Escape

The room was brightly lit, and the windows were wide open, but there was no one in sight.

“Prince Ryan?”

Yala called out again, and when there was no response, she was about to close the door when a gentle breeze blew several papers off the desk and onto the floor.

Her heart pounded.

Indeed, she could turn a blind eye and leave.

But if she helped pick up the files and happened to be seen by the Crown Prince… even if she didn’t receive praise, her position as a personal maid would definitely become more secure.

Trespassing in the study was a bit inappropriate, but she was just helping to organize things, doing her duty as a personal maid.

As long as she didn’t peek at the contents of the files, it should be fine, right?

Just then, with her fairly good eyesight, she noticed that the title on the paper closest to her was “Research and Recommendations on the Financial Problems of the Seke Family.”

Her breath hitched for a moment.

Yala Seke was her full name.

Therefore, she no longer hesitated and took a step forward—

“Yala, wait!”

A familiar but annoying voice that shouldn’t have been there suddenly came from afar.

Yala turned her head to look outside the door and, sure enough, saw that blonde girl, who was annoying no matter how she looked at her, running towards her and tripping along the way.

However, before she had time to laugh at her, a terrible voice that made her feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave rang out beside her:

“Are you very concerned about this document?”

An unnatural chill swept over her, and the paper that Yala had been thinking about so much flew in front of her.

At this point, even if she didn’t want to, she could see what was written on it.

But instead of the analysis of her family’s situation that she had imagined, it was meaningless content that was completely unrelated to the title.

At this moment, even if she was stupid, she could understand what was going on.

(Was I too late?)

Seeing Yala fall to the ground with weak legs, Flora quickly got up from the ground.

“Prince Ryan, please wait!”

The Crown Prince paid no attention and continued to emit an astonishing pressure and killing intent, scaring Yala into a cold sweat.

Flora ran between the two, instantly dispersing some of the terrifying aura that was enough to make people retreat.

“Get out.”

The black-haired boy didn’t even look at her, his eyes fixed on the trembling girl on the ground.

But Flora had no intention of retreating and instead spread her arms.

This time, the black-haired boy’s cold, knife-like gaze finally fell on her.

“You want to defy me?”

Unrestrained anger surged out like a tide, causing the girl behind her to scream.

Flora’s body couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

“Prince Ryan, I know you don’t trust us and worry that there are assassins or spies among us… but why use this kind of test of human nature to probe us?”

But she still didn’t intend to back down.

“We are just ordinary people, without a good living environment, without extensive knowledge, and without a high level of awareness.”

“We are greedy for money, love vanity, are afraid of death, are insidious and cunning, and can be easily deceived… it is the constraints of laws and morals, and the guidance of the empire’s leaders and the church, that allow us ordinary people to live a stable life in an orderly manner.”

“Therefore, shouldn’t the correct approach be to set rules, restrain us, and guide us?”

Previously, Flora had thought about it for a long time and ultimately couldn’t tolerate the Crown Prince’s approach.

Because she was reminded of a general from the empire’s past.

The general cared very much for his soldiers, sharing weal and woe with them, and even if the soldiers made mistakes and violated military orders, the general would forgive them as much as possible.

As a result, the general became one with the soldiers and was deeply loved by them.

But this care sowed the hidden danger of the soldiers’ lax discipline, low combat effectiveness, and only recognizing the general’s orders in the event of trouble.

When things were going smoothly, they could exert good combat effectiveness under the general’s command.

Once things went against them, once they encountered a critical situation, they would quickly fall into chaos.

Even if the soldiers knew in their hearts that they should repay the general’s kindness and fight hard, their usual lazy habits and biological instincts took over before they could take action.

As a result, the formation collapsed at the first touch, and everyone was frantically looking for the general in the chaos.

Those close to the general were busy protecting the general…

In the end, they were completely annihilated, and only the general escaped.

Perhaps these soldiers had indeed lived a decent life under the general’s command.

But this short, beautiful time was exchanged for their lives… at least Flora didn’t think it was worth it.

The Crown Prince’s actions were not essentially different from that general’s.

The same lack of importance to discipline and regulations.

The general cared for his subordinates, while the Crown Prince used terror and pressure to deter his subordinates.

In battle, the general hoped that the soldiers would be of one heart with him.

The Crown Prince hoped to find servants who would never betray him.

And he was selecting them from a group of maids from middle and lower noble backgrounds who probably didn’t know much about the world and might not have even killed a chicken… this was too outrageous.

So Flora came anyway and temporarily released her disguise.

She wanted to warn the Crown Prince not to do such absurd things again.

“Are you finished?”

The Crown Prince had obviously not listened, and his scarlet eyes completely locked onto Flora’s frail body, with a substantial killing intent spreading wantonly.

In this world, highly skilled martial artists could injure people with their aura.

Flora was like a flat boat in a storm, swaying precariously under the impact of this killing intent, and soon her arms no longer had the strength to lift.

“Also… Prince Ryan, please only punish Yala for the crime of trespassing in the study.”

Flora struggled to finish speaking, then her legs gave way and she fell to her knees.

“Prince Ryan!”

The old butler quickly rushed over and knelt on one knee. “It’s all my fault for not teaching her properly, please calm your anger!”

The Crown Prince silently dissipated his violent aura, glanced at the distressed blonde girl, and said coldly:

“Don’t let me see her again.”

“Why didn’t you do as I told you?”

The old butler looked at Flora with disappointment.

After that, Yala was left in front of the study.

Flora was dragged away somewhat roughly by the old butler, and once they reached a place where the Crown Prince couldn’t see them, the old butler immediately switched to gentle support, taking her to a storage room where she wouldn’t be disturbed.

Faced with the old butler, who was still taking care of her in this situation, she lowered her head guiltily.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Charlton…”

She was completely finished.

Publicly defying the Crown Prince as her master and making him so angry.

Now, forgetting about seducing him, even saving her life had become a problem.

She could only find a chance to escape.

(Ah, I didn’t expect to be on the run after only a month.)

Flora wasn’t very afraid of being hunted down.

What she felt most sorry about was that she had failed to live up to the old butler’s expectations.

The old butler also knew that it was too late to say anything, so he sighed heavily:

“From now on, you will be responsible for the kitchen and the work in the west wing’s remote residence.”

Huh?

Flora was stunned.

Wait… even after all this, she could still stay here to work?