41. That’s quite harsh to say to your most likely fiancée.

Hailey forced a cheerful smile as she looked at Adelaida.

“I’m only an apprentice maid, so I may not be of great help, but I’m confident in running errands well.”

Honestly, since she was a precious noble lady from a duke’s household, Hailey figured she must’ve brought along a whole entourage of maids and handmaids. That meant Hailey likely wouldn’t have much to do. She turned her eyes toward the carriage, expecting to spot the duchess’s maid—but strangely, the inside was completely empty.

“I appreciate you offering to serve me. I was actually wondering how I would manage since I didn’t bring any maid with me.”

“…Pardon?”

“I don’t usually take maids along when I go out—it’s too much of a hassle. Of course, a maid will come tomorrow before the ball to help me dress. So I’ll just be relying on you for tonight.”

“It would be an honor, Lady Adelaida.”

As Hailey, flustered, replied, Adelaida immediately followed up with a question.

“By the way, I used the Bluebird Room last time—am I staying there again?”

“Yes, we’ve prepared the same room for you this time as well.”

“Good. Then could you take that bag to my room?”

The coachman had already placed a large, heavy-looking trunk at Hailey’s feet. Adelaida, carrying only a palm-sized handbag, continued with her instructions.

“And I seem to have a bit of a headache from the long carriage ride. I’d like to take a bath before bed, so please prepare some water for me.”

“I’ll take care of it.”

“And for dinner, I’d like just some light fruit… preferably fresh grapes, if possible.”

“I’ll prepare that as well!”

At Hailey’s brisk reply, Adelaida smiled with satisfaction. Then, turning to Kincaid—who was still standing with a sullen posture—she extended her hand.

“Well then, Your Highness, would you escort me to the drawing room?”

“Is that really necessary? You know the way.”

“If Miss Swanson, who taught us etiquette, heard you say that, she’d be weeping in despair.”

Adelaida’s gentle reproach made Kincaid sigh and reluctantly take her hand, leading the way.

“Ugh… it’s already overwhelming…”

Only after the two had disappeared into the palace did Hailey manage to breathe again.

Lady Adelaida Sevaron was just as beautiful and spirited as Hailey had expected, but—

‘How should I put it… she’s definitely not someone to take lightly.’

Hailey, who had assumed Adelaida would be a gentle and devoted noble lady, was completely taken aback.

Then, all of a sudden, she recalled what Kincaid had said—more like a prophecy than a comment:

“There’s no maid more suited to deal with Adelaida than you.”

Wait a minute… was that what he meant?

Realizing the true nature of the unease she’d felt back then, Hailey felt a chill run down her spine—but that was only the beginning.

***

“A gift has arrived for Lady Adelaida. Where should we place it?”

“Which flowers should we decorate the Bluebird Room with—lilies or roses?”

“The kitchen is asking if there are any foods the lady cannot eat. Do you happen to know, miss?”

Hailey felt dizzy and overwhelmed with questions flying at her from all directions.

“Leave the gift here—I’ll bring it to the room. Please use roses to decorate the room. As for the food, I’ll ask her directly.”

She barely finished answering, not even catching her breath, when the next wave of visitors came pouring in.

“Excuse me. I’m a messenger from the Summer Palace.”

A footman carrying a silver tray bowed politely.

“Duchess Siela has sent an invitation for tea with the lady.”

The moment he finished speaking, another attendant stepped forward.

“Ahem. Princess Catherine of the main palace has sent an invitation as well. Where might Lady Adelaida be now?”

This time it was an invitation from Princess Catherine. That was only the beginning—soon, invitations from royal family members and high-ranking nobles residing in the palace began arriving one after another.

‘So this is the dignity of a top contender to be crown princess.’

But it wasn’t the time to be impressed.

In the blink of an eye, the room became so crowded with footmen from various palaces that there wasn’t even space to stand.

“Step aside. I arrived first, so I will deliver the invitation first.”

“Ha! The invitation from Her Majesty the Empress comes first.”

“No, are you disregarding the Summer Palace right now?”

And then, to top it off, the attendants began subtly bickering over whose invitation should be delivered first.

The chaos was enough to leave even Hailey dazed.

“What are you doing just standing there? Get things under control, immediately.”

Head maid Marilyn scolded her in a stern voice.

“Since Lady Adelaida of House Sevaron is absent, you, as her maid, must take charge of the situation.”

‘He sent me on purpose, knowing this would happen, didn’t he?’

Hailey finally realized the Crown Prince’s sly scheme—to make her suffer a bit by sending her off as the duchess’s maid.

“Understood, Head Maid.”

Snapping to attention, Hailey quickly turned and faced the gathered attendants.

“Ahem, ahem.”

After clearing her throat, she raised her voice at the attendants from the various palaces, who had been locked in a silent standoff.

“Alright, everyone, please line up. You must line up in the exact order you arrived!”

At her command, the bickering attendants froze. Hailey picked up a tray and held it forward.

“Please place your invitations for Lady Sevaron here. As her personal maid, I will make sure every single one is delivered to her properly.”

As the invitations began piling up neatly on the tray, Hailey made a firm resolve.

‘Using me as a human shield? I will absolutely make you pay for this.’

***

The Crown Prince’s reception room was something of a sanctuary, rarely used except for meetings with a few carefully selected acquaintances, owing to its master Kincaid’s deep distaste for social affairs.

Adelaida, Duchess of Sevaron, was one of those rare guests. After sipping the tea her maid had served, she spoke with a look of concern.

“That apprentice maid—do you think she’ll be alright?”

“Why?”

“Well, people are probably swarming her from all directions. I’m not sure if she can handle it.”

Adelaida was well aware of the attention surrounding her. As the main star of the upcoming ball, it was all too easy to predict that various nobles and courtiers in the palace would try to get close to her.

“It must be chaos by now…”

Leaving things in the hands of a young apprentice maid under such circumstances was not something Adelaida felt great about.

“She’s clever enough to worm her way through. She’ll manage somehow.”

Kincaid replied in his usual indifferent tone. Adelaida shrugged in response.

“Come to think of it, Your Highness always did enjoy pushing people you liked into a corner just to see them claw their way out.”

Just like a beast that throws its offspring off a cliff to make them stronger, Kincaid trained the people around him in the same way.

Survive and follow him—or die and become food for the crows. That was Crown Prince Kincaid’s way of forging loyalty.

“You’re as cold-hearted as ever, truly.”

Adelaida whispered as she looked at his jet-black hair and contrasting crimson eyes.

“Now you say that?”

Kincaid gave a short reply before lifting his teacup and taking a sip. Adelaida’s gaze naturally drifted to her childhood friend.

His expressionless, beautiful face never betrayed emotion. He looked like a finely sculpted statue, crafted with passion by an artist—so beautiful that he seemed to reject the touch of ordinary humans. But Adelaida had no trouble finding the boy she once knew hidden within that cold beauty.

“Your Highness, this is Lady Adelaida Sevaron, who will be studying alongside you.”

The moment the governess introduced her and Adelaida looked up, it felt as though time stopped.

“So beautiful… I didn’t know someone like him existed.”

That strong, overwhelming sensation of being utterly captivated at first sight was forever etched in the heart of young Adelaida. The childhood memories she built with Kincaid afterward had a profound influence on the trajectory of her life.

“Your Highness, how have you been?”

Even with her warm voice—finally offered after he’d driven everyone else away—Kincaid’s aloof demeanor remained unchanged.

“Just fine.”

That cold and blunt response was something Adelaida had long since grown used to.

“Sigh… You know, in moments like these, you’re supposed to ask about my well-being too. That’s basic etiquette in high society. Perhaps it’s time for another lesson from Miss Swanson.”

“Maybe you’re just not someone I need to bother with formalities for.”

“That’s awfully harsh to say to your most likely fiancée, Your Highness.”

Adelaida teased him playfully, but Kincaid only responded with a dry, disinterested expression.

“Who was it again that once declared, even if the world were to collapse tomorrow, she’d never marry me?”