I Became the Maid of the Lout Prince

About a week had passed since the start of the second semester of our second year at Luminor Academy.

To get to the point, despite nearly 10 days passing, including the break, I had not been able to gather any information about Ethan’s ‘hidden fiancée.’

First, one of the two possibilities—’finding a partner to marry when the time comes’—was almost impossible. 

Based on what I had observed of Ethan so far, he had hardly ever been seen dating anyone, let alone meeting someone.

He was basically the type to focus on his studies within the academy. 

Occasionally, he would meet and talk with certain nobles (especially professors) or figures whose connections could only be made at the academy, but I always accompanied him on such occasions, so they were quite far from romantic meetings.

“If you’re in the Swordsmanship Department at Luminor Academy, you must have met my daughter, who’s in the same department. Although you’re in different years, she’s quite famous for her beauty.”

“Hmm, well. Since I already have a fiancée, I don’t pay attention to other women’s appearances, so I’m not sure.”

“Ahem, I see. Well, I suppose that can’t be helped then.”

This was how he would typically avoid answering when someone tried to probe about his fake fiancée.

It didn’t make sense that he wasn’t engaging in any marriage activities, even with a fake fiancée in place. 

Usually, in this world, the common noble practice was to set up a fake fiancée while secretly maintaining a relationship with an heir from a powerful family.

That left the second possibility: the fiancée had already been decided, but it couldn’t be publicly announced.

In such cases, it usually meant that Ethan’s match was either a member of the Royal Family or a royal from another country.

The engagement itself was probably made much earlier. It would have been before Ethan fell into a sleep due to the curse, so it was likely at least 10 years ago.

‘The most likely candidates are… roughly three people?’

Among those in the Royal Family, there were Second Princess Luchetia and Fourth Princess Mezlen. As for royalty from other countries, there was Princess Rainy of the Nostarina Kingdom.

Naturally, all three were beyond my reach. To begin with, none of them were currently at Luminor Academy.

Mezlen and Princess Rainy were too young, while Luchetia was simply too stupid to have the skills to enter the academy.

In fact, for the Second Princess, it wasn’t just her stupidity but more that she had no interest in academics. Even someone as stupid as her couldn’t be denied admission to the academy if they were from the Royal Family.

However, Luchetia didn’t enter Luminor Academy because she was too busy doing whatever she wanted.

‘That’s also why Seraphine detests her so much.’

In the original world setting, the only members of the Royal Family who could truly be considered Seraphine’s ‘siblings’ were Luchetia and Antonio.

With a stupid older sister indulging in luxury above her and a younger brother who had lost motivation and felt pessimistic about life below her, it was perfectly understandable why Seraphine fell for the Hero in the original story, with no one to rely on.

At least in this world, Antonio had come to his senses, so things were slightly better, but that wouldn’t have improved Seraphine’s hatred for Luchetia.

‘I don’t know about the other two… but it absolutely can’t be Luchetia.’

If she really was Ethan’s fiancée in the original story, then the Blackwood family was doomed to destruction. 

She was like a terrible villain who caused stress whenever encountered at Luminor Academy.

Well, there wasn’t much I could do, anyway. I’d be fortunate if I didn’t disappear without a trace for poking around the affairs of Imperial or foreign royalty.

That was the end of my search for Ethan’s hidden fiancée. 

It felt unsettling, but I didn’t want to risk my life investigating.

Even though I was playing the role of Ethan’s temporary fiancée, I shouldn’t be under the delusion that my behavior should be that of a future duchess. 

I was merely a servant of the Blackwood family and Ethan’s exclusive maid.

‘If only Ethan’s fiancée had appeared in the original story, it would have been less frustrating.’

The reason Ethan’s fiancée didn’t appear in the original story was obviously due to Ethan’s death (or seclusion). 

In Luminor Academy, Ethan’s role was to exit the story just before becoming a third-year student after completing his second year.

It must have been like a dream come true for that unknown fiancée. 

The Ethan in the original story wasn’t as tall as he is now and had a horrible appearance with excessive fat, so she must have been wishing for the engagement to be broken more than anyone.

It was also natural that I didn’t know who it was, even after playing the original game 24.5 times, because the person who broke off the engagement with Ethan wouldn’t have gone around saying, “Actually, I was Ethan’s fiancée.”

‘As for me… I obviously wouldn’t be among the candidates.’

The only son of the Blackwood Ducal family marrying a provisional baroness of ambiguous status from the frontier? Kidding?

Moreover, with just a little investigation, it would be revealed that I was originally a commoner.

Ethan wouldn’t take such a risky action… well, I couldn’t say it was completely impossible, but in any case, Harold, as the head of the family, would likely not permit it.

‘Anyway, I decided to think of it as just a momentary dream.’

Two and a half years until graduation from the academy.

This was all the time allowed for Ethan and me.

As with any typical academy game, Luminor Academy naturally had a ‘student cafeteria.’

It wasn’t like a cafeteria from my original world where mass-produced food was served, but rather a cafeteria where various menu items were laid out on individual plates, and you took as much as you wanted to eat.

The cafeteria was free to use. More precisely, it was included in the ridiculously expensive academy tuition, so it would be a waste not to eat there. Above all, the quality of the food wasn’t that bad.

Ethan, Agnes, and I were frequent users of the student cafeteria.

Agnes and I didn’t have very generous financial situations to begin with, so it was unavoidable. Ethan’s personality was somewhat distant from excessive spending.

He was the type to spend decisively when necessary, but not spend when it wasn’t needed, so there was no reason to look for other restaurants on the Island of Knowledge, where prices were high.

Therefore, our daily routine included having lunch at the student cafeteria attached to the student union building. Occasionally, we would share a table with the August siblings, Seraphine, or Seriste.

During one such ordinary day, Agnes suddenly pointed out the relationship between Ethan and me.

“Aren’t you two sticking too close together these days?”

“I don’t understand what you mean, Miss Agnes.”

“Is there a reason why an exclusive maid and her master shouldn’t often accompany each other?”

“That’s not what I mean. I mean you’re too physically close to each other.”

During mealtime, Agnes sighed and pointed at Ethan and me with the knife in her hand from across the table.

“There’s no need to be so attached. You’ve been like this every time since the semester started.”

“Pardon?”

“Hm?”

“Every day in the cafeteria, sticking together and feeding each other—is that accompaniment? It’s just rubbing salt in the wound. Or are you protesting that I’m in the way of your date and should leave?”

“What are you saying, Miss Agnes? I have never thought of you as being in the way.”

“There’s nothing wrong with having more people at the dining table. Here, Lilith. Ah.”

“Ah… mm, it’s delicious, Young Master.”

“You two are being ridiculous.”

That was Agnes’s straightforward comment after seeing me eat a piece of steak from Ethan’s fork.

Well, to be honest, I wasn’t completely immune to embarrassment, either. It would be strange if I felt no shame at all about sticking so closely to Ethan and feeding each other every other bite.

But, well, being embarrassed wasn’t a big deal.

If this relationship was only going to last until we graduated from the academy, I wanted to enjoy various things thoroughly during my time at the academy.

I didn’t want to regret later thinking, ‘Ah, I should have tried that too.’

It was a bit disappointing that I was doing things I had wanted to do with a girlfriend in my previous life while being a woman in this life, but this was still better than not doing them at all.

“Young Master Ethan, say ‘ah.'”

“Ah~.”

“…Sigh. If Seraphine weren’t so busy, I would just have meals with her.”

“That’s why I suggested you should join the Student Council, didn’t I? Since the Young Master and I left, there must be at least two vacant positions.”

“I don’t have time for that. I’m already busy with research, what do I need the Student Council for?”

Well, Agnes would be busy, being Agnes. She was preoccupied with both her studies and personal research on fire magic.

In the end, Agnes was in this predicament because she had no one else to eat with besides me. On my end, however, I planned to spend as much time as possible with Ethan during the remaining two and a half years.

To let go without regrets when the time came, I needed to enjoy various things now.

“Miss Agnes, won’t Prince Antonio be entering the academy next year? From then on, you won’t need to see the Young Master and me flaunting our relationship, so please bear with us for just one semester.”

“…What are you talking about? He and I are just acquaintances.”

“Even if you’re just acquaintances, isn’t it fine to have meals together at mealtime? Do you think meals should only be shared with family, friends, or lovers, Miss Agnes?”

“…I’ve lost my appetite. I’m just going to leave.”

“Alright. I’ll stop now, so please sit down. Young Master, please move away as well.”

“Ah, okay.”

“……”

Seeing Ethan and me instantly move apart as soon as she said she was leaving, Agnes gave us an incredulous look before sitting back down to continue her meal.

As I was secretly smiling at Agnes, who had been eating dishes with carrots more frequently since the advice at the campsite…

CRASH!

Our attention was drawn to a small disturbance that occurred in one corner of the student cafeteria.

T/N

Thanks for reading, see you in the next one!