39. If I get engaged, will you congratulate me?

“Um, I didn’t have time yet…”

Before she could even finish the sentence, Marilyn let out a loud tsk.

“If you’ve come to the Crown Prince’s palace, you should at least learn something before you leave.”

But really, there was no time. Hailey wasn’t the type to make excuses, but yesterday and today, she hadn’t even had a moment to sit down. 

Still, Marilyn didn’t seem inclined to consider that and gave Hailey a stern command.

“Prepare tea again and take it to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

For a moment, Hailey doubted her ears.

“Are you asking me to serve tea to His Highness again?”

“Yes. That is the task you must accomplish this time.”

I’d rather offer snacks to an angry lion…

“Um, Head Maid. If I may be honest, the Crown Prince has been in a bad mood these past few days. I don’t think I can serve him tea under those circumstances.”

“That’s all the more reason you should be the one to do it.”

“Pardon?”

“Because you’re probably the reason why he’s upset.”

At Marilyn’s blunt words, Hailey felt the world grow dim before her eyes.

I’m the one who made that petty would-be tyrant angry?

“Do you perhaps have an idea of what might’ve caused it…?”

“Even if I do, it’s something you need to figure out for yourself.”

How is an ordinary person like me supposed to figure out what’s going on in that stormy tyrant’s head?

But there wasn’t much choice. Hailey replied politely to the head maid.

“Yes, understood. I’ll serve tea to His Highness.”

However, to serve tea to the Crown Prince, she had one more hurdle to pass.

“Is His Highness still in the study?”

As she approached the study with a tea tray in hand, Hailey saw the knight Ash standing firmly in front of the door.

At her question, Ash gave a small nod and answered in a solemn voice.

“His Highness is in a foul mood right now. It would be best if you didn’t go in, Miss Brooke.”

“I figured as much, but the head maid gave me a strict order.”

Hailey gestured toward the tea tray she was holding. Seeing it, Ash let out a small groan.

“Also, if His Highness is angry because of me, then I should be the one to resolve it.”

“The reason His Highness is angry…”

Ash looked at Hailey quietly and continued.

“It’s probably not because of you, Miss Brooke. It’s because of me.”

“…? You think it’s because of you?”

At the unexpected remark from the stoic, sharp, and expressionless genius knight, Hailey tilted her head.

What could this loyal knight have possibly done to upset his lord?

“Well… let’s just go in and find out. Then we’ll know which one of us has really incurred His Highness’s wrath.”

Even at Hailey’s bold declaration, Ash hesitated. 

Hailey stepped closer to the loyal knight standing motionless at the door and slightly lifted her head to meet his gaze.

“Even if he does get angry, he’ll probably just order my head off. So please, step aside for a moment.”

“He… won’t do that.”

“I’m hoping for the same.”

Reluctantly, Ash moved away from the door, and Hailey quickly opened it and stepped inside.

Once she was in the study, Hailey turned around, peeked her head out, and made one more request to the knight who was still standing there.

“Still, just in case… If His Highness actually orders you to cut off my head…”

In a playful tone, Hailey trailed off, and Ash, seemingly catching on, gave a small nod.

“I will be stepping away for a moment.”

“I would appreciate that.”

Surely, he wouldn’t summon someone away just to execute them…

Although with that personality, he might just do it himself. Still, even if you’re dragged into a tiger’s den, you’ll survive if you keep your wits about you, right?

“Your Highness, I have brought your tea.”

Hailey announced politely while holding the tray. Seated at his desk, Kincaid slowly lifted his head.

“How did you manage to defeat the Empire’s strongest sword?”

“…?”

“I’m asking how you managed to persuade someone who’s been stubbornly holding out for hours after I told him to leave.”

‘So the two of them really did have some kind of clash.’

Hailey’s thoughts raced.

“Well, if it’s you, it wouldn’t be hard to deceive a knight who only knows about swords with your sly words.”

“I’m simply here to serve Your Highness tea.”

Hailey confidently placed the tea tray on the desk.

“Take it away; I won’t drink tea made by a mere apprentice maid.”

Despite the blatant rebuke, Hailey only shrugged her shoulders.

“I brought the highest quality Simodel tea leaves today, but it doesn’t matter what kind of tea it is, in the end, if you don’t like the person serving it, it won’t taste good.”

“It’s a relief that you’ve realized that at least.”

It wasn’t that she couldn’t serve tea to the Crown Prince because she was just an apprentice maid. Ultimately, it was because she hadn’t become someone close enough for the Crown Prince to feel at ease. Hailey realized this fact on her first day at the palace.

‘It’s not like I want to be a close aide to this future tyrant anyway.’

Yet, she wondered why Head Maid Marilyn kept pushing a tea tray into her hands and shoving her toward the office. Had she somehow caught the Head Maid’s attention without realizing it? As Hailey was conflicted, she suddenly spotted an envelope sitting on one side of the desk.

‘Ah… this is…’

The name was written in elegant handwriting: Adelaida Sevaron.

The envelope was already opened—he must have read it.

Noticing Hailey’s gaze, Kincaid, who had been reading documents with a cold expression, quickly snatched up the letter and shoved it into a drawer.

“Lady Adelaida Sevaron…”

Now, everything made sense to Hailey.

The Crown Prince, with that irritable personality of his, would never casually exchange personal letters—even with a childhood friend—unless something was truly going on.

‘So the rumors were true.’

The whispers that the relationship between Lady Adelaida and the Crown Prince was unusual, and that the upcoming ball was merely a formality.

‘Ugh… this is exhausting…’

Hailey couldn’t quite explain why she felt so bitter.

“So that’s why you’re upset,” she said.

“?”

The Crown Prince looked at her with a puzzled expression.

Hailey spoke honestly.

“Since you’re so close to Lady Adelaida, I dared to suggest that you might meet someone good at the ball…”

“Ha?”

Kincaid let out a short, incredulous scoff. Then he raised his hand and swept it through his neatly combed hair.

“I don’t care about a ball or anything. I have no intention of getting involved in this ridiculous puppet show.”

“?”

“And of course, I have no plans to get engaged anytime soon, either.”

Hailey, momentarily stunned by this string of bombshells, suddenly realized—this was actually a hopeful sign.

That means there’s still hope for the original heroine, right?

‘He’s not even engaged yet, let alone married, so there’s still a chance for the female lead to make her appearance.’

Just as that thought crossed Hailey’s mind…

“The Empress Dowager and Princess Catherine are using this ball as an excuse to collect favors from noble families. Choosing a future Crown Princess in the middle of such a mess is pointless.”

“?”

“I won’t be thinking about marriage for a while.”

“That can’t be!”

Hailey blurted it out before she could stop herself, and Kincaid’s eyes widened in surprise.

“How can someone who is destined to ascend the throne of this empire remain unmarried and single? How will you ensure the stability and peace of the empire?”

At that, Kincaid gave her a baffled look and asked:

“What does marriage have to do with becoming an emperor?”

‘Of course, it has everything to do with it. You’re a ticking time bomb of a crown prince, and someone has to be there to keep your madness in check. That someone will likely be the female lead, Lady Vernette.’

…But there was no way she could say that. Instead, Hailey quickly thought of another response.

“As a humble apprentice maid serving within the palace, I merely wish for peace and stability for Your Highness and your noble family. I believe that is a maid’s duty.”

“Then, if I were to get engaged at this ball… would you congratulate me?”

“If she’s a good match for you, of course…”

At that, Kincaid’s expression visibly twisted. Worried she’d said something wrong, Hailey quickly added:

“I’ve heard that Lady Adelaida Sevaron is a woman of great talent, but the capital is full of other young noblewomen who are both intelligent and beautiful.”

“……”

“So, I think it’s possible that an unexpected candidate might capture Your Highness’s heart.”

Lady Vernette.

Well, perhaps she isn’t even a count’s daughter yet—just a mysterious young noblewoman.

‘She has to appear at the ball. She must.’

Just as Hailey was trying to suppress her anxious feelings, Kincaid let out a laugh of disbelief.

“Are you seriously telling me that a mere apprentice maid is worried about my marriage?”