Home > urban > Life as a Tower MaidLocked up with the Prince > CH 80

Life as a Tower MaidLocked up with the Prince CH 80

Author:Yeonhan Category:urban Update time:2022-12-30 02:45:22

-

Whenever I wasn’t with Albert, I spent my time at the royal library, which was situated near the largest of the royal family’s palaces.

The people I would encounter on the way there always greeted me politely.

After all, I now had a noble peerage as well.

I hadn’t done any paperwork regarding my fief’s management, but Albert said that he’d assign competent people for that…

I borrowed a few books here and there at the royal library, then I spent most of my time researching.

There was very little information about the Dragon’s Nest.

I wouldn’t know anything about it until I went there in person.

That’s why I needed to study harder before I left.

Albert didn’t stop me from going to the royal library.

He probably thought that it was futile—that he was going to be the contractor in the end.

Unfortunately, my meager skills in magic would allow me to teleport to places that I had already been to before.

Blanc knew where the Dragon’s Nest was, but it seemed to be a special place that couldn’t be accessed through teleportation.

So, we’re going to have to fly through the sky to get there.

This was an opportunity for me to study even harder at magic.

I went at it even harder compared to my review grind for the college entrance exams.

It’s amazing how I didn’t get a nosebleed after all this.

Days passed by with my nose buried in books.

Soon enough, the day of my outing with Mercy arrived.

“How have you been”

As Mercy arrived and went into the room, she waved.

She had a lighter expression now, as if she had returned after letting go of a huge burden.

She did say that she had something to do, so I guess it ended well on her part.

“I’ve been well.

What about you, Mercy”

“Me, too!”

Her voice as well was full of life.

And I was amazed to see Mercy dressed to the nines today.

The dress she was wearing was adorned with vividly colored lace.

Even though the design could be considered extravagant, it matched Mercy’s personality perfectly.

Really, it looked like those clothes were made for her.

“You must be in a good mood today.”

“It’s thanks to you, Sister! I have an excuse to go shopping! And, you know, I finally overcame my trauma.”

With her eyes curved and the corner of her lips turned up, Mercy kind of looked like a cruel witch for a second there, especially when a slight shadow came over her face.

“Overcame your trauma”

“Yes.”

I waited for Mercy to share more details, but she ended her answer there and turned the corner.

“I know we’re going out today to buy you some dresses, but… Actually, I didn’t like what I brought you last time, so I got you a new one beforehand.”

Towards me, she held out a soft satin dress, just like hers.

It had a pale pink color, and it stood out with its fine lace.

“Thank you.”

Albeit puzzled, I nonetheless received the dress.

“We shall help you change your clothes.”

The handmaids rushed in and helped me put on the dress that Mercy gave as a gift.

The high-quality fabric spread out gracefully as I spun around.

It felt a little weird to be dressed like a noble lady.

“It’s from the most famous designer in the capital.

And we have a reservation at their boutique today.”

“…Reservation”

“Yes, that’s where we’re going to stop by today.

We’re going to get you some clothes today, and we can’t possibly get you just ready-made clothes.”

Mercy spoke as if this was only obvious.

I think I already have enough dresses as it is though…

But I changed my mind right away.

This place has a different worldview compared to what I’m used to.

Since I’m an aristocrat now, I should know how to live like one.

I wish there’s a book like ‘Aristocratic Lifestyle for Dummies’.

Ah, even if there was, I’m too busy as it is with my magic studies.

I’m better off following Mercy’s lead.

It might take us a couple hours.

Since I’ll be out all day, it seemed like I might have time to choose out a gift for Albert, too.

I already had a few things in mind.

Seeing how different the situation was right now, I might be putting the cart before the horse, but.

After hearing what Mercy said, I nodded.

“Yes, you know a lot more about this than me, Mercy, so I’ll follow what you say.”

“I really like how you think.”

Laughing satisfactorily at what I said, Mercy clapped her hands once.

Then, she smiled mischievously at Blanc, who was in my arms.

“You’d better be prepared, too, Dragon.”

Blanc flinched.

But soon enough, he spoke bravely.

“I-I can’t wear a dress…”

Blanc tried to counter, but Mercy responded as if it was no big deal.

“There are many kinds of accessories out there as well.

Every time I saw you, I kept thinking about how cute you’d be if we could get you a hat—or, oh, a cape.

But there was never a chance to prepare them before.”

Blanc with a hat Ahh, I can already imagine how cute it’ll be!

Blanc shook my hand.

“…Rosé”

I nodded in agreement with Mercy.

“Blanc, I think you’ll look great in one.”

Imagining Blanc with a cape made me so giddy, too.

My eyes met with Mercy’s gaze.

“Shall we”

With merry imaginations, we soon left the palace together.

 

 

* * *

 

 

It was my first time going out to town.

As I got into the carriage, Mercy gave me a hat.

“People are very interested in His Royal Highness and the other leading figures of the uprising, so it’s better that you use that.”

“They’re interested in me, too”

“His Highness is advocating for you so extensively.

Honestly, it would be more difficult to find people who don’t know you.”

I had absolutely no idea because I never went out of the palace, but it seemed like my name was already known.

Rosé Artius.

The utterly loyal individual who was the only one with him inside the tower.

And, it’s rumored that the place where she and Albert stayed was exceptionally brutal.

After that, Rosé participated in the rebellion and made great contributions, for which she was rewarded with a jump in status—from a maid to a noblewoman—and right now, she was a loyal subject who Albert favored very much.

And she was a powerful mage… or so the story went.

Honestly, I couldn’t help but think that Mercy was exaggerating.

I was a woman, and Albert was a man.

But even so, I was a maid, and Albert was the king who was ruling over this country.

It’s impossible for me to be accepted just purely based on the reason that I had received his favor.

Mercy watched my reaction, and it’s as if she could read my thoughts perfectly.

“Over there, can you see the people following after the carriage”

Mercy pointed to the back of our carriage.

As I turned my head, I looked out the back window to see people waving.

And they were all beaming.

“After His Royal Highness stabilized the power balance inside the palace, the first thing he did was to distribute food.

That was proof enough that Rosteratu had been deceiving his people.”

“……”

“And whenever His Royal Highness goes out to meet the public, he always mentions that it’s all thanks to you that he managed to leave the tower.

It’s only natural that the public sentiment towards you is bound to be positive.”

Every single move was planned meticulously, just like how the electricity spell had been.

Seeing the knowing smile on Mercy’s lips, I realized again just how considerate Albert was of me.

He was aware of how much I was bothered about rumors, and so he was handling them well.

What kind of gift could I give to a man who was as thoughtful as him It had to be something he would like.

After all, I knew just how beautiful Albert was whenever he smiled sincerely.

With how thoughtful he was, and with how lovely his voice was as he would call my name.

He likes how I call his name.

He likes potato soup, and he likes reading books at a spot beneath the shade in an otherwise sunny room.

But there were so many things about him that I didn’t know just yet.

What’s his favorite color What kind of music does he like best

Maybe Mercy knows She’s known Albert far longer than I have, so she might know that side of him.

“About the Prince, I mean, about His Royal Highness.

Would you happen to know what he likes”

“Huh”

Mercy’s eyes grew wide, then she shook her head.

“I don’t know.

Honestly, I think you know him better than I do, Rosé.”

“No way.

You’ve known him much longer than I have.

We can’t ignore the time you’ve spent knowing each other.”

“It’s been a long time, sure, but I only know as far as His Royal Highness’ face.

Really, I still feel awkward seeing him smile.

It’s probably the same with the Duke and Schubert, too.”

I don’t think I could believe that even Schubert was the same.

He’s the one who seems to know Albert more than anyone else.

Facing me, Mercy raised one hand and drew a line in the air.

“His Royal Highness isn’t the kind of person who’ll reveal his feelings to just anyone.

He looks like he’s open to people, but there are always walls around him.”

“……”

“You’re the one who opened his heart, Rosé.

The walls around His Royal Highness that no one during his entire life had been able to break down.”

Mercy sneaked right in front of me and asked.

“How in the world did you do that”

“…Nothing, I just acted normally.”

I was flustered.

I really didn’t do anything.

But as she heard my response, Mercy hummed and crossed her arms in front of her.

“Well, you’re the only one who knows the answer.”

“……”

“Then, shall we get off”

I alighted the carriage with Mercy.

We arrived in front of a large three-story building, and there, a woman was waiting for us.

As soon as the elegantly dressed woman saw us, she bowed politely and took my hand in both of hers.

Her gaze as she looked at me was overwhelmingly sparkly.

“Hello, Lady Rosé Artius.

I am Crowell, a designer from this boutique.

It’s truly an honor to meet you!”

Her enthusiastic greeting was entirely sincere, not a hint of dishonesty anywhere.

With a perplexed expression in my face as my hand was in her grasp, I noticed that other people were starting to surround the carriage.

More and more people started staring at me, them with their dresses and their hair up.

Their curious gazes stung more than I expected.

It seemed as if a majority was looking at me unfamiliarly, but… I felt conflicted.

Honestly, it’s as if I’ve become a zoo animal that’s being gawked at.

“That person…”

“Yes, that person…”

Even if they hid their lips or faces behind folding fans or parasols, they were still talking loudly enough to hear.

Umm, maybe this is a high society thing

I still have one more month until I’d have to deal with this in earnest.

It crossed my mind that maybe I should start getting acquainted with them, but can I do well

After living in seclusion for so long, I forgot how stressful human relationships are.

Albert himself was a complicated man, but it wasn’t all that hard to match his tune.

But it’s not like all the people in the world were the same.

Now that I’m here, I recalled the many kinds of people I met at work before.

Researching how I’ll survive being Blanc’s contractor is already a headache enough…

Reality seemed to be catching up to me little by little.

Okay.

I’ve made up my mind.

It’s something I’d have to go through later anyway, so let’s just take it easy.

The stress of being the center of rumors was one of the reasons why I wanted to distance myself from Albert, but…

Well, if it’s too hard, I know that I can just ask Albert for help.

But I don’t want to rely entirely on Albert.

So, I smiled at them.

There’s a saying that goes like this: You can’t spit on a smiling face.

It’s important to make an unquestionable first impression.

-

List
Set up
Set up
Reading topic
font style
YaHei Song typeface regular script Cartoon
font style
Small moderate Too large Oversized
Save settings
Restore default
Phone
Mobile
Scan the code to get the link and open it with the browser
Bookshelf synchronization, anytime, anywhere, mobile phone reading
Collection
Source
Review
Feedback
Chapter error
Current chapter
Error reporting content
Submit
Add < Pre chapter Chapter list Next chapter > Error reporting