Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 3

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 3

“I thought some rat had gotten in with all that rustling.”

“…!”

Startled by the low, deep voice from behind her, Heidi quickly spun around.

Crash!

The lamp fell from the vibrating desk and shattered, creating a sharp bursting sound. As the single ray of light disappeared, the room was instantly engulfed in darkness.

All they could see were each other’s silhouettes.

Heidi squinted, struggling to make out the face of the man who had suddenly appeared.

‘I can’t see his face. Who is this?’

If it was a man who could enter the master’s room, it would be the butler at most.

But the man who had suddenly appeared before Heidi was clearly not a butler, even at a glance.

The faces of the servants working at the Count’s mansion flashed through Heidi’s mind.

‘Was there anyone this tall among the workers?’

Heidi quickly scanned the dark silhouette looming before her.

A height that seemed a full span taller than any reasonably sturdy man.

A solid build that tapered sleekly from shoulders to waist.

A man with such a physique would surely have stood out among ordinary people. There was no way Heidi, who prided herself on her keen eye, would have missed such a person.

In that case.

“…A thief?”

The man seemed to pause when he heard Heidi’s quiet murmur. He asked back as if incredulous.

“A thief? Are you talking about me?”

Heidi, frozen stiff, quickly widened the distance between herself and the man. If this man was an unauthorized outsider, encountering him would be dangerous for Heidi.

Crunch.

The sound of glass shards crushing underfoot rang out clearly.

‘Ah, the lamp broke. If I run blindly, I’ll only get hurt worse.’

Realizing this, Heidi stopped in place. She tried not to show her panic as she retorted to the man.

“Th-then what else am I supposed to think? Hiding in the master’s room at this hour without even lighting a lamp.”

“Do you have a habit of talking about yourself as if you’re talking about someone else?”

“I knocked and came in with a lamp, you know?”

“Ha.”

The man let out a hollow laugh at Heidi’s retort, as if dumbfounded.

“What the hell….”

While the man was at a loss for words, Heidi quickly spoke up.

“Instead of doing this in the dark, let’s light a lamp first and then talk. Or you could go out to the corridor. I have nothing to hide.”

As soon as Heidi finished speaking, the man answered firmly.

“That won’t do.”

I thought so.

Heidi snorted inwardly.

“As I thought, you’re up to no good….”

That’s when it happened.

Swoosh.

The thick curtains covering the window opened, and bright moonlight poured in through the large window.

“…!”

Heidi’s eyes widened slightly when she saw the man’s face illuminated by the moonlight.

Jet-black hair that was moistly wet as if freshly washed.

Sharp eyes beneath slightly furrowed brows.

A high, straight nose bridge and a firm-looking jaw.

He was a handsome man the likes of which Heidi had never seen in her life, but she had no leisure to admire his beauty.

‘His eyes….’

Ruby-like vivid blood-red pupils.

That same color as Eloise’s was surely like a symbol of the House of Haizen.

‘So this person is….’

An unfamiliar yet not unfamiliar face.

Heidi’s face turned deathly pale as she realized the identity of the person who had appeared before her.

“M-Master?”

Deshion Carlos Haizen, the Viscount.

Even if one didn’t work at the Haizen Estate, anyone who was a citizen of Panther would know all about him.

A scholar with such a thick reputation that he could be called the intellect of Panther, and the man who became the princess’s tutor at the youngest age.

Though he lost his parents early and took the position of head of the family before even reaching adulthood, he was a capable family head who brought prosperity to the family and territory at an unprecedented speed.

Because there were endlessly many words that followed his name, he was rather a man who needed no modifiers at all.

‘Ah, that’s why….’

Heidi could finally fully understand what Eloise had said about the portrait.

The painting couldn’t capture even one hundredth of the aura that Deshion exuded.

Especially those sharp eyes.

Heidi, who instinctively knew she was doomed, gulped down dry saliva. The red eyes looking at her seemed to tightly constrict her throat.

Though they surely had the same color as Eloise’s, how could they give off such a different atmosphere?

The sharp gaze swept over every part of Heidi’s face. Every time his eyebrows twitched as if something bothered him, Heidi felt like her heart would explode at any moment.

To dare call the master of the estate a thief.

Heidi squeezed her eyes shut.

She might end up being kicked out of the estate. With her experience working at House of Haizen, anywhere she went would value her quite highly.

‘But there’s nowhere else I could receive this level of salary….’

As Heidi felt overwhelmed thinking about the future, Deshion questioned her like an interrogation.

“Who are you? Explain what kind of maid you are to be in my room at this hour.”

Heidi gripped her skirt tightly with her fingers and answered.

“I’m Heidi Dalton, Miss Eloise’s maid. I came to run an errand for the young lady….”

“Eloise’s maid?”

Deshion slightly furrowed his brow. He asked in a dubious voice, unable to shake his suspicion.

“What errand did Eloise send you on?”

“Ah, the young lady ran out of the ink she was using, so she said she would borrow some from the master’s study for a while.”

“…At this hour? She still has that writing hobby, I see.”

Deshion’s voice softened slightly at Heidi’s trembling answer. He seemed to have remembered that Eloise’s longtime hobby was copying texts.

‘Is this going to slide by like this?’

Just as Heidi, who had been reading the situation, slightly raised her eyes to examine Deshion’s expression.

Their eyes met directly.

Heidi’s eyes opened as wide as possible, and her pale violet pupils sparkled as they caught the moonlight.

Deshion, who had been staring intently into those eyes, suddenly scowled.

“But how can I believe what you’re saying?”

At Deshion’s words, still seeming unable to shake off his unease, Heidi fidgeted and opened her mouth.

“Th-the young lady will confirm what I’m saying.”

“….”

“Really. If you don’t believe me, we could go together right now…!”

Deshion stopped Heidi’s explanation, which had been continuing as she trembled with tension, with a gesture.

“Enough. Confirming whether what you’re saying is true is no big deal.”

Feeling his clearly softened voice, Heidi let out a sigh of relief.

Deshion glanced sideways at Heidi and picked up an ink bottle to hand to her.

‘Does he mean for me to go?’

As she received the heavy ink bottle, Heidi read the situation.

She had caused a major incident with the master she was meeting for the first time. If she made even a small mistake here, she might really get kicked out.

Deshion’s stern gaze fell upon the frozen Heidi.

“I’ll overlook today’s incident, so keep quiet about seeing me here.”

“…!”

“I absolutely hate all that fuss about welcomes and such. It’s not like it’s anything special. I want to rest alone tonight, so keep your mouth shut.”

“Yes.”

Heidi nodded her head while giving a small reply.

It seemed his intention not to light the lamp was to avoid drawing the attention of other servants.

“Then let me just quickly clean up the broken lamp….”

“No need. You can go now.”

“Yes.”

Heidi, who had been turning around obediently, stopped as if something had occurred to her. After hesitating for a moment, she opened her lips.

“Should I keep it secret from the young lady too?”

“….”

“The young lady has been waiting so much. She’s been looking forward to it for days now. She said she would finally get to see her master.”

A pause.

Desion’s body froze momentarily at Heidi’s words.

Gathering her courage, Heidi suggested with a slightly more forceful voice.

“Won’t you at least say a quick hello? She’s still awake.”

“….”

Contrary to Heidi’s expectation that he would readily agree, Desion didn’t immediately give an answer.

‘Why does he seem so distant?’

While Heidi stood there bewildered and frozen, Desion slowly parted his lips.

“Tomorrow.”

Desion’s red eyes shifted toward Heidi.

“I’d prefer if you didn’t tell Eloise that you saw me. I’ll visit her when morning comes.”

“…Ah, yes! I’ll do that.”

Heidi, who had answered obediently, gave a quick bow and hurriedly left the room. Having stepped into the corridor, Heidi tilted her head slightly.

Was it her imagination?

Heidi slowly mulled over the expression Desion had worn in that final moment. And the way his voice had subtly grown heavy each time he spoke about Eloise.

‘He looked somehow troubled. As if he was feeling guilt or something. But why?’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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