CH 20

It looked like he was trying to threaten me, but it wasn’t that scary. I went through it with Albert already and it was worse than this, so the verbal threats of this greenhorn couldn’t be frightening.

And at the end of the day, I have Albert.

The world revolves around personal connections. And Albert is the most powerful backer in the world. Nothing scares me now.

It’s obvious just looking at how Albert naturally commanded over all those people earlier.

What antidote was he saying? I tilted my head to the side and asked.

“Did His Highness also get hurt?”

“You know his condition the best.”

The way he spoke made it apparent that he was looking down at me.

Now, the second boss has appeared. If Albert is the CEO of the company, then wouldn’t this guy be like an assistant manager? In this world’s status system, it was like I was less than an intern. It would be ridiculous for a maid to stand up to a baron.

“I don’t know what kind of antidote you need, and neither do I know why you’re asking me, sir.”

Hearing my words, Baron Schubert Bergen snorted and spoke in a low voice.

“His Highness who I saw from afar or from reading about him and His Highness who I saw with you today are completely different.”

…Is this a case of fanboying from afar or from books? So I didn’t get mistaken a while ago that he seemed to look at Albert like he’s an idol.

Anyway, Schubert here must be the president of Albert’s fan club.

“It’s probably all because of the potions you used like a witch.”

If he would see everything Albert did for me, a mere maid, in the past, he might have passed out already.

But still, one look at Albert and this hypothesis wouldn’t seem all that farfetched. I was also surprised by the prince’s one-eighty change in attitude, so it’s not surprising that his vassals would think so too.

How am I supposed to answer this? After thinking about it seriously, I finally spoke.

“First of all, I’ve never given or fed His Highness anything of the sort.”

“Impossible.”

However, Schubert was stubborn. I reminded him of an obvious fact.

“Baron, if I had the power to make something like that, wouldn’t I also be able to finish off the person in front of me?”

At what I said, Schubert flinched. His body quivered.

“You’re going to hurt me?”

Shiing.

With the sound of wind being cut, Schubert brandished his sword. The sharp tip of the blade headed for me. He’s like an overachieving teenager who wants to get ahead of others.

I stepped back and faltered.

“No, I meant that I would have done it if I really could. All I gave to His Highness is the food I’ve cooked and my loyalty.”

Schubert’s eyes trembled. That’s right, I whispered as if I was passing on a huge secret.

“It’s purely thanks to my efforts that the Prince likes me.”

I was worried that he’d be more wary of me, but Schubert was obediently listening to me. Afraid that he would swing the blade again, I quickly added.

“I’m sure Baron Bergen knows that His Highness is not a soft man who’d be beaten by someone like me.”

I feel something prickling on my consciousness. Albert was, in fact, a soft man who was beaten by someone like me.

…I still don’t know how that happened.

Anyway, I knew exactly when to make his eyes tremble. Timing was meant to be used at times like these.

Towards Schubert, I made an offer that he wouldn’t be able to refuse.

“Don’t you want to know how I captured his heart?”

The keyword here to get Schubert’s defenses down was ‘Albert’. I could tell just by looking at his expression.

Schubert sheathed the sword, then he said in an even quieter voice.

“…Cooking?”

“Even though I’m like this, I’m pretty good at cooking.”

Actually, only spicy food… and mainly my favorite food…

As a Korean, I also have Korean chikin and stir-fried spicy pork up my arsenal as my secret weapons.

I feel bad for Seo Ina, who’s supposed to be the main character of this story, but I deserve to use the knowledge I know. I don’t have any main character buffs.

In the novel, it was once implied that Seo Ina gained some ability after she transmigrated into this world. But I don’t have such a thing, so why can’t I use my knowledge like this?

Perhaps tempted by what I said, Schubert coughed, then asked me in a hushed voice.

“What dish?”

“Fried chicken. His Highness really enjoyed it, too.”

Schubert was perplexed. He didn’t seem to understand what I was saying.

Well, that could be the case. There’s no way he’d know what it was. I carefully explained the dish.

“It’s chicken fried in oil. It’s a very excellent dish that’s crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.”

In summary, it could be described as Korean food for the soul.

Schubert squinted and nodded. But still, he didn’t seem to understand at all.

Blanc stirred in my arms and made a squirming sound. Schubert sighed, then glanced down at Blanc.

“Never mind then. How did you prove your loyalty to His Highness?”

When asked this question, the natural answer was, ‘I fangirled’.

“I praised His Highness’ appearance and prowess every day.”

“…That’s no different from what I used to do. And compliments about appearance and prowess are something that’s already obvious. It doesn’t change anything just because you say it.”

His tone became even more serious. The sentiments of a true fan could be felt from Schubert, who spoke enthusiastically.

But I shook my head.

“No one hates hearing compliments. His Highness opened his heart to me because of my continued outpour of compliments and loyalty.”

Even Jung Wxx-Sung¹, one of the most handsome actors in Korea, also said that he doesn’t get tired of hearing that he’s handsome every day. It’s thrilling!

Even so, Schubert continued to stare at me.

I think he’s rendered speechless. I immediately turned the conversation around.

“Oh, the Baron is handsome, too. I think there’s a lot of people who admire the Baron.”

A handsome boy grows up to become a handsome man after all.

He wouldn’t be able to hold a candle against Albert, but Schubert would surely be worthy enough to receive an award for his looks in the future.

When I spoke seriously, Schubert’s expression hardened.

What I’ve said so far hasn’t worked at all. Well, it’s difficult to persuade someone who’s originally hostile to me.

It’s also harder to do this to people in higher ranks than me. Because they wouldn’t need to understand me.

“Baron. I have told not one lie so far.”

“I’ll ask my Prince² directly.”

“If you’d like.”

Nothing would change even if he asked Albert, but the boy in front of me regrettably didn’t know this—the fact that Albert had been thoroughly conditioned by my silly comments.

“…I’m going to ask him directly.”

“Be careful on your way, sir.”

Schubert repeated the same words, then he turned his back on me. In response, I just stared at his retreating figure.

I can finally rest.

* * *

Closing the door behind me, I looked back on Schubert’s actions. Rather than a full-blooded aristocrat, my impression of him was more that he’s a normal young man. But it was obvious that he grew up with a lot of love around him.

“…I guess Albert’s just really handsome.”

Schubert was also handsome, but I wasn’t too impressed by him. Though I was concerned about how our interactions would be later.

There were clothes for me on the bed that I could change into. Fortunately, the clothes didn’t include undergarments and corsets that noblewomen used, but rather ordinary clothes made with thick fabric. They were something I could change into by myself.

Schubert’s attitude towards me earlier. The clothes that were provided for me. The castle’s attendants who wouldn’t wait on me.

Albert didn’t say it openly, but it was clear that Schubert knew who I was.

If I thought about it like that, it must have been intentional that he ignored me the first time we met.

At least his malice was understandable. I get why he ignored me. Actually, I’m happy enough that he didn’t insult me outright.

And to be honest, I didn’t feel negatively about it either. Because Schubert was a ‘person’—another person who I hadn’t seen for a long time.

While inside the tower, Albert was the only one I could talk to, along with Blanc, though he isn’t actually human.

Humans were social beings. No matter how much of a homebody I am, there are times when I thirst for human connection.

But it’s not necessarily something I show. I knew that Albert was in the same situation as me, so he might also be hiding it from me.

Well, a young master who seems ignorant to the world is also cute.

“I wanna reeest…”

Blanc saw the bed and squirmed in my arms. The stress that had risen in me soon deflated the moment I saw Blanc’s face.

“Okay. Wait right here.”

Placing Blanc down on the fluffy bed, I changed my clothes and returned.

The crackling sound of the fireplace was music to my ears. Perhaps because it was cold here in this region, but the room was mostly filled with the color red to contrast the cold snow.

A tapestry with a subtle combination of red and black. A monochrome red blanket that had both dull and brilliant shades. These reminded me of autumn.

I swept the curtains open and looked out the window.

It was still nighttime, but what I saw was white snow, so I could see outside better than I thought. There were torches and people standing guard around the castle.

The snow blew like there was a blizzard.

Somehow, it felt like Christmas because the outside was full of white snow and the inside was covered with red.

When I talked to Schubert earlier, I realized what a rough little road I’ll be threading in the future after I leave the tower.

As long as I was Rosé, people around me wouldn’t see me in a good light.

If I thought about it like this, then the tower was like a magical place. I wouldn’t have to worry about something like this. I could just live in the moment.

But that was something that couldn’t be done in the real world.

As expected, it’s dangerous outside. I closed the curtain again and went under the blanket, where Blanc snuggled into my arms. Now that I was under the blanket my body became warm as though I was covered in hand warmers.

I closed my eyes.

The sound firewood burning in the fireplace. A soft, warm dragon fledgling. A pleasant scent that lingers at the tip of my nose.

It’s been such a long time since I’ve been this comfortable.

As the problems of the real world grew farther and farther away, I vividly imagined the good things instead once I leave the tower.

“Good things.”

For example, proper furniture, decorations, books that I’d need to fill my walls. The walls of the tower looked empty, so it’s fun to imagine a densely decorated space.

I realized just how much I’d forgotten things outside the tower. How important some things were.

I want to go out. I don’t want to go out.

Contradictory feelings coincided within me. However, a decision would need to be made fast—I need to acknowledge what’s going on now so that I can move on to the future.

I can’t run away from my problems for the rest of my life.

The plot will move forward one day.

And a lot will change the moment we get out of the tower.

I pictured a happy future after leaving the tower. I first thought of how I’d buy my own house, and I never thought I could do that in my life, so a smile naturally tugged on the corners of my lips. I won’t have to worry about putting food on the table for the rest of my life.

“Blanc, where do you want to live?”

“A… gooood place.”

“What would you consider a good place?”

“Tower…”

“But I want to get out of the tower.”

Blanc seemed to like the magic power laced across the tower. Blanc tilted his head to the side.

“Buuut… What about your spouuuse…?”

What kind of scary word is that. I was taken aback.

——

¹ Jung Woo-Sung, but I’m not actually sure if it was him who said that quote. The name was censored like this: 정X성 (Jung ___-Sung)

² Yes, he really said ‘my prince’ xD