“Ma’am, are you asleep? Please eat something before you sleep.”

Aria gently woke me up and helped me sit. The touch of her hand hurt, but fortunately, the painkillers were somewhat effective.

Aria fed me soup as she spoke.

“The Empress has been here, you said?”

“Yes, the Empress was here.”

“That’s really fortunate, isn’t it?”

I gave Aria a skeptical look.

“Aria, I didn’t steal it.”

“……Yes.”

Somehow her affirmation seemed hesitant, so when I stared more intently, she averted her eyes.

Aria knows I’m framed. But she can’t show it.

As a palace maid, she has to keep her head down, accept things as they are, and live like a shadow to protect herself.

Yes, it must be hard for you too.

I said no more and opened my mouth like a baby bird, accepting the soup.

It was comforting to know that someone showed me this much affection amidst the storm I was in.

“How is the princess?”

“She’s wailing. She probably won’t come out of her room for days, so rest easy, ma’am.”

I’d probably do the same. Hearing such words, especially in front of someone I despise, I would cry and hate myself too.

Life was weird. An illegitimate child has the world’s best mother, and the empire’s most graceful princess has the worst mother.

That worst mother gifted her daughter a maid, and that maid is me. The thought was bitter.

Aria began to tidy up the dinner tray.

“Should I stay the night here?”

“No, no. I prefer to sleep alone.”

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

“Yes. Thank you, Aria.”

The reason I sent Aria away was simple. I wanted to swear to my heart’s content.

I was annoyed by my conflicting feelings towards Princess Milliora. I wished the villain would remain a villain till the end.

Once Aria left, I lay back down and began to grumble at the ceiling.

“Nothing ever goes right, everything just falls apart, ugh…I can’t even flip this all over…”

“Flip what over?”

“Nothing. I’m just talking to myself. …Ah!”

Had a man’s voice just responded to my mumbling?

I turned around in surprise to see Duke Kaidel closing the window he had entered through. He looked so casual that anyone would think this was his room.

“Being this close is convenient, don’t you think?”

“What, now…”

Convenient? Convenient? If that’s the word coming to your mind, Duke, then I have nothing to say.

But I didn’t even have the energy to be angry at him. Seeing his face made me feel like I needed more painkillers.

“Uh, can we postpone this? As you can see, I’m not in the best shape.”

Duke Kaidel approached the bed, looked down at me, and twisted his face in disgust.

I knew I wasn’t in a presentable state, but I didn’t want to be looked at like that by a man who sneaks into women’s rooms.

“……’Not in the best shape’? Sigh.”

He sighed with an annoyed face and leaned over the bed.

I involuntarily held my breath, and he yanked my blanket up to my chin.

“What, what, are you inspecting a corpse?”

I didn’t know what to say in this situation, so I just opened my mouth and stared at him.

However, he sat down with a serious face and crossed his legs.

“I suppose I can’t ask if you’re okay. Roar.”

“Given the state of palace security, everyone seems on edge about crimes.”

When I pointed out that he had climbed through the window, Duke Kaidel gave a wry smile.

“So you’re accused of stealing the Princess’s ring?”

“That’s what they say.”

“Hmm.”

That was enough for our conversation. He clearly didn’t think I was a thief.

“Isn’t our business concluded?”

“This is a sick visit. Can’t you tell?”

“……Can you tell, Duke?”
When I caught his eye through the window he had entered, he followed my gaze and folded his eyes into a smile.

Even when the sun had already set, what sort of smile was that…

When I furrowed my brows, his smile disappeared.

“You’ll chill your body going out like this. I’ll take care of what you need to do.”

“…”

What is this? The sound of a dog munching grass and playing the flute?

You’re the top student at the academy, aren’t you? You already have no need for a home tutor. Who would hire someone with such an awkward resume?

Annoyance surged anew within me. Nothing was going right.

Caught up in dreams of a maid position I never wanted, falsely accused of theft, and that weirdo with black hair keeps hopping through my window.

Let’s not even mention the shape my body was in, battered like bread dough.

I wanted to shake my head violently, but it was too painful, so I only clenched my eyes shut.

“Excuse me, Your Grace.”

“Quit being stubborn. You know you’ve chosen the wrong master.”

“…”

For the first time since he entered the room, I looked at him with full concentration.

‘Choosing the wrong master.’

It was a correct statement, yet it irked me for some reason.

In response to my silence, he elaborated further, perhaps thinking I had trouble understanding due to my discomfort.

“Being accused of theft as the third lion’s daughter crosses the line. You shouldn’t be treated like this, Lorisha Loar.”

His voice was dead serious, even somber, unusual for a man who had just jumped through a woman’s window.