Is not boring

“No, no, no, how could I compare to the Marquis!”

Flora Haggia hastily waved her hands.

“I, however, think you might be the Marquis’s long-lost relative; your eyes and hair color are exactly like his.”

“It’s just a coincidence. This isn’t a rare hair or eye color.”

“That’s true, though I don’t know why I always feel a sense of familiarity with you…”

“That’s wonderful, Your Excellency. Please feel free to give any commands you may have going forward!”

Flora Haggia once again flashed a joyful smile, appearing completely unaffected by the previous words.

“Were those battle plans for today’s competition your idea?”

“No, I merely conveyed His Highness’s words. It’s a shame we still couldn’t surpass Your Excellency.”

Flora Haggia lied this time without batting an eyelid.

She also believed that Flax Mounten wouldn’t dare to ask the Crown Prince for confirmation, because what he was doing looked suspiciously like headhunting.

Flax Mounten apparently only harbored suspicions and dared not entertain overly outrageous associations, nor was it appropriate for him to constantly impede someone else’s head maid from performing her duties.

After a few more casual words, he bid Flora Haggia farewell and returned to his room.

Flora Haggia was about to breathe a sigh of relief when she sensed someone approaching from the study behind her.

“What did Flax Mounten say?”

Ryan Rowland asked expressionlessly, but Flora Haggia could feel a hint of displeasure from him… and perhaps some worry?

“Nothing special, just complimenting my appearance and discussing today’s competition.”

Flora Haggia said with a slight hint of joy, as it was impossible for a girl not to be happy when her appearance was praised… even though Flax Mounten had been talking about other things all along.

The Crown Prince, however, grew even more displeased.

He swept a cold glance over her and said, “You are not to have excessive contact with him.”

Eh?

“Your Highness, isn’t Earl Flax Mounten a distinguished guest? Wouldn’t that be inappropriate?”

Flora Haggia looked back, lowering her voice.

Though she knew Flax Mounten wasn’t nearby, the act had to be convincing.

“This is an order. If he needs anything, tell him to find Charlton.”

Leaving the dumbfounded blonde girl behind, Ryan Rowland returned to his chambers.

This wasn’t Ryan Rowland suddenly becoming hostile towards Flax Mounten.

Nor was it worry that the blonde girl would be poached… though initially, when he saw them chatting happily from a distance, he had indeed thought that.

But soon, he considered another possibility.

Assassination.

Ryan Rowland didn’t know the blonde girl’s identity or situation in the Blue Lion, but based on her previous behaviour, she harbored hostility towards the Azure Knights.

The worst-case scenario was that the blonde girl’s purpose in lurking here wasn’t him, but any high-ranking official of the Azure Knights she might come into contact with in the future.

He and the Azure Knights, under normal circumstances, would have no contact.

But the previous poisoning and the subsequent framing… all indicated that someone was plotting something.

Even if the blonde girl wasn’t directly involved, it was highly possible she was being used as a pawn by others.

You might say normal people wouldn’t be that foolish?

Ryan Rowland had seen too many fanatical, brainless, desperate assassins and moles.

Moreover, the hatred between Blue Lion and Azure was so deep… No, it should be said that Blue Lion unilaterally hated Azure.

And in Azure’s eyes, Blue Lion was probably just a roadside… But this was also the trouble.

An unsuspecting Azure could easily fall into the trap of those scoundrels.

Although Ryan Rowland didn’t think the blonde girl would be such a person, what if?

At least he didn’t want to… At least, as her master, he had to prevent his maid from doing something that would dishonor him.

On the other side, although Flora Haggia hadn’t quite understood what Ryan Rowland was thinking, she was actually very supportive of the request for less contact with Flax Mounten.

The only problem was how to refuse him without being too blunt, so as not to offend him.

Fortunately, first thing the next morning, Flax Mounten went to the palace for an audience with the Emperor, not even having time for breakfast.

Later, she heard he wouldn’t be returning but would go directly to the Black Dragon Knights’ camp to train soldiers.

In the coming days, Flora Haggia would only have contact with Flax Mounten during breakfast and dinner.

So, Flora Haggia also took the opportunity to set another very important matter into motion—

“His Highness Ryan, have a safe journey!”

After breakfast, Flora Haggia gathered the new maids to bid the Crown Prince farewell.

This time, when bringing in the newcomers, Flora Haggia had warned Heidi not to resort to scaring tactics, so their unified farewell performance was much more natural than that of the older maids.

Even if the newcomers later learned of the Crown Prince’s bad rumors in idle chatter, seeing was believing, and the older maids were also gradually changing their perception of the Crown Prince… Flora Haggia believed that eventually everyone’s relationship with the Crown Prince would normalize.

Of course, she didn’t plan to have a crowd swarming the hall to greet him every day… that would seem a bit too formalistic. Maids were not soldiers; a more relaxed approach was needed.

So her plan was to initially mix a small number of older maids with all the newcomers, and after a few days, transition to a fixed total number of greeters taking turns, ensuring everyone became familiar with the Crown Prince without feeling forced to greet him every day.

In the afternoon, Flora Haggia reported this plan to the returning Crown Prince.

“…”

Ryan Rowland gazed at the cheerful blonde girl before him.

He couldn’t help but wonder if he had been overly cautious before… At least, he didn’t think anyone planning an assassination would bother with such things.

“Your Highness, please rest assured. Although the number of people sending you off and welcoming you has decreased, everyone will greet you when they see you around the mansion, no need to worry!”

What worry? He absolutely didn’t want this kind of service!

Ryan Rowland only found it incredibly troublesome; just listening to the plan already made him feel noisy.

But that wasn’t all.

“Your Highness, please wait a moment.”

By dinner time, just as Ryan Rowland and Flax Mounten had sat down in the dining room, the blonde girl called out to him.

Ryan Rowland couldn’t help but frown.

No, she wasn’t planning tricks with a guest present, was she?

“Hehe, Your Highness needn’t worry. This time, I’m not casting magic, but I tried making a dish with tomatoes… Earl, please try it too.”

The blonde girl eagerly opened the serving lids for both of them.

“Miss Haggia can cast magic?”

Flax Mounten asked curiously.

“Not actual magic, just some peculiar movements.”

Ryan Rowland quickly said, fearing that the blonde maid might demonstrate it on the spot.

He always wore an expressionless face, but that didn’t mean he didn’t feel embarrassed.

“It’s magic that makes the food delicious,” Flora Haggia said with a happy smile.

Flax Mounten probably guessed it was something like a dance, so he didn’t ask further and quietly ate the food on his plate.

Soon, he said with a hint of surprise:

“This taste… Miss Haggia’s cooking is truly remarkable.”

“As long as Your Excellency is satisfied.”

Ryan Rowland felt a little displeased again.

After much deliberation, he tentatively said:

“It is indeed good.”

Upon hearing this, the blonde girl quickly bounced over, revealing an even happier smile.

“His Highness Ryan, is this really that good? Is it good enough to be sold in a restaurant?”

“Don’t disturb my meal.” Ryan Rowland couldn’t help but frown.

“Ah, I’m very sorry.”

After apologizing to both of them, the blonde girl quickly retreated to the side, but her gaze remained intently fixed on Ryan Rowland, as if trying to ascertain from his every move whether the dish was delicious.

Ryan Rowland’s displeasure disappeared, replaced by annoyance once again.

But this feeling, he had actually begun to get used to.

And he didn’t find it boring at all.

Dinner ended in a somewhat less than peaceful atmosphere.

But Ryan Rowland’s unusual mood didn’t last long.

“Your Highness, this is what His Majesty commanded me to give you.”

In the study, Charlton handed him a letter.

Opening it and seeing its contents, Ryan Rowland’s face grew even calmer.

Until it became like still water.