What did I just hear?

I opened my eyes wide to the truth that I happened to unintentionally discover.

I was so surprised that the thing that I was holding in my hand accidentally dropped.

Crash-!

The vase that Princess Marie told me to deliver to the Crown Prince shattered with a loud noise.

“Who’s there!”

Oh, my life.

A thunderous voice came from within the Crown Prince’s office which I had just been about to enter.

I felt my life span disintegrate as I heard the incoming footsteps.

One step, two steps·····.

Gulp.

The door that was slightly ajar opened wide and the angry eyes of the people across the door turned to me. Then I saw three sets of murderous glaring eyes.

I’m going to die.

It was only a short-lived life, but I can already predict it. Today will be my last day.

I glanced at the man that I sometimes saw at a distance as I wandered around the court as a maid, and the man I’ve never seen before.

If they had anything in common, they were all aristocrats at the height of their power.

Terni Aguila Oviedo, the successor of Marquis Oviedo and the crown prince’s closest aide.

And the man next to him was Diano Shabi Benedetto, the crown prince’s closest knight and was also called a genius swordsman.

But what’s even greater than them, was the presence of the man who pushed open the door.

As he neatly parted the soft-looking golden hair hanging from his forehead, my eyes met with the cool sharp gaze peering beneath it.

Those beautiful crimson eyes glared at me piercingly.

I got goosebumps all over my body as soon as I saw those red eyes.

I got startled as I look at the exquisitely fine-looking man but has a despondent expression on his face.

A handsome man in uniform.

Crown Prince Adrian.

What chances are there in life to personally meet the Crown Prince?

No matter how someone enters the palace as a maid, it was extremely bizarre for a commoner like me to come face to face closely with the crown prince.

Furthermore, I can’t believe he’s even staring directly at me!

I realized that I had to put down my gaze, but I couldn’t because my body instinctively hardened.

How on earth did I get caught up in this situation?

I only came here after following Princess Marie’s order to deliver a gift to the Crown Prince.

No wonder the senior maids didn’t want to go.

I was forced to come here, and no one of the Crown Prince’s servants welcomed and assisted me because they were all busy!

I’ve wandered for a while just to accomplish this task and finally found the Crown Prince’s office!

“What are you?”

A gravely low voice that doesn’t seem like it came from a living human was heard.

Without me realizing it, my hands trembled.

Just a slight frown from the Crown Prince rattled my heart.

“I, I belong to Rufinus Palace·····.”

“It’s not what I’m asking. I’m ordering you to state your identity.”

“I-Identity? I’m just a maid·····.”

The crown prince frowned in annoyance.

Am I going to die like this?

I couldn’t think of anything because my mind was blank.

“Ah·····. I, that·····.”

I tried to desperately say anything, but the more I stammered, the more I could feel the Crown Prince’s gaze grew stern.

What should I say?

As I close my mouth shut for I could not find anything to say, the stone-cold crown prince pulled out his sword.

No one reacted at the Crown Prince’s efficient action.

And as if annoyed, the crown prince grumbled coldly.

“Enough. Just die.”

The raised sword shone exceptionally sharp.

I can’t believe I’ll die just like this!

I closed my eyes reflexively. It was when I clenched my fists thinking I was about to die when suddenly another low voice interrupted and dissuaded the Crown Prince.

“Hold on, Adrian! People will be suspicious if someone dies here! Then things will get more complicated! I know it’s annoying, but let’s think about this matter more. We need to be more careful. This is my advice as an aide and your friend.”

The Prince’s closest aide, Terni Aguila Oviedo, said.

I didn’t know if he was stopping him or not, but I felt grateful as it sounded like what he said would help extend my life for even a second.

Apparently, the Crown Prince quietly lowered the sword.

However, he did not put the sword back into its scabbard.

My neck is still in danger.

“You, how much did you hear?”

“Oh·····. Ah, Um·····.”

Will I die if I say I heard something?

In a short moment, a violent internal conflict arose inside my head as I figure out what to say.

Then a cold voice warned me as if it had read my mind.

“Don’t even think of lying.”

The growling voice made me answer right away.

“Your fiancée ran away·····!”

I guess he didn’t even place it that far. The sword's knife came into my throat out of nowhere.

Is this how my life goes? Shivering with fear, the crown prince gave a frightful scowl.

“That’s all?”

“And that your fiancé is a man!”

I was able to tour around the Crown Prince’s palace to find the Prince’s office to complete the errand that Princess Marie had given me.

That was the good part.

But the problem started after that.

The moment I stood in front of the door thinking, ‘Now, all I have to do is deliver this vase and go back!’ I heard something incredulous through the gaps of the door.

The truth that the crown prince’s fiancée ran away.

And that her fiancée was actually a man·····.

Is the Crown Prince gay·····?

Well, it could be possible.

But it was inevitable that I was surprised the moment I heard it.

After hearing what I said, the crown prince without a word instantly made his decision.

“This won’t do. You have to die.”

N-No.

I burst into tears, as I felt the threat in my life. I immediately knelt on my knees and rubbed my hands together.

Doing my best to look as pitiful as possible, I appealed to the Crown Prince for the mercy he still might have.

I didn’t do anything wrong enough to die, it was so unfair to leave the world like this.

I don’t want to die yet!

“Spare me! I’ll do anything!”

The prince, who was unhesitatingly holding the sword, suddenly stopped moving.

What, What is it?

Then he raised my chin with his fingertips all of a sudden.

What, what’s wrong with him·····?

The Crown Prince, who was perusing over my face, stared at me.

My face glowed from his gaze.

The Crown Prince, who looked at me as if my reaction doesn’t matter, suddenly smiled.

How can a person’s smile look so wicked?

“Anything?”

Nod, nod. I nodded desperately. Then the crown prince’s smile deepened.

“Really? Then let’s just change it to you.”

What is he talking about? Change what to me?

The crown prince stared straight into my eyes without even my minding the tears that were still drooping in it.

“Your hair and eye colour are similar, we can fool them with your looks. But I think we should do something about the sound of your voice·····. You should just not answer if you don’t know what to say. No, just don’t say anything and shut up.”

What the hell is he talking about?

“W-What do you want me to do?”

I plucked up my courage and asked the Crown Prince.

I think he’s planning to do something with me at the centre of it, but I could feel that it’s only me who was being unaware.

Then the Crown Prince nonchalantly answered.

For the first time in my life, I’m afraid of a clear smile.

“My fiancée.”

That’s how I became the Crown Prince’s fiancée.

 It was already a mess since the beginning.

Adrian frowned. Dresses and other items were thrown off at random places and were scattered all over the place.

In one look, you would think that it’s an empty room that no one resides.

Adrian gritted his teeth as he looked around the room and couldn’t find any human presence.

He could feel his head spinning due to the intense emotion swirling inside him.

“Ethan is gone!”

Terni, Adrian’s aide, who followed him into the room of the prospective Crown Princess, shouted in surprise.

Then his other confidant, Diano, followed.

“Woah, what the·····.”

His aides looked at each other’s faces as Adrian gazes around the room alone.

Adrian was emitting dark energy with his own fists clenched.

“Oh, so what do we do now?”

Diano scratched his head. And Terni looked over the chaotic room once more and grumbled.

“Wow, Ethan, you bastard. You should’ve sent a notice if you’re going to run away.”

However, Diano immediately countered Terni’s complaint.

“Then we would have prevented him. Are you stupid?”

“Right.”

The two frowned as they approach and stood beside Adrian.

Adrian took a quick glance at Terni and Diano who were still having a friendly conversation even at the current situation and struck the chair next to him.

He’d just hit the thing lightly, but the chair created a very loud noise at the same time as it collapsed.

Adrian shook his head, holding back his fury and annoyance.

“I didn’t expect he would run away.”

Adrian agitatedly picked out his breath as he thinks about the scuffle this past few days.

The two men glanced at each other then at the mess Adrian usually creates at his pit of anger and took a step back.

Adrian’s whole body spews out a tremendous amount of hideous energy, and it seemed that anyone would know the taste of hell if caught in it.

Adrian, who grit his teeth and tried to calm his raging emotions, stared at the two people standing in front of him.

“Find him. Now!”

He wanted to run out and turn the palace upside down, but he condoned himself. This was to be kept confidential at all costs.

But what’s waiting for Adrian after he returned to his office was a report that they could not find Ethan.

“After thoroughly searching, he was not found in Poinsettia Palace. There are many witnesses who said they have seen a man presumed to be Lord Ethan, but they are not only one or two, so we’ll need some time to figure out the situation.”

“Then why are you still here?”

Diano laughed awkwardly at Adrian’s cold words.

Terni grinned and teased Adrian.

“Our Majesty was very angry because his fiancée ran away.”

“If you know, then shut up.”

“But because your fiancée was a man, it was very easy for him to run away. What should we do now?”

“What do you mean?”

Terni shrugged, unyielding to the sharp eyes that seemed to warn him.

“Your Highness, are you really thinking of marrying that woman?”

A fleeting spark flashed into Adrian’s eyes staring at Terni.

“Find him. By any means.”

It was the moment when Terni and Diano nodded.

Crash-!

A sound that shouldn’t be heard came beyond the office.

. 　。　　　　•　 　ﾟ　　。

There’s no other explanation to it than he was so damn lucky. And it doesn’t matter to him whichever part of the world his luck came from. He’s going to grab it.

Adrian was in a hurry, and the colour of her hair and eyes were similar to that of Ethan’s.

At first, Adrian thought to kill the maid. But at a heartbeat, Adrian’s hand stopped. The trigger was simple.

The words that the maid uttered that she will do anything. And the blue eyes that he thought were particularly similar to Ethan.

“I’ll have to seize every opportunity that was provided to me.”

That’s all. That’s how Adrian came to a simple conclusion.

Before making an unknown maid as her fiancée, Adrian first did a background investigation about the woman.

He doesn’t think that she would be a pawn from the Prime Minister or the other nobles, but the confirmation process was a necessary procedure for her fiancée candidate.

“Viola Billbaoria. A fallen nobleman.”

“There’s no particular suspicious thing about her. I think she’s clean.”

Terni, who finished all the investigations of the maid, Viola Bilbaoria, in just a day, grinned.

But although it was a good thing to have no issues about the woman, Adrian had no specific expectations regarding the maid.

Suddenly, his head throbbed due to exasperation towards the persons who caused this situation.

Hah, I can’t believe they’re forcing me to get married. I want to kill all of them.

“How’s the search for Ethan going?”

“Diano’s still relentlessly searching.”

After answering roughly, Terni calmly sipped his tea. Seeing his aide’s relaxed expression, Adrian frowned as his irritation shoots up.

“And you, why are you here?”

“Oh, taking a break. Why are you always trying to make me work like crazy?”

Terni whined.

But Adrian wasn’t merciful enough to listen to Terni’s whining.

Furthermore, Terni is the one responsible for solving one of the most critical problems at the moment.

And that was to transform Viola Billbaoria, a maid, into an honourable daughter of Marquis Oviedo and the fiancée of the Prince.

“Go and educate her right away.”

“Eh, why? We don’t have to rush anyway.”

“Because it’s an urgent matter. Go now and get lost.”

“Can’t you let me take a break for even a bit?”

Terni pouted his lips and went to work. And Adrian just turned deaf to Terni’s complaints.

While heading to the door, Terni’s complaining continued.

“Hah, I really don’t know how I got into this job.”

“Do your obligations and make yourself useful.”

Terni could only reply with a slant smile at Adrian’s resolute words.

“Yes. Of course, Your Highness.”

. 　。　　　　•　 　ﾟ　　。

My world changed overnight.

A mere maid like me suddenly became the prince’s fiancée.

Yesterday, something I couldn’t even imagine happened to me.

Where am I, who am I?

“Please take care of me, sister!”

A man who popped out of nowhere greeted me with a smile.

“I’m your brother, Ternie!”

A man with black hair like the night sky and shiny golden eyes looked at me playfully.

I knew this man. It’s Terni Aguila Oviedo, the closest aide to the Prince.

I can’t believe he suddenly became my brother, I must have lived long enough to have arrived at this moment.

“You know I’m your brother, right?”

I’m sorry, but I don’t even want to know·····.

I’d really love to say that, but I only have one life. And even that, has long been mortgaged.

“Haa·····.”

I sighed as I recall what had taken place.

Yesterday, after the prince suddenly recognized me as his fiancée, I was immediately taken to Lily Palace.

Lily Palace was the place where the prospective Crown Princess stays to learn the rules of the imperial family. He told me to take a break, saying that I would do a full-fledged job tomorrow, but there was no way I could sleep properly with all the events that had taken place during the day.

And as soon as the morning came·····.

Because I am now the Crown Prince’s fiancée, I have to learn palace etiquette, said the man who came early in the morning like a breeze and deposited me on the parlour couch.

It was hard to believe that this situation was real, but everyone except me was acting casually like everything that’s happening was normal.

The maids, the attendants, and even the Crown Prince’s entourage had greeted me in the Lily Palace!

“You might already know. But I’ll explain it to you one more time just to be clear.”

Terni looked at me with a big smile on his face.

“I’m Terni Aguila Oviedo. And you will be Athena Sheville Tabatha Oviedo starting today. The Rose of the Marquis House.”

“Yes!?”

They said she’s a very timid lady, I can’t believe they made such an exaggerated lie.

Terni muttered as he rubbed his chin.

“The truth is, you wouldn’t have to suffer in this situation if he had not run away. Ah, no, even if he didn’t run away, since you’ve heard the secret, you would’ve been already dead by now.”

It’s so incredibly scary how he talks about death in a way like it’s nothing to him.

Ethan. It was the name of the man who was likely to be the prince’s pretend fiancée.

The crown prince’s infamous beloved, in other words, the drag queen.

“Of all people, you chose to get involved with such a prince. You poor thing. Why did you let yourself get caught by him?”

Terni said then looked at me with a pitiful gaze. If he’s going to sympathize with me, can’t he just give me some money?

No, forget the money, I would like him to release me from this impossibly messy situation. I mean, it’s not that I wanted to be found out that’s why I’m caught, right?

Until yesterday, there was not even a single trouble in my life.

Viola Billbaoria. Though it already changed in just one day, that was my original name.

I was born as a noble, but our house collapsed and the remaining members of my family passed away. There was no place for me to go so I had traveled from places to places.

And it hasn’t been a while since my father’s acquaintance, who felt sorry for me, recommended me as a maid to the imperial palace and came here. Yet, just after the probationary period has ended, and thought that I can now restart my life in earnest living as a court maid······.

“Anyway, you have a lot to study. If you don’t want to die, you have to memorize things well. There are only 2 weeks left until the ball so you have to prepare.”

Terni said with a serious expression on his face.

“Whatever you do, it has to be how Ethan does. You must play the role of a perfect fiancée like Ethan did. That’s the only way you will be able to survive.”

I couldn’t understand whether he was threatening or concerned for me.

“Yes. I’ll keep it in mind. Marquis Oviedo.”

“You don’t have to call me so formally. We’re brothers and sisters now, so you should try talking comfortably!”

Terni smiled. I’m not sure why, but his bright smile somehow makes my heart warm.

Anyway, it’s alright to talk comfortably because he said it was fine, right?

“Yes, My Lord!”

“I told you to drop the formalities, why are you still calling me My Lord? Speak comfortably. Be casual!”

“But that’s a little······.”

“Then just call me brother!”

“Yes, brother.”

Terni nodded satisfactorily at my answer. I was still unfamiliar and uncomfortable, but I felt more at ease in calling him that way.

“Because you were working here as a maid, you must’ve known the faces of the nobles well already, right?”

“Yes, roughly······.”

“If you only know roughly, you’ll die.”

“I know! I know them completely!”

It was a situation where I should say I know everything without even knowing a single thing. Upon hearing his desired answer, Terni delightfully laughed.

I wish I could also laugh, because somehow it was a really funny situation······.

However, all I could think of at the moment is I could die anytime.

And somehow, I was only lucky yesterday.

“The lesson must be over.”

I raised my head in surprise at the low, cold voice.

The crown prince, dressed in tunics and trousers, suddenly entered the drawing-room. Then I looked towards Terni, completely ignoring the prince.

Even though he had just come in, his presence alone was enough to overwhelm me.

“Uh-huh, almost over!”

Terni replied with a bright smile though contrary to his confident answer, our lesson hasn’t even started yet.

What’s coming to an end? My life?

The crown prince grimaced at Terni’s words.

The prince seemed unhappy as he looked at me. It was as if he was looking only at a mere worm. He slightly frowned, then withdrew his gaze.

Did I do something wrong?

“Get out. It’s not urgent anyway.”

Terni immediately made a complaint at the prince’s cold words.

“You said this was urgent!”

“Get out.”

As he wasn’t willing to go out as the prince commanded, I grabbed Terni’s arm and dragged him out of the parlor.

The prince’s power was making me breathless.

Just before the door closed, our eyes met.

And an unknown emotion fleetingly passed the red eyes of the crown prince which made me evade his gaze immediately.

What the hell is that?

★・・・・・ ★・・・・・★・・・・・★・・・・・★

There were two people in charge of my education.

One is Terni, my brother, and the other one is the chief maid of the prospective Crown Princess which was named Madame Lucy.

The mature lady, who looked like she was of 40 years of age, looked elegant with her undisturbed posture.

“Oh, hohohoho!”

Except for one thing. Her laugh.

“How should I introduce myself? I’m called Lucy, the chief maid of Lady Athena. You can just call me Madame Lucy, ho ho ho. And now I became your maid, right? Hohoho!”

Only a few days ago, I was just a maid but then suddenly, there was now a maid who kept following me around.

“Don’t worry. If you follow my instructions with confidence, everything will be solved. Ohohoho!”

Her laugh sounds like a ray of light in this gloomy reality.

As soon as Madame Lucy saw me, she immediately knew and decided the steps we have to do.

“Since you have a different body type, I need to mend everything starting from your clothes.”

Her words seemed very natural that suddenly, one question made its way into my head.

I wonder if she knew it too.

It would be impossible that she didn’t know, right? However, things would only be difficult for me if I assume things and make mistakes.

Stealthily, I sneakily inquire what’s on my mind.

“Does Madame know too? That the crown prince’s fiancée······ was a man?”

“Yes, of course! Are you asking if I dressed him up? That chest was my idea. Because of me, no one discovered he’s a man. Oh, ho, ho!”

Before I even finished speaking, Madame Lucy explained.

“The dress that needs to be repaired urgently is the one you’re going to wear in two weeks at our Empress Majesty’s birthday banquet, and it’s really beautiful. By just imagining you wearing it, makes my heart go crazy. You’ll definitely look dreamy!”

The indispensable banquet that I had to attend was the Empress Majesty’s birthday ball.

“Ethan also liked it very much, and it’s sad that he suddenly disappeared. It’s such a waste because somehow, the atmosphere between the two of them was not so bad.”

“The two of them······?”

“Of course, I’m referring to Ethan and Prince Adrian. Ohohoho! Their relationship was really special.”

“Ah······.”

“The two of them were very famous when they were little kids. About the brotherly love they have for each other.”

“Ah······.”

Brotherly love?

“His Majesty Adrian said that unless you could perfectly act like Ethan, he’d never go to the party with you together.”

“Ah······.”

I thought I might’ve been mistaken for a moment, but it seemed that my suspicion was correct.

I want to support their deep brotherly love for each other. If I do that, I will be able to live, right?

I don’t know why, but Madame Lucy looked excessively excited. On the contrary, I became increasingly depressed.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be able to get used to it quickly too. You won’t be caught!”

I really wish for it to be like that, but my life was always at stake right now.

“Alright, let’s take your measurements!”

With Madame Lucy’s words, the maids entered the bedroom with tape measures and long dresses one by one.

Don’t tell me I have to take my measurements in front of all these maids?

I was momentarily scared, but the moment Madame Lucy picked up the tape measure, everyone went out of the room.

“It’s okay. Lady Athena’s underwear is only going to be seen by me. Hohoho.”

“Haha······.”

That’s a relief.

I wasn’t used to being assisted by someone or showing my ***** body that’s why I briefly felt nervous. How can the royal family so easily entrust their bodies to the maids or lady-in-waiting?

The maids take care of the bath and clothes for them······.

I heard that the prince hates women that’s why he gave those kinds of works men, so he must be really gay?

“Now, please stand here, Milady.”

After standing where Madame Lucy pointed, the clothes I was wearing were instantly removed without a hitch.

Ugh. It’s embarrassing after all.

I was still dressed in my chemise but I was already standing there in front of her in a daze, not knowing what to do. Then Madame Lucy laughed at me as if my situation was extremely funny.

“Don’t worry. You will get used to this kind of situation in no time.”

“Really?”

“Of course!”

I don’t think I’ll get used to it forever.

Fortunately, the measurement was quickly concluded.

“Then next!”

I thought it was finally the beginning of my lessons, but Madame Lucy’s words were completely different from what I expected.

“Next, let’s find a color that matches the new Miss Athena!”

Hey, what about my education?

★・・・・・★・・・・・★・・・・・★ ・・・・・★

Adrian Brish Kaitel Van Jackal Appenson.

Appennino Empire’s Prince Adrian was the only successor to the throne and it was said that he would be the perfect emperor in the future.

It was an indisputable fact that his intelligence and talent was superior to any man in all fields. And in addition, he was a perfect crown prince who met the legitimacy of his position by being the only person who was carrying the blood of the Empress and reviving the bloodline of the royal family.

But regarding his attitude······. Well, it could also be like that. You won’t be able to find any issue with him except for his attitude.

Every time I see myself being treated by him like a fly, it doesn’t seem like he’s the perfect prince everyone was portraying in their minds.

He had a serious flaw that was unknown to the public.

And it was that the crown prince has an extremely horrible personality.

No, why isn’t this serious thing not even rumored? Just because he’s hiding that damn personality doesn’t mean it couldn’t be found out forever. The people of the empire were totally scammed!

How can a man be that hateful towards the opposite sex?

Besides, the prince was said that he hated women so much that he consistently ignored the pressure from the higher-ups to marry.

Then suddenly, a fateful partner appeared, and that was Athena Sheville Tabatha Oviedo.

Marquis Oviedo, who had formerly only had five sons, suddenly had a daughter.

However, people did not question her sudden appearance as to what or where she came from.

Anyway, the daughter was actually a man only dressed up as a woman. Who would ever imagine that the Crown Prince’s preference would be like that.

Somehow, there are rumors that he hates women because he avoids interacting with them.

But why did his fiancée run away? Could it be that his fiancé couldn’t withstand his horrible temper?

Oh, if it’s like that, it would totally make sense. I could understand why his fiancée chose to run away from him.

“Hey.”

“Y-Yes?”

I was brought out of my thoughts when I heard a sudden, cold voice.

As I opened my eyes wide and looked at the front, the crown prince was staring at me with a terrifying look on his face.