Chapter 20
Cindy, a maid at the Spes Ducal Residence, was fifteen years old. Being fifteen turned out to be a kind of luck — it made her the assigned maid for the guest staying in the Lavender Room, simply because they were the same age.
“…So take good care of the lady until a proper personal maid is found.”
Cindy let the butler Dave’s long and drawn-out instructions go in one ear and out the other, then smiled brightly.
“Yes! Leave it to me.”
She hugged a finely engraved wooden box to her chest and hummed as she walked out. It was so heavy her arms felt like they’d fall off, but right now, that didn’t matter to her at all. With light steps toward the Lavender Room, she thought about the guest who had arrived yesterday.
‘Just how important is this person?’
The Lavender Room was the most beautiful room in the entire mansion. The fact that the Duke of Spes offered it so willingly caused a stir among the staff. Rumor had it that some maids whispered that the guest looked just like the portrait hanging in the Lavender Room — and were severely scolded by the butler.
It was rare for the butler to scold the servants directly — that meant this matter was important.
‘This is my chance.’
Serving a lady was Cindy’s dream. If she became a personal maid, she wouldn’t have to do menial chores anymore. She might even accompany the lady on outings. Some maids even ended up falling in love with knights and marrying up.
Rare, but a life-changing opportunity.
The fact that the guest was stunningly beautiful only excited Cindy more. Hair like melted gold and emerald green eyes so noble they looked graceful even if she did a forward roll.
As she entered the Lavender Room, Cindy politely lowered her head.
“Hello. I’m Cindy, and I’ll be attending to you from today. If you need anything, please call me.”
She swallowed nervously as she sensed movement from the study.
“I’m Eluana Vita,” came the soft, elegant reply.
Even her voice was beautiful.
“I’m Louie. Louie Vita,” said the younger child.
Even the child’s voice was adorable.
The story of a young guest wandering around the mansion was already circulating among the servants. Many would surely envy Cindy for being appointed as the lady’s maid. Her shoulders lifted with pride.
“Please take care of me, young master.”
Cindy’s first task was to deliver something.
“The butler asked me to give you this.”
She placed the small, heavy box on the table. Inside were dozens of metal beads, about the size of coins.
“Thank you,” said Eluana.
Cindy didn’t know why she was delivering these, but since the lady seemed pleased, her first mission was a success. Her next task was to tend to the lady’s hair.
“I’ll fix your hair for you.”
Cindy gently reached for the brilliant golden strands.
“This is my first time serving a lady. I may be clumsy, but I’ll do my best. Please let me know if anything feels uncomfortable.”
“I will.”
The lady was unfailingly kind.
With trembling hands, Cindy picked up the lavender oil bottle she had brought with her. Produced in the Spes territory, this premium oil cost as much as a small house. When she’d asked for it, the butler had simply handed her the entire bottle.
Just uncorking it released a heavenly scent. As she brushed the lady’s hair, the fragrance would cling to her. If she returned to her room without washing her hands and rubbed the scent into her bedding, maybe she could fall asleep breathing it in.
“That smells nice.”
Cindy quickly responded.
“It’s top-grade lavender oil. It’s always stocked here at the mansion, but in other houses, people wait years to buy it.”
“I see.”
“What kind of oil did you use before?”
“We used lavender at home, too.”
Her mother would extract the oil when the lavender garden bloomed. They dried the flowers and stuffed them into pillows or hung them on the walls. For Eluana, lavender was a nostalgic and cherished scent.
“I see~ Your hair is so soft. Your skin is beautiful too. The maids at your house must’ve been really skilled.”
Eluana glanced at Cindy.
“There weren’t any servants in our home.”
No servants? What did that mean? Cindy hesitated, then resumed brushing.
“I see… Where is the Vita family’s estate?”
“I heard it was near the capital, but it doesn’t exist anymore. The Vita family went bankrupt before I was born.”
“Oh… I see…”
A noble lady from a ruined family — Cindy felt slightly disappointed. But she must have something, if she was being hosted at the ducal residence. Maybe a prestigious lineage despite the bankruptcy?
‘Anyway, she’s staying in the Lavender Room.’
Cindy refocused herself. With such stunning beauty, it wouldn’t be hard for her to captivate a wealthy nobleman.
“So where’s your residence now, my lady?”
“Near the western border. A peaceful place called Aden.”
Cindy had never heard of a place called Aden. It seemed the only thing worth boasting about was the lady’s face. Slightly less hopeful, Cindy kept applying the oil.
“The Duke left for the capital early this morning. He said he might be gone a few days.”
“My father was falsely accused. The Duke went to clear his name.”
Eluana lied to Cindy.
She had been warned not to trust everyone in the mansion. Only Dave and Noah knew her true identity. Older staff might suspect something, but they were planning to dismiss it as coincidence.
With so much to hide, she had to get used to lying.
“So the young master came with you? Isn’t he a bit young to travel?”
Finishing with the hair, Cindy chose a satin ribbon.
“Our mother passed away a long time ago.”
So — no family name, no estate, no parents, and even a child sibling to care for. A nobody in every sense.
‘Maybe she’s only in the Lavender Room because she resembles the woman in the portrait.’
Cindy’s delicate touch faded. She tied the ribbon carelessly and asked with a dull tone:
“You like it, right? That oil I used is really expensive.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Eluana didn’t pay attention to Cindy’s changed attitude. She had too much else on her mind.
“If you need anything, pull that cord over there.”
With those parting words, Cindy turned to leave.
‘As if I could ever turn my life around.’
She thought the guest was important, but she turned out to be a beggar. Frowning, Cindy gripped the doorknob. Just as she was about to shut the door behind her, she locked eyes with Louie.
Startled by the child’s stare, Cindy quickly closed the door.
‘What the hell. Creepy.’
Pouting, she trudged away, deciding to nap somewhere quiet now that she was free from chores.
Meanwhile…
“So you came back empty-handed?”
Princess Mahel of the Kingdom of Velua drove her sword into the training yard floor. Before anything else, she was a masterful swordswoman.
Letting her tightly bound white hair fall, she caught the attention of the knights in training. White hair, black eyes, and tall stature — all trademarks of the Velua royal family.
Wiping sweat with a towel handed by her maid, she continued.
“What happened?”
“No one showed up at the agreed location. There seems to be trouble near the border. I’ll look into it.”
This maid wasn’t ordinary. Though technically a bodyguard, Mahel’s own strength often put her on missions others couldn’t handle.
Such as sending letters to Prince Kazar — or retrieving him from slavers.
“I see.”
Mahel had someone in mind who might explain the situation.
“What about Jay?”
“We’ve lost contact. It seems he vanished once the plan started to fail.”
“No risk of the prince tracing it back to us?”
“None. Though there were love letters… so he may grow suspicious.”
“That’s fine. Keep sending the letters.”
Even if he became suspicious, it wouldn’t matter.
The 4th Prince of the Empire was barely clinging to life. If he disappeared, everyone would assume the Empress made her move.
‘Maybe trusting that stranger was a mistake.’
Sensing Mahel’s concern, her maid spoke up.
“He may be a prince, but he has no power. Provoking him might still be dangerous.”
“I’ll handle it. I won’t disappoint my mother.”
The maid looked worried, but said nothing more. She didn’t dare speak the unspeakable.
The Queen of Velua had a particular hobby — a private underground “collection” beneath the palace.
Seven rooms, each containing a person. A harem of beautiful men, regardless of race or age. The problem: their arms and legs had been severed.
Mahel had visited this harem since she was a toddler. Instead of fairy tales, she watched her mother’s “collection.”
She watched their lively eyes dim, until they stopped moving altogether. The Queen only patted Mahel’s head inside those rooms.
One day, the King discovered it.
Furious, he confined the Queen to the Cold Palace. Before she was taken away, the Queen asked Mahel:
“How many in your collection, my princess?”
“Do I have to have one?”
“Of course.”
“Then one. I’ll be like Father, and love only you.”
“Then it must be someone special. A prince of the Empire, at least. Don’t disappoint your mother.”
Those words left a deep impression on Mahel.
Then, on a diplomatic mission, she saw Prince Kazar — and her heart skipped a beat. Her mother called that feeling a “sign.” When you feel it, you must possess that person.
Mahel decided: she would own Kazar. He was, conveniently, an imperial prince.
She began sending him love letters. Velua couldn’t initiate a formal proposal — so she’d make him fall for her.
As future queen of Velua, she was certainly a worthy match.
Then one day, a man named Jay approached her. A self-proclaimed slaver, he offered to hand over Prince Kazar. All he asked was gold. The price was surprisingly cheap for a prince — just within what Mahel could access personally.
Jay promised payment could be made after the prince was in her hands.
Mahel agreed.
‘Maybe I was too naive.’
Back in her room, Mahel checked a letter on her desk. It was from the First Prince of the Empire, Regis.
Her expression dulled.
They had exchanged letters ever since she met him during her official visit. Just polite correspondence — nothing more. Still, it mattered politically to maintain ties with the empire’s likely heir.
They’d been exchanging bland weather updates for a year now.
But this letter was different — an invitation.
“I wish to invite the princess to the Crown Prince’s appointment ceremony. As my dear friend, I hope you’ll honor us with your presence.”
