Chapter 4

Two weeks after the king's permission was granted, the day finally came for me to go to Prince Clovis.

As I was swayed alone in the carriage heading to the palace, I organized the information about Prince Clovis. Most of it came from my stepmother and Giselle, who deliberately spoke to scare me. It was probably exaggerated, but it was better than knowing nothing.

Prince Clovis is twenty years old this year. His face bears scars from burns, and his eyes are sharp, making everyone fear his appearance. He is a notorious misanthrope who, except for a few close people, does not let anyone near him. My stepmother and Giselle also said he is a racist who does not recognize anyone as human except for the royal family.

Those who catch Prince Clovis's eye are said to be targeted like prey by hunting dogs, and even minor mistakes are treated as misconduct and punished. There are also rumors that those targeted suffer from curses, strange phenomena, and hallucinations or delusions.

Prince Clovis, who has been placed under house arrest, is currently living alone in a place called the Fairy Forest behind the palace. It's hard to believe all these stories. The exaggeration has somewhat reduced the fear, which has helped ease my tension.

After passing through the palace gates and entering the forest, we arrived at our destination after about ten minutes. The building called the Green House is a two-story structure with white walls and a green roof. It is smaller than I imagined and more fittingly described as a manor house rather than a mansion.

"Are you Miss Nadia Mascare? I am Nibel Aslan, the knight of Prince Clovis."

"Yes, Sir Aslan. Thank you for your welcome. I look forward to working with you from today."

"I will show you around the Green House immediately."

Led by Sir Aslan, I stepped into the entrance. The entrance is an open space connected to the second floor, with no furnishings or decorations, creating a vast, empty space. I couldn't help but wrinkle my nose at the smell of dust.

"I apologize for the lack of cleanliness, which has caused you discomfort."

"I am very sorry! That—"

"It can't be helped. My mother, who used to be Prince Clovis's nurse, managed the place, but after she fell ill and retired, it has been like this. Prince Clovis is very cautious and has rejected all candidates for the position. We also have our regular duties, so we couldn't prioritize this..."

"I see. I must work hard to gain his approval."

"I look forward to it. Now, I will take you to the second floor where Prince Clovis is."

We climbed the stairs in the entrance and walked down a dimly lit corridor with the curtains still closed. The rumor about his misanthropy seems to be true, as there was no one else in the house besides us.

"From here, Miss Mascare, please greet the prince alone."

"Yes."

Stopping in front of a door, Sir Aslan said, "Excuse me!" and opened the door.

"..."

I couldn't help but gasp. It was clear that this was an office from the heavy table, but books and stacks of papers were scattered everywhere on the table, sofa, and floor. The mess was so overwhelming that the dust in the entrance seemed trivial in comparison.

"Still, there are young ladies who want to come to me."

As I stood there in shock, a young man appeared from behind a tower of books, propping his cheek on his hand.

His hair, a light golden color that is a sign of the royal Elranger lineage, seemed to gather light. His straight nose, thin lips, and emerald-like eyes, perfectly positioned, were sharply observing me. As rumored, the left side of his face bore a burn scar. The scar, exposed without a mask or bangs, was so painful to look at that it would make any ordinary young lady turn away in fear.

The scar's horror was more pronounced because of his beautiful features. But I couldn't afford to be intimidated by this.

"I believe you are Prince Clovis. I have come today at the king's recommendation. I am Nadia, the eldest daughter of the Mascare family."

I performed a bow, which I had practiced secretly since childhood and never forgotten.

"What are your intentions for coming here?"

"I am here to assist you in living a more comfortable life. I will strive to meet your expectations and follow your instructions."

"Is that so? Come here and let me see your face clearly."

I slowly raised my head and stood in front of the table, only to be met with a cold, unrelenting gaze. It felt like a pressure on my throat, and he clearly looked displeased. I simply accepted it quietly.

"Here, my orders are absolute. I don't need people who can't fulfill my wishes. If I tell you to leave, you must do so immediately."

"Understood."

"Then your job is to clean. Make the Green House spotless. The next time you visit me will be when you have completed this task."

He placed a silver ring on the book with a thud.

"It's like a pass. Always wear it when you enter or leave."

"Yes. By the way, is there a deadline or any specific instructions for the cleaning?"

"Figure it out yourself. Get out of here quickly."

After giving the order with the arrogance that matched the rumors, his sharp gaze fell on the book in front of him, as if he had lost interest. I bowed deeply and left the room.

"It seems we have passed the first test."

"Sir Aslan, I was indeed being tested, wasn't I?"

When he ordered me to clean, if I had shown anger, I would have been dismissed immediately.

Unlike a lady-in-waiting, whose job is to attend to the master's appearance and surroundings, cleaning is a maid's job. Moreover, it is a task typically assigned to lower-ranking maids or new hires.

For a noble lady-in-waiting, it would be a humiliating task, and it would not be unreasonable to protest. Fortunately, it is a job I am familiar with, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Oh, you have no objections to the prince's orders?"

"No, I came prepared, so it's fine. Could you please show me where the cleaning supplies are stored?"

When I smiled, Sir Aslan's eyes widened for a moment before he happily bowed and said, "Of course."

I have another chapter planned for today.