It was clear that I wasn’t cut out to be a maid.

After waking up early for three days straight to prepare for the banquet, my head was spinning.

‘What could Dietrich be doing?’

It had already been a few days since I last saw Dietrich here.

A few days?

Come to think of it, it hasn’t been that long.

I scratched my head and tilted it in confusion.

But why does it feel like it’s been so long?

Perhaps the reason I miss that annoyingly handsome face is simple.

Dietrich is the only one in this mansion who knows my true identity.

Today, I crouched under the bushes to secretly take a break.

As time passed, I could feel sweat running down my back.

It was the combined work of the stuffy maid uniform and the hot weather.

As the sun began to move overhead, it got increasingly hotter.

There’s a limit to how long I can hide here.

I sluggishly moved to get up.

“Skipping work?”

“Ah, you scared me!”

At that moment, a voice from the opposite side of the bushes made me fall on my bottom.

“Should I tell the head maid? You’ll get scolded.”

A pair of light blue-green eyes, similar yet different from Dietrich’s, were staring down at me.

The tone was gruff, but there was a faint smile on his lips.

For some reason, the second young master of the Delgado mansion, whom I’ve been encountering frequently lately, seemed to be in a good mood.

“Young Master Yurian.”

“I heard there’s a banquet today and it’s busy. Is it okay for you to be skipping like this?”

“The banquet preparations are done, so it should be fine? Maybe…”

Unfortunately, I trailed off as I remembered the voice of the head maid who had been desperately looking for me.

Yurian, not missing that, asked playfully.

“Really? Then is it okay if I tell the head maid you’re here?”

“No!”

“Heheh, see? You are skipping!”

Wait, what’s with this young master?

He looked better than when I last saw him, after he left a thank-you note.

I carefully examined Yurian’s appearance.

Perhaps because of today’s banquet, Yurian’s attire was neater and more subdued than usual.

Come to think of it, he came near the bushes again.

Was Yurian trying to skip work like me?

Seemingly reading the question in my eyes, Yurian clicked his tongue and said.

“I’m not running away today.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“I’m telling you, it’s true.”

“Then what brings you here?”

At my question, Yurian scratched the back of his head and averted his gaze.

It seemed like he was hiding something.

But seeing him pretending not to know with flushed cheeks was so adorable that I decided to play along.

‘This is quite different from how he’s described in the novel.’

Unlike the novel, which described him as inscrutable and somewhat irritable, Yurian was no different from an ordinary teenage boy.

In fact, he had a more mellow personality than most noble children.

The fact that he spoke to me so casually despite my mere maid status proved it.

“Alright. I won’t ask anymore. But in return, please keep this a secret. If I’m caught, I won’t even be able to touch the leftover food after today’s banquet.”

What have I been enduring for until now!

I’ve been hanging on desperately just for the fact that I can finally receive those mouth-watering dishes!

Perhaps understanding my desperation, Yurian awkwardly nodded.

“I really had no intention of telling on you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Because I’m merciful.”

“Pfft!”

Unable to hold back my laughter, Yurian frowned.

“Why are you laughing? Am I funny?”

“It’s not that you’re funny, you’re cute…”

Ah, I wonder if it’s okay for a maid to call the young master cute.

By the time I had that thought, it was already too late.

Yurian’s face was already burning as if about to explode.

“Cute…? Me?”

“Well, yes. You are cute, Young Master.”

I’m not sure if that’s the answer Yurian wanted, but my mouth was already speaking as it pleased.

The word ‘cute’ wasn’t a lie.

It was nice to see the untainted purity of the boy who preciously remembered the casually spoken words.

However, for Yurian, being called cute didn’t seem to be a compliment.

The boy puffed out his chest and shrugged his shoulders once.

His attempt to look dignified was irresistibly cute.

Yurian’s doll-like beautiful golden hair swayed gently in the wind.

Furrowing his brows sharply, Yurian said firmly.

“I’m far from being cute!”

“Yes, yes. I know, I get it.”

“Mother always told me to act with dignity. So why do you keep saying I’m cute?”

How old was Yurian again?

I didn’t know Yurian’s exact age, but I had seen many children around his age.

The children at the orphanage who called me sister always wanted to be praised as cool and beautiful, just like the protagonists in novels.

Remembering those times, I gently patted Yurian’s shoulder.

“Of course, you’re cool and dignified. But right now, it’s okay for you to be cute, Young Master.”

“It’s okay to be cute? But…”

“This is the time when you should be cute.”

That’s when it happened.

“Heidi! Heidi!”

The voice of the head maid calling for me at the top of her lungs could be heard.

Since I was caught skipping work a few days ago, I couldn’t be caught today.

If I did, I might really get fired.

I roughly patted my tingling legs and stood up.

“If I stay here any longer, I’ll really get scolded, so I’ll be going now. I already have a lot of work as a new maid.”

As I was trying to reluctantly take a step, my wrist was suddenly grabbed.

Looking down at the white and soft hand holding my wrist, I saw Yurian fidgeting.

It seemed like he had something he wanted to say.

I bent my knees to meet his eyes, allowing Yurian to speak more comfortably.

Then, Yurian, who had been hesitating, slowly opened his mouth.

“Um, will you, come to the banquet?”

Come to the banquet?

I pointed at the maid uniform I was wearing and chuckled softly.

“That’s impossible. I’m a maid, you know. And a new one at that.”

“Is there really no way for you to come?”

“I don’t think so.”

From what I knew from reading romance fantasy novels, you needed an invitation to enter the banquet hall.

Moreover, those invitations would have been sent to high-ranking nobles who were acquainted with the Delgado ducal family.

There’s no way for a maid to attend such a place. All the maids and servants serving at the banquet hall were senior staff.

Had he grown attached to me in such a short time?

Yurian’s expression drooped upon hearing that I couldn’t go to the banquet hall.

His small shoulders slumped, as if disappointed.

“Today’s banquet is going to be the worst. I’m already dreading it.”

Yurian’s lips were stiff with tension as he spoke of his fear of the banquet.

“All the other nobles will be there, and I have to show the dignity of the Delgado ducal family without trembling in front of them. I have to do much better than my brother.”

“…”

“But what I fear the most is…”

Yurian, who had been hesitating for a moment and watching my reaction, whispered with a sigh.

“I’m afraid of disappointing Mother.”

Oh my goodness.

I felt my heart ache with sympathy.

What Yurian feared was ‘comparison’.

The comparison between Dietrich and Yurian.

He both admires and fears Dietrich, with his picturesque appearance, masterful swordsmanship, and brilliant mind.

But what he fears even more is…

It was the pressure to meet Mother’s expectations and the anxiety to surpass Dietrich.

Considering how the Duchess treated Yurian in the original story, it wasn’t strange for the child to feel that way.

Completely forgetting that the head maid was calling, I gently grasped Yurian’s hand.

Then I smiled, creasing the corners of my eyes.

“Would you like me to attend?”

“Hmph! It’s not exactly like that.”

“Oh… Is that so?”

When I muttered loud enough for him to hear, ‘Then I guess I don’t need to go,’ the flustered Yurian hastily added.

“Ahem, but! Brother’s close friend is coming today, I heard. The young ladies were saying he’s very handsome. You’d like him too, I bet?”

“Oh, come on! Do you think I like everyone who’s handsome?”

“Yes.”

At the answer that came out so quickly, I had no choice but to agree.

That’s right, I do like handsome things.

“You keep saying I’m cute because you like pretty, cute, and handsome things.”

This kid, he’s got good self-awareness.

“So, will you come?”

Looking at Yurian, who was desperately hoping for me to come while pretending not to, I fell into brief contemplation.

No matter how handsome Dietrich’s friend is said to be, isn’t it a bit much for me to go to that banquet?

Honestly, given Dietrich’s appearance, I doubt if the thought of his friend being handsome would even cross my mind…

‘Wait a minute. Dietrich’s friend?’

I stopped in my tracks at the thought that suddenly crossed my mind.

Dietrich, who was cold to a fault, had only one friend since long ago.

“Nocturne Frey.”

“Huh? How do you know Young Lord Frey?”

“No way!”

It was so shocking that I almost lost my breath.

Nocturne Frey, Nocturne Frey!

Nocturne Frey, whom I loved so much that I wished I could be his lower lip, is coming to the banquet.

Yurian seemed a bit scared seeing me so excited, but now wasn’t the time to worry about that.

This was an opportunity given by heaven.

Finally, a chance to meet Nocturne.

Although the days after becoming the spirit of the sword were tough, I guess it was all for today.

Gently patting Yurian’s head, who had given me this gem of information, I exclaimed.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to go to the banquet!”

“Wh-what? What are you planning to do?”

“Don’t worry.”

Meeting Yurian’s wide, anxious eyes, I gave him a wink.

“Even if you don’t see me there, know that I’ll be watching and cheering for you.”

“…You will?”

Seeing his half-doubting expression, I clenched my fist with an even more confident tone.

“Yes! So don’t tremble or be nervous. Young Master Yurian, you are lovable and wonderful just as you are.”

“…”

Yurian didn’t give any answer.

However, the corners of Yurian’s mouth were already twitching.

“Well, I guess I understand for now.”

Yurian, speaking as nonchalantly as possible, bid farewell and left.

And on my face, left alone in that place, a sly smile appeared.

‘Oh ho, my favorite is coming to the banquet, you say?’

Good.

Nocturne Frey, just you wait.