CH 13

Count Hinch’s only daughter, who was nicknamed the Devil Maid inside the royal palace, and the person who was Prince Lewicia’s most reliable ally since a long time ago.

"Hey, if you get reborn again, this time make sure to come find me. At the Second Prince’s palace. Understood?"

"Why?"

"Start at the palace and become a maid of honor. You said that the Brewe medal was yours to begin with."

"No, thank you. What’s the point of being a maid of honor? What kind of weapon is it, being dragged to banquets every day and distinguishing between expensive perfumes and tea leaves? I hope you’re not telling me to become a royal’s mistress and turn the country upside down. I can’t do that. I would rather poison the King and run away."

"You’re saying nonsense. Do you even know what a maid of honor does?"

"Wearing dresses and hanging out with the royal family while pretending to be friends."

"A maid of honor is someone who can control and elevate a royal. She can put a royal on a stage and then, drag them down from it. She is the closest person to power while remaining unnoticeable and she is free to move as she wants."

"I don’t believe you."

"From the day you become Lewicia Ortega’s maid of honor, Marjoram’s dreams will start to stagger. He will have an unpleasant presentiment. An insignificant commoner enters the palace and he doesn’t know what she might say so he will feel on edge."

That time, it was also Coco who recommended Yulia to pick Lewicia, the Second Prince.

"Why do you try to do everything alone? Do you think you’re the only person in this country who sees Marjoram as their enemy? Do you think you’re the only one they’ve been tormenting all this time? There are others too."

"Are you saying that the Prince is one of those people?"

"Prince Lewicia is the son of the King’s concubine. But did you know that she met the King before the Queen did?"

"…..I didn’t know."

"Although she was the daughter of a poor baron family, she was supposed to become the Queen. If Marjoram hadn’t put another woman of a higher status in that position, she might have overcome the differences in status and become the Queen. Marjoram shouldn’t have put the inappropriate title of concubine next to her name."

"Coco, I have no interest in the complicated private lives of the royal family. Who betrayed who, who is the biological child of who… What’s the point of knowing all that? What I need is a wolf who will bite and tear Marjoram apart."

"If Carus Lankea is a wolf, Lewicia Ortega is an eagle. You will need both of them. I will help you."

"If I get reborn again, you won’t remember me, so what’s the use. With your personality, what will you even think of me? You will either call me a reckless person who only lives for today or a crazy girl… I will be grateful if you don’t curse at me.”

"I will tell you a very easy way to earn my favor."

"What is it?"

"First, enter the palace as a maid of honor."

How was Coco's expression back then? 

Yulia could even paint a picture of that day. Her bitter face. Although Coco had a sharp and arrogant impression, she was surprisingly expressive.

“You know that my personality is a bit rough, will you be okay? You shouldn’t run away or get upset just because I talk rudely to you."

"Do you think I don’t know that?"

"That’s true, why am I even worried about you?"

Coco was the first person to believe that Yulia was cursed and kept coming back to life. Also, when Yulia’s revenge had almost succeeded, she was the closest person to help.

That’s why she meant it when she said that she liked Coco.

Yulia liked Coco. It didn’t matter if Coco had forgotten their past relationship.

*****

The day passed. Yulia, who was busy organizing her thoughts and couldn’t fall asleep easily, woke up a little later than usual.

To think that she had overslept on her first day at the palace. When she went down to the kitchen while laughing vainly at her negligent attitude, she was met with the surprised eyes of the maids.

"Miss, why… are you already awake?"

"Is that waking up early?"

"Miss Coco takes her breakfast at noon… And the Prince is not much different."

I see. Her habit of waking up late wasn’t different from the past.

After making up a lie that she was originally an early riser, Yulia had breakfast with the maids.

Although the relationship with the maids was ambiguous due to their identical status but different position, Yulia knew how to be polite and was excellent at keeping a reasonable distance. The maids, who had been bewitched by her in the span of one meal, brought her desert with a somewhat relaxed face.

The day was spent peacefully and lazily. The officials from yesterday didn’t come to pick a fight, and Coco didn’t show her face until the afternoon after waking up really late.   When will Prince Lewicia be back?

It was when Yulia was worried about the prince who did not appear in the palace.

"Miss Yulia, His Highness the Prince Lewicia has returned."

The voice of the attendant was heard from outside the room.

The sun was setting. Maybe because it was almost dinner time, the footsteps of the maids coming and going became restless.

Yulia got up from her seat and after arranging her dress, she went out into the hallway and followed the attendant.

"When did he arrive?"

"He just got off the carriage. Hm, by the way…"

"Is there a problem?"

"The young master Vasily from the Marquis of Marjoram is here."

Although the attendant didn’t do anything wrong, he couldn’t look her in the eye as if he had committed a sin. Yulia was sure that all the employees who worked in the Prince’s palace knew about her story.

"Argh, since he arrived before the Prince returned, there was nothing we could do to stop him. But don’t worry. Now that the Prince is here, he will surely tell him to go back."

"I’m not so sure about that."

"Pardon?"

"It’s nothing."

Prince Lewicia won’t kick Vasily out. Since he is not someone to miss out on such a great spectacle.

Something was surprising to Yulia though. Every time Yulia pushed Vasily away coldly after coming back to life, he didn’t hesitate to cling to her and make excuses, but it was the first time that he had acted this rashly.

It seemed that becoming Prince Lewicia’s maid of honor had triggered him somehow.

Yulia came down the stairs and headed to the drawing room where Lewicia had taken Vasily.

Through the wide open door, she could see the two men standing and staring at each other.

"Your Highness."

Yulia called out to Lewicia. She didn’t forget to hold the hem for dress and bend her knees to greet him.

Both Lewicia and Vasily turned to her at the same time.

"Come over here, Yulia."

Lewicia said as he stretched out his hand to her.

"I was waiting for you. I heard you had a guest. That’s why I asked to have dinner together."

‘What do you think? I did well, right?’ Lewicia smiled at Yulia. A malicious smile bloomed all over his beautiful face.

Yulia grabbed Lewicia’s hand slightly and stood next to him.

Vasily looked very upset. It was obvious that he tried very hard not to get angry.

"Yulia, let’s talk."

Yulia looked at him dryly while savoring his expression.

"I have something to tell Yulia. Let go of her hand, Your Highness."

Vasily said. This time again, the answer didn’t come from Yulia but from Lewicia.

"Hey, Vasily. Do you know how much I regretted it? I shouldn’t have returned to the Palace right after the graduation ceremony but stayed next to Yulia. At least I could have watched you get humiliated in front of so many people."

"Your Highness!"

"You’re in my house. Yulia is my maid of honor, and you’re just an uninvited guest who showed up without permission. So if you have something to say, say it in front of me. The master of this house has the right to demand this much."

‘I did well, right?’ Lewicia smiled at Yulia again. This time, his smile was both malicious and carefree.

She wanted to praise him for doing well, but instead, Yulia wisely answered with a brief smile. Then, she said to Vasily.

"I don’t know what the heir of Marjoram wants from me."

"I said I had something to tell you. Yulia, with what kind of intention did you enter the royal palace?"

"Is there any reason I have to tell this to the Lord?"

"Let’s talk outside. I’ll do whatever you want, so…."

"You are being disrespectful."

Vasily’s face hardened at Yulia’s cold reproach. On the contrary, Prince Lewicia’s smile deepened.

"What do you mean by disrespectful?"

"I am His Highness Prince Lewicia’s maid of honor. I have the duty to uphold and protect the honor of the royal family. The Lord should proceed with courtesy by making a prior appointment."

"Ha!"

The last person to laugh in this situation was Lewicia. Lewicia pulled and tightly held Yulia’s hand, which had only been slightly placed on his fingertips, and then burst out laughing loudly.

"Hahahaha!"

"Your Highness."

"I’ve been feeling like crap all day because of the palace competition. Was my patience rewarded with this moment? I chose my maid wisely."

Lewicia knew that Vasily’s gaze lingered on Yulia’s hand that was in his. That’s why he felt all the more reluctant to let go of it. After seeing Lewicia holding Yulia’s hand as if to show off, Vasily glared at him as if he was about to punch him.

Although Yulia was well aware of the situation, she said to Lewicia while pretending to be oblivious.

"I am afraid that Your Highness’s dinner time has been disrupted because of me. I apologize. Will you let me convince the young Lord to leave?"

- Pearl's notes: Starting from now, I will only be releasing one new chapter each week since my schedule has become a bit hectic. I ask for your understanding ^^ I promise to make it up for it in the future. And don't forget to subscribe to my page if you want to be notified as soon as a new chapter is posted.