40. I Suppose There’s No Maid More Suitable Than You

At the unexpected scolding, Hailey replied calmly,

“I only ever wish for Your Highness’s peace and stability.”

Because that’s the only way I survive!

“Is that truly all it is?”

“…Pardon?”

Kincaid, who had been staring her down with unreadable eyes, waved a hand dismissively after a moment, as if suddenly too annoyed to continue.

“Whatever. I don’t need the tea. Clean it up and get out.”

“Oh, another failure today? Lady Marilyn’s going to scold me again…”

Hailey pouted, already picturing the stern, unsympathetic face of the head maid, Marilyn.

“Perfect. Let her whip some sense into you—might help sharpen your instincts.”

Kincaid, clearly mocking her, suddenly seemed to remember something and looked at Hailey again.

“Also, Lady Adelaida Sevaron will be visiting the Crown Prince’s palace tomorrow. Starting then, you’ll serve as her personal maid.”

“!”

Hailey was caught off guard by the unexpected command.

Me…? Serve the most likely candidate for your future fiancée?

“I beg your pardon, Your Highness, but I’m still just a lowly apprentice. I don’t believe I’m qualified to attend to a noblewoman of such high birth.”

“Didn’t I just say you were competent? And now you’re backtracking?”

“Uh… That’s…”

“Well, come to think of it, there’s probably no one more fitting than you to deal with Adelaida.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“You’ll see for yourself what kind of person the daughter of Duke Sevaron, who is rumored to be quite something in the capital, is.”

With that, Kincaid waved his hand again with his usual expression of boredom—clearly telling her to leave.

Hailey bowed politely and exited the office.

‘I’ve roughly achieved my goal.’

She had confirmed that Kincaid had no plans to get engaged to Lady Adelaida anytime soon, and even managed to calm that petty crown prince down—at least a little.

‘And I didn’t get beheaded, either.’

But why did she feel like she had fallen into a trap?

Typically, the guests invited to social events at the palace arrive later, especially if they are important figures. It is common for them to enter majestically once the rest of the invitees have gathered and the atmosphere has warmed up. 

However, there are occasional exceptions. Lady Adelaida of the Duke Sevaron’s family visited the Crown Prince’s residence the day before the ball. 

‘She’s staying the night here and then attending the ball…’

Puzzled by the unusual schedule, Hailey cautiously asked the maid standing next to her.

“Excuse me, I’m still not very familiar with palace protocols. Is it common for guests to stay overnight at the palace before an event?”

“It’s not common. But since the Duke’s daughter has long been acquainted with His Highness, it seems she arrived a day early to catch up with him.”

Hailey nodded at the maid’s kind and sensible explanation.

‘So basically, Lady Adelaida is receiving special treatment at the Crown Prince’s palace.’

That alone was enough to sense the closeness between the two.

‘Come to think of it, it’s strange that His Highness—who’s always so busy—came out personally to greet her.’

Kincaid, dressed smartly in his full ceremonial uniform, stood in front of the Crown Prince’s palace gates, awaiting the day’s guest.

‘Goodness… he even brought flowers for her.’

‘He pretends not to care, but he’s actually a romantic.’

Excited whispers floated among the maids waiting by the gates. When Hailey looked up, she caught Lola’s eyes and waved lightly. But Lola, startled, backed away and quickly disappeared into the building.

‘Ugh… I thought I might be able to get more information out of her.’

It seemed that this particular assignment had been a total failure in terms of building connections.

Whooosh—

A breeze from one side of the royal palace swept past Kincaid’s face, which wore a bored expression as he waited. His glossy hair fluttered in the wind, revealing his neat, handsome features—prompting another wave of sighs from the maids.

“So, everyone really has nothing better to do, huh?”

Unable to bear it any longer, Kincaid muttered. Ash, standing next to him, replied quietly.

“Would you like to wait inside instead?”

“No. If I don’t offer the utmost hospitality I can muster, Adelaida won’t forgive me.”

Kincaid grumbled in displeasure, just as his eyes landed on Hailey, standing among the other maids.

“Ugh.”

While trying to casually chat with the other maids to gather information, Hailey suddenly caught Kincaid glaring straight at her. She let out a short breath in surprise.

‘Why on earth is he glaring at me? What did I do wrong this time?’

As Hailey stood there, at a loss for words, the Crown Prince gave her one last piercing look before sharply turning his head away.

“My heart can’t take this…”

Just as Hailey inhaled anxiously—

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

The long-awaited sound of hooves echoed from afar. Kincaid saw a gracefully designed carriage gliding across the wide garden of the Crown Prince’s palace and stepped down the stairs.

“Lady Adelaida of House Sevaron has arrived.”

As the carriage came to a stop, a footman stepped forward to open the door—but Kincaid raised his hand to stop him. He personally approached and opened the door for the duke’s daughter.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

Adelaida greeted the Crown Prince, who had opened the door for her himself, with a polite bow.

“It has been a while, Lady Adelaida.”

With a curt and stoic greeting, Kincaid extended his hand toward her—a perfect display of gentlemanly manners. Adelaida readily took his hand and stepped out of the carriage.

‘A picture-perfect meeting of a handsome man and a beautiful woman…’

Hailey, watching from the back, couldn’t help but admire the scene.

“It’s been so long, and Your Highness has grown even more striking. I imagine the noble ladies of the capital are weeping in despair, knowing they’ve lost their claim to the title of the empire’s most beautiful.”

“Looks like your wit has grown sharper, too, Lady Adelaida. At this rate, I suspect you could take down two or three men without a blade.”

“But of course. For a noble lady making her debut in high society, eloquence is an essential weapon.”

The duke’s daughter replied with ease as she stepped down from the carriage and onto the ground.

“Oh, by the way—did you happen to read the letter I sent you a few days ago?”

“I did, but my schedule didn’t allow me time to reply. I apologize for that.”

“Not responding to a letter is a tremendous breach of etiquette in high society, but I’ll let it slide. I, too, don’t particularly care to receive letters from people with worse handwriting than mine.”

Hailey didn’t miss the way Kincaid’s brow furrowed deeply at that remark.

‘Wow, she doesn’t back down for even a second.’

Hailey was stunned. She hadn’t expected that anyone would dare to openly criticize the Crown Prince’s atrocious handwriting.

‘I thought she’d be the pure and devoted type, since she likes that future tyrant…’

Clearly, that was Hailey’s misunderstanding.

“It’s truly been a long time since I’ve visited the Crown Prince’s palace.”

Standing atop the marble walkway at last, Adelaida gazed around the palace grounds with a sentimental expression. A gentle breeze stirred her carefully curled hair. Pale skin, delicate features, a slim figure, and graceful posture—

‘She really does look like a doll.’

Now Hailey understood why the palace maids all spoke in unison about Adelaida’s extraordinary beauty.

“We greet Lady Adelaida Sevaron.”

Dozens of waiting servants bowed deeply. It was only proper that they show full respect to the woman currently considered the most likely candidate to become the Crown Princess.

“Welcome to the Crown Prince’s palace, Lady Adelaida Sevaron.”

‘What are you doing? Go greet her already!’

A senior maid nudged Hailey in the ribs. Steeling herself, Hailey approached the carriage and politely presented a bouquet she had prepared in advance.

“Welcome, Lady Adelaida Sevaron.”

As she offered the flowers with a respectful bow, Adelaida smiled brightly and accepted the bouquet.

“Such beautiful roses… Clearly not chosen by His Highness and his dull sense of aesthetics. I imagine someone else picked these?”

“They were sent by the Grand Duchess Eleonora of the Detached Palace. She also sends word that she would be honored if you would join her for tea, should you have the time.”

“If it’s an invitation from Her Grace, the Grand Duchess, I must attend. Please tell her it would be my honor.”

When Adelaida’s bright green eyes met Hailey’s, Hailey bowed again with courtesy.

“I am Hailey Brooke, an apprentice maid assigned to assist Lady Adelaida in the Crown Prince’s palace. It is truly an honor to serve a noble lady such as yourself.”

Even Hailey thought her self-introduction was flawless.

But no sooner had she finished speaking than a short, dry “pfft” of laughter came from behind her.

Of course, it was Kincaid.

‘Really? Ruining the mood from the start?’