“Hey, Evelyn.”

“Y-yes, Princess?”

Startled by Princess Ophelia’s call, Evelyn quickly lowered her head and responded.

“Have you had anything fun going on lately?”

“…No, not really. Why do you ask all of a sudden?”

It was true that meeting Reynard recently had become Evelyn’s only joy in her otherwise dull life, but faced with Princess Ophelia’s sudden question, she instinctively lied. Because of the guilt from lying, she couldn’t meet Ophelia’s gaze and kept blinking as she looked down at the floor.

Princess Ophelia could immediately tell Evelyn was lying just by looking at her.

“What is it? What’s going on? Can’t you tell me too?”

Princess Ophelia asked, almost whining.

“It’s nothing. Really.”

“Then why did you lie about something so trivial? Should I tell my nanny you lied to me?”

It was clearly a threat.

A threat only Ophelia could make, knowing full well how strict and cold Glenna, her nanny, was toward Evelyn.

Evelyn, already trembling in fear, shook her head and pleaded.

“No! Please don’t tell my mother! I beg you, Princess!”

Evelyn even clasped her hands together and begged desperately. In response, Princess Ophelia crossed her arms arrogantly.

“Well now, what should you do?”

She said it just to provoke Evelyn.

“I’ll tell you! So please, just don’t… don’t tell my mother…”

“Really? You mean it? Fine. Then I won’t say anything to my nanny.”

Princess Ophelia nodded with a smug smile, pretending to be generous. Only then did Evelyn let out a sigh of relief.

“So, what’s been making you so happy lately?”

“I made a new friend.”

“A friend? You did?”

Princess Ophelia asked again, clearly in disbelief.

“You, making a friend? Who would be foolish enough for that?”

Evelyn lowered her head, her expression clouded by sadness in response to the obvious ridicule.

But she didn’t have the courage to object or defend herself. She couldn’t, even if she wanted to—and she knew all too well from experience that if Glenna ever found out she had talked back to the princess, she would be the one who paid the price.

“He’s a servant boy from Bait.”

“Oh, so it’s just some kid who knows nothing about you? That explains it.”

The sound of Ophelia’s mocking laughter stabbed painfully into Evelyn’s heart. Seeing Evelyn’s hurt expression, Princess Ophelia’s face brightened as if she found it amusing.

“Can I meet him too?”

“You, Princess?”

“Yeah. You said he’s your friend, so I’m curious what kind of kid he is. Is that not allowed?”

At Ophelia’s playful yet loaded question, Evelyn hesitated, unsure how to respond.

“Is it not allowed?”

Ophelia’s face twisted into a displeased expression.

Intimidated by that look, Evelyn stammered her reply.

“N-no, of course not. I’ll… show you the way.”

Truthfully, Evelyn didn’t want Princess Ophelia and Reynard to meet. Because she could already clearly imagine how it would turn out.

Even though Princess Ophelia had been born with everything, she strangely craved even the smallest things Evelyn had. Possessions, family, even people who tried to be friends with Evelyn.

There had been several incidents like this before. Whenever Evelyn made a friend, Princess Ophelia would somehow meet them, drive a wedge between them, and eventually ruin the relationship.

It had happened so many times that Evelyn had wanted to keep Reynard a secret—but in the end, she had been found out.

Reluctantly, Evelyn turned and began to lead Princess Ophelia toward the hideout. All the while, she silently prayed over and over again that Reynard wouldn’t be there today.

But unfortunately, when she arrived at the hideout, Reynard had already gotten there and was resting.

“Evelyn! …Huh? Behind you…”

?

Reynard, who had been welcoming Evelyn, noticed Princess Ophelia and twisted his expression in puzzlement.

Princess Ophelia was dressed in a way that made it impossible not to recognize her status as royalty. She wore an extravagant frilled dress adorned with all kinds of jewels.

On top of that, the tiara on her head was clearly encrusted with expensive diamonds.

Reynard, startled by the unexpected guest, looked at Evelyn. His expression seemed to ask for an explanation.

“Ray, I brought one more guest. This is Princess Ophelia.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Princess Ophelia naturally extended her hand toward Reynard. Reynard looked at her for a moment, then took her hand and pressed the back of it to his forehead.

A gesture of respect for nobility.

But even as he did so, he clearly seemed confused by the situation.

“I’m Reynard. It’s an honor to meet you, Princess Ophelia.”

“I heard you became Evelyn’s friend?”

“That is correct.”

“Hm.”

Princess Ophelia openly looked Reynard up and down. Her gaze was filled with displeasure, but Reynard did not question her. In this place, he was not a prince, but a servant.

“So what brings you all the way out here? This doesn’t seem like a place for someone of your status, Princess.”

Instead, Reynard asked her directly.

This was a remote and seldom-frequented area even within the gardens of the Hesta royal palace. It was also close to the servants’ quarters, so anyone passing by was usually a maid, a butler, or a laborer.

In other words, it was not a place where a noble princess of Hesta like Ophelia would normally be.

“I came because I was curious. It was strange to hear Evelyn made a friend.”

“Is that really so strange? That a mere maid has a friend?”

Reynard asked again, genuinely unable to understand. Of course, he didn’t know the inner workings of Hesta in detail. But as someone who had grown up as a prince, he did know that it was rare for Ophelia to take this much interest in Evelyn.

“A mere maid? Evelyn is my nanny’s daughter. And my nanny is like a mother to me. If you think about it, that makes Evelyn and me almost like sisters. So naturally, I’d be curious if someone like her made a friend. Isn’t it natural to be curious?”

Princess Ophelia, who had never encountered anyone speaking to her so boldly, seemed rather intrigued and responded calmly.

Of course, it was true that Ophelia regarded Glenna like a mother. But she did not consider Evelyn like a sister.

Strictly speaking, she was the noble princess of Hesta, and Evelyn was nothing more than a maid.

“You’re a very compassionate person, Princess.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

The two exchanged smiles. But neither was naïve enough to be unaware that their smiles concealed other thoughts.

“Then, may I join you as well?”

Though phrased as a request, Princess Ophelia clearly anticipated Reynard’s response.

“Of course. Every part of Hesta belongs to the princess, so if you wish to stay here, you must.
Isn’t that right, Evelyn?”

Reynard looked toward Evelyn as if to confirm.

Realizing only then that she had been addressed, Evelyn simply nodded in response.

Princess Ophelia smiled in satisfaction.

The thought of driving a wedge between them with a few words and ending Evelyn’s friendship already thrilled her.

However, as soon as Reynard heard her answer, he immediately walked past Ophelia and approached Evelyn.

“Since the princess will be staying here, let’s go somewhere else.”

“What? We’re leaving?”

Evelyn’s eyes widened in surprise at Reynard’s unexpected proposal.

“Yes. I don’t like anyone interfering between us. Let’s go.”

With those words, Reynard reached out his hand to Evelyn.

When Evelyn hesitated and took his hand, Reynard immediately began to walk.

Left alone, Princess Ophelia let out a hollow laugh of disbelief.