CH 14

I didn’t know he would laugh this much, so I concluded my proud swearing with a dry cough.

“It’s because of work.”

“Your workplace is the palace… Is there anyone in the palace who uses those words?”

“Outward appearances aren’t everything, Your Highness.”

I don’t remember who Rosé worked with at the palace, but I thought that it would be the same in this world anyway.

Life was difficult everywhere, and it was natural for people to talk behind each other’s backs. Especially if there’s an unreasonable boss around.

“Do you feel better now, Prince?”

“…Yes, thanks to you, Rosé.”

“Shall we eat then? I made a lot of food today. It’s not the usual stuff.”

“Sure. And I’m sorry that frightened you, the meeting went on longer than usual.”

Albert apologized to me.

A prince apologized to a maid. How weird.

Instead of answering him with words, I placed the most scrumptious chicken leg on his plate.

“Oho, let’s stop apologizing now. Here, Your Highness. I’ll give you the most delicious part.”

“Are you saying that a chicken leg is the most delicious food? But for some reason, it’s not colored red. It’s not like you to cook this.”

…While living with me, Albert had gotten to know me too well.

Later when Seo Ina appears, Albert might get surprised that Korean food doesn’t only have red-colored food.

But I’m proud of it anyway. I continued talking.

“Yes, Prince. You know, giving someone else a chicken leg is like proclaiming lo… No, it means I really like you. You know how much I think about you, right, Your Highness?”

There was a saying that giving up a chicken leg was a sign of true love. Because it meant giving up what one likes the most for the other person.

I was jokingly going to say ‘love’, but I changed the word because I didn’t want the atmosphere to get awkward.

I don’t know why I was feeling self-conscious for no reason, but I thought I shouldn’t say it.

“After tasting it, if you decide that you like it, please give me more land.”

“It wouldn’t make sense that I’d give you more land just for a single dish.”

“Right? That’s also what I think.”

I changed my tune right away as I introduced the fries to him.

“This is a dish where potatoes are fried in oil. It’s called french fries… It’s one of my favorites ever.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you eat food that you don’t like.”

Albert smiled, his chin propped up on the back of his hand. He knew me too well. I protested timidly.

“Urk, there’s no reason to cook food I don’t like, right?”

“That’s right, because you didn’t even ask me for my taste in food.”

“I’m the one who cooks, Prince.”

I answered in a prickly manner at Albert’s words.

“And once we leave the tower later, you’ll be able to hire as many chefs that you want. There’ll be a lot of people who can cook better than me.”

“But there won’t be anyone who can cook like you.”

“You don’t know that either. Maybe there’ll be another person who’ll come up suddenly, who can cheer up the Prince and will cook food like me.”

“That’s a big assumption.”

Haha, I’m telling the truth though.

But at that time, it’ll be unlikely that Albert would be as shocked to see this kind of food when he sees it again.

Or would the story be different because I’m making the same food?

I got curious again. Would they fall in love?

Ah, it’s not like I had the same thoughts as the female leads in other transmigration novels, like, ‘I appeared, but you’ll still fall in love with the original female lead!’

Since I was already here, I know that the contents of the novel had already begun to change.

But Seo Ina was wise and beautiful. And above all, she was a good match for Albert.

So I can be left out.

There must be a valid reason why the stories of the two got intertwined.

The reason why there was a male protagonist and a female protagonist.

Even if it wasn’t Seo Ina, there would be a lot of women who end up with Albert if he liked one enough. And who would reject his beauty?

If there’s anything that’s disappointing though, it was that I wouldn’t be able to see the scenes by the sidelines.

I was going on a trip with Blanc, so it would be harder to see Albert in the future than to pick a star out of the sky.

It’s a bit unfortunate. Dating was usually the most interesting conversation topic.

Will the day come when this noble, elegant prince falls in love?

Will that love be reciprocated? Or will it be an unrequited love?

Has he even ever gotten a crush on someone before?

“Your Highness, do you have a first love?”

“We’re eating. I don’t think that’s a good question to ask during mealtime.”

“Ah, then I’ll go first. It happened a long time ago for me… my first love.”

I said this with a serious face.”

“Compared to Your Highness… I mean, he’s no match for your looks… but he was still handsome.”

Yes, my first love was an actor I saw on TV. He was someone who had features that could almost be comparable to Albert’s beauty.

He narrowed his eyes.

“It’ll be difficult to find someone as handsome as me.”

“That’s true.”

“Why are you curious about my first love?”

“It just crossed my mind. If Your Highness doesn’t want to answer, you don’t have to.”

It was a meaningless question anyway, and I wasn’t expecting an answer.

But then Albert, who was quiet until then, answered.

“I have one.”

I gasped.

“Really?”

This is really surprising though? Albert’s first love wasn’t mentioned in the novel!

As the opportunity to hear another person’s love story presented itself, my eyes twinkled.

Perhaps noticing my change in disposition, Albert smiled, too.

“All I can tell you is that she’s a person I met when I was young, and that she has a warm gaze.”

But unfortunately, Albert’s story was short.

There’s a lot of people who could have a warm gaze, but just who exactly was Albert’s first love?

“Let’s eat now.”

But since Albert changed the subject, I didn’t want to push him.

After seeing Albert picking up his fork, with a serious face, I shook my head.

“Prince, when eating this you have to use your hands.”

“Is there a reason why I must do that?”

“Well, you can eat it with a fork… But it’ll be a bit uncomfortable. If you want to eat while avoiding the bones, I recommend this method.”

I picked up a chicken wing with my hands.

Then, I took a bite at the thick, but crispy skin and into the juicy, salty flesh and chewed them together.

You think that’s all? There’s also the soy sauce that was marinated into the flesh. Ahh, what a fantastic combo.

I’m so happy!

“Prince, I was born only for this moment.”

“You’re amazing at making silly comments now.”

“I’ve improved a lot, right? Thank you. I try my best.”

I felt a whole lot better because I was eating something delicious.

I looked carefully at Albert. There’s no one who hates fried chicken. But even so, people had different tastes.

Albert held the chicken leg in his hands, then he bit into the crispy chicken.

The sound of the crispy skin tearing apart was like music to my ears. No, actually, Albert’s face made it all the more melodious.

“Oh, the corners of Your Highness’ lips went up.”

That’s the expression that appears only when Albert’s in a good mood!

“Don’t you feel better now after eating something so delicious?”

“Perhaps.”

“You look more relaxed than before. I think I’m right.”

“Does it look that way?”

“Yes, very much.”

“It’s only you who thinks that.”

The atmosphere became relaxed, and now we were exchanging light jokes.

I realized that Albert was still avoiding to answer, but I wasn’t going to point that out.

As long as he felt better. Or even if it’s later, since he might not feel better right away.

Everyone needed time to sort through their feelings. Time was a great help.

After his short meal, Albert came back from washing his hands. He didn’t eat much.

Still, I was grateful that he was staying by my side even if only to watch me eat.

As I ate fried chicken, my joy was palpable on my face.

When Albert had just been watching me for a while, he propped his chin up with one hand and asked.

“How can you be so honest?”

“This tower is a place where anyone can be honest.”

“What kind of place is this?”

I decided to answer truthfully, in a way that could be considered as blasé. There’s no reason to hide something like this.

“Mm, it’s a place completely far away from people’s gazes, and I don’t have to keep up with manners and social propriety while I’m in here.”

I was no different from the other characters in the novel, nor the other young ladies here.

But I can be honest here because I am in the tower.

It was like magic, in a way.

It would otherwise be impossible for a prince and a maid to regard each other as just a man and a woman.

Since this was a space where only the two of us existed, I could sometimes say what I wanted to say and act the way I wanted to act.

Oh, of course, that’s also the only reason I could get him to sign the contract where he promises not to kill me.

If we had been outside, I might have just cowered and trembled with anxiety over the fact that I could die soon.

In front of him, I would be just like the others, a lowly person who was shaking in fear and saying only good things to appease him.

“Honestly, if it wasn’t for that contract, Your Highness would have cut my neck by now. Who would let such an arrogant maid live?”

“You’re very good at figuring out your situation.”

“Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness.”

I laughed at Albert’s words and chewed on some fries.

The still-warm fries were crispy on the outside but chewy on the inside.

As I munched on them, I mumbled and said what I’ve been wanting to say.

“I hope the food that we’re eating now can comfort Your Highness even a little.”

“……”

“Even if you don’t express it, I know it’s difficult.”

Albert patted my head.

“Thanks.”

Whenever he did this, I felt like I was a cat he was raising.

It didn’t feel too bad because it seemed like he had accepted what I said.

And he was expressing it through this touch.

Oh, I remembered what I hadn’t said today.

“Prince, do you know?”

“What is it?”

“Your Highness is handsome today as well.”

“Haha.”

Albert burst into laughter again. It felt good to know that I could make him laugh.

* * *

Later that evening—

Rosé had already gone up to the attic, and Albert remained alone in this room.

He could see the moon through the small window.

Behind his eyes, he could still see the dead.

He saw the faces of the people who were trying to protest the false accusations on him and his unfair imprisonment.

Albert hoped that his anger and resentment would not disappear in time.

He took a moment to close his eyes, mourning for the lives lost.

“I wish you peace.”

In the future, they would be the first to be honored in this country.

The tip of the want flickered. It was a signal that Liam was calling.

After his short prayer towards the dead, Albert picked up the wand.

Mana buzzed around him, and the light from the wand projected a person’s face in the air.

“What about the magic tower?”

[ We’ve gathered all the mages on the list who participated in locking Your Highness up, and I’ve taken care of about half of them. The rest are being searched for. ]

“Great job.”

At this, Liam bowed his head.

Liam Masen.

Known as the Duke of Masen. He was originally in the neutral party, but he turned to support Albert after not being able to stomach Rosteratu’s actions that went beyond the limit.

And now, he was Albert’s greatest supporter.

[ I know that Your Highness is going to be truly sorrowful about what happened today. I do hope that the time comes when Your Highness can come out as soon as possible. ]

“No, I’m alright. Don’t worry and just focus on your work.

[ Yes, but… ]

Liam hesitated for a moment, but Albert asked right away.

“What is it?”

[ I believe that Your Highness will have to come out for a while. ]

Albert breathed out heavily.

He felt a new sense of responsibility weighing on him. The time for him to leave behind this life where he was almost disconnected from the world and to return to his reality… it was gradually approaching.