43. Those Who Interfere in Someone Else’s Romance…

After running around all day yesterday attending to Adelaida, Hailey had only managed to return to her quarters at dawn and finally get some sleep. This morning, as soon as she opened her eyes, she rushed back to the Crown Prince’s palace to help dress up Adelaida again. No wonder she was exhausted…

‘If I could just have a cool glass of orange juice, I wouldn’t ask for anything else.’

She had skipped another bountiful breakfast in her rush, and now her stomach was making loud, gurgling protests.

‘And in the middle of all this, those two are busy putting on a dramatic display of affection…’

‘Didn’t he say not long ago that he wasn’t thinking about getting engaged?’

Despite that statement, Kincaid was currently putting on quite the affectionate show with Adelaida. Seeing the future tyrant himself holding Adelaida’s hand so tenderly left Hailey visibly shocked.

‘Wow… The same man who casually threatens to behead people is being this gentle with Lady Adelaida.’

Beyond shock, Hailey felt a sense of betrayal. However…

When she saw the gentle smile on Adelaida’s face as she held Kincaid’s hand, a wave of guilt suddenly washed over her.

‘They say people who interfere in someone else’s romance are cursed…’

But she had no choice. For the sake of not just herself but everyone’s happiness, Lady Adelaida needed to step back.

‘I have to find a way to show Lady Adelaida the Crown Prince’s true nature…’

As Hailey pondered and moved forward, she suddenly stopped. Among the people standing by the fountain in the garden, she recognized a familiar face. The person seemed to have spotted her as well and waved enthusiastically.

“Miss Hailey, it’s been a while!”

It was Kassian, the head of the Marion Trading Company, greeting her with his usual smiling face.

‘This is perfect. There was something I needed to confirm anyway.’

Thankfully, Adelaida and Kincaid were still happily chatting while admiring the colorful flower beds. After quickly confirming their romantic display, Hailey approached Kassian.

“It’s been a while, Lord Kassian. You’re here early today.”

“My sister said there was something she wanted to discuss, so I entered the palace a bit early.”

Rustle rustle.

The bright blonde hair of Kassian swayed in the breeze. Perhaps preparing for the ball, his outfit today was much more extravagant than the last time. Hailey’s gaze, which had been admiring his rare handsome appearance in the palace, shifted to the side.

‘Wait, if we’re talking about being flashy… this one might take the crown.’

Next to Kassian stood a noble lady dressed in a dazzlingly gorgeous outfit. She looked slightly older than Hailey. Like the other ladies invited to the palace ball, she had an endlessly haughty and aloof appearance.

“This is my cousin, Trish. She’ll be my partner for the ball tonight,” Kassian said.

Hailey politely held her skirt and bowed in greeting.

“A pleasure to meet you. I’m Hailey Brooke, a maid from the Detached Palace.” 

“I’m Trish from the Marion Trading Company,” she replied curtly, then promptly looked away.

Although it wasn’t hard to guess what thoughts might be behind that beautifully adorned head, Hailey chose to feign ignorance.

“The palace maids have put great effort into preparing this event. I hope you both enjoy yourselves tonight.”

“Will you not be attending the ball this time either, Miss Hailey?” Kassian asked.

“There’s a rule that apprentice maids aren’t allowed to attend official palace events.”

Not that it mattered—she was a commoner, not a noble, so there was no way she’d be invited to something like the palace ball anyway.

“That’s a shame. If you were attending, I would’ve asked to be your partner first.”

“Thank you, that’s kind of you to say.”

After responding with a polite remark to his charming statement, Kassian’s eyes sparkled seriously.

“Unfortunately, it’s not possible this time, but our trading company will be hosting a party soon. I’ll make sure you’re invited—please do come.”

‘Is he… serious?’

They’d only met twice. Their total conversation time didn’t even add up to thirty minutes. Hailey had no way of knowing whether Kassian’s kindness toward her was genuine. But from the sparkle in his eyes, it was hard to deny that he seemed to mean it.

“Kassian, dear cousin,” Trish, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

“It seems it would be more comfortable for the two of you to continue chatting without me. I’ll take a walk around the garden.”

Trish walked away without even trying to hide her discomfort.

“Haha, young ladies these days sure are difficult to deal with,” Kassian said awkwardly, scratching his head.

“Ah, and I’m sorry about last time. I really did try my best, but I couldn’t find any information on the Count of Vernette.”

“That’s alright. I’m looking into other avenues now, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

Hailey was already planning to find time to look through the guest list of noble ladies attending the ball.

“I feel embarrassed that I made such a big deal out of it, but I couldn’t help you,” Kassian said, scratching the back of his head again.

“Then… would it be alright if I asked you for one more favor?”

“Of course! Just tell me anything.”

To someone who seemed ready to offer even the treasures of the palace if needed, Hailey lowered her voice slightly and asked.

“What kind of region is the Duchy of Sevaron?” 

“The Duchy of Sevaron… are you referring to Dietmers Castle?”

“Yes, that’s the one.”

The Sevaron family was one of the empire’s long-standing noble houses and the strongest supporter of Crown Prince Kincaid. 

In the original story, that was all that was described. However—

‘Since Lady Adelaida is one of the leading candidates for crown princess, it makes sense to learn more about the duchy.’

“Dietmers is located in the northwest corner of the empire, right on the border with the Duchy of Valora.”

“The border, huh? Does that mean there are frequent battles in the area?”

“It’s a tense frontier zone, so yes. There’s a well-known story about Duke Sevaron—back when he was a border marquis—completely annihilating Valoran mercenaries despite being outnumbered.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Also, about half the residents in the region are related to people from Valora. Considering Valora only gained independence about a hundred years ago, it’s not all that surprising.”

“Ahh.”

At that moment, Hailey’s eyes lit up.

So that’s why…

Kassian observed her with interest.

“Is that enough information? If you’d like, I could gather and send you more materials….”

“No, this is more than enough. Thank you for your help.”

“Oh, no need to thank me for something like this…”

Kassian, chuckling awkwardly, suddenly reached his hand out toward Hailey.

Flinch.

As Kassian’s well-groomed, pale hand reached toward her neatly tied hair, Hailey jolted in surprise.

“You had something stuck in your hair,” he said, removing a small leaf from her hair.

“Thank you. I guess it fell in when the wind blew earlier.”

A neat appearance was a basic requirement for an apprentice maid. If a senior maid or the head maid had seen it, she would’ve been scolded for sure.

“Well, it happens.”

Kassian held the little leaf between his fingers and blew it away with a soft puff.

“Well then, I’ll be on my way. See you next time.”

Just as Hailey gave a brief farewell and turned to head back toward the flower bed—

“Gasp!”

She let out a startled breath as she spotted Kincaid and Adelaida standing at the entrance path to the fountain.

Caught red-handed…

“You little frog….”

Kincaid’s sharp voice rang out.

From his narrowed eyes and tense lips, it was clear that he was in a foul mood.

“I told you to attend to Lady Adelaida, and here you are, fooling around?”

Before Hailey could even offer an explanation, another cutting remark followed.

“An imperial palace maid chatting with an outsider during work hours—how shameful.”

True, she had been slacking off, but it felt unjust to say she was just chatting. It was even more unfair given that she had woken up at dawn and rushed over without having breakfast.

‘And look who’s talking—engaging in public displays of affection in public spaces…’

Seeing Kincaid clinging to Lady Adelaide with his arm around her only added to her irritation.

“Your Highness, surely a maid can be momentarily distracted… No need to be so harsh,” Adelaida finally stepped in, unable to watch any longer.

But Kincaid’s expression remained cold.

“I apologize for shirking my duties while accompanying the lady,” Hailey said stiffly.

“Good. As long as you understand.”

“Then, should I write a letter of reflection as an apology?”

At Hailey’s uncharacteristically cheeky remark, one of Kincaid’s eyebrows arched sharply upward.

The atmosphere was growing dangerously tense—

“I greet Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

Kassian, who had stepped back a few paces, now approached with his usual easy smile.