33. Then I’ll just have to make him want to help, won’t I?

NOTE: I mistakenly translated Asha Claire as female when she’s actually a male character. To help clear up any confusion from the earlier chapters, Asha’s name has now been corrected to Ash Klair in the translation. Thank you for your understanding!

If you started reading the story with Ash’s pronoun as male, please disregard this note and continue enjoying the story. 

“!”

Hailey’s face froze for a moment.

“From the looks of it, you got yourself locked in the storage room because of that awful personality of yours, and someone is holding a grudge. So why exactly should I go through the trouble of helping you?”

‘Wow… That twisted, nasty personality of his!’

And I was the one who spent the whole day dazed because of him!

“Hailey.”

Linda tugged at Hailey’s sleeve and lowered her voice.

“I thought you reconciled with His Highness?”

“Reconcile, my foot…”

There’s no way the dignified heir to the imperial throne would reconcile with a mere apprentice maid like me.

I just groveled and begged for my life, that’s all.

“…….”

And yet… he seems to be glaring at me even more than usual today. Is it just my imagination? Well, it’s not like that’s the only lifeline I’ve got.

“Ash Klair! It’s been a while. If you have a moment, could you please come down and unlock the storage room for us?”

Hailey now turned to the knight standing behind the Crown Prince.

‘After all, a knight should treat children and women well. If you’re a knight, you should naturally rescue us.’

But…

“Your Highness.”

Ash, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward.

“May I have your permission to go down and assist Miss Brooke?”

“Did you not hear what I just said? Absolutely do not help that girl.”

At Kincaid’s sharp rebuke, Ash silently stepped back. Sadly, even chivalry has a chain of command.

Master > Everyone Else.

‘Ugh, why did he have to bring along the Empire’s most rigid sword today of all days?’

If it were Burnett—the cheerful and quick-witted aide—he would’ve come rushing down to rescue Hailey no matter what the Crown Prince said.

“It’s not good for a young lady to stay in a cold place, Your Highness.”

Missing Burnett’s gentle voice, Hailey let out a sigh.

Then she lifted her head stiffly and looked straight at the Crown Prince, who still stared at her with a disgruntled expression, and asked:

“Your Highness, the esteemed Crown Prince. What exactly must I do to persuade you to help me out of this unfortunate situation?”

“Well,” he replied casually, “first, you’ll have to give me a reason to want to.”

As that meaningful gaze bore down on her, Hailey’s eyes spun nervously.

‘Right… so you’ve found yourself a perfect excuse to torment me, huh?’

What exactly did he mean by make him want to?

“Do you mean… I’m supposed to swear my undying loyalty to you or something?”

“Impressive. You caught on quickly.”

With his arms crossed, Kincaid gave her a crooked look. In response, Hailey gave a bright smile.

“Ah-ha! I see.”

“?”

Hailey clasped her hands together and adopted the pose of someone making a heartfelt prayer.

“As a humble apprentice maid, I beg of Your Highness—the eternal star of the Empire and its unwavering light.”

Gasp!

Startled by the sudden bombastic praise, Linda let out a gasp.

‘What is Hailey doing?’

‘Hold on. This is our only way out.’

Make him feel like helping was just a fancy way of saying: butter him up until he’s pleased.

What, did he think she couldn’t do that? Well, Hailey had dealt with hundreds of nightmare customers working call center support.

Hailey politely raised her head again and looked Kincaid straight in the eyes.

“You are the protector of great scholarship, the reincarnation of a war god, the kindest of all philanthropists, the Empire’s undying sun, and the radiant moonlight that brightens the darkest of nights…”

As the endless flattery poured from Hailey’s mouth in full-on romantic-novel male-lead style, Kincaid let out a snort.

“Keep going, frog.”

Then he stood watching her, arms still crossed, as if challenging her to give it her best shot.

‘More…? He wants even more?’

Since when did this tyrant become so full of himself?

Still, Hailey had no choice but to open her mouth again.

“Not only do you possess the greatest intellect in the Empire, but you are also a man of unmatched beauty—rightfully called the Empire’s most handsome—and with your exceptional competence in governance, I am certain your great name will be passed down through the generations.”

Hailey delivered the praise without a hint of hesitation, and Kincaid looked quite pleased with her performance.

“So, you’ve finally realized who has granted you your lifeline.”

Kincaid’s smug satisfaction made something inside Hailey twist with frustration.

“And lastly…”

Hailey continued,

“I sincerely hope that at the upcoming ball, Your Highness will find a partner who is both beautiful and intelligent—and truly befitting of you.”

She couldn’t help but let a bit of her true feelings slip into that last line.

A male lead who’s about to throw a ball to find a fiancée while ignoring the heroine? Really?

‘Tyrants are truly heartless.’

As she clicked her tongue inwardly, Hailey suddenly met Kincaid’s gaze—cold, sharp, and fixed directly on her.

“……”

He stared at her longer than usual, expression unreadable, eyes dark with something she couldn’t quite place.

Then, without a word, he turned his head sharply to the side.

“Ash. Go down there and get that impudent frog out.”

“As you command, Your Highness.”

The silent knight who had been standing by finally moved, quick and efficient in carrying out the long-awaited order. 

After giving his command, Kincaid walked off without another word.

***

“You’d survive even if you were dropped alone in the middle of a desert.”

As they exited the storage room, Linda said with an incredulous expression. Hailey simply nodded.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“I can’t believe you actually take that as a compliment. You’re unbelievable.”

The two of them were still bickering as they stepped onto the main path—only to find Annie hurrying toward them.

“Hailey! Linda! I was just on my way to the storage room to find you!”

Annie, who had been hurrying over with small, quick steps, stopped in her tracks when she saw the two of them covered in dust.

“Did something happen?”

“Those awful girls locked us in the storage room. We could’ve been in real danger,” Linda answered sharply.

Annie looked alarmed.

“Then how did you manage to get out?”

“His Highness the Crown Prince happened to pass by and personally came to our rescue. Sigh…”

Hailey sighed as she offered her version of the truth. Linda smirked and added,

“Well, it’s not exactly a lie.”

Annie quietly studied Hailey for a moment.

“His Highness seems to be really kind to you, Hailey.”

“!”

Kind? The man who keeps threatening to kill her is kind?

But Annie looked completely serious.

“He even helped you during my trial, didn’t he? I really think he’s a gentle person.”

“Well, actually…”

She couldn’t possibly tell Annie that it was all part of a deal—one that involved Hailey becoming an informant in the Crown Prince’s palace.

“To think someone of such high rank holds you in favor… I’m honestly a little jealous, Hailey.”

Before Hailey could even protest, Annie reached over and took one of the packages Hailey was carrying.

“This is the decorative fabric the senior maid asked for, right? I’ll carry this one.”

“……”

“Come on, let’s hurry. We’ll get scolded if we’re late.”

With that, Annie started briskly walking ahead.

‘Kind person…?’

‘One day, I swear I’ll expose that future tyrant’s true nature for all to see.’

With a determined vow in her heart, Hailey quickened her pace to follow.

***

“Olga, Judith, Sarah… You’re all requesting leave?”

Maria, the senior maid, looked troubled as she glanced down at the leave requests brought by the apprentice maids.

“Right in the middle of the busiest season… this is truly troublesome.. Can’t you postpone your plans?”

“I’m sorry, my lady. But I’ve been invited to the palace ball, so I have no choice but to take leave.”

With an arrogant attitude, Olga declared this, and Judith and Sara quickly chimed in.

“I’ve been invited as well.”

“Yes, I also received an invitation.”

“All three of you? You’re saying you’ve all been invited to the ball?”

Maria looked at the apprentice maids of noble birth again, eyes narrowing.

“You do realize there’s a rule that apprentice maids are not allowed to attend imperial palace events, don’t you?”

“Well…”

Judith and Sarah faltered, their expressions stiffening. But not Olga.

Olga stared straight at the senior maid and spoke confidently.

“That may be true, but this ball is to select a consort for His Highness, the Crown Prince. Every noble in the Empire has the right to attend. I don’t see why we should be stripped of that right just because we’re apprentices.”

“You all really….”

Maria muttered in disbelief. She was well aware of Olga’s group’s selfish behavior, but this time it was too much.

“That’s enough, Maria. If they don’t want to stay, we can’t force them.”

The door opened, and in walked Baroness Darmang, the head maid.

“Since this ball is a special event, as you say, let’s make an exception. You all can take your leave.”

“Thank you, Head Maid.”

Olga curtsied demurely, but before she could even finish her saccharine reply, the head maid turned her gaze to Hailey.

“Hailey. There’s been an official request from the Crown Prince’s palace. You will be dispatched to the Crown Prince’s palace during the ball.”