Chapter 14

“I can’t help it if you don’t want to, it’s not like you’re going to come with me to the main castle*.”

*TL/N: I translated it as quarters before, but it was actually the main castle, sorry!

“I can’t even leave here.”

“That’s what I said. It must be frustrating.”

“Frustrating… I’ve never thought about it.”

It was clear that this was the first time he had heard such words. The prince seemed confused and stretched his lips. It was a pity to leave the prince who had become attached to me, but there were many things I had to do outside the castle, so I couldn’t just stay in the dining room. 

I smiled softly at the prince.

“Or how about exploring the nameless castle? Except for the floors used by me and Sir Janiche, it’s never been properly cleaned, so it might be dirty, but….”

“I… I don’t like dirty things. Daphne… doesn’t like them either.”

“Yes. But this castle used to be a place where guilty nobles and royals were imprisoned, so you might find treasures if you explore.”

“W-what are you talking about? Explain it so I can understand.”

“Oh. Treasures, like jewels or gold coins.”

“…Shiny things?”

I’ve never seen a child who hates treasure hunts. I nodded my head and took out a watch from my pocket. If I hurry, I should be able to return before lunch.

The prince looked at me with bright eyes and asked, “Do you like… treasure?”

“Gold and silver?”

“Yes.”

“I like it. Expensive things might come in handy someday.”

“Daphne’s words…are too difficult.”

“Really? In simple terms, it means I like it.”

The prince’s eyes suddenly seemed calculating. It seemed that the little bird had already made a resolution to be filial to his mother. But it was just something I made up, and I couldn’t know for sure if there were really treasures hidden in the nameless castle. Becoming accustomed to him following me, I took him and walked to the castle gate. By the time we reached the rusty, giant door, he had slowed down.

“When… when will you come back? D-don’t be late.”

“Why can’t I be late?”

“Huh? That’s…”

Didn’t he think about that? I roughly fixed my appearance and looked up at the prince.

“I’ll be back. Wait for me.”

“Okay….”

The prince seemed strangely sad. If someone saw us, they would think we had been together for 10 years. However, I also felt bad leaving him behind. I left the prince and walked out of the castle gate to talk to Sir Janiche, who was guarding it.

“Sir Janiche, I’m going to the main castle.”

“Really? If you happen to stop by the kitchen, please bring some snacks.”

“Should I? There’s a maid I know there.”

“The smell of hot chocolate that the prince had this morning was very good.”

“Sir Janiche, you must have been blessed by not gaining weight with your appetite.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Was that really a compliment? 

I bowed to Janiche.

“Please take care of the prince while I’m away. If you have time, please check on him. He must’ve felt lonely….”

“You want me to take care of the prince?”

“Yes.”

After that, I finally left for the main castle. It was over an hour walk from the nameless castle to the castle where the king lived. It would be quick if I took a carriage, but the king did not provide a stable in the nameless castle. Even if I brought the prince down to the lower floor, I would still continue to exercise through other way. I looked up at the sky, which was bright with sunshine, and walked briskly.

* * * 

Maybe it was because it was early summer, but I was sweating. It was colder when I was inside the castle.

I went around the lake between the nameless castle and the main castle. I watched the aristocrats enjoying boating from a distance, and admired the flowers blooming on the side of the road.

Before I knew it, I arrived at the magnificent castle where I couldn’t even see the roof when I stretched my neck up. As I was looking at the entrance, which was beautifully gilded and filled with delicate patterns, I felt the gaze of the gatekeeper.

“Are you going inside the castle?”

“Yes. I came from the nameless castle.”

“…Confirmed. Be careful not to attract attention because the King and Queen’s moods have not been good lately.”

“Pardon?”

I was just a maid who had finished my duties and returned to the main castle. Dressed similarly to the lively maids, I put a clock with of the nameless castle drawn on the lid into my pocket.

“Jane!”

After entering the palace, I passed through the wide garden and headed straight to the laundry room. Then, standing in front of the door, I found my colleague among the maids who were carrying thick cloths. Jane was one of the ones who came with me on the day I moved to the palace.

The impressive girl with red hair tied into one and green eyes was also actually the maid assigned to the nameless castle.

“… Daphne? What’s going on?”

“I came to get some clothes for the prince. It seems like the ones the previous maid brought are not enough.”

“Really? I see. Come in quickly. If you block the door, Madam Cella will get angry.”

However, as soon as she found out about it, she refused to take the role, shedding tears and snot. She didn’t want to be eaten by the prince because she was still young, she said.

By the way, she was the same age as me. And when Jane, who had been warned to leave if she didn’t like her assigned place, she grabbed my arm and begged me for some reason, so, I had no choice but to exchange our duties.

I felt uneasy before, but now that I look back, it was actually a good thing for me. The maids at the nameless castle received more than 2.5 times the salary of the maids of the main castle.

“How is it to work as a laundry maid? Can you handle it?”

“Kind of. Look at how much I have to do. I thought I would be dusting the grand reception room when I worked at the palace….”

“You need connections for that kind of job. But where is Madam Cella?”

“She was here until a little while ago… Oh, right! Sir Cecil of Raost Marquisate came looking for a shirt he threw away.”

So where was Madam Cella? When I asked absentmindedly, Jane widened her green eyes.

“What’s with your reaction? Don’t you know who Sir Cecil is?”

“No, I know. I worked at his mansion before I came to the palace.”

“Oh my, what a world! So you know him? Are you close with him?”

“No, of course not. I was a maid there as well.”

Even if we live in the same mansion, it’s rare to run into a noble gentleman. But as the noisy voices of Jane were heard, the laundry maids started to look at me with curious eyes, and I felt embarrassed.

“Are you Daphne from the nameless castle? How do you know him?”

“No, I don’t know… “

“I envy you! I’ve never seen such a handsome person before. Well, I guess it’s because his mother, Madam Pricy, is called the flower of the social world.”

I don’t know, I’m in a hurry and I want to leave. Where was Madame Cella? I sighed and turned my head among the maids who were pushing and shoving. Then, Madame Cella and Cecil, who just came in, appeared and the maids quickly returned to their original positions.

“Thank you, Madam. I thought I had to go back to the mansion right away because it’s a precious shirt.”

“You’re welcome. It would be impossible if something like this happens again, please come find me.”

“You are so kind. How long do I have to wait for the shirt to dry?”

“It will be quick today since the sunlight is strong. In the meantime, I will go back to the garden…”

Originally, for the aristocrats, the maid was an invisible existence. However, Madam Cella and Cecil noticed me standing in the middle of the laundry room while they were chatting and laughing. 

I was originally assigned as a maid in the laundry room, so Madam Cella recognized me as soon as she saw me. She whispered to Cecil, “Just a moment,” and then approached me with her stilted footsteps.

“Maid of the nameless family, Daphne. I’m guessing you came here because you need a new outfit for the prince, right?”

“Yes, Madam. You know right away.”

“Of course. The previous maids used to come to me occasionally. So, how much do you think the size should be?”

“The prince is taller than you think. The clothes he wore before were too small.”

“…Wait, have you actually met the prince?”

Ah, this was the question I dreaded. Madam Cella shook her head. When I nodded quietly, she leaned her head slightly towards Cecil, who was standing nearby, as if she was dizzy.

“Did you hear me, Sir Cecil? This child here actually met Prince Asheradren.”

“Hello.”

When I met the face of the pale man with golden brown eyes, I quickly grabbed my skirt and bowed my waist. When I raised my upper body again, Cecil, with his innocent yet cruel curiosity, looked at me and asked.

“You work at a nameless castle? You seem like a great lady. You look weak on the outside though.”

“Please speak comfortably, Sir Cecil.”

“…Do you know me?”

“I’ve seen you from afar. I used to work at Lord Raost until recently.”

“I see. Nice to meet you. Your name is…”

“This is Daphne. Quite a pretty girl, isn’t she?”

Madam Cella tapped me on the shoulder. She sighed deeply as she put her hand on the arm of the tall man.

“At first, she was hired as a laundry maid. But then she was switched with… What was her name? Anyway, she changed positions with another maid. I thought she would quit soon since she was still young, but she’s holding on pretty well.”

“I’m sorry, but I’ve only been working at the nameless family for less than a week, Madam.”

“That’s impressive! There were so many maids who couldn’t even last three days.”

After hearing Madam Cella’s story, Cecil smiled at me again as if he was seeing me again. With his bright golden hair, pale face, and warm golden brown eyes, he made a proposal to me.

“I heard you’ve met the prince. If you’re not busy, can I hear more about it? I’ve been curious about who he is.”

“I’m sorry, but I have other places to go besides the laundry room.”

“Hey, Daphne!”

I didn’t want the lovely prince to become a mere nobleman’s entertainment. But Madam Cella immediately scolded me.