“The person His Highness the Prince cherishes, I’ve met a few times and they seem like a good person. They also hold the title of Viscount.”

“…I appreciate your words, but I’m a maid. How could I marry a Viscount?”

“What are you saying? I’ve said it several times, but elder sister, you are my elder sister and a young lady of the Violet Count family before being a maid. So there’s no way you’d be inferior to a Viscount.”

No, please tell me I’m far inferior!

While I was blinking in confusion, Floria continued as if she had been waiting.

“He is a sincere and kind person. Elder sister will surely like him.”

I had no intention of getting married, and knowing that the person who was supposedly so sincere and kind was ‘that’ Gavis Palong, I couldn’t hide my perplexed feelings.

I never expected her to bring up my marriage before even holding her own royal wedding.

“Why would I introduce him to elder sister for no reason? I’m telling you because I really think he’d be a perfect match for elder sister. Viscount Gavis Palong is His Highness the Prince’s secretary.”

Oh, darn it. Are you really trying to set me up with that crazy bastard?

Gavis Palong. As Prince Eric’s secretary, he had a tremendous reputation with women.

It wasn’t just that he liked women, but he was the worst of the worst, even assaulting them. In the middle of the original story, he was put on trial for that, but he got away unscathed thanks to Prince Eric’s backing.

‘And you want to marry me off to a guy like that.’

“I’d be happy if things work out well between elder sister and him. Then you’d be able to stay with me in the future.”

Her smiling face as she plotted to bury me in a pit was chilling.

“If it’s alright with you, shall I arrange a meeting?”

“…I appreciate your words, but it’s too sudden.”

“Actually, I gave the Viscount a heads-up beforehand, and he seemed interested in elder sister. He said he really wanted to meet you once!”

Ah, so that’s why he acted like he was happy to see me at the victory banquet. Well, considering that pervert, it made sense he’d be intrigued by me, the most hated person in the kingdom right now.

“Her Highness the Princess’s royal wedding comes first. Right now, I only want to focus on helping Her Highness.”

“Even if it’s not marriage, how about meeting him once first? If you like him, you can start a relationship.”

The nobles of the Hilic Kingdom were quite open-minded about romantic relationships. However, being formally introduced by someone was practically the same as leading to marriage.

Faced with this unexpected situation, I racked my brain on how to get out of it. There was no way I could get involved with that son of a bitch Gavis Palong or whoever he was.

“Actually, there’s someone I have feelings for!”

Oh, my quick thinking only amounted to this much.

I wanted to slap my mouth hard for blurting out such a lousy excuse.

If I said that, would Floria just go, ‘Is that so? Then it can’t be helped’? No way. Definitely…

“Really? Which family’s young master is it?”

I came to the capital and started working as a maid in the palace, so when would I have had the chance to start liking someone? Floria must have thought I was lying, as her smiling eyes were cold.

“Could it be that you’re lying because Viscount Gavis Palong doesn’t meet your standards…?”

“No, of course not. Why wouldn’t I like someone Her Highness personally recommended? I’m sure he’s a good person. It’s just that going to such a meeting while having feelings for someone else seems disrespectful to the other party.”

“If elder sister insists, then it can’t be helped. So, who is the person you have feelings for?”

“…Her Highness probably doesn’t know him.”

“Still, please tell me. I’m just curious about which young master has captured our elder sister’s heart.”

Floria wasn’t going to back down until a man’s name came out of my mouth.

I frantically flipped through the address book in my head. But the men I had met since coming to the capital could be counted on one hand. 1. Cal Demon. 2. That red-haired something. 3. Mathias Linton.

Among these three, who should I say? Number 1 was Floria’s follower. Number 2 was a follower of Floria’s follower. In the end, only number 3 remained.

But I hesitated to say it, worried that Floria might harm him.

“If you’re reluctant because it’s someone I’m introducing…”

“It’s Mathias Linton, the head librarian!”

I’m sorry, Mathias. I had no choice. I have to save myself first.

Inwardly apologizing to Mathias, I continued.

“I haven’t met him many times, but I fell for him at first sight because he’s pure and kind. But this is purely my own feelings. Sir Mathias has absolutely no interest in me.”

“If it’s Linton…”

Floria, who was thinking about something while half-listening to my words, slightly frowned.

“It’s a family of grand scholars.”

“What?”

“The previous Viscount Linton was a renowned grand scholar. I heard the current title holder rejected major government positions and voluntarily became the head librarian. They say he’s a very capable person.”

Was Mathias’s family that prestigious?

I only knew they were a viscount family, but judging from Floria’s concern, they were likely a force supporting the first prince. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be unable to hide her annoyed expression like that.

“If elder sister likes him, he must be a good person.”

Floria held my hand and continued.

“But Viscount Gavis Palong is also a nice person. How about meeting him at least once without feeling too burdened?”

Floria seemed intent on somehow connecting me with Gavis. Continuing to resist would only irritate her, so I nodded reluctantly.

“Since Her Highness insists, I’ll meet him once.”

“Yes, elder sister. You made a good decision. I’m sure your feelings will change once you meet him. He’s a wonderful person.”

If he’s that wonderful, why don’t you meet him?

I let out a long sigh inwardly.

“Is something worrying you?”

As soon as I left Floria’s room, I headed to the library.

Since I had mentioned Mathias’s name to Floria, I felt I should inform him as well. But I didn’t know how to explain this.

Actually, Floria is a bad girl, and because I lied that I like you, I don’t know what harm she might do to you, so be careful.

−I couldn’t say that.

As I hesitated, Mathias tilted his head.

“Do you have something to tell me? Please feel free to speak.”

“…Sir Mathias, if something bad happens to you, will you let me know right away?”

“What? What do you mean by that…?”

“I can’t give you the details, but if something unusual happens.”

Mathias looked like he didn’t understand, but he obediently nodded.

Thinking about it now, I should have said I liked Cal instead. Whether he believed it or not, if that man got harmed, I wouldn’t feel this guilty. Besides, that man didn’t seem like he would quietly take it anyway.

Looking at Mathias’s face, my conscience pricked me, and I couldn’t meet his gaze.

“Ah, you asked me before about how to break a spell cast by a fairy on a human, right?”

“Yes! Did you find something?”

When I clung to him expectantly, Mathias shook his head apologetically.

“No. Not yet. But I have a close acquaintance who is a wizard, so I sent a letter to him. He would know well. I’m also continuing to search through books.”

“Ah… Thank you, Sir Mathias.”

To such a good person, I… With a guilty face, I placed my hand on my conscience that was pricking me again.

Floria seemed to have plenty of time to arrange my blind date even before her royal wedding. Or maybe she wanted to make a quick move before I got into a deep relationship with Mathias.

With a heavy heart, I prepared for the meeting with Gavis Palong, which was set up faster than I expected.

I had no intention of making a good impression, so I picked out anything and tied my hair together. Watching me, Ginger smirked.

“Her Highness the Crown Princess is so considerate. Introducing such an overqualified match to a child like you. Don’t embarrass Her Highness and do it properly.”

You know too, don’t you, what kind of bastard Gavis Palong is?

I swallowed a sigh inwardly.

“Instead of paying attention to me, why don’t you go check on your assigned areas? I saw earlier that the cleaning condition was a mess.”

Recently, complaints about Ginger were not uncommon among the maids.

She wasn’t doing her job properly even before, but relying on Floria’s backing, she had become even more lazy lately. As a result, it was natural for the maids who had to take on her share of work to voice their dissatisfaction.

“Mind your own business.”

Ginger snorted. Then there was a knock, and Silvia peeked her head in. That worried face was because she had heard that I was going to meet Gavis Palong.

“Lady Reneola, I think those clothes are too pretty. How about changing into this?”

“Silvia, that’s sleepwear…”

And it’s something I was going to throw away because it was worn out. Silvia must have really wanted my meeting with Gavis to go awry.

“But aren’t you too pretty right now anyway?”

I felt the same way, so Silvia and I started rummaging through the wardrobe to find the most worn-out and shabby-looking clothes.

Today, I had to somehow make sure my meeting with Gavis Palong didn’t lead to a relationship.