Chapter 60
“Prince Di likes Princess Pireone, so why are you so troubled?”
I tried to ask casually, but the question came out more blunt than intended.
Haon grabbed her head and hunched over, groaning in distress.
“Of course! Prince Di likes Princess Pireone, but she’s currently involved with Prince Al.”
Haon looked up with a tearful expression.
“What should I do about this tangled situation?”
Prince Si silently watched Haon.
Was her distress really just because the situation was messy? It was puzzling, but strangely, he felt a sense of relief at her answer. He could now listen to Haon’s worries with a little more ease.
Haon tilted her eyebrows pitifully and looked at Prince Si with a sorrowful gaze. What should I do? Her watery eyes seemed to silently plead for an answer.
“So…”
Prince Si finally spoke. Haon focused all her attention on his lips.
“You’re troubled because Prince Di likes Princess Pireone, and she and Prince Al like each other?”
Haon nodded, giving him a puzzled look—as if to ask why he needed to restate what she had already said.
Prince Si’s eyebrows tilted irritably.
“I don’t understand why you’re troubled over that mismatched relationship.”
“Well, obviously—!”
Spoiler alert.
Haon had been possessed by Hong Gil-dong and couldn’t call her father “father,” her brother “brother,” the female lead “female lead,” or the male lead “male lead.” She couldn’t even refer to Princess Pireone properly. This frustrating situation made her chest thump in irritation.
“Since you’re Princess Pireone’s maid, you’re worried about her love life, but there’s no problem—she and Al like each other.”
Prince Si even tried to see it from Haon’s perspective as the maid. If one looked only at Princess Pireone’s side, there was no issue. In fact, it was a good thing she and the one she liked had mutual feelings.
The real problem was:
“What about Prince Di?”
Prince Di.
“Prince Di likes Princess Pireone, but somehow she fell for Prince Al.”
Prince Di was proceeding according to the original story, but Princess Pireone’s feelings had gotten twisted. Haon found this situation extremely bewildering.
Of course, this confusion existed because Haon knew the “predetermined future.” To Prince Si, who only observed events as they unfolded, Haon’s worries seemed strange.
“Do you want Princess Pireone and Prince Di to end up together?”
“Yes! Of course.”
“Is that really so obvious?”
Prince Si looked bewildered.
“Why? Al is also a good guy—capable, exemplary. Of course, Prince Di is popular in society.”
Haon felt frustrated.
Was the male lead going to be left behind like this? In Haon’s mind, Prince Di was the “male lead.” That’s why she couldn’t just nod along like Prince Si.
“I decided… to help Prince Di. So things go well with Princess Pireone.”
Haon barely came up with a reason. She had actually decided to help, so it wasn’t a lie. Though it was a flimsy justification for her confusion, she added some extra excuses.
“And Princess Pireone will become Empress, right? Then she should find a good emperor…”
“Do you think Al is lacking compared to Prince Di?”
“Well… I don’t know much about Prince Al, but… Prince Di is second in line to the throne…”
Haon hesitated. She had no solid reason to believe Prince Di was more suitable for the throne than Prince Al. She didn’t know the qualifications for a good emperor. She only knew that “Prince Di becomes emperor” in the future.
“Technically, that’s true.”
Prince Si was careful with his words. Discussions of the throne had to be handled cautiously.
“Al is younger than me, but still higher in line.”
Haon flinched and interjected.
“You are excellent too, Prince! You command the military and are the only one among the emperor’s sons by concubines in the line of succession.”
In fact, the emperor had many sons and daughters, but only princes in the line of succession were properly introduced.
“You know the royal situation well.”
“Well, I am a maid in the royal household.”
Haon smiled lightly.
Prince Si, perhaps pleased or embarrassed by Haon’s flattery, changed the topic.
“Anyway, Al has a steady personality and is compassionate. If he becomes emperor, he’ll be a benevolent ruler.”
“You trust Prince Al, then?”
If Prince Si thought that, maybe Prince Al was okay. Haon’s ears perked up at the thought.
“And most importantly…”
Prince Si added cautiously.
“He’s the man Princess Pireone chose.”
Haon widened her eyes and stared at Prince Si.
“Trust the princess’s judgment.”
“That’s true, but…”
Haon felt uneasy because the choice had changed. Whatever the reason, it was probably because of her. She was the only new variable.
She couldn’t help but worry that she might ruin Princess Pireone’s future.
“What if… for some reason, Princess Pireone’s feelings changed? Even if it wasn’t originally like that, if her feelings changed…”
Prince Si didn’t fully grasp Haon’s meaning of “original,” but understood it as her feelings having shifted from someone else.
“What does the original matter? Now, the present is what counts. There’s a reason why things changed. And a wise Princess Pireone wouldn’t change her heart for a meaningless reason.”
“Reason.”
Haon mulled over Prince Si’s words.
A reason. The reason Haon came close to Princess Pireone. The reason the story deviated from the original. Could there really be a “valid reason”?
Even before Haon voiced it, Prince Si seemed to understand her concern and continued.
“Even if there’s no reason, what’s the problem? Princess Pireone and Al like each other. No one forced them together. They naturally fell for one another. Isn’t that enough?”
Haon stared at Prince Si.
The miracle of someone you like liking you back. Everyone wishes for that miracle. That miracle had just occurred between Princess Pireone and Prince Al.
“Prince Si.”
Haon spoke in a calm voice.
“Unexpectedly, you can speak such sentimental words.”
Prince Si’s eyebrows twitched. Haon smiled, pulling the towel wrapped around her head.
It had dried completely.
“You’re right, Prince. Why was I worrying so strangely? There’s nothing more joyful than being liked by the person you like. I just need to bless them.”
She just had to accept it. Why had it been so hard?
With a much lighter heart, Haon left the Fifth Palace.
However, through the library window, Prince Si’s gaze remained heavy as he watched Haon leave.
“Being liked by the person you like…”
He recalled Haon’s radiant words by the fireplace. Her face had shone like the sun in the warm light, her smile even brighter.
“That is a blessing.”
A bittersweet smile appeared on Prince Si’s lips.
“Hey, Haon.”
“Yes, maid.”
Haon turned obediently at the call of a maid.
Yesterday, she had been half-dazed and caused trouble all day, but today was different. After consulting with Prince Si, her mind was clear and her heart calm.
Back to normal operations as Maid Haon! She straightened her posture and composure.
“A guest has come.”
“Shall I show them to the reception room?”
Perfect teamwork! Haon waited neatly for instructions, but the reply was unexpected.
“No, it’s someone looking for you.”
“Me?”
Haon pointed at herself in surprise, her neat posture slightly disrupted.
The maid led Haon toward the entrance of the secondary palace.
“That attendant over there came to see you.”
“You mean the one with orange hair?”
By the palace entrance, a flamboyant orange-haired attendant stood out even from a distance.
Haon didn’t know them, and had never seen them before. Even a single glance would make it unforgettable.
“Who is that?”
“They came for you. Isn’t that obvious?”
The maid looked puzzled and left immediately after showing the way, as if her job was done.
“Ah, no… I really don’t know.”
Haon muttered after her, though she likely couldn’t hear.
“Who could it be?”
Haon eyed the orange hair warily.
Suddenly, the attendant noticed Haon, raised their hand, and bounced over energetically, practically flying as they approached.
“Ha-on!”
The orange-haired attendant called cheerfully.
“That’s my name…”
It was definitely Haon. Looking around, she was the only one there—it was certainly her they were running toward.
But the odd thing was, the attendant seemed so familiar, yet Haon had never met them.
Haon stepped back cautiously, but the orange-haired attendant reached her quickly with their almost flying stride.
“Long time no see, Haon!”
The attendant greeted brightly.
Long time no see implied prior acquaintance.
Bright orange curly hair, round thin-rimmed glasses, green eyes peeking through, freckles across nose and cheeks, and a round smile—Haon confirmed up close: she had never met this person.
“Who are you?”
Haon asked cautiously. The attendant responded enthusiastically, as if waiting for the question.
“My name is Nerian. We’re very close friends.”
Nerian? And close friends? What on earth was this?
Haon could only respond one way, bewildered.
“…Do you know me?”
