It was an uncomfortable question to hear from a stranger I had only recently met.

Even if I were dreaming of social advancement, Princess Ariana’s question was abrupt.

It was a strangely offensive remark, spoken in a gentle tone.

Unpleasantness began to creep in, but I tried not to show it as I waved my hand.

“Social advancement? Not at all!”

“Is that so?”

I wasn’t sure if Ariana believed me outright, but she smiled, her eyes crinkling prettily.

It was the same pure and innocent smile as when I first saw her. As if she had no ill intentions.

“I’m sorry. I must have been oversensitive. If I offended you, I sincerely apologize.”

“It’s not like that. I was just a little surprised.”

I didn’t bother to stop Ariana as she bowed her head in apology.

It was true that I had felt strangely offended.

However, it would be extremely rude not to accept an apology from a princess of the nation.

It would also be dangerous for me, a maid.

As I waved my hands to indicate it was fine, she let out a sigh of relief.

“I hope you can understand my situation that forced me to ask so abruptly. You seemed so close with Young Master Dietrich.”

Ariana bowed her head deeply. Her blue hair fell limply to the floor.

I quietly watched the princess with her melancholic charm, then averted my gaze to the air, thinking it might be impolite.

Then, after a long silence, the princess quietly opened her mouth.

“It’s embarrassing to say this, but I need Young Master Dietrich.”

Goodness.

She was a shockingly honest princess.

It wasn’t a lovely confession of having liked Dietrich for a long time or being interested in him.

A meeting out of necessity.

Ariana seemed desperate for that meeting.

Seeing my widened eyes, Ariana smiled bitterly.

“It’s okay. I know my situation is not great at all. That’s why I need Young Master Dietrich.”

I suddenly became curious. Why was the princess revealing her circumstances to me, whom she had just met today?

Even if she knew I was a maid of the Delgado family, how did she know I seemed close to Dietrich…

‘Wait a moment.’

Could she have seen us joking around earlier?

Sure enough, she resolved my curiosity with a forthright answer.

“I saw you happily chatting with Young Master Dietrich earlier. I absolutely wasn’t trying to spy.”

Even if she had spied, I couldn’t confront her about it.

However, I felt embarrassed at her answer that matched my expectations exactly.

I thought we wouldn’t be noticeable since we were far from the tent where people were gathered.

‘I was careless.’

I had overlooked that what seemed fun to me in joking with Dietrich could appear different to others.

I knew well how such small mistakes could cause big ripples.

Things always happened when I let my guard down for a moment.

That was something I had painfully learned at the Delgado mansion.

Vowing never to repeat such mistakes in the future, I lied as calmly as I could.

“I think you misunderstood when you saw me tidying Young Master Dietrich’s clothes.”

“Is that so? It seems I made an unnecessary misunderstanding. The Delgado family wouldn’t disregard practicality. I’ve heard about Young Master Dietrich’s personality and have been observing him all this time, so I misunderstood because it was the first time I saw him look so comfortable.”

Again. I tried to ignore the subtle feeling that was creeping in.

I knew very well that my status as a maid meant I could never match with Dietrich.

‘Hearing it directly like this feels different though.’

Ariana didn’t seem to intend to hurt my feelings at all.

From her perspective, she was just stating the obvious.

There was no reason to think there could be anything special between the great young master who would inherit the Delgado dukedom and a mere maid who served him.

“Still, you seemed quite close to Young Master Dietrich, so may I ask you for one favor?”

It feels like I’ve heard similar words somewhere before.

Thinking it was deja vu, I answered for now.

“May I ask what kind of favor it is?”

“It’s nothing much. I was hoping Heidi would help me.”

Princess Ariana turned her eyes towards the forest where the hunt was taking place. Then, looking back at where the emperor was, she muttered.

“I can’t explain my entire situation, but I must keep Young Master Dietrich by my side. Only then can I save myself, save this empire.”

Ariana’s eyes flashed sharply, unlike before, as she spoke of saving the empire.

Her purposeful gaze was upright and beautiful.

It seemed Princess Ariana wasn’t just beautiful in appearance.

Though she had a pure appearance that looked like she might collapse at the slightest touch, her inner self was upright and wise.

The grace that seeped through her ordinary conversation and small actions made her innate nobility shine even more.

“What kind of help do you want?”

“Help me get along well with Young Master Dietrich. Even small encouragement or advice would be good. Love that starts from trivial interest can be meaningful too. Even if it starts for mutual benefit, a relationship that eventually leads to love will never break.”

Ariana’s eyes sparkled as she grabbed my hands.

Her white and soft hands were completely different from mine, which had become rough from handling knives and water for months.

I felt a sense of inferiority peeking out from deep in my heart.

As I talked with her, I found myself constantly comparing Ariana and myself.

A person who was the complete opposite of my younger self, who grew up cautiously in an orphanage, and my past self, who couldn’t afford even the smallest luxury because I had to earn money.

I envied her, born as a noble princess and raised gently.

What if I had lived a life like Princess Ariana?

Would I not be worrying about money alone, as I had been doing just now?

After imagining various things, I soon stopped.

I was envious, but no one chose to live such a life.

Knowing that I should do my best with the life I was given, I sometimes fall into useless thoughts when I feel envious.

Like now. I had to answer her, who was waiting with her hands tightly clasped.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I don’t think I can give you the answer you want.”

It was a gentle but clear refusal.

I could see disappointment in Ariana’s blue eyes, but it couldn’t be helped.

No matter what anyone said, I was on Dietrich’s side.

Even if Princess Ariana was a good person, I couldn’t do something Dietrich would dislike.

Dietrich might not believe it, but I was someone who knew how to weigh the importance of matters.

‘Though I make mistakes occasionally.’

As a human, it’s possible to do so from time to time, isn’t it?

“I see. It was an unreasonable request.”

“I’m the one who’s sorry. However, as a maid working for the Delgado family, I didn’t think it was right to take orders from someone else.”

Even though I refused her request, Ariana didn’t show any signs of being upset or disgruntled.

She maintained a friendly smile and a polite attitude from beginning to end.

“Heidi is a good maid. It makes me think how nice it would be if I had a cheerful and wise helper like Heidi by my side.”

Ariana, who even gave me praise that seemed excessive, slowly rose from her seat.

She casually brushed off her dress, which looked expensive at a glance, and extended her hand to me again.

“I hope we can meet again if we have the chance.”

I grasped her smooth hand and bowed my head.

I heard Ariana’s soft laughter above my head.

Only after Ariana had walked away with light steps, holding the hem of her dress, did I feel my legs give way.

I slid down, leaning against a wooden pillar, and it finally sank in.

Today’s hunting competition, it’s really not easy!

Who would have thought I’d come to the hunting competition and end up talking with the princess?

‘Robert and Marie would flip if they heard this news.’

Robert would keep saying ‘Don’t lie!’ and eventually ask, ‘Come on, tell me what you talked about.’

Marie would have a slightly calmer reaction.

She’d ask, ‘Are you sure you’re talking about Princess Ariana Jeneger?’ and then worry, ‘Nothing bad happened, right?’

I felt like I needed to tell them all about the unsettling and complicated things I experienced today as soon as I got back to the mansion.

Finally having some time to myself, I could calmly reflect on what had happened earlier.

‘So the reason Princess Ariana came to find me was because of Dietrich.’

She said she needed Dietrich.

It wasn’t clear if she loved Dietrich, but it was certain that she needed him politically.

‘That means she must sincerely hope for Dietrich to win first place in today’s hunting competition, right?’

Then what does Her Highness plan to do if Dietrich doesn’t win first place in today’s hunting competition?

It seems the emperor also has his eye on making the Delgado family his in-laws. It didn’t seem likely he would let someone else lift the winner’s cup.

And my prediction was spot on.

About an hour later.

With the sound of clattering hooves, a noble youth, in a state that could hardly be called presentable, appeared screaming.

“A, a monster has appeared!”