AWIC 9

 Chapter 9

Early morning.

Ruby’s steps toward Blossom Palace were livelier than the day before.

Her assignment had changed the previous night—she was now the personal maid of His Highness the Crown Prince in the Almond Chambers, a room adjacent to the Crown Prince’s own quarters.

Just before the shift change yesterday, a notice had arrived for the owls working as maids in Blossom.

It announced that a maid was needed for the Almond Chambers.

Whenever such notices arrived, they came with information about the difficulty of the assignment. Applicants were advised to consider their abilities and resolve carefully before volunteering.

The difficulty of the Almond Chambers task wasn’t particularly high.

[Medium]

But an additional level was appended.

[Critical]

The work itself wasn’t difficult, but in certain situations, one might have to risk their life.

Upon hearing the news, Ruby immediately volunteered.

The reward for a [Critical] assignment was unparalleled compared to other missions.

If one were to die on the job, the family left behind would be guaranteed a prosperous future regardless of the nature of the death.

For low-ranking owls like Ruby, this was a major incentive.

In any case, perhaps because of the [Critical] tag, there were few applicants. She was accepted immediately upon volunteering.

Before entering the Almond Chambers, Ruby double-checked the precautions:

[Medium]

• Report in detail to Madame Watch, head maid, about anyone approaching the Almond Chambers and any conversations held.
• Any gifts received as bribes are considered personal property.

[Critical]

• Show loyalty to the owner of the Almond Chambers.
• If [Critical] and [Medium] conflict, [Critical] takes priority.

Ruby folded the document containing these instructions and tucked it into her clothes before opening the door to the Almond Chambers.

Arriving in the early morning breeze, she first opened the living room windows to ventilate the room and wiped away the dust accumulated overnight.

She had prepared water for washing, but because Asha hadn’t allowed her into the bedroom the previous night, she had to wait in the living room.

‘Who exactly is the owner of the Almond Chambers?’

The only thing Ruby knew about Asha was that she would be the person she would serve.

Among the third-floor chambers of Blossom Palace, where major governmental duties were handled, she was the only woman with such a suite.

And not just any suite—it was comparable to the Luster Chambers of Prince Jerold.

Ruby tried to deduce the woman’s identity from her brief memory of yesterday, but it wasn’t easy.

A woman with light brown hair and dark brown eyes was far too common.

The dress’s material and lace weren’t refined enough to reveal her family, nor were her accessories.

The Crown Prince favored talent—perhaps she was a woman renowned for her skill in some field?

But why did the task have a [Critical] tag?

Was she someone threatened with assassination?

Had she been brought safely into Blossom for protection?

Would Ruby have to die in her place if the situation demanded it?

Death didn’t scare her.

What truly worried her was money.

If she died on the job, her younger siblings could graduate from the academy, ensuring they would have no trouble living.

‘And I’d be at ease.’

Indeed, Ruby had come to the Almond Chambers, effectively, prepared to die.

But things didn’t go as she expected.

If Asha had been brought to Blossom solely for her talent, the Crown Prince wouldn’t have come to the Almond Chambers before the start of the workday.

Moreover, the Crown Prince addressed the woman, who had emerged disheveled from her bedroom, with honorifics.

“Was your sleep uncomfortable with the change of bed?”

The Crown Prince did not speak politely to those he took in as subordinates.

Nor did he smile.

Ruby sensed immediately—this woman wasn’t merely a talented servant.

She was closer to being a Crown Princess candidate.

No, not closer—she was certainly one.

If she were only a candidate, the Crown Prince would not have given her the Almond Chambers.

‘So that’s why there was a clause about bribes.’

As a Crown Princess designate, many would approach her to gauge her. Perhaps bribes could even cover all her siblings’ tuition.

Ruby suppressed the laugh that kept rising within her.

Just when she thought her life would end in this harsh role, a once-in-a-lifetime chance for advancement appeared!

If she could remain by the side of this woman when she became Crown Princess and later Empress…

She would never have to worry about money again.

With that thought, a new hope took root.

‘I want to live happily, abundantly, without worrying about money. Even just once!’

…Maybe I can, if I become the maid this woman loves most.

As Ruby’s eyes sparkled thinking of Asha, unaware Asha sat across from the Crown Prince, shaking her head.

“I went straight to bed after washing yesterday, so it was exactly eleven o’clock. I slept well until morning.”

Soon a maid approached, placing a clean glass before Asha and pouring warm tea.

She waited briefly, expecting another question, but heard nothing.

‘…?’

Asha blinked, rolled her eyes slightly, and took a sip of the tea.

She found that the tea of this town suited her taste better than expected.

Alesto was unexpectedly delighted by such a simple pleasure.

Even without asking, she had voluntarily shared a small part of her daily life.

He could have easily asked the maids about every detail of the Saint’s daily routine—when she slept, what she ate, everything. He could even have had a report written.

But it wasn’t her daily habits that interested him.

It was that she willingly shared them herself…

Yes. That pleased him.

He had noticed the same the night before when asking about her bedtime—the Saint was like untouched, pristine snow.

Thinking this, a desire arose.

If she were truly pure and untarnished, could he slowly approach her and color her with his own touch?

As a bit of desire swelled, he felt a sense of urgency.

He recalled why he wanted the Saint near him.

He wanted her heart so he could use her abilities whenever and however he wished—not to satisfy his own greed.

Watching the woman with round eyes blink and yawn pleasantly, he realized.

‘The problem is she’s pretty.’

Not just in his eyes—she had objectively beautiful features.

People often spoke of his mother, Empress Onicia, as divinely beautiful, but to him, the Saint was about 200 times more beautiful.

It wasn’t just his perception—she was genuinely striking.

‘I need to stay vigilant.’

He cut the seed of desire for now.

With some mental order restored, another question arose.

Why had the Saint tried to escape last night?

His first thought was family.

Had she not worried about them on the way from the temple to the palace?

Also, the Marquis Cedric Dalbert, who had been at the same location when they first met, came to mind.

‘Her gaze at the Marquis back then wasn’t ordinary.’

Of course, he had already received detailed information from Jerold and knew there was no connection between them.

It was simply a matter of their paths crossing at that time.

Previously, their residences had never overlapped, nor had a single letter been exchanged.

However, one crucial point remained:

The Saint had the power to manipulate time, and her abilities had already manifested.

Even if the Marquis didn’t know her well now, it wasn’t safe to assume that she didn’t know him either.