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. 

36. Well, at least her face…

Not only in this life, but even in her past life as Lia, Hailey had never been the main character. She had always been just an ordinary citizen, busy getting through each day to make ends meet.

“So, this time too, I’ll survive just fine as a background character.”

Ever since she became aware of her past lives, that wish had become the biggest goal of her life.

“Haah, I’m so tired…”

With a big yawn, Hailey’s eyelids began to droop, and soon her small eyes closed completely.

Zzz… zzz…

Hailey fell into a deep sleep on the narrow, hard bed meant for apprentice maids.

***

Even though evening had long passed and the night was deep, the lights in Kincaid’s office remained on. After a simple dinner, the Crown Prince was buried in a mountain of paperwork, working without rest.

Today, his aide Burnett had left early due to family matters, so the amount of paperwork Kincaid had to handle had doubled.

“Come in.”

Kincaid, who had been silently reviewing documents, suddenly spoke. Then, without a sound, Ash stepped forward and stood in front of the table.

“How is Duke Sevaron’s health?”

“He’s healthy, just has a few more gray hairs.”

“And the rest of the family?”

“The Duchess has caught a severe cold. Unfortunately, the Duke and Duchess have conveyed that they will not be attending the upcoming ball.”

“I see…”

Kincaid looked away from the documents for the first time.

“The ball doesn’t matter, but we should send the royal physician to assist with her treatment. A cold can be dangerous at that age.”

“I will take care of it immediately.”

Then Ash hesitated slightly before taking a letter from his pocket and placing it on the desk.

“Also, Lady Adelaida has sent a letter.”

“……”

Kincaid glanced at the letter that Ash had placed, but didn’t open it. Noticing this, Ash carefully spoke.

“She said she wishes to see you.”

“Is that all the message says?”

Ash’s expression subtly changed in response to his lord’s indifferent and cold reaction.

“We’ll see her at the ball anyway. It’s obvious she’ll show up dressed like the leading lady of a play, dazzling and shocking everyone.”

“She does love glamorous places, after all.”

“By the way, have you prepared what you’ll wear to the ball? The maids seem to be looking forward to seeing you in formal evening wear.”

Kincaid, pushing the letter aside, threw a lighthearted joke at Ash.

“One dress uniform is enough for a knight.”

Kincaid gave a faint smile at his stubborn subordinate, who was intent on wearing his knight’s uniform even to the ball.

“Since I’ve received the letter, you can go and rest now.”

“……”

Even at his lord’s command, Ash hesitated for a moment before finally bowing his head lightly and leaving the office.

Once he had left, Kincaid placed the letter from Adelaida at the top of the document pile and began reviewing the papers again.

***

‘It’s so big and tall…’

Standing in the Grand Hall of the Crown Prince’s Palace for the first time, Hailey unconsciously looked around in awe. The hall was so massive that she had to crane her neck just to take it all in. It clearly demonstrated that the Crown Prince’s palace was second only to the Imperial Palace in size and grandeur.

‘And the number of staff is insane.’

All personnel working in the Crown Prince’s palace had gathered for the morning assembly. There were maids in navy uniforms and attendants in gray. Staff from all departments had assembled, but Hailey noticed something odd: only three apprentice maids, including herself, were wearing green uniforms.

‘Huh? Are there really so few apprentice maids?’

There were only five apprentice maids dispatched from other palaces, just like her.

‘Only eight errand runners in this vast palace?’

In that moment, Hailey accurately anticipated the chaos that was about to unfold.

“The regular ball is just around the corner. Although the event is hosted by Princess Catherine, as everyone knows, our Crown Prince’s palace is handling all practical operations.”

Marilyn, the head maid, standing at the front, spoke with a stern face.

“It’s been a while since an event has been held at the Crown Prince’s palace. Make sure to do your best so that our guests have a satisfying experience.”

The head maid scanned the gathered staff with a sharp gaze before speaking again.

“Especially this time, apprentice maids selected from other palaces will also be preparing for the ball. We must do our best to set an example for these young girls.”

“We will keep that in mind, Head Maid.”

At the stern and strict order from the head maid, everyone in the hall politely bowed their heads in response. Just as they were calmly raising their heads…

“His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!”

At the attendant’s announcement, murmurs broke out among the crowd.

Especially…

“The Crown Prince came here in person?”

“It’s been quite a while since he attended the morning assembly, hasn’t it?”

The maids’ whispering voices spread throughout the hall.

‘The noble daughters working at the Crown Prince’s palace are all aiming to become the Crown Princess.’

Come to think of it, just moments ago those very same maids had been listening to the head maid with textbook-perfect posture, but now they were glancing toward the Crown Prince with barely contained excitement.

‘He’s so handsome today too…’

‘It’s no exaggeration when people say he’s the most handsome man in the empire.’

‘Please, just look this way once!’

As if he had heard those thoughts, Kincaid turned to face the staff. 

With his jet-black hair contrasting sharply with his red eyes, his sculpted features and well-trained physique made him appear like a beautiful painting come to life.

Moreover, the rare sight of him wearing a cloak as he walked toward the parade ground was truly that of a stunningly handsome man.

“Oh my! His Highness the Crown Prince!”

“Please, look over here just once!”

Even the seasoned maids couldn’t hold back their gasps of admiration.

“What is this disgraceful behavior?! Compose yourselves!”

But even the head maid’s sharp reprimand didn’t have much effect this time.

‘Well, when it comes to looks, he really is flawless.’

The problem was… his personality was just as notoriously terrible.

Still, the sight of that stunningly handsome man confidently making his way through the crowd was undeniably impressive.

‘Miss Brooke, you can see everything from here!’

Burnett, who was walking behind Kincaid, spotted Hailey and waved cheerfully. Ash, walking beside him, simply nodded quietly. But their master, Kincaid, blatantly ignored Hailey as he passed by.

‘If only everyone knew what a twisted personality he really has.’

Hearing the excited whispers of the maids behind her, Hailey couldn’t help but think that.

“We pay our respects to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

As Kincaid stepped to the front, the assembled staff bowed their heads deeply. With a sharp gaze, Kincaid surveyed the palace servants before slowly beginning to speak.

“Just do as you always have. Show the dedication you’ve poured into serving the Crown Prince’s palace. That alone is the key to holding the best ball. I trust you.”

“We will keep that in mind, Your Highness.”

Everyone present bowed once more in unison, their eyes burning with loyalty to their lord.

‘That’s more impressive than I expected.’

Even though he was her own master, Hailey was genuinely surprised by the overwhelming enthusiasm.

In her memory, Crown Prince Kincaid was nothing more than a future tyrant—violent and cruel, unable to restrain his impulses, and ultimately responsible for a massacre. She never imagined he was someone who received such passionate support.

After his brief speech, the Crown Prince stepped down. The head maid, who had been standing by, approached.

“Your Highness, there are also young apprentice maids sent from other palaces here. Please offer them some words of encouragement.”

‘Wait, why would you say something so unnecessary?!’

Before the flustered Hailey could object, Kincaid had already stepped up to the group of apprentice maids.

“We pay our respects to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

The four apprentice maids in green uniforms bowed nervously. Only Hailey bowed her head deeply, feeling utterly dismal.

“Although the time until the ball is short, I hope you’ll learn much. Especially you…”

Kincaid’s finger pointed directly at Hailey.

“In my experience, someone who’s made a mistake once tends to make another. I’ll be watching to see what blunder you make this time.”

At the blunt declaration, Hailey was momentarily left speechless. Even the head maid standing behind her also looked at Kincaid with a somewhat incredulous expression.

‘Did I really raise you to be so petty, Your Highness?’

With the silent protest of his old nurse, whose hair was white with frost, Kincaid pouted his lips and left the scene.

***

“So she’s the one. The one who threw laundry at His Highness the Crown Prince in the garden not long ago.”

“Huh? I thought it was a stinky rag or something.”

“Whether it was laundry or a dishcloth… I heard that if His Highness hadn’t shown mercy, she would’ve been executed on the spot.”

“Seriously… and that shameless apprentice maid ended up in our palace, of all places…”