Chapter – 19
When I asked cautiously, Kalishion gave a definite answer.
“Of course. If you were to go back like this, I’d be in even more trouble.”
Only then did I feel relieved and stop crying.
“I won’t forget this kindness.”
“Kindness?”
He shook his head.
“In times like this, you just say thank you. I’m happy simply because I get to spend more time with you.”
The pouch hidden inside my robe felt unbearably heavy.
For someone like me, who had lived without a shred of shame before heaven, this assignment was truly the worst.
He was such a kind, gentle morning star.
His body was weaker than it looked.
How was I supposed to sneak this villain’s pouch into his bedchamber and leave?
Up to the crown prince’s bathhouse, a single maid accompanied me.
As I received the robe she had taken off me, I spoke with an awkward expression.
“Um, I’d like my own maid to attend me during the bath.”
The maid, clearly well trained, bowed her head and replied.
“Then I’ll stand guard outside the door until your maid arrives. I’ll only check the water temperature and then withdraw.”
After she left, I immediately went to the door and tried the handle. Just as Kalishion had said, it wouldn’t budge.
Then there was no choice but to carry out the plan.
I discarded my stained dress and uncomfortable shoes without hesitation and stood in my slip and stockings.
When I pulled on the spare gloves I’d hidden in my robe, the rubber padding I’d added to prevent slipping was revealed.
I’d done the same thing to my stockings.
“Hoo…”
As I stared at the fireplace in the corner of the bathhouse, I felt like I might throw up at any moment.
No, I’m not even a fairy. There’s no way I’d puke and pass out over something like this.
I’m Mage A, a member of the Fixers’ Guild.
Even without magic, my value doesn’t change.
Normally, this kind of physical job would be Miligent’s responsibility, but…
All the more reason to get Miligent back, right?
So that I never have to do this kind of thing again!
“Hoo…”
After taking a deep breath, I crawled into the fireplace, which had been emptied spotless since it was early summer.
How grateful I was that the imperial palace’s flue had a cleaning ladder.
Opening the damper, I somehow squeezed my shoulders into the narrow chimney, grabbed the ladder, and made a vow.
Today, I would definitely carry out the second item on the commission—and find out the contents of the third.
Some time later, the banquet hall was left with only the crown prince.
Marin quietly approached Kalishion from behind and whispered.
“Has your belief that she possesses magic not changed?”
“…No.”
Kalishion answered that way, but unease lingered in one corner of his mind.
April had always been a bit unusual, but today it felt more extreme than usual.
“…Was that really something to cry over?”
At Kalishion’s question, Marin frowned.
“Yes?”
“I mean, was spilling wine on her dress really worth crying over? Is she still unwell, or was she cold?”
“Excuse me?”
Marin leaned closer to his lord, speaking in disbelief.
“Your Highness, perhaps you should work on your sense of empathy. She’s a nineteen-year-old lady with a weak constitution who’s never even been outside the royal capital. And in this unfamiliar imperial palace, she became a public enemy because of you.”
Is that so?
“And if, as you say, she has hidden magic, how distressing must that be for her?”
“Hmm.”
As Kalishion tilted his head, Marin let out a frustrated sigh.
“Of course, bursting into tears was immature. But when every noble is watching her every move, are you suggesting she stroll back to the banquet at dinnertime in a wine-stained dress? That would even harm your dream of becoming famous as a rake.”
Kalishion chuckled, half-listening to his subordinate’s nagging.
He replayed the moment April spilled the wine in his mind.
Two things bothered him.
First, April hadn’t made any hand movement suggesting she was about to use magic to defend herself.
Second, she hadn’t tried to right the fallen glass, letting the entire cup of wine spill out.
No matter how young or inexperienced she was, it almost seemed intentional…
“Still, isn’t it because she wanted to be alone with me? Because she wanted to spend more time together? Should I play along and tell her she can stay in my palace tonight?”
This time, Marin’s face crumpled completely.
“That does sound like something an aspiring rake would say, but can you really not tell the difference between her innocence and Vivian Hillaise’s foxlike scheming?”
“But today, she really—”
Before Kalishion could finish, Marin cut in.
“She must have been dizzy from stopping by the bathhouse earlier. That’s why I hate that place.”
It was a very familiar space to Kalishion, but he couldn’t say Marin was entirely wrong.
Right. She never behaves like Hillaise normally…
But today, something felt oddly different…
As they were talking, there was a knock.
—Knock, knock.
The head maid of the crown prince’s palace appeared.
“Your Highness, the princess’s maid has arrived and has been guided to the bathhouse.”
“She only just arrived? Then what about before? Did the head maid attend her?”
“No. Though she is an honored guest, I couldn’t personally attend a foreign princess, so I assigned another maid. However, the princess refused bathing assistance and waited all this time for her own maid from her homeland.”
She cried because she didn’t know what to do—yet she refused assistance?
After the head maid finished her report and left, silence briefly settled over the banquet hall.
Kalishion was the first to speak.
“How far did we clear the guards?”
“All the way to the eastern bathhouse.”
Kalishion tilted his head slightly to one side, then issued a cold command.
“Have everyone return to their posts immediately.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
This time, Marin didn’t argue and rose at once.
When I returned to the banquet hall, the table had been completely cleared.
Having changed into a new dress, I bowed lightly before Kalishion, who still sat in the same place like a statue.
“Did I keep you waiting long? Soaking in warm water loosened all my tension.”
Kalishion let out a long breath, looking relieved.
“I’m glad you seem to be feeling better. I was quite startled earlier.”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I caused you trouble…”
Kalishion shook his head at my repeated apologies.
“Don’t say that, April. I was only worried about one thing.”
“Yes? What…?”
“Did the maid in my palace behave rudely toward you? I was shocked to hear you’d been waiting alone for so long.”
“Ah…”
I quickly lowered my head, pretending to be embarrassed.
“Was it because I refused the maid’s help? I felt uncomfortable showing my body to someone I’d just met. Please don’t scold the poor maid because of me.”
Kalishion smiled faintly, an unreadable expression on his face.
“How was the bath? Did the hot spring water feel different?”
I smiled brightly on purpose.
“Yes, the water felt so smooth. It was fascinating.”
Kalishion’s smile deepened slightly, and he gently touched my still-damp hair.
At moments like this, I had to be grateful to Jwibangeul, who’d insisted I wet my hair to make it look like I’d actually bathed.
“It will take time for your hair to dry completely. Since your maid has arrived, how about spending the night in my palace? I’d hate for you to catch a cold.”
“What?”
Did I hear that right?
Stay the night?
Wow. He really lives up to his reputation.
If I’d known he’d come at me like this, there wouldn’t have been any need to cause all that trouble earlier!
