The Crown Prince’s Fiancée - Chapter 3

“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 naked 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.