Personal Guard

Beside her stood a young maid, holding a cup of tea in quiet attendance.
The girl read with deep focus—her expression shifting: joy, sorrow, contemplation—occasionally letting out soft gasps.

If anyone else saw this, they’d be shocked.

Because the spoiled, cold Princess Alice was rarely seen with such vivid emotions.

The young maid thought this to herself.
These expressions—Alice only showed them to her.

To others, the princess had only two moods: anger and cold indifference.
That’s why most servants disliked Second Princess Alice—thinking her strange-tempered.

But the young maid disagreed.
She believed Alice was just a lonely girl—a bit isolated.

The girl by the window was indeed Alice—now free from her usual sternness, engrossed in her book.

As someone without friends—raised alone—Alice’s world revolved around sword training and reading.

This was her secret passion: poetry, essays, novels.

In truth, Alice admired two kinds of people: masters of the sword and literary geniuses.

About an hour later, Alice reluctantly closed the book.
The moment it shut—her expression returned to its usual cold detachment.

The villainess Alice was back.

Handing the book to the maid, Alice glanced out the window—her eyes locking onto a figure scrubbing the deck below.

She’d heard Mary’s scolding clearly earlier.

“Black… Could it be him?”

“Your Highness, do you suspect he’s the accomplice?”

“Mm.”

Alice gave a slight nod.

Ever since the empress was attacked three days ago, chaos had gripped the royal household.

Thankfully, Elizabeth was an Emperor-Tier Swordsman—her health bar thick enough that even a severe wound wouldn’t kill her.

But her power had plummeted—at least temporarily.

Thinking of this, fury burned in Alice’s heart.

How dare someone hurt Mother!

She meant Loyre—the one person Alice couldn’t understand.

What was her identity, that made Mother treat her with such care?

An assassin who tried to kill the empress should’ve been executed on the spot—yet Mother only placed her under house arrest!

With Elizabeth protecting her, no matter how much Alice hated Loyre—she could do nothing.

And there was an accomplice—she’d seen it.
But the man wore a mask—unidentifiable.

Still, Alice was certain—he was still aboard the Hodir!

For days, she’d secretly investigated the masked man.

She’d torn down the secret passage to the empress’s room, interrogated the ship’s designer, and promised executions upon their return.

Yet—no trace of the masked man.
All she remembered? His general build.

Then—Mary’s shouting reminded her.
Black, that little pirate—his build matched perfectly.

His identity was already suspicious.
Knowing Jörmungandr’s location? No ordinary person could know that.

Alice believed he had ulterior motives.

And Mary said Black had disappeared for three full days—a very suspicious timing.

Coinciding exactly with the assassination attempt?
Too convenient.

Her conclusion?
Black was the masked man—injured, hiding for three days before reappearing.

But without proof, she couldn’t act.

“Your Highness—what will you do?”

The young maid asked—seeing Alice’s sharp gaze, she knew the princess had a plan.

“Even rats leave traces.”

“Karina—go find Mary. Tell her this…”

Alice leaned close, whispering into Karina’s ear.

“Yes, Your Highness—I’ll go at once.”

Watching the maid leave, Alice returned her gaze to the deck—fixing on that thin, unassuming figure.

Let’s see how long you can pretend, Black.

****

The next morning, old Bu—the early-rising deck cleaner—began his work.

“Brat, you’re lucky—you won’t be cleaning decks anymore!”

Housekeeper Mary appeared before him, grumbling with obvious displeasure.

???

Black’s eyes widened.
Did this old hag finally lose her mind?

Yesterday, she’d demanded he clean decks day and night—no food, no water!
Now, suddenly—it’s over?

Could it be—a change of heart?

“Dear Housekeeper… are you mocking me?”

“Heh. If I could, I’d make you scrub decks for life!”

Mary unleashed her lion’s roar again.

“But some luck—Princess Alice took interest in you. She ordered you to become her Royal Guard!”

“So you’re spared. Report immediately!”

Huh?!

Black didn’t expect this.
Why did this villainess Alice fixate on him?

Make him a royal guard?

Sure, it was a prestigious position—far better than deck cleaner.
But Black felt zero joy.

Alice was untouchable—she’d already tried to cut him in half twice!

Suddenly making him her guard?
Definitely up to something sinister.

This woman… does she suspect me?

Black sensed disaster.
Yes, she’d seen him—but he wore a mask. Could she really recognize him?

Or was it because he vanished for three days?

Either way—he needed to stay away from this princess!

Seeing Black frozen, Mary snapped:

“What, not happy? You love being a deck cleaner now?”

“Exactly, dear Housekeeper! I’m passionate about this job—and I’ll miss you so much! Could you tell the princess I don’t want to be a royal guard?”

Black scrubbed harder—proving his dedication.

“Hah! You’ve gone mad! Others would kill for this chance—and you refuse?!”

“Whatever your feelings—this is the princess’s order. Unless you want your head chopped off!”

Mary concluded: This pirate needs therapy. A priest. Immediately.

“…Fine. I’ll go.”

Black sighed—a bad feeling creeping in.
New troubles were coming.