44. Ha… Why on earth did I do that?

“Congratulations on hosting the ball.”

Despite Kincaid’s visibly tense state, Kassian greeted him with a smile. This caused Kincaid’s expression to twist into a grimace.

‘Why, though?’

Hailey couldn’t understand Kassian’s actions at all. He stepped closer to her, almost protectively standing at her side. Thanks to that, the four people gathered now seemed split into two sides, standing in silent opposition.

“Did the head of the Marion Trading Company lose his way again?”

Kincaid’s voice was sharp and biting. Kassian, as always, replied in his smooth, laid-back tone.

“Not at all. I had something to discuss with Miss Hailey today, so we were just having a brief chat.”

“Something to discuss?”

“Nothing important—just a trivial matter. Since I detained her and took up her time first, I offer my apologies, Your Highness.”

Hailey let out a silent groan at Kassian’s words. Her eyes instinctively turned toward him.

‘This time, I’ll repay the favor.’

That’s what his playful green eyes seemed to say.

“Your Highness, many eyes are watching us.”

Adelaida wisely spoke up and advised Kincaid.

Just as she said, many attendees and attendants nearby were glancing in their direction.

‘If there’s open conflict with Kassian today, during such a major event, the Grand Duchess will definitely hear about it too.’

Hailey quickly came to that conclusion in her mind. Kincaid must have as well, because he opened his mouth with a disgruntled look.

“If you plan to make private contact with palace staff again, submit a formal request beforehand. Even outsiders must abide by imperial rules while in the palace.”

“I’ll keep that in mind for next time, Your Highness. Now then, I’ll take my leave.”

Kassian responded with his usual cheerful face, then waved at Hailey.

‘See you later, Lady Maid.’

After Kassian disappeared, Hailey clicked her tongue internally.

‘Ugh, so petty.’

It was just a short conversation lasting less than five minutes, yet he was meddling in everything.

“And you, you little frog—”

Before Kincaid could finish, Hailey cried out to him in a desperate voice.

“I’m sorry! Please, just spare me, Your Highness!”

She admitted her guilt without resistance.

‘What was I thinking, acting out in front of that tyrant…?’

Now that her senses had returned, everything looked bleak.

“Where did all that boldness go, huh? You were so full of yourself earlier.”

“I must’ve been so exhausted, I started spouting nonsense. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

If she could, she’d have thrown herself to the ground and begged for her life. But—

“You have committed an outrageous act that undermines the dignity of a maid, so I will deduct half of this month’s salary.”

“!”

At the absurd punishment, Hailey instinctively grabbed the back of her neck.

M-my salary…!

“And furthermore, before the end of tonight, you’ll submit a written apology. If the length and sincerity of it are lacking, the rest of your salary will also be deducted.”

“…Your Highness…”

She wanted to say, “That’s too much…”—but her lips wouldn’t move. As Hailey stared at him, eyes wide with disbelief, Kincaid sneered.

“What? Weren’t you the one who offered to write a reflection?”

‘Wow. He’s seriously the pettiest person alive.’

Again, she’d only talked to Kassian for a few minutes. Sure, she was technically slacking off during work, but did it really warrant losing an entire month’s pay?

“Don’t want to do it?”

At Kincaid’s crooked question, Hailey hurriedly responded.

“No, I’ll do it.”

If she refused to write it now, she might literally lose her head. So bitterly, she had no choice but to obey.

“Hailey, I’m feeling a bit thirsty. Would you please head inside and prepare some tea?”

Adelaida gently stepped in with a kind request.

“Yes, of course.”

Worried about what more trouble might erupt if she stayed, Hailey quickly excused herself from the scene.

‘Ugh… Why on earth did I do that?’

As she hurried through the garden in small, quick steps, she reproached herself once again.

Nothing ever goes the way I want when I get involved with that would-be tyrant…

***

“If you keep being so stubborn, you’ll end up disliked.”

After the dazed Hailey had left, Adelaida quietly offered a word of advice.

“Even a hardened warrior who’s climbed cliffs can still get hurt over something trivial.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Feigning ignorance now, huh? Adelaida sighed internally at her childhood friend’s disinterested response.

No wonder he has no one he truly opens his heart to…

“You’re as stubborn as ever.”

Despite her pointed remark, Kincaid simply gave a short, dismissive snort.

“I’ll never change.”

At that, Adelaida finally let go of the arm she’d been clinging to.

“Well, let’s leave it here for now. I should head back and prepare for the ball.”

She’d already shown her sweet and friendly side to everyone in the palace. Now it was time for the next step.

“I’m really looking forward to what will happen at tonight’s ball.”

A cold smile curled on Kincaid’s handsome face.

***

From a distance away from the fountain, Trish watched the situation unfold and shot a disapproving look at Kassian as he approached.

“Did you seriously enter the imperial palace just to flirt with a maid?”

At her blunt accusation, Kassian merely shrugged.

“Why not?”

“Get a grip. You’re the head of the Marion Trading Company. You know full well that flirting with a mere apprentice maid is beneath your station.”

Moreover, he had nearly incurred the Crown Prince’s wrath by trying to save that maid.

“You’re not seriously thinking of inviting that apprentice maid to the party, are you?”

“Why not? It sounds fun,” Kassian replied with his usual friendly smile at his younger cousin’s incredulous question.

“Trish, you came to the palace to make a good impression on the Crown Prince, didn’t you? Shouldn’t you be focusing on your goal?”

Nineteen-year-old Trish was one of the candidates the Marion Trading Company had put forth in hopes of securing the future position of Crown Princess.

“I think that’s already out of the question.”

Trish shook her head, the jewels adorning her hair glittering with the motion.

“You saw how cozy the Crown Prince and the Duke of Sevaron’s daughter looked earlier. Who could possibly wedge themselves into that now?”

“You never know,” Kassian replied with a knowing smile.

A small leaf resting on a head of rich, red hair, and that faint memory flickered before his eyes.

“Still, don’t give up, Trish. Politics and business go hand in hand, so we’ve got to do our best.”

His teasing advice—essentially encouraging her to seduce the Crown Prince by any means—made Trish twitch her lips in irritation.

“Just don’t forget why we came here, brother.”

“Haha, don’t worry.”

Kassian’s usual warm smile returned in response to her retort, but in his brilliant emerald eyes, a sharp gleam was unmistakable.

***

As darkness fell over the vast Imperial Palace, waiting servants lit the street lamps one by one. With their glow illuminating the grounds, the Crown Prince’s palace sparkled more magnificently than ever.

And toward that dazzling palace, a stream of carriages began to converge.

“The carriage from the Duke of Renfur has arrived!”

“The Marquis of Strathson’s coach is just entering the driveway!”

“The Barton Marquis’s carriage is waiting at the main gate! Please clear the front queue quickly!”

Servants and attendants rushed to organize the procession of arriving carriages. The eyes of the empire were focused on this rare, large-scale event taking place in the palace, the center of imperial social circles.

“I’ve never seen this many people gathering at the palace before.”

Hailey couldn’t help but exclaim in awe as she looked out the window at the seemingly endless line of carriages…

‘No, this isn’t the time to be spacing out. I need to find the guest list for tonight’s party—fast.’

Fortunately, the guest list was placed in a waiting room, easily accessible to the maids.

“Let’s see… Count Artvalon… Baron Erdan… This isn’t it.”

Hailey flipped through the thick guest list with a hurried motion.

“Baron… Beatrice… Bortea… Sesiron?”

As Hailey read the list in alphabetical order, her voice came to a halt.

“The Countess of Vernette isn’t on here?”

For a social event of this scale, she had fully expected the original story’s female lead to appear—but surprisingly, among the thick stack of names, there was no mention of the Vernette family.

“Was it not this time either?”

Then, just when exactly was the original heroine supposed to show up?