Haon, what is it?”
Of course, the ever-perceptive Princess Fireone noticed her reaction.
Panicking, Haon pointed in the opposite direction and raised her voice.
“Princess, it’s nothing. Just over there—!”
But it was useless.
The widening of the princess’s eyes was all the proof needed—she had already seen it.
“Tell me I’m not the only one seeing this.”
“I’ve heard that sometimes people can see illusions or mirages, but if that’s what you saw, Princess, then it’s not that your eyes are—”
“Just answer me,” she cut off Haon’s rambling. “Do you see it too, or not?”
“I do.”
Haon replied immediately.
She looked at Princess Fireone nervously.
“Um, Your Highness? Maybe it’s time we return to the detached palace. It’s getting late…”
“…Right.”
“Yes, let’s go quickly.”
Haon was relieved to hear that. She thought the princess would simply turn around.
Click.
The sound of a step.
But when Princess Fireone moved—it was forward.
Straight toward what she had seen.
Of course.
Our princess was not someone who could pretend not to see what she had already seen.
