I’m the Only One Who Can Guide the Tyrant to Sleep - Chapter 6
It’s him! He was sitting in front of the flower bed just like before.
‘But what about the handmaid?’
I glanced around. No one was there. Now was my chance to speak to him. When would the handmaid return?
I hurried over, uncertain of how to approach him. He was looking at the very flower that Floria liked so much.
What should I do? Now that I was close, I couldn’t decide how to initiate the conversation. Floria’s cuteness often made me forget, but they were nobility, after all. If a mere handmaid like me spoke recklessly, it could cost me dearly.
But if I didn’t say something now, I might never get another chance. I recalled the extras who had missed their chance and perished before me.
Yes, if I was going to lose my head anyway, I might as well try something before it was severed.
“These are delphinium flowers!”
With that thought in mind, I spontaneously spoke up, and the boy jumped in surprise, looking up at me.
Oh no, I’d better be quick. I offered a hasty curtsy.
“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Caesar furrowed his brow and looked up at me. It didn’t seem polite to scrutinize the crown prince, so I quickly sat down beside him.
His expression grew even more contorted.
“Who are you?”
“Me?”
Ah, I had forgotten to introduce myself. It was a cautious move.
With the most friendly smile I could muster, I began, “I work at the Imperial Palace, in the service of…”
“I know you’re Floria’s maid.”
“You do?”
How? We had only met a week ago, and that was from quite a distance.
Instead of answering, Caesar turned his head to gaze at the flowers.
‘What should I do now?’
I had thought of this as an opportunity and rushed over, but now I felt flustered.
I couldn’t exactly ask if he was the protagonist of a book, could I? But then again, I had nothing to lose by sitting here.
‘Alright, let’s start a conversation.’
With that in mind, I began my second mission: getting to know this man who was presumably the male lead.
Becoming friends with the main character might increase my chances of survival compared to being just another servant.
Of course, if this turned out to be a depraved novel, I might end up dead, ostensibly to give the main character trauma.
First, I needed to become friendly and gather useful information. I decided to continue chatting.
“Her Highness the Princess also likes these flowers. Does Your Highness like them too? It seems like you were looking at these flowers last time.”
Once again, Caesar didn’t respond.
I understood why Floria was afraid of her brother now. A mere fourteen-year-old boy was exuding an intimidating silence.
“Um… These flowers have the same color as Her Highness the Princess’s hair.”
But I didn’t back down. Maybe, just maybe… If this was indeed an R-rated depraved novel, there was a chance he might be fond of the princess.
So, I needed to probe further.
‘Well, this might be a losing bet, but I should keep all possibilities open.’
“By any chance, does Crown Prince also… like Her Highness?”
“And what if I do?”
“Pardon?”
He locked eyes with me.
“Ah…”
I let out a dumbfounded sigh.
‘Her hair color isn’t like Floria’s.’
It was a cloudy sky blue.
That was the color of the princess’s hair, but it was also the color of Caesar’s eyes.
It wasn’t the princess. He had been looking at himself.
“Floria’s hair color, you say?”
Caesar twisted his lips. Feeling a chill down my spine, I lowered my gaze.
“Why have you come here?”
“I mean, I was just passing by…”
“You didn’t just stumble upon me while passing by. You deliberately passed by to find me, didn’t you? Do you think I wouldn’t notice?”
It seemed like he had been watching me from a distance all along.
“Just go back to Floria.”
‘Why is Floria suddenly being brought up here?’
I stared at him, and Caesar gave me an intimidating look, as if he were about to tear the flowers apart.
“You two play well every day. Drinking tea in the garden. What’s interesting about it?”
“Your Highness saw us?”
Caesar gestured towards the building behind him without responding.
That building right behind him was his palace. From the windows, you could clearly see the garden.
‘So, he’s been watching us as we drink tea, chat, and laugh in the garden.’
“I can hear your laughter from my room.”
Caesar said it brusquely. It might have been an intimidating presence that some would find scary, but for some reason, he seemed pitiable to me.
He was simply throwing a tantrum.
Floria mentioned that the empress didn’t like him. From what I observed briefly last time, he didn’t seem to get along well with the handmaids either.
He was all alone, while Floria was surrounded by people.
‘Well, he might be exceptionally handsome and somewhat intimidating, but he’s just a fourteen-year-old boy.’
It was more than enough to feel lonely. Thinking that way, he suddenly felt like a much younger brother to me.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Pardon me?”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Caesar asked with narrowed eyes.
“What kind of look?”
“You. Are you pitying me?”