AWLC 09

Chapter – 09

Early in the morning,

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

Her posting had been changed the night before: she would serve as a personal maid in Prince Almond’s palace, in the room next to the Crown Prince’s chamber that had long been empty.

Just before the shift change yesterday, a notice had been sent down to the owls working as maids in Blossom Palace.

It stated that a maid was needed for Almond Palace.

Whenever an official notice reached the owls, it also included information about the difficulty level of the task.

This was to allow applicants to carefully consider their abilities and resolve before applying.

The difficulty level for Almond Palace was not particularly high.

[Medium]

However, there was an additional note at the end:

[Guarded]

The work itself was not difficult, but in some cases, it could cost one’s life.

Ruby had applied immediately upon hearing the notice.

The compensation for tasks labeled [Guarded] was incomparable to other missions.

And if she were to die during the task?

No matter what form of untimely death it might be, her surviving family would have a guaranteed life of comfort and luxury.

In fact, for lower-ranked owls like Ruby, that was precisely the reason to apply.

Anyway,

Perhaps because not many had applied due to the [Guarded] label, she was accepted as a maid for Almond Palace immediately upon applying.

Before entering Almond Palace, Ruby reviewed the precautions one more time:

[Medium]

• Report in detail to Lady Watch, the head maid, who approaches the palace, and any conversations that occur.

• Any bribes received are considered personal property.

[Guarded]

• Be loyal to the master of Almond Palace.

• If [Guarded] and [Medium] conflict, [Guarded] takes priority.

Folding the notice carefully, Ruby tucked it inside her clothes and opened the doors to Almond Palace.

She arrived in the early morning, opened the windows to air out the room, and wiped away the dust that had accumulated overnight.

She also prepared the washing water, but because Asha had forbidden her from entering the bedroom the day before, she had to wait in the living room.

‘By the way… who exactly is the master of Almond Palace?’

All Ruby knew about Asha at that point was that she was the person she was to serve.

Among the rooms on the third floor of Blossom Palace, which handled important national affairs, this woman was the only female occupant.

And it wasn’t just any room—it was a chamber on par with the Rooster Palace of Prince Jerold.

Ruby tried to deduce her identity from the brief glimpse she had gotten yesterday, but it was difficult.

The woman, with light brown hair and deep brown eyes, was far too ordinary.

The dress fabric and lace weren’t enough to indicate her family, nor were her accessories remarkable.

The Crown Prince loved talent, so could this woman be famous for some unique skill?

But then why was the task labeled [Guarded]?

Was she under threat of assassination?

Was she brought to Blossom Palace for safety?

Would there come a time when I would have to die in her place?

Death didn’t scare her.

What she truly feared was financial insecurity.

So if she died during the mission, it would actually be a blessing.

Her younger siblings could graduate from the academy one by one, and they wouldn’t have to worry about living expenses.

‘And I’d be free too.’

Yes. She had, in effect, come to Almond Palace to die.

But events didn’t unfold as she had expected.

If this woman had been brought to Blossom Palace purely for her talent, the Crown Prince wouldn’t have visited Almond Palace before starting his daily work.

Moreover, the Crown Prince had addressed the woman who emerged from the bedroom, still a little disheveled, with an honorific.

“Was your sleep uncomfortable because of the change in bedding?”

He never used honorifics with servants under his care.

Nor did he speak with any trace of amusement.

Ruby realized at once: this woman was not an ordinary talented individual.

She was much closer to being a candidate for Crown Princess.

No—closer is an understatement; it was certain.

If she were merely a ‘candidate,’ the Crown Prince wouldn’t have granted her Almond Palace.

‘So that’s why the bribe clause exists.’

If she were a Crown Princess candidate, many would approach her to learn more.

Perhaps even her siblings’ tuition could be covered by bribes alone.

Ruby swallowed the smile that kept rising unconsciously.

Just when she had expected a cruel death, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for advancement had appeared!

Indeed, if this woman became Crown Princess, then Queen, and Ruby remained by her side, she would never have to worry about money again.

Thinking that far, a new hope suddenly surfaced.

I want to live without financial worries, happily, and comfortably, even if only once.

…If I become the maid that perfectly captures her heart, wouldn’t that be possible?

While Ruby’s eyes sparkled thinking of Asha, completely unaware, Asha sat across from the Crown Prince and shook her head.

“When I went to bed right after washing yesterday, it was exactly eleven o’clock. I slept soundly until morning.”

Soon, a maid approached and placed a clean glass in front of Asha, pouring her warm tea.

She watched the steam rise from the teacup and waited, expecting another question.

But no words came.

‘…?’

Asha blinked, rolled her eyes, and sipped the tea.

She found that the tea in this town suited her palate better than expected.

Alesto, taken aback by the sudden joy, felt a bit flustered.

Even without asking, she had shared such a small daily detail—it was such a delightful thing.

If he wanted to know everything about the saint who had entered Blossom Palace, he could.

When she went to bed, what time she slept—he could simply ask a maid and know.

He could even make a report about her daily life.

But he hadn’t been curious about her routine.

The fact that she voluntarily, on her own, shared these small things…

Yes.

Honestly, he liked it.

He had noticed the same thing when asking her the time last night: she was like fresh snow untouched by anyone.

Thinking that, a greedy thought arose.

If she truly was pure and untouched, could he take his time and slowly color her with his own influence?

As desire swelled, he felt a sense of urgency.

He recalled why he wanted her by his side.

He wanted to gain her heart to use her abilities in the direction he desired, at the time he wanted.

Not for his own pleasure.

Looking down at the woman blinking her round eyes and stretching with a satisfied yawn, he realized:

‘So the problem is that she’s pretty.’

It wasn’t just words—she was objectively beautiful.

People often said his mother, Empress Onysia, had heavenly beauty.

But in his eyes, the saint was about 200 times more beautiful.

Not just in his eyes—objectively.

‘I need to stay alert.’

He cut off the seed of desire immediately.

Once he had composed his mind, another curiosity arose.

Why had the saint tried to escape last night?

His first thought was her family.

Why hadn’t she worried about them on the way from the temple to the palace?

Then he remembered the Marquis Cedric Dalbert, who had been in the same place when he first met her.

‘Her gaze toward the marquis was unusual.’

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

They had simply happened to be in the same place at that moment.

They had never shared a residence before, nor exchanged a single letter.

But there was something he must not overlook.

The saint possessed the power to manipulate time, and her ability had already manifested.

Just because the marquis didn’t know her well didn’t guarantee that she didn’t know him either.