MPMM CH 04

Posted by bed0zx_, Released on October 18, 2025

Chapter 04

“Devils of the Winter Palace”?
…Plural?

“Why is it plural…?”

I almost cried.

In the original novel, “The Devil of the Winter Palace” was Cassian’s infamous nickname.

The Winter Palace, where he lived, was described as an old, lonely, eerie place far away from the main palace. The Empress herself had given him that cruel nickname when he was a child — a way to isolate and humiliate him.
Later, it became even more fitting when Cassian started doing ruthless things to protect the heroine, Rozelita.

But now…

“The Winter Palace isn’t even rundown. It’s elegant and well-maintained!”

When I first decided to apply for Cassian’s assistant position, I’d promised myself I wouldn’t pity him no matter what.

I’d expected the Winter Palace to be gloomy and depressing — but instead, it was quiet, beautiful, and refined.

And while the nickname “Devil of the Winter Palace” had originally been meant as an insult…

“Our reputation only shines brighter now, doesn’t it, Rose?”

Don’t you dare lump me in with you!

Cassian actually liked the nickname. He said it made his work easier, and somehow I’d gotten dragged into it too.

Now I was part of “the devils.”

“I’m the one being worked to death by this devil, and they’re calling me one too. Unbelievable.”

Trying to swallow my frustration, I focused on sorting through the mountain of paperwork as quickly as possible.

Today had been exhausting enough.
I had to leave on time.

***

For two straight hours, I went through a decade’s worth of documents.

Thankfully, they were at least organized by year — which meant I didn’t have to deal with total chaos.

The content, however, was a disaster.

Covered in dust and disorganization, the papers were so filthy my hands turned gray.

Still, after cleaning and sorting everything, I finally escaped from that suffocating archive.

“Finally cleared the first hurdle…”

The real work would start later, of course.

“Let’s head back, then,” Cassian said smoothly.
“Wouldn’t want my precious assistant to end up doing overtime again.”

Was he teasing me? Probably.

Still, since he never forced overtime as long as my tasks were done, I swallowed my irritation and hurried to follow him out.

I was desperate to get rid of the ridiculous luxury hair ornament still sitting on my head.

But—

“Wait! Your Highness!”

The head of the Ceremonial Hall came rushing toward us — walking quickly, but still trying to look “graceful.”

Damn it. There goes my five-minute head start on getting home.

“This is unacceptable, Your Highness!”

Cassian raised an eyebrow, his expression perfectly calm.

“What is, exactly?”

The man’s face was even redder than before.

“Appointing Miss Salice as the chief auditor of our department! How could you?!”

For someone who preached about grace, decorum, and tradition every day, he’d completely forgotten all of it now.

“This institution has a proud history! And yet, to put us under investigation—though it’s for the good of the Empire, of course—but even so!”

The man went off on a long, pompous rant.

Meanwhile, I quietly started counting seconds in my head — calculating just how much of my paid work time he was wasting.

“Do you understand, Your Highness?! If you’re going to conduct an unprecedented audit, at least assign someone of proper status! This is an insult to our dignity!”

Click.

As soon as he finished yelling, I flipped open my notebook and wrote down the time.

Every minute of my labor was precious. And now that he’d wasted it, I was determined to make sure the Ceremonial Hall’s audit was extra thorough.

“First of all—”

“How dare you interrupt, Miss Salice! I am speaking to His Highness!”

He glared at me as if it were beneath him to even look my way.

But sorry, old man — I wasn’t the same timid noble girl I used to be.

Not when I was being paid five times my usual rate for this.

“As the Second Prince’s chief aide, everything I do is under His Highness’s direct supervision. So your claim of ‘disrespect’ makes no sense.”

“Are you ignoring me, girl?!”

“Secondly,” I continued, smiling sweetly, “I clearly stated when I opened the archives that complaints must be submitted in writing. Are you perhaps disregarding His Highness’s authority?”

“W-what?”

“Surely, as a man so well-versed in court protocol, you understand that when the Second Prince delegates a task to his aide, it is equivalent to a royal command?”

The old man’s eyelids twitched furiously.

I straightened my back and added firmly,

“Tell me, Director — if the First Prince’s aide were standing here instead, would you dare behave this way?”

“H-how dare you compare yourself to—!”

I cut him off with a pleasant smile — the same exact smug expression Cassian wore whenever he was being unbearable.

“Then please submit a detailed written report explaining the differences between our positions.”

After all, I worked more hours than the First Prince’s aide — that guy only showed up three days a week.

“Y-you—this is outrageous!”

“If you’re done, we’ll be taking our leave. His Highness has other appointments, and I wouldn’t want to delay him.”

Leaving the speechless director behind, Cassian and I climbed into the carriage and left.

Three seconds later, we heard his voice echoing down the street:

“You insolent fools who don’t know your place!!”

***

“Feeling tired, Rose?”

Of course I was tired!

When I pouted and carefully removed the hair ornament, Cassian clicked his tongue.

“What a waste.”

“…What?”

“It looked good on you.”

Excuse me, sir, what part of me screams ‘luxury accessory model’?

Did you not hear the director call me shabby?

I shot him a look full of annoyance and put the ornament back in its box.

“Are you upset?”

“…What?”

Why was he suddenly acting gentle?

“If you’re hurt, then—”

Cassian’s gaze darkened — deep, intent, almost searching.

And for some reason, I couldn’t say anything.

Even after a year of working under him, even though I’d built immunity to his face, when he looked at me like that I always felt… guilty? Or maybe cornered.

It wasn’t fair. The man was absurdly handsome — a literal main-character face.

Even though he worked himself half to death, his golden hair never lost its shine, like it had a “protagonist glow” buff or something.

And those violet eyes — the same ones that had made the royal family reject him — could pin anyone in place when he looked directly at them.

Before I realized it, I was staring at him — at every flawless feature carved like a masterpiece.

“—For you.”

“…Sorry?”

Cassian leaned in slightly.

I knew this look. This was his I’m going to tease you face.

And my poor heart could never handle it.

Every time he acted like this, my brain would replay all his romantic lines from the original novel — even though the heroine he’d said them to wasn’t me!

Then, smiling faintly, Cassian reached for the ribbon tying my hair and tugged it loose.