Chapter 2: A-Angel?

‘…Really?’

I rubbed both of my eyes again.

There was no doubt about it.

It looked exactly like the picture Dai had shown me.

‘Could this be a trap…?’

D-did they know I was coming and leave it here as bait?

Just as I started thinking that, the Head Maid picked up the booklet that had been underneath the Sacred Contract.

Slide.

The Sacred Contract was casually pushed aside as if it were nothing more than an obstacle.

And nothing happened.

Even though she had openly touched the contract.

“….”

At least that meant touching it was safe.

It felt a little strange….

But well.

This was a good thing, right…?

‘I’ll just keep it with me.’

While the Head Maid was focused on my impressive résumé, I secretly slipped the contract away.

It was so easy that I almost felt embarrassed about how nervous I had been.

‘…Is this really okay?’

Things were going so smoothly that I was actually getting more anxious!

I had a strange feeling that something was going wrong.

Just then, the Head Maid put down the papers and smiled with satisfaction.

“Can you polish porcelain as well?”

“Yes, I can.”

“Perfect. We’re short-handed in that area right now.”

That meant I had passed.

Yes!

I nodded, my cheeks turning red.

Now all I had to do was work hard, meet Fixer Dai, and hand over the Sacred Contract.

“Thank you, Head Maid!”

I gave her an awkward smile and bowed.

The Head Maid gestured for me to follow her.

“Come along quickly. The Founding Anniversary is just around the corner, so we’re short on time.”

“Oh, yes!”

I quickly followed her.

We crossed the Imperial Palace with the quick but neat steps unique to palace maids.

“During the Founding Anniversary, we display the Imperial Family’s precious treasures.”

“Throughout the entire Imperial Palace?”

“No, from the entrance of the palace to the banquet hall. So there are quite a lot.”

So we were going to polish all of those from now on.

‘How many could there be…?’

A hundred?

I tried to estimate the amount for a moment before shaking my head.

It didn’t matter how many there were.

I had to do it anyway.

“There are many delicate crafts and porcelain pieces, but we’re especially short of maids in that area.”

“I see…!”

I nodded.

But inside, I was confused.

Delicate crafts? Porcelain?

‘Aren’t those rather valuable things to entrust to an untested newcomer…?’

They seemed awfully vulnerable to thieves.

The same strange feeling I had when I discovered the Sacred Contract earlier came over me again.

I carefully asked,

“Um… But is it really okay for a newcomer like me to be in charge of the treasures? I might steal them.”

“Are you a thief?”

“…N-no! I’m not!”

“Hahaha! I’m only joking.”

Hiccup.

I was so startled that I even hiccupped.

As I patted my chest, the Head Maid laughed heartily and slapped my shoulder.

“You don’t need to worry about the Imperial treasures. They’re all protected by divine magic.”

“Divine magic…?”

That was the power exclusive to the Imperial Family.

The power that only those who had been blessed could possess.

The Head Maid nodded.

“The moment they move even an inch outside the Imperial Palace, they automatically return to the storage.”

“I see….”

“And anyone who tries to steal them gets struck by lightning and roasted. I’ve seen quite a few people end up like that.”

The Head Maid laughed heartily as she walked, as if just remembering it was satisfying.

“…Hic!”

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, I swallowed wrong… Hic! I’m fine.”

I followed the Head Maid with a red face, forcing myself to laugh along.

‘O-of course…!’

Right.

There was no way the security was weak.

Not in the Imperial Palace.

Then I understood why the Sacred Contract never left the palace.

“So all the items that can’t be taken outside the Imperial Palace are like that?”

“Of course. There must be a reason they’re forbidden from being taken outside.”

I seeeee….

I squeezed my eyes shut because I felt like I was about to cry.

This was practically a death sentence….

The Sacred Contract in my pocket suddenly felt incredibly heavy.

As if clinging to my last hope, I asked,

“But couldn’t someone just use something like the Sacred Contract inside the Imperial Palace? What if thieves do that?”

“Hm? Ah, the Sacred Contract. It’s one of the items surrounded by a lot of false rumors.”

False rumors…?

My hopes immediately shattered.

The Head Maid chuckled and shook her head.

“There used to be many petty criminals. Apparently, there was a rumor that it was a magical contract that could bind someone with divine power. Many people came to steal it.”

“….”

That stings….

While desperately keeping my expression under control, the Head Maid continued.

“Thanks to that, there were quite a lot of slaves.”

“….?”

“Yes?”

“If you use it, your soul becomes bound to the Imperial Family member closest to you.”

What was this now…?

I stared blankly at the Head Maid.

W-wait, what did she say…?

“Slaves?”

“It was originally created to force criminals into hard labor.”

“Then why is it called a contract…?”

“Do you use every object only for its intended purpose?”

“….”

Well, no….

I had nothing to say, so I kept my mouth shut.

Throw it away.

I had to throw it away immediately.

‘A contract that kills you with lightning if you take it outside, and turns you into a slave if you use it.’

That was just garbage…!

I let out a small sigh.

I couldn’t even imagine how much trouble Dai would cause once he learned about this.

Ah, I don’t know.

Maybe I should just enjoy this beautiful scenery while I still could…?

Chirp, chirp.

With the birds chirping behind us,

I swallowed my tears and followed the Head Maid.

We eventually arrived at the Imperial treasure vault.

I slowly polished the porcelain.

“What’s with her…?”

“The porcelain is glowing….”

“Even the golden crown….”

The whispers of the other maids reached my ears.

“Hm-hm~♪”

What an easy and enjoyable job.

Compared to Dai’s antiques, which could break just from wiping off a little dust, this was a hundred times better.

Polish. Polish.

Every time I carefully wiped the treasures with a dry cloth, they regained their original shine.

‘Pretty….’

They were so beautiful that I almost forgot about my situation.

I didn’t know when I’d get to see things like this again, so I wanted to take in as much of it as possible.

I quietly looked around.

Were noble families’ treasure vaults all like this?

Pure white pillars covered in delicate carvings, a shining marble floor, and treasures carefully displayed one by one on pedestals.

It was breathtakingly beautiful.

The Head Maid placed a hand on my shoulder, looking incredibly pleased.

“These things require delicate skill, but you’re better than anyone else, and you’re fast, too.”

“You’re praising me too much.”

To think she would praise me this much over something so simple….

I waved my hands, my cheeks turning red.

Then the other maids came over as if they had been waiting for their chance and started praising me too.

“Don’t say that! I’ve never seen anyone as good as you!”

“How did you do it? Teach me too.”

“Um, well….”

Before I knew it, a break had formed around me.

We all sat together and chatted.

“You just arrived today? Then you’ve never seen His Highness the Third Prince, right?”

“Hm? Oh, yes.”

Actually, it had been a long time since I had met anyone other than Dai, let alone the Third Prince.

The atmosphere quickly became lively.

“Really? Poor you! He’s incredibly handsome!”

“And he’s as kind as an angel even to maids like us!”

“There’s a reason people call him the Saint of the Empire!”

“Kyaaah!”

R-really…?

I smiled blankly and nodded.

Just how amazing was this person?

I was curious.

‘Will I get to see him too?’

I only had today….

But since I was in the same Imperial Palace, maybe there was a chance.

There would also be the Founding Anniversary banquet.

‘It would be nice if I could see him!’

My heart fluttered for no reason, and I swung my feet back and forth.

We continued chatting like that for a few more minutes.

“…To be able to see something like this, it truly is an honor….”

“…You may speak as much as you like….”

At some point, faint voices began to come from beyond the treasure vault.

Despite the noisy voices of the maids, one particularly clear, low voice stood out.

‘Hm?’

I instinctively turned my head.

“Is someone there…?”

When I tilted my head in confusion, the Head Maid frowned.

“What is it?”

“No, it’s just….”

It was difficult to explain.

A strange feeling ran down my spine.

Then—

Clatter!

Before I could finish answering, the door to the treasure vault opened.

‘Who is it?’

I timidly tried to peek outside, but the Head Maid quickly stood up and pulled me by the arm.

“Get up! Quickly!”

“….?”

W-who could it be?

Pulled up by her strong grip, I looked at the faces of the people entering.

When I raised my head, a man filled my entire field of vision.

Soft cream-colored hair, light brown eyes with a hint of yellow, and a warm smile like custard cream.

‘…An angel?’

The Head Maid quickly pushed down on the back of my head.

“We greet His Highness Ozvalt Yulian, the Saint of the Empire.”

Ah…!

I blinked.

The very person I had just heard about until my ears were tired.

The Third Prince.