18. You really are… so materialistic.

The Grand Duchess looked quite surprised at the unexpected request. In response, Hailey spoke calmly.

“Since I received great kindness from His Highness during the recent incident, I would like to repay him with flowers.”

‘…Or rather, I just needed a legitimate excuse to go to the Crown Prince’s palace.’

However, the Grand Duchess, unaware of Hailey’s ulterior motives, smiled contentedly.

“That’s a wonderful idea. His Highness also loves flowers, so he will be very pleased.”

“I will prepare them with the utmost sincerity.”

Hailey bowed respectfully and quickly stepped back.

“……”

“Sigh… now we’re even picking flowers.”

“Right? This is something a gardener should be doing.”

Today, Olga and her group were grumbling with sulky faces.

“If it were a bouquet going to the Crown Prince’s palace, it might be worth the effort… But that annoying Hailey snatched it up.”

“She’s obviously doing it to get into the Crown Prince’s good graces. It’s so obvious.”

As Olga’s group continued to complain, they were cutting only the most beautiful roses from the flowerbed. As a result, the other apprentice maids could only hold wilted or under bloomed flowers.

‘If I’m going to make a bouquet, I’ll make the most splendid one.’

Hailey clicked her tongue at the greedy attitudes of her peers.

‘The harmony of the flowers is the most important thing for a bouquet…’

Just stuffing a bunch of flowers together without regard for color would only result in pretty trash. Yet, Hailey still hadn’t managed to gather anything decent.
‘No matter how I think about it, a tyrant and flowers just don’t go together. He’s not even going to look at it anyway…’
“Ow, that stings.”
Hailey sighed after pricking her hand on a thorn that had sprouted from a stem.

‘If I had known I’d be handling so many flowers in this palace, I should have worked part-time at a flower shop in my past life.’

Grumbling, she cut the rose stem, but this time it was too short to be included in a bouquet. Hailey quickly looked around and stuffed the cut rose into her apron pocket.

‘Swift evidence destruction!’

The Grand Duchess and the senior maid were busy cutting white roses some distance away. Thinking she had perfectly destroyed the evidence, she was caught off guard by a voice.

“I saw everything.”

Linda had approached unnoticed and whispered in a low voice.

“Our oh-so-capable apprentice maid Hailey has ruined the precious roses meant for His Highness, the Crown Prince?”

“Please pretend you don’t know, out of loyalty to our fellow maids.”

“Hmm, I’ll think about it. But wow, so there are things you’re not good at, huh?”

Not only were the roses that Hailey had cut were in poor condition, but the flowers in the basket she was holding were also not looking great. Linda watched with curiosity as Hailey, who was usually admired by the senior maids for her skill, appeared so uncharacteristic.

“I’m terrible at handling flowers. And I don’t really want to get better at it.”

“Oh?”

“Instead, it’s better to focus on what I can do well. To be honest, I think it would be better to sell these flowers rather than make a bouquet.”

With this level of quality, these roses would sell quite well in the market.

‘First, I could emphasize that the palace is the cultivation site for branding… If I change the varieties seasonally and supply them diversely, it’s possible to become a sudden millionaire through a horticultural business.’

Thinking this way, the flowers in the basket started to look like money.

“Linda… I have a dream. A dream I truly want to achieve.”

“Really?”

Linda’s eyes sparkled at Hailey’s rare serious statement.

“What’s your dream? If it’s something I can help with, I’ll assist you.”

“I want to become rich and leave the palace (while still alive).”

In reality, the latter was a more desperate wish than the former… but she couldn’t say that truthfully. Hailey revealed half of her true feelings, and Linda looked at her in admiration.

“Hailey, you really are… so materialistic.”

“It’s as if you didn’t know that?”

Hailey shot back confidently, causing Linda to laugh in disbelief.

“Right. Since you’re already in the palace, it’s better to leave as a rich person.”

“Glad we’re on the same page.”

“Oh! Do you know the new café called ‘Lodi’s Cake’ at the intersection in front of the zoo?”

“I heard it’s the most popular place in the capital these days.”

“I heard that the owner, Madam Brenda Hemil, was a former maid who worked at the Crown Princess’s palace for twenty years.”

“Really?”

“The more surprising thing is that the building where that café is located belongs to Madam Hemil. She saved her maid’s salary for 20 years to buy it!”

Hailey’s eyes sparkled with this enticing information.

“She became a property owner just by saving up her salary for twenty years…”

From today on, Madam Hemil is officially my role model.

‘Not only did she survive in the palace, but she also became rich. I must remember Lodi’s Cake, owned by Madam Brenda Hemil!’

“Linda, shall we visit that café together on our next day off?”
“Sounds great. I’d be honored if you treated me to some cake and tea.”
“Yeah… I’ll treat you this time.”
“Huh? What’s gotten into you? Is the sun gonna rise from the north tomorrow or something?”
Hailey simply smiled meaningfully at her companion’s wide-eyed reaction of surprise.

‘Since you’ve introduced me to my life role model, cake is nothing….’

Just as Hailey wore that significant expression, she heard…

“I greet Princess Lysa.”

The trainee maids gathered in front of the flowerbed greeted in unison, as if they had made a pact. When Hailey turned her head, she saw the princess’s radiant silver hair in the distance at the entrance of the flowerbed. Soon, Princess Lysa approached the flowerbed, leading her nanny and maids.

“Hello, Your Highness.”

Even though Hailey was the first to greet her, the princess merely nodded coldly. Today, Lysa wore a blue dress that complemented her brightly shining silver hair. Hailey quickly gazed at the princess’s dress and spoke up.

“The dress you’re wearing today is absolutely beautiful.”

“…….”

“Did you come out for a walk because the weather is nice?”

“…….”

Despite her repeated questions, the princess simply stared at Hailey without responding.

‘Oh… is she upset?’

Thinking this, Hailey couldn’t pinpoint the reason.

“Um, Princess Lysa. Did I perhaps make a mistake…?”

As she began to speak, Lysa pouted her lips.

“You said you’d bring something tastier than chocolate cookies next time, didn’t you?”

“Ah….”

“Then why didn’t you come?”

The princess’s face clearly showed her displeasure. Hailey smiled brightly at her.

“Oh dear… it seems you were waiting for me, Your Highness.”

With a cheerful reply, Lysa snorted.

‘How cute…’

Seeing the princess with her beautifully styled shining silver hair, Hailey couldn’t help but smile inwardly.

“Well then, I should give you a delicious snack right now.”

At this, Lysa’s eyes sparkled. Something tastier than chocolate cookies…

“Suddenly offering a snack? Hailey, do you even have something prepared?”

Linda, who had been standing quietly beside her, whispered in a low voice.

“Me? I’m always prepared.”

Confidently responding, Hailey glanced around and quickly moved her feet. Then, she stopped between the brightly blooming rose vines and boldly reached her hand in.

“Hailey, what are you doing?”

With wide eyes, Linda asked, but Hailey didn’t answer. Instead, after finding her target, she pulled her hand out from the vines.

“Here, I’ve brought a delicious snack.”

Lysa’s violet eyes stared intently at Hailey’s clenched fist.

“What are you going to give me?”

“Would you like to close your eyes for a moment?”

Without hesitation, Lysa closed her eyes at Hailey’s request.

“Okay, go ahead.”

Lysa slightly parted her pink lips. Hailey placed a few freshly picked raspberries between those plump lips.

Munch, munch.

Lysa began to chew the bright red fruit that had entered her mouth.

“It’s delicious!”

With her tongue stained by the red juice, Lysa exclaimed excitedly.

“Wild raspberries are perfectly sweet and tart this time of year—an absolute treat. How is it? Does it suit your taste?”

As soon as Hailey asked, the princess eagerly nodded her head.

“Would you like more?”

“Yeah.”

Lysa casually opened her mouth toward Hailey. Hailey held the fruit in her hand and popped it into the little girl’s mouth.

Once again, Lysa munched on the sour fruit.

“Is this better than chocolate cookies, Your Highness?”

At Hailey’s question, Lysa, who had been nodding as if entranced, suddenly snapped back to reality and put on a haughty expression.

“D-Don’t get cocky just because I said it’s good. It’s not that amazing.”

“Then should I just eat the rest myself?”

As Hailey reached to gather the remaining raspberries in her palm, Lysa’s lips twitched.

“That’s so unfair, really.”

“Or should I ask the chef to make a delicious pie with these?”

Before Hailey could finish her sentence, Lysa’s eyes sparkled.

‘As expected, she’s such a cute princess.’

Hailey couldn’t help but smile inwardly at that moment….

“The Duchess of Siela and Princess Catherine have arrived.”

A servant’s voice rang out across the rose garden. At that moment, Lysa’s expression wavered as if she were scared.

‘The Duchess of Siela and Princess Catherine?’

The two of them were villains who left a deep impression on readers in the original story. What could those two be doing at the palace?