Everything here was filled with first-time experiences. Feeling like he was having a happy and sweet dream, Mikael mumbled to himself.

“Would you like to serve that for the lunch of the princes?”

“Yes. I hope the children will like it.”

“Why worry? I’m sure they’ll empty two bowls in no time!”

Babito laughed heartily.

Mikael was shy at his words, but he was confident that they would enjoy the food he made.
“Eilin and Hyung-ah’s taste come out together! That’s why it’s even more delicious.”

One day, it was something Louis said.

It was natural. After all, Mikael’s learned cooking was based on Eilin’s recipes.

But to Mikael, it was the most profound praise. Whenever Louis said such words, Mikael felt delighted, as if he truly had a family.

“Of course, Sister belongs to Hyung-nim. But… I just want us all to be a family together.”

Respected two people, cute and lovely twin siblings, and himself.

He truly wished they could become a family like this.

The secretly imagined scenario that Mikael had every night after settling here was becoming a family.

“Shall I pack it for you?”

“No, I’ll do it.”

“Then, the lunchbox is here.”

Mikael filled the lunchbox with egg-fried rice and side dishes.

He split boiled quail eggs in half and decorated them with sesame seeds, completing cute quail chicks.

“Our Crown Prince is good at cooking too! Have a safe trip!”

Babito laughed heartily, tapping Mikael’s back.

Mikael thought to himself that Babito seemed like a hearty father.

‘Right now, he’s probably in Matop.’

With the packed lunch, Mikael left the kitchen.

Turning the corner, Mikael stopped for a moment.

‘Right, there was a guest in the annex.’

Although crossing was faster, it wouldn’t be good if the rumor spread that the 7th Prince was staying in the ducal residence.

‘I should avoid running into him if possible.’

Since they were guests who didn’t often leave the place, it shouldn’t be a big problem.

It was a moment of relief for Mikael.

“Huh?”

It was a clear and gentle voice.

Mikael stopped in his tracks, gazing at the woman in front of him. She was wearing the attire of a priestess, which only saintesses could wear.

‘Could it be that the guest staying in the annex is a saintess?’

He was familiar with the news about the saintess’s visit through newspapers.

But he never imagined meeting a saintess in the ducal residence.

“I greet the Saintess.”

For the first time in a long while, Mikael respectfully greeted her.

The saintess, who had been stiff like him, blinked slowly and then curtsied.

“…Could it be, Mikael, the 7th Prince?”

Mikael froze in surprise.

He didn’t expect the saintess to know him.

But in the current situation, denying it was pointless.

Mikael nodded slowly.

“Yes.”

Admitting the truth, the expression on the saintess’s face became even more peculiar.

“…Why is the Crown Prince here?”

It was a question that seemed to pry into the matter.

At the tone of inquiry he hadn’t heard in a long time, Mikael bit his lip.

It felt like he was being asked why he was here.

“I work as a governess for the princes at the ducal residence.”

It would have been enough to say he was just staying temporarily. He regretted saying unnecessary things.

‘I shouldn’t have said that.’

Regret and self-reproach overwhelmed him.
Due to the fear that his own unattractiveness might cause harm to his older brother and sister-in-law, he worried. However, the saintess’s remarks added an extra layer of shock to him.

“What are you talking about? The Crown Prince is supposed to be suffering abuse in the Imperial Palace right now!”

Abuse. That was Mikael’s biggest flaw. Being constantly compared to his older brother, the Crown Prince, wasn’t enough; the Empress also glared at Mikael as if he were something terrible.

Thump, thump. His heart raced, and his breath quickened. The anxiety, forgotten in the face of happiness, seemed to have been waiting to sprout.

“What’s wrong, why are you like this?” Elsias asked irritably. Strangely, that sharp tone helped Mikael regain his composure.

“It won’t be like that anymore.”

Leaving the Imperial Palace was Mikael’s own decision. Therefore, he couldn’t be entangled in nightmares from the past.

“What are you saying? Really, return to the Imperial Palace immediately!”

The saintess’s finger jabbed at Mikael’s chest. However, she didn’t back off.

“I don’t quite understand what you’re saying, but I’ve become free here and have dreams I want to achieve.”

“Dreams? What are they?”

The saintess seemed to be anticipating something from Mikael’s answer. Mikael, without any concern, spoke about his dream.

“To become a chef and open a restaurant under my name.”

The joy of people eating the food he made and being happy was Mikael’s greatest happiness. However, not everyone thought the same way.

“What did you say?!”

The saintess shouted in disbelief.

“What kind of pathetic dream is that?!”

Pathetic. The sharp word lodged in Mikael’s ears.

“Oh, dizzy…”

“Saintess!”

Several priests who happened to be searching for the saintess rushed over and supported her. The saintess leaned on the priests with a pale complexion.

“I need to rest a bit.”

Before leaving the corridor, the saintess shot a final blow at the Crown Prince.

“Crown Prince, please pull yourself together. What on earth did that girl do?”

Mikael was left alone in the corridor. He dropped the lunchbox he was holding, and the contents scattered all over the floor.

He staggered backward. He began to run away to avoid the fear.
“Crown Prince, please pull yourself together. What on earth did that girl do?”

Due to the shocking words, Mikael couldn’t hear the rest. Mikael was left alone in the corridor. He dropped the lunchbox he was holding, and the contents scattered all over the floor. The container broke, and food splattered everywhere. Mikael took a step back. He started to run away to escape the fear.