Chapter 3
Part 2: Where the Sunlight Does Not Reach
The Castium Empire had long been the undisputed master of the Noitadel continent, wielding its influence over neighboring nations.
The reason for this was the power of the Spirit King, ‘Luminesca.’
Long ago, the empire’s founder, ‘Raven,’ during a battle with another empire, rescued an injured, fearfully trembling owl and nursed it back to health with utmost devotion.
It turned out, however, that this owl was a messenger cherished by the Spirit King Luminesca. To repay Raven for saving her messenger, Luminesca bestowed a blessing upon the Castium Empire.
It was a blessing that allowed each generation of the imperial family to use only an extremely small portion of her power.
As spirit magic was the strongest among all magics, Castium, once the weakest on the continent, grew prosperous and powerful based on this strength.
Yet, even while holding continental hegemony, they did not invade other countries without just cause, nor did they flaunt their power unnecessarily. They did not wish to abuse the mercy Luminesca had granted them.
However, those who envied and resented them gradually increased. A prime example was the Iblis Empire.
The Iblis Empire, the second-ranked power on the continent, coveted Castium’s special power and authority, watching for an opportunity. Plagued by an inferiority complex and a sense of inadequacy, they eventually put forth a new doctrine.
They claimed their guardian deity, Esca, had prophesied: ‘The Castium Empire will fall, and Iblis shall become the site of the new heaven. Therefore, prepare an ark.’
Whether this was true or false is unknown, but regardless, the Iblis Emperor ‘Novas’ secretly proceeded with the ‘Arc Project’ as per this prophecy.
And thirteen years later, they succeeded in assassinating the Emperor of Castium.
Castium was instantly thrown into chaos. Because Alec, Theo, and Logy’s work had been so thorough, the masterminds couldn’t be uncovered.
But there was another, more significant reason for their confusion. It was that…
‘Crown Prince Calix had no ability.’
It was unprecedented in history. A member of the Castium imperial family had been born without receiving Luminesca’s blessing.
The actual reason was that the Research Institute Director, Ruin, had stolen his blessing before Calix was born.
However, the nobles, unaware of the Institute’s existence, directed all their arrows at Lienne.
Naturally, Lienne protested her innocence, and ultimately, a paternity test was conducted.
The results confirmed that Calix was indeed the biological son of Emperor Aeternus…
But the nobles remained suspicious. To make matters worse, the Emperor was then poisoned.
Eventually, Lienne, unable to bear the guilt of bearing a royal without the blessing and the shock of her husband’s murder, succumbed to alcoholism.
Furthermore, Lienne, originally a princess from the Theban Archipelago—a collection of large and small islands across the sea—had no support base within the Empire.
So the nobles ignored her, an alcoholic with no backing.
The still young Calix, to resist them, temporarily granted imperial authority to ‘Bruxton Montmer,’ a noble who had been close to the Emperor.
Calix expected him to continue investigating the Emperor’s death…
Contrary to expectations, however, Montmer’s eyes were opened to the power that had fallen into his lap, and he instead began suppressing the Imperial faction, expanding his influence daily.
The Crown Prince’s fall from grace was instantaneous.
‘In short, the Crown Prince, who should be 15 by now, has been pushed aside in the power struggle and left neglected.’
While I was lost in thought, the interviewer handed me the signed contract with a gentle smile.
“Congratulations on officially becoming a maid of the Crown Prince’s Palace, Miss Logy.”
“Thank you.”
“I am the Head Maid, Vesti Wood. You may call me Vesti from now on.”
“Yes, Lady Vesti.”
“Then, I’ll guide you to where the Crown Prince’s Palace is located.”
We exited the main imperial palace and walked for quite a while along a back path.
As time passed, the surroundings grew progressively darker, and the unmaintained road became increasingly rough.
‘Is this really the way to the Crown Prince’s Palace?’
Just as doubts were beginning to arise, Vesti spoke again.
“The Crown Prince’s Palace, ‘Eclipsia,’ is located somewhat distant from the main imperial palace.”
“So it seems.”
“The reason is… well, after His Majesty the Emperor passed away suddenly, His Highness the Crown Prince sought a quiet place to heal his heart.”
“I see.”
So that’s the cover story they use to hide the truth from newly arrived maids.
But I understand.
I, too, would have found it difficult to know without the Institute’s thorough education and my voracious reading of history books.
“Ahem. Miss Logy, you said your age is 18, correct?”
“Ah, yes.”
When filling out the contract, I wrote my age as 18. That was my age when I died.
“That’s perfect.”
…Perfect for what?
As I was about to ask, she stopped abruptly.
Finally looking up, I saw the Eclipsia Palace, where the Crown Prince lived.
Tall trees, grown thick and dense, surrounded it like a screen, and a sharp wind blew like a blade.
The grey walls, bearing the full mark of time, were covered in moss. The rusty iron gate and the cracked glass windows here and there were noticeable.
‘This… is really the Crown Prince’s Palace?’
As I stood there in silent astonishment, Vesti spoke to me.
“From now on, Miss Logy, you will be the Crown Prince’s personal maid and assist with life in the Crown Prince’s Palace.”
“Wait a moment. Personal maid? Then, other than me…”
“You’re young, Miss Logy, so you’ll manage just fine. Oh dear, I just remembered some urgent business. I must take my leave.”
Vesti, pushing up her glasses, hurriedly disappeared.
“Wait!”
I called out urgently, but she had long since vanished at the speed of light.
Caw— Caw— Caw—
Ominous crow cries came from somewhere.
“…Am I alone?”
Does that mean I’m the only one cleaning this abandoned palace and caring for the Crown Prince?
‘Hmm, no. It’s too early for hasty judgments.’
I was clearly hired as a ‘maid.’ That means there might be ‘ladies-in-waiting’ too.
Also, the interior might be cleaner than expected.
Perhaps a previously hired maid kept it tidy.
‘Let’s go inside.’
Creeeeak—
Pushing the rusty iron gate open with all my strength revealed a hall made of marble.
…Or was it marble?
The marble, which should have boasted a snow-white color, was covered in a hazy layer of dust, turned grey.
Also, the old candlesticks lining the walls bore only traces of wax, and the chandelier, rusted in places, looked downright unsightly.
The statues, which seemed like they had been neglected for a million years, and the withered, dried floral decorations were the same.
‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’
The Eclipsia Palace, filled with a chilly coldness, was silently desolate, utterly unlike a place where people lived.
It was hard to believe the Crown Prince had been living here all this time.
‘I have to work here from now on?’
My doubts were short-lived, as another question raised its head.
‘But where is the Crown Prince?’
Scanning my surroundings, I closed my eyes and focused all my senses on my hearing.
Then, from behind the palace, I heard the boisterous sounds of children.
‘Is he over there?’
Quickening my pace, I found a group of boys gathered in the palace’s rear garden.
Dressed in lavish clothes, they were talking amongst themselves in a mocking tone directed somewhere.
“Ah, that’s right, the imperial palace was here, wasn’t it?”
“Right, I almost forgot. It’s so shabby, even compared to the doghouse at my mansion.”
“I heard he doesn’t even have any servants. I wonder how he manages to live.”
“No servants? What do you mean? Aren’t the rats and spiders crawling on the ceiling His Highness’s minions?”
As soon as someone finished speaking, everyone burst into loud laughter. Frowning, I took a step forward.
‘Just who are they making fun of?’
Then, I saw the boy at the end of their line of sight.
Jet-black hair. A pale face with mysterious purple eyes.
His tightly pressed lips looked stubborn, but his long, thick, downturned eyelashes gave him an overall pure and upright impression.
His height, large for his age, prominent shoulder blades, straight back, and seemingly sturdy build were also noticeable.
As I looked at him, I involuntarily gasped.
Because he was the Crown Prince, Calix.
‘The nobles are mocking the Crown Prince?’
No matter how fallen his status, nobles cannot mock the Crown Prince.
But they were deceiving and taunting the Prince as naturally as if they had been doing it for a very long time.
“Your Highness, why don’t you answer?”
Just then, a red-haired boy picked up a pine cone that had fallen near the Prince’s feet and flung it at him.
As the pine cone thumped near his feet, raucous laughter erupted from the group.
“Oops, sorry! The imperial palace is so shabby I mistook it for my family’s backyard!”
The mockery was excessive for a 15-year-old to handle.
Moreover, he was the Crown Prince. So, I inwardly expected the Prince, unable to bear the insult, to call for someone.
But he showed no reaction whatsoever.
His shadowed eyes beneath the long lashes didn’t even flicker, and his lips remained firmly shut.
As if he couldn’t hear their words, as if he couldn’t even see them.
No emotion rose to his face. He simply swallowed their insults in silence.
The nobles’ expressions then twisted. Perhaps, without any proper reaction, it was no longer amusing.
Then, someone, seemingly determined to elicit some kind of response from the Prince, shouted loudly.
“Your Highness, has the shock of being abandoned rendered you deaf and blind? Why do you not say anything?
