The Tyrant’s Leash Is Held by a Maid

“Well…  So…”

Liana lifted her head, which had been glued to the map, and looked about.

It was her mistake, so it was good that she came out bravely saying she’d bring the accessories herself. But she overlooked one thing.

‘Liana Siodo, you suck at directions…’

After taking a deep breath, Liana buried her nose in the map again.

In the invitation from Prince Illyd, it was written that he would like to have dinner with Lady Natasha after they saw the flower garden. If she was outdoors, the wind would disturb her hair. And Liana had planned to decorate Lady Natasha’s head with her hair up using flower-shaped pins. That was Liana’s plan for Natasha’s hair. However, she hadn’t planned to forget the bag containing the ornaments in the carriage.

Miss Natasha told her not to go herself, but to send another maid. But Liana insisted she would go on her own since the distance between the Imperial Palace and wagon storage wasn’t far away. She claimed she wanted to resolve it herself since it was her mistake, but inside, she felt differently.

A single piece of jewelry used by nobles had a price comparable to a maid’s annual salary. Liana did not know how long an ordinary maid would have to work to pay the debt for lost accessories. Perhaps the jewels could be lost on the way. She thought it was unlikely that the court ladies of the Imperial Palace would behave carelessly, but Liana didn’t want to entertain the possibility.

‘Debt? I’m finally living this much, but to be in debt? I can’t do that.’

Thus, while Lady Natasha rested, Liana followed the directions on a map and arrived at the wagon storage. Fortunately, the ornaments in the bag were safe.

But she was lucky only for a moment.  Liana sighed again moments later at another mistake of her own.

“Where am I…?”

She had been foolish to think she could return just fine following the same path she took before.

The Palace was too wide, and the map was too simplified. If there was any servant, she would have asked already, but, as if she had taken a wrong turn, she couldn’t even see the usual guards. Liana’s black shoes pounded nervously on the marble floor of the corridor where the red sunset shone.

‘I must be inside the Imperial Palace, so why does it turn out like this?’

Liana stood there, looking around and measuring the time. At the end of the long corridor, she saw a large door. Even at first glance, the ivory-colored door with a large lion symbolizing the Empire engraved in the center was not an ordinary door.

She decided that she would not wander any further and instead would wait for someone here.  Liana was sure help was nearby. And before long, the door opened. Liana’s face brightened when she saw someone exit. As she expected, from that dignified room came a series of maids who politely bowed on their way out.

She just needed to ask the lady-in-waiting. Having found her savior, Liana was excited to return to her Lady, and she quickened her steps.

“Excuse me! I’m a maid from the Baldwin family, and I got lost on my way from the wagon depot. If it’s okay with you…”

“Baldwin?”

However, once again, Liana’s plan didn’t go as she expected. It was because the face of an unexpected person exited the room while the door was still ajar. As soon as Liana saw the room’s owner, she hurriedly put her hands together and bowed her head.

“I greet His Highness, the Prince of the Great Empire.”

“No need for formalities. What are you doing here?”

Illyd spoke to her in a friendly manner, nevertheless, Liana couldn’t help but keep her head low because… 

Because he was taking off his shirt.

Liana’s eyes wandered here and there, unable to find a place to fix her eyes to avoid the Prince’s naked body.

“Did Natasha send you?”

“That, it’s not…”

Her eyes, wandering in the air for a long time, barely settled in the mane of the lion carved on the door.

“It’s not that. I got lost on the way from the wagon depot. I came here to ask for directions–”

“Where are you looking at while you speak?”

Illyd asked, following the direction where Liana’s erratic gaze had reached.

“Although the lion is a symbol of the Imperial Family, the subject of the said symbol is right in front of you.”

“I, I apologize!”

Surprised by Illyd’s body coming closer, Liana hurriedly stepped back. Any man’s nudity would startle her, but it was even more so since it was Prince Illyd’s exposed top. Unlike when sheathed in clothing, his chiseled, muscular torso was overwhelming.

Liana could not raise her head, her gaze was absorbed by the body of an overly perfect man.

“I apologize, I was flustered…”

“There’s nothing to be flustered about.”

Illyd had been watching her candid reactions, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly. On the other hand, Liana, who couldn’t see his face, was just trying to hide her blasphemous thoughts.

Keeping his own mischievous thoughts to himself, Illyd grabbed Liana’s wrist.

“It’s fine. It’s actually a good thing. There was something I wanted to ask you.”

“So-something to ask?”

Liana’s eyes widened when suddenly a large hand grabbed her wrist.

‘Lady Natasha must be waiting.’ However, unable to disobey the Prince’s order, her feet crossed the threshold of the bedroom as Illyd led them.

For a moment, Liana’s worries vanished and her eyes widened at the sight of Illyd’s luxurious bedroom. It was hard to count how many windows there were. Six dome-shaped windows, dazzlingly decorated. Eight on the ceiling. And over there… Liana had thought that her Lady’s bedroom was luxurious, but the Prince’s bedroom was truly on a different level. 

While lost in thoughts, the Prince’s hard chest came into her line of sight. As Liana bowed her head in surprise, Illyd bent down and made eye contact with her. His eyes, like a blue sea reflecting the Milky Way, were folded like half-moons.

“You… Pick some clothes for me.“

Dazed while watching the Prince’s smile, Liana suddenly realized that he was still holding her wrist.

“The clothes, for what occasion?”

She struggled to hide her trembling and carefully pulled her hand from his large unyielding one.

“For dinner. What kind of clothes does your Master like?”

Illyd gently released her hand while answering. At those words, Liana’s heart quickly regained its composure.

‘So that was why.’ Like the pieces of a puzzle fitting perfectly, Liana understood the Prince’s actions. She was wondering why he brought her in a hurry, and it seemed to be because he wanted to look good to Lady Natasha. And, since Liana was just a maid, not a woman, it was obvious he wouldn’t have any trouble baring his body to her.* Liana quickly grasped the situation and answered with a calm attitude.

“Lady Natasha… She likes neat and modest clothes. She prefers men who dress neatly, even if they look simple, rather than clothing with colorful embroidery.”

“And you?” Illyd asked casually as if not giving much thought. “What kind of clothes do you like for men?”

“I… I’m just like Lady Natasha. A man dressed neatly.”

“Hmm.”

Illyd’s brows furrowed slightly in response to her simple answer, but it lasted just a second. He relaxed his expression, shrugged, and asked.

“What should I wear then? Pick something for me, I trust your eyes.”

One side of the bedroom held numerous suits lined up by the attendants. Liana had mainly helped women to dress and so looked at the suits with troubled eyes. Hesitating a little, she finally chose a white shirt and a glossy gray cravat. The vest she selected also had a simple design with black buttons.

Without commenting, Illyd picked up the clothes Liana had chosen. Worried at his possible reaction when seeing her choices, Liana sighed in relief when Illyd went to the dressing-room. Liana waited nervously for Illyd to reappear. At the thought of her Lady waiting for her, she kept glancing at the door unconsciously.

He finally emerged wearing the new outfit and met Liana’s eyes through the mirror.

“Isn’t it too boring?”

“I think it’s perfect.”

“Really?”

Illyd looked at his reflection indifferently. Wearing what Liana chose, he definitely appeared more modest than when in his fancy, soft tailcoat. However, the gray-toned attire highlighted his bright face even more. Neat clothes without any decorations revealed Illyd’s wide shoulders and balanced body without any addition or subtraction. The slightly tight suit felt a little tighter near the back and thighs. However, the elegant face that anyone would have thought was beautiful appeared somewhat displeased.

Noticing his dissatisfaction, Liana glanced at the numerous cravat decorations brought by the servants. Her fast-moving eyes stopped at an obsidian pin studded with diamonds.

“If you think it’s too plain, this…”

As Liana lifted the pin, Illyd approached her as if asking her to do it. Liana steeled her face to calmness and placed the black-gem pin into Illyd’s cravat. Illyd bent over so that she could easily attach the jewel and stared at Liana’s white face intensely.

With a click, Liana, who made sure she had correctly placed the safety on the back, lowered her hand. She took a step back from Illyd, pretending to be as composed as possible.

“It’s done.”

Blue eyes like the night sky and purple eyes like the sky at dawn briefly met. Moments later, Illyd smiled after looking at her like a child observing an exotic animal for the first time.

“Thanks, Natasha Baldwin’s maid.”

“It was my honor.”

“It would have been nice to have a maid like you in the Imperial Palace. It’s a pity.”

Even though there was a maid right next to them, Liana bowed her head, hiding her embarrassment at the Prince’s childish remark. But the court ladies standing by looked as calm as always, as if such behavior was typical.