Chapter 1

                          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.

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