Rita frowned and struggled to free her captured wrist, but strangely, the harder she tried, the weaker her body became. The man holding her wrist noticed her condition and let out a cackle.

“You came to a place you’ve never been before, and you don’t even know what you drank?”

“What?” Rita asked, her voice tense.

He clicked his tongue a few times, as if mocking her, before finally answering in a tone that suggested he was doing her a favor.

“At these night banquets, there are two types of drinks. One is for those who plan to leave early, and the other is for those who want to stay and enjoy themselves a little longer.”

Only then did Rita recall the waiter’s tray with two types of champagne. One was a transparent platinum color, while the other, which she had chosen, was a vivid red like a ripe apple. 

Realizing her mistake, panic set in. But it was too late—she couldn’t undo what she had already consumed.

She tried to escape, but her legs gave out beneath her as a strange heat coursed through her entire body. The man’s shadow loomed over her, his presence suffocating.

“Since you’ve come all the way to a place like this, stop eyeing trees you can’t climb. Have some fun with me instead,” he sneered.

Even through her clouded senses, Rita could hear the crude excitement in his voice. 

Summoning her remaining strength, she resolved to defend herself. If necessary, she would stab his eyes with the charcoal hidden in her dress and make her escape.

Before the man’s rough hands could reach her, however, a sharp, heavy sound—thud—broke through the tension. His body jerked violently, and with a scream like a pig being slaughtered, he staggered and collapsed to the ground.

“Huh…?”

Rita stared blankly at the man who had fallen beside her. The outdoor lighting behind them cast a long shadow over the scene.

“What a sight,” a low voice remarked.

The sound snapped Rita out of her daze. Her mind, previously muddled by heat and panic, suddenly cleared. She turned her head and saw Crown Prince Gabriele standing behind them. 

His dark, sunken eyes peered down at the scene from behind a silver mask. The woman who had left with him earlier was nowhere to be seen.

“Your Highness…!”

Her voice trembled, a mix of emotions swirling within her—relief that the ordeal had ended, gladness at finally finding him, and embarrassment at having been caught in such an unseemly situation.

She tried to stand and express her gratitude, but as soon as her feet touched the ground she tilted again, so Gabriele caught her. Unlike the fallen man who reeked of harsh alcohol, when she leaned against him like being held in his arms, a subtle yet deep woody scent emanated.

“I was wondering just how far you planned to chase me.”

“…”

To excuse it as just a misunderstanding, Rita had been following him too obviously for anyone to see. She thought she had explained the reason convincingly to everyone, but in truth, many people like this fallen man probably suspected her intentions.

“What do you want to gain by going this far?”

“I…”

Rita’s head was already filled with red, hazy fog. She thought with glazed eyes. Gabriele was a good royal, and a merciful man kind enough to save insignificant her from danger. Perhaps if she honestly explained her circumstances even now, wouldn’t he grant what she wanted?

“I want Your Highness’s…”

When Rita reached out toward his chest, Gabriele froze, his lips pressed into a firm line. 

Touching a drunk woman was something he could not allow, but if he stepped back to avoid her hand, Rita, who was leaning against him, would fall and hurt herself.

Her face was flushed from the alcohol, and her fingertips, warm and red, moved toward the buttons on his chest. One button, then another, came undone as Gabriele unconsciously swallowed hard.

Before he could react further, Rita lost consciousness and collapsed smoothly into his arms.

“…”

A long sigh escaped Gabriele’s lips.

* * *

“Ugh…”

Rita opened her eyes feeling a terrible headache.

“Where is this?”

“Are you conscious?”

It was an unfamiliar room. Someone handed a water cup to Rita, who looked around with half-opened eyes.

“Ah…”

Only after seeing his face could she understand the situation. Count Orneto. He was the very person who had held last night’s ball. Therefore, seeing him here, this was Count Orneto’s estate where the night ball had been held.

“Why am I here?”

“You don’t remember at all, it seems.”

Count Orneto shook his head like it was troublesome and went to stand by the window.

“Last night, His Highness Crown Prince Gabriele brought you in his arms. Your face was flushed, and three or four buttons on your clothes were undone.”

“…”

“He left you in my care and departed. Is your stomach feeling all right?”

“Yes, yes… Thank you for your concern,” Rita replied quickly.

“‘Apple’s Passion’ is a heavy drink for first-time drinkers. Please be more cautious in the future.”

Rita nodded repeatedly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment at having caused trouble. After drinking the hangover remedy Count Orneto offered, she hurriedly left the room as though fleeing.

Throughout the Count’s estate, remnants of last night’s frenzy were scattered everywhere. People who had yet to recover from the revelry were sprawled across the grounds. 

Judging by their disheveled states, they had continued enjoying themselves long after she had lost consciousness—it was fortunate if they had even a shred of clothing left on. 

None of these individuals, all of whom outranked her in status, had received any care.

Crown Prince Gabriele could have also just tossed her among these people and left. But he had looked after her.

Entrusting Rita to Count Orneto was the best kindness Gabriele could show. If he’d thrown her among the heavily drunk people, Rita would probably be in that state now too. 

If he’d put her in a carriage and brought her to the palace, it would be excessive kindness and risk becoming gossip. She would decline such a thing herself.

‘To show kindness even to someone like me, not a noble lady—His Highness the Crown Prince is an even better person than I thought.’

According to Count Orneto, the Crown Prince’s buttons were undone and his face was flushed. 

Then didn’t that mean he had helped her even while drinking and enjoying himself with a woman?

‘Such a good person, and I…’

Rita, who was about to catch a hired carriage to the palace, hesitated. Guilt gnawed at her chest.

But this matter hadn’t started because Gabriele was a lesser person, because it was okay to do it to him. If she was going to quit halfway, she wouldn’t have started at all.

This wasn’t something she wanted to do, but something she had to do.

‘Right. Since it’s come to this, let’s just finish it quickly.’

Finishing the work without dragging it out as much as possible was good for both herself and the Crown Prince. Rita, having firmly made up her mind, shook her head and boarded the carriage.

Arriving at the palace and heading to her room, Rita was startled to see a figure crouched in the servants’ corridor and approached.

“Bianca? What’s wrong!”

“Ugh…”

The maid Bianca, whom she was friendly with, was curled up groaning with the items she’d been carrying set down beside her. Rita took out a handkerchief from her bosom and wiped the beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

“What’s wrong, hm?”

“My back feels like it’s breaking…”

Come to think of it, Bianca had particularly severe menstrual cramps. Palace painkillers often didn’t work, and when her cycle came around, she had to lie down unable to move for three or four days.

“Go in and rest.”

“But this…”

Even while writhing in pain, Bianca looked worriedly at the load she’d set down. In the basin were bathing supplies like towels, fragrant oils, brushes and sponges.

“I have to take it to His Highness the Crown Prince…”

“I’ll take it to him. You go into your room and rest first. Understand?”

Since she had no leisure to decline or not, Bianca barely nodded. Rita first picked up the basin Bianca had set down, then helped her enter her room and lie down.

“Sister Rita. That, you must take it to him.”

Even after lying on the bed sweating coldly, worried about not finishing her work, Bianca repeatedly urged.

“Before the bathwater gets cold.”

“I know.”

After breathing a sigh of relief, Rita moved her gaze toward the basin placed on the table. Only then could she precisely recognize what she had to do from now on.

Attending Crown Prince Gabriele’s bath.

As the four-word phrase came to mind, a realization like stars twinkling came to her head.

Though unintended, this was an unparalleled opportunity.

Rita asked Bianca’s understanding and borrowed a maid’s uniform. Since the palace maids’ reputation and attendance were managed, it was better for Bianca if it didn’t show that she’d entrusted the work to someone else.

‘And…’

If she entered wearing a maid’s uniform, the Crown Prince wouldn’t look at Rita closely or be conscious of her more than necessary, and she could see his n*de body in a natural pose. 

To attend a bath, she’d have to stay in the bathroom for a certain time, so there would be many opportunities to secretly examine every corner in detail.

‘Good.’

Action was immediate. Since Rita had a similar build to Bianca, the maid’s uniform fit well except for being a bit tight in the chest. 

Also, according to maid uniform regulations, she twisted her hair up and wrapped it tightly with a white towel, so unless someone looked closely at her face, they wouldn’t notice she’d been switched with someone else.

Having changed clothes and gained courage, Rita headed toward the Crown Prince’s room carrying the bathing supplies.

“Your Highness, I’m entering.”

The moment she knocked on the bathroom and entered, Rita thought ‘oh no.’

‘The steam…’

Steam rising from the warm water filled the bathroom, half-blocking her vision. This way it would be difficult to observe his n*ked body from one step away while pretending to attend him.

“Leave the items there and go.”

To make matters worse, Gabriele immediately issued an order to leave. He seemed to dislike having his personal time disturbed. Rita agonized diligently during the short time.

‘What should I do? What should I do?’

If she left the bathroom like this, the golden opportunity that would never come again would fly away. But if she just stalled for time a little, just a very little, while approaching closer…

“You must be tired from yesterday’s banquet, so I’ll apply fragrant oil to your back.”

Since Bianca’s voice was on the low side, Rita deliberately lowered her voice and spoke quietly. Her heart pounded wondering if he might notice something strange.

But until she poured oil into her palm and approached behind him, Gabriele showed no particular sign. At this, Rita relaxed somewhat.

The oil gave off the sweet yet cool ebony scent that always came from Gabriele. While rubbing her palms to spread the oil evenly, Rita thought she heard Gabriele snort. But since he remained still afterward, she soon thought she must have heard wrong.

“Then excuse me, Your Highness.”

It was the moment she bent her waist to rub his shoulders.

“Huh?”

With strong force felt at her waist, Rita’s vision spun around, then her ears went deaf with a splashing sound.

The steam that had been filling the entire bathroom rushed deeply inside her body. Opening her eyes that had been closed, Rita realized she was inside the bathtub together with the Crown Prince and was startled out of her wits.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince. Th-th-th-this is…”

Gabriele’s n*de body, which she had tried so hard to see, was spread right before her eyes soaking wet. Rita tried to close her eyes in awe and embarrassment, but another self inside her insisted she must see—her eyes wouldn’t close beyond slits.

“Ha.”

Then Gabriele snorted once more, and Rita clearly realized she hadn’t heard wrong earlier.

The Crown Prince had noticed from the start that she had come in place of Bianca and was deceiving him. Once again, Rita’s entire body heated red with embarrassment.