“We’re not the kind of people who should be underestimated. Let’s show them what we’re made of.”

“You want to make more of a scene here?”

“Yes.”

Hans chuckled softly.

“You do it.”

As expected, a firm refusal.

“Ah, why?”

“I’m already tired as it is. I don’t want to stir up more trouble here.”

I understood Hans’s feelings, but I didn’t want to let him be disregarded either.

‘There must be some way. An opportunity to show our capabilities…’

“Camilla, you’re here?”

While I was pondering, Kabir approached from the opposite side. He seemed to have come to see me after hearing I was here.

“Is your conversation over?”

“It’s over, but…”

Kabir looked extremely troubled. He even sighed.

“What’s the matter?”

“…Owen, I’m sorry about this.”

“Yes?”

“It seems we need to attend the Count’s ball.”

Apparently, the conversation with the Count didn’t go well.

The social circle must be very curious about Hans. It seemed the Count had come as a representative.

Kabir had probably planned to introduce Hans to society only after he became accustomed to his role, but the situation wasn’t ideal. If Kabir was reacting like this, they must be pressing him quite hard.

“……”

At that moment, an idea crossed my mind.

“This could actually be good.”

“What now?”

“Let’s use this opportunity to assert ourselves! What do we have to be afraid of?”

It was a timely opportunity. If we show a perfect appearance at the ball, the whispers about Hans will stop.

“Your Grace, I’ll go to that ball too!”

“…Camilla.”

Kabir smiled awkwardly.

“You can’t go.”

“……”

Why did I assume that I could go too? I was a commoner at the moment. Apart from being friendly with a few nobles, I had no particular status.

Even though I was Hans’s partner, without an official engagement, no adult would take it seriously.

But I couldn’t just stand by and miss Hans’s social debut.

“What can I do to go with you?”

“……”

Hans and Kabir exchanged glances.

It was Kabir who spoke up.

“It’s not that there’s no way.”

He seemed to find the situation amusing, his lips curled into a smile.

* * *

“How cute!”

The maids exclaimed in unison upon seeing me.

I had gone to the maids’ annex and borrowed a maid’s uniform.

This was the method I had chosen: to disguise myself as a maid of the duke’s household.

There were probably other ways, but honestly, this was the simplest and most fun. Kabir must have thought so too when he suggested it.

“Fortunately, Miss Camilla is tall for her age. It’s a bit big, but still manageable.”

“I’ll tailor it for you! No problem.”

The maids seemed to love the sight of me in a maid’s uniform. They had always been fond of me, so their reaction was understandable.

“Now that you’ve tried it on, you can take it off. We’ll have it tailored and ready before the ball.”

“I don’t want to.”

Despite the maid’s kind suggestion, I refused.

The maids looked puzzled, but I spoke nonchalantly.

“If I’m going to pretend to be a maid, I should at least be able to act like one. I want to try working.”

“Wha-?!”

As expected, the maids were shocked. It was surprising for someone treated like a noble lady in the duke’s household to volunteer for maid’s work.

“No, you can’t. Maid’s work is too demanding!”

“You’re still too young for work. Besides, if the duke finds out, it’ll be big trouble!”

“Why, I want to do it.”

Amidst the maids’ protests, a male voice interjected.

Everyone’s gaze turned towards the open door. Naturally, it was Kabir standing there, with an amused smile on his face.

“Your Grace?”

“A child can do simple tasks. How about it, Camilla. Can you handle it?”

“Of course.”

Simple chores like cleaning were something I was confident in, having helped out in my parents’ store.

I had nothing else to do anyway, and I was visiting the duke’s residence almost every day to see Hans. It seemed like a good opportunity to earn some pocket money.

But Kabir had more in mind.

“Perhaps as Owen’s personal maid?”

“……”

That Kabir. Sometimes he was even quirkier than me.

That’s why I liked him. I welcomed the idea with open arms.

“That sounds perfect.”

The prospect of getting paid to spend all day with Hans? There was no reason for me to refuse. Kabir burst out laughing, as if he had anticipated my response.

* * *

Just like the saying ‘strike while the iron is hot’, I decided to stay at the duke’s residence and start working as a maid from that moment.

Kabir had agreed to inform my parents separately. I wondered how surprised my parents would be to suddenly receive a call from the duke.

“So, starting today, I have become Hans’s personal maid.”

Hans wore a visibly tired expression, seemingly unenthused about the prospect of spending all day with his partner.

Regardless, I spoke with an excited voice,

“Imagine, a young master and a maid. It’s like a romance of differing social standings, isn’t it nice?”

“What social difference? You’re practically the power behind the throne.”

I couldn’t argue with that. Both Hans and Kabir had always treasured me. It was almost as if they were indulging my whim to play maid.

“How long will you do this?”

“Until Hans attends the ball.”

“So, for about a month.”

“I should get paid and then quit.”

I was curious about the life of Hans as a noble. Now that there was no need for secret meetings with Kabir, this turned out well.

Of course, as Hans said, it was closer to playing maid, so I didn’t stay in the maids’ annex like the other maids. I was given my own personal room.

Moreover, it was right next to Hans’s room. At the Heyward Duke’s residence, I was practically a noble lady already.

“What duties will you perform as a maid?”

“Hmm…”

Originally, I planned to do cleaning, but unexpectedly, I became his personal maid.

Neither Kabir nor the head maid seemed to have any intention of giving me actual work; they pretty much let me do whatever I wanted.

In that case, my duties were clear.

“Hang out with Hans?”

“Except for wearing a maid’s uniform, it’s no different than usual.”

“But now, I can be with you all the time except for when we’re sleeping.”

“Huff…”

Hans finally let out a sigh. He seemed very tired.

“I’m tired, so I’m going to lie down for a bit.”

“Since when does a maid just lie down on her master’s bed?”

“Right here.”

“…Do whatever you want.”

* * *

After that, we behaved as usual.

We lay in bed together reading books and took a nap. I watched Hans during his lessons and we had tea together.

Before we knew it, it was evening. After finishing dinner with Kabir and Hans, I returned to my room to find that a maid had prepared my pajamas.

“How was your first day as a maid?”

Ironically, even though I was a maid, I had a maid dedicated to taking care of me.

I answered with a broad smile,

“It was fun.”

Playing maid suited me quite well.

* * *

“Phahaha. I heard the rumors and came over, but you’re really wearing a maid’s uniform!”

The next day, Irmin came to visit, apparently curious after hearing about my situation.

“You look adorable―how about trying this in the royal palace?”

“I don’t work anywhere without Owen.”

“Then I might have to bring Owen along.”

Irmin made a comment that was hard to tell if it was serious or in jest.

“But, how did you end up becoming a maid?”

“Well…”

I explained the whole situation to Irmin. Throughout my story, he laughed so hard he almost cried.

“You’re really something. Where did such a character come from?”

It seemed I had firmly captured Irmin’s heart. He always had a soft spot for quirky individuals.

“But, Camilla, you already have a talent, right? Just sharing your prophecies would earn you proper recognition.”

“I’d rather not.”

The ability to receive prophecies was a secret just between us. I didn’t want to cause any harm to Davi.

“Then let me help you!”

“How?”

“Um… how about I teach you some magic?”

Being a magic disciple of the genius mage, the crown prince. It would be quite bothersome, but it could secure a position strong enough to enter the nobility.

‘Becoming a mage doesn’t sound too bad.’

I wasn’t disinterested in magic. Living this life as a mage seemed like a good idea.

‘Now that I think about it, I must have accumulated quite a few points to invest in stats.’

When I casually checked my points, I had gathered quite a lot, despite not having many broadcasts. Either everyone had saved up a lot of points or they generously donated large amounts.

For now, I decided to invest the points I had in stats.

‘Oh well.’

Even after using all my points, the magic stat only reached 3. It took a significant amount of points to invest in stats.

“What are you doing?”

While I was investing my stats, Irmin looked at me curiously.

I quickly met Irmin’s gaze and spoke up.

“I know a bit of magic.”

“What?”

“Not much, just this much?”

I tried any random magic that came to mind. As I moved my hand, wind sprouted from my fingertips, lifting a fallen leaf nearby. The leaf then floated in the air, spinning in a small vortex.

“……”

Irmin went silent for a moment. Soon after, he called my name.

“…Camilla.”

His expression had turned very stern.