The Sleepless Night of the Maid

Eva Massies, once the daughter of a noble family, now lives in an acquaintance’s house as a maid. She met him for the first time when her life was at rock bottom—her handsome, strong, and dazzling former fiancé, Crown Prince Edward.
“Why are you crying, hm?”
Edward asked worriedly as he took hold of her injured foot.
“…It’s embarrassing. Hic–”
Perhaps it was because of how affectionate his voice was. A sob that had been suppressed all this time brazenly slipped out. To top it off, being soaked through, wearing a pair of worn-out, patched socks, hitting rock bottom—all of it was shameful.
“Are you feeling ashamed because you’re hurt? Your foot is still beautiful even like this.”
He said it as though it wasn’t something to be concerned about.
“There’s no need to be ashamed. For whatever reason, you’ve done nothing wrong, Eva.”
He soothed her fear by calling her name. Only when he’d left did she realise that the man who stayed only for a moment, the man who would be deeply engraved in her heart, was her first love.
* * *
Once again, she met Edward after going through a rough time. After defeating numerous nobles’ daughters and becoming a lady-in-waiting. After her heart grew stronger. After she no longer thought about him.
“It’s the lady of the bedchamber’s job to make sure that everything is sufficient and provide anything that Your Highness needs before sleep. That’s why, if you wish to hold hands, do as you wish.”
“Have I ever acted as I pleased in front of a lady even once?”
His voice was cold, drastically different from before. He held her; his glaring eyes felt very intimidating.
“If I’d known you’d come to the imperial palace, I wouldn’t have let you go that day.”
Edward, who had brought his face close to hers, warned in a low voice,
“So this time, I was thinking of doing anything however I wish.”