Chapter 57
“Ah, um…”
Adelaide called out, stopping Killian as he was about to leave the room.
“What is it?”
“Well… I was thinking I’d like to have a personal maid.”
“A personal maid? All of a sudden?”
Killian’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Up until now, Adelaide had shown no interest in anything within the palace, enduring it all with quiet resignation. For her to suddenly ask for a personal maid, it was only natural he would find it unexpected.
“It’s not sudden… It’s just… if I’m going to keep living here, I’ll have to choose someone eventually anyway.”
She trailed off, avoiding his gaze.
Her heart pounded despite not exactly lying. What if he notices? What if he suspects something? Those thoughts raced through her mind as a few tense seconds passed.
Then Killian spoke.
“Alright. Do it.”
“Really?”
“Like you said, you needed someone sooner or later. Honestly, it’s a bit late as it is. So—do you already have someone in mind?”
“Yeah. I’d like Marcella. She’s around my age, so I think I’d feel more comfortable with her.”
The maids serving in the Crown Prince’s palace had all been selected by Bertholdt—women with long experience in court life and thoroughly verified backgrounds. Naturally, most of them were older than Adelaide.
But after the wedding, additional maids had been hastily recruited, as the previous staff was no longer sufficient to attend to both of them.
Marcella had been among those newly selected—one of the few commoners in a palace where most maids came from noble families.
“Alright. Then it’s settled. I’ll inform Bertholdt and the head maid.”
Given her age and background, there was no one more suitable for Adelaide than Marcella. Killian nodded without much thought.
“Thank you.”
“Strange… you really are different today.”
Killian let out a quiet chuckle.
Thank you? Over something as trivial as assigning her a maid? It had been a long time since Adelaide had spoken to him so sincerely.
* * *
After Marcella became her personal maid, Adelaide’s health began to recover rapidly.
One early morning, as Killian dressed, the head maid reported on Adelaide’s recent condition.
“When she’s with Marcella, she even laughs out loud at times. It seems having someone her own age has been a great comfort to Her Highness.”
“…Is that so?”
Killian replied, though his tone lacked enthusiasm.
It was a good thing Adelaide was gradually adjusting to life in the palace. But now that Marcella—whom he had allowed out of convenience—was growing closer to her, it was starting to irritate him.
“What could a mere maid possibly do to comfort her?”
He couldn’t just get rid of her either. If he interfered recklessly, it might backfire—especially since Adelaide had taken a liking to Marcella.
Clicking his tongue, Killian’s expression darkened with faint irritation. After a moment of thought, he spoke again.
“Where is that maid from?”
Marcella’s pale hair and fair skin stood out, traits often seen in people from the northern regions, where snowfall was heavy and sunlight scarce.
The head maid, as if she had expected the question, answered promptly.
“She’s from a place called Labobu, located along the border between the central and northern regions.”
Killian frowned.
Labobu lay precisely on that boundary. That explanation fit her appearance well enough.
“So she’s not from the North?”
“No. We’ve verified it multiple times—there’s nothing suspicious.”
Northerners were not permitted to work in the imperial palace. With the Grand Duke’s house in the North, there was little reason for them to drift into the capital anyway. But especially in times like these, it was best to avoid anything that might cause misunderstandings.
Since she was a commoner, there were limits to how thoroughly her background could be traced. Still, her letter of recommendation was legitimate, and nothing unusual had surfaced in her record since.
“If you’re still concerned, shall we investigate further?”
“Send someone to check thoroughly. Better to be certain with matters like this.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Understood. Also, Her Highness is scheduled to meet Grand Lord Fabian today.”
Killian raised a brow.
“I thought it might pass quietly, but it seems he has no intention of letting it go. Fine. Will they meet here in the Crown Prince’s palace?”
“No… the Grand Lord has suggested they meet at the residence where he is staying.”
Killian’s gaze turned cold.
The head maid lowered her head, looking tense.
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