Get to Work, Prince! Chapter 13 - Good-for-Nothing Madman

It seemed as though the surrounding workers and maids were deliberately moving their feet very slowly and casting sidelong glances, almost as if they were watching her reaction.

 

‘What’s this?’

 

She tried to brush it off as just her imagination and told herself it wasn’t a big deal, but once the seed of suspicion had sprouted, it refused to wither away easily.

 

Was this an intentional approach?

 

They said the Crown Prince might extend his demonic claws, but she never imagined it would be in this kind of way.

 

‘Is he testing me… or trying to recruit me…?’

 

The workload might be similar to now, or possibly even heavier, but it would be a position with an excellent direct superior who genuinely respects colleagues.

 

An environment where the Crown Prince himself, the one who highly values ability, never skimps on praise whenever they meet, and is both merciful and gentle, serves as the highest authority.

 

If this kind of offer had come just one month earlier, Renata might have jumped at it without a second thought.

 

“Because I have to keep faith with the person I currently serve, I’m afraid I won’t be able to gladly accept the proposal. Still, I’m truly grateful just for the offer.”

 

Jaderic, who had been watching her closely as she refused with a refreshing smile, asked again.

 

“There isn’t… some other reason, is there?”

 

Reading the glint in his gleaming eyes, Renata felt a chill run down her spine.

 

‘What… does he already know and is asking anyway?’

 

On top of that, she couldn’t shake the persistent feeling that the gazes around her were focusing on her even more intensely.

 

‘No, it can’t be.’

 

To forcibly lower the endlessly rising tension, she consciously tried to attribute it to something superficial.

 

Maybe it was because of her clothes? Even though she had deliberately chosen the most plain and modest design possible, it was still quite an expensive outfit for a commoner…

 

But then again, it wasn’t rare to see commoner mistresses wearing dresses far more extravagant than her current riding attire, adorned lavishly with jewels all over their bodies.

 

For those few seconds while she frantically racked her brain, she could see Jaderic’s eyes sparkling with clear interest.

 

If she delayed answering any longer here, it would definitely arouse suspicion.

 

“That part… I’m afraid it’s difficult for me to say.”

 

It really was difficult.

 

Because… she still hadn’t come up with a suitable answer yet, and this was just something she said to buy herself time.

 

Even the way her voice trailed off mournfully at the end made it sound as though she had some unspeakable story, because the other person’s eyebrow twitched.

 

“If it’s something you wish for, His Highness would gladly help as well. Could you not at least give me a hint?”

 

“That’s…”

 

Think, think!

 

A salary issue? That would be an embarrassing excuse to even bring up, since they could just offer more money from their side, and it would be solved.

 

Excessive workload? Just look at those dark circles under Jaderic’s eyes—did she really have any right to complain about that in front of him?

 

“It’s because of His Highness!”

 

She had thrown the words out impulsively just to stall for time, but now she thought maybe this was actually a fairly plausible excuse.

 

The man was infamous for constantly breaking common sense with his words and actions, so people might just assume he’d done something bizarre to his own aide as well and let it slide…

 

‘But why does Jaderic’s expression look like… that?’

 

His eyelids had lifted slightly higher than usual, clearly showing doubt, so Renata hurriedly added more.

 

“I mean, he’s not exactly an ordinary person. Even just today, for no reason at all…”

 

“Aide.”

 

Jaderic, who had called out to Renata, slowly moved his eyes from side to side before fixing them on the top of her head.

 

A gesture clearly telling her to stop talking, and a gaze that seemed directed not at her, but at someone behind her.

 

Then he bent at the waist, showing perfect courtesy to whoever it was.

 

“Go on. It was just starting to get interesting.”

 

Had this familiar voice from behind her ever sounded so chilling before?

 

Renata, who had unmistakably been caught badmouthing her own superior right in front of the man himself, squeezed her eyes shut and spoke.

 

“Aide Jaderic, didn’t you say you had a lot of work? Please go ahead. I’ll come find you first next time.”

 

Leave this to me here…

 

“…Yes. I’ll be waiting.”

 

Just as Jaderic, who had been cautiously reading the mood, was about to leave—

 

“Claubalt, you’re not seriously planning to dump everything on such a frail lady and run away, are you?”

 

Theodore called out to him in a refreshingly bright voice.

 

“Wow, Your Highness! I was just about to report on the progress of the work, and I was going to send Aide Jaderic off first…”

 

“What, you mean that carriage over there? It’s obvious preparations are almost finished, and your work is always perfect anyway, so I don’t particularly want to hear unnecessary reports.”

 

“I also have something I’d like to tell Your Highness personally.”

 

As Renata turned around and gave a light, fluttering smile, Theodore averted his eyes in bewilderment before gesturing with his chin to dismiss the other man.

 

She watched Jaderic walk away for a long moment before slowly tilting her head to the side.

 

He did the same thing last time, and now he’s doing it again.

 

Whenever she smiles, the prince suddenly becomes very docile.

 

‘Or maybe he’s just awkward?’

 

Well, it’s certainly difficult to maintain a gentle demeanor when faced with His Highness’s extraordinary words and actions.

 

He probably lacks immunity to this kind of reaction.

 

“…You said you had something to say.”

 

At Theodore’s words, Renata quickly stepped close to him and fluttered her hand, asking him to lend her his ear.

 

As he looked down at her from such close range, the space between his brows suddenly tightened sharply. Then, out of nowhere, he took off his jacket and began tying it around her waist.

 

Renata interpreted the series of actions as him accepting her request and lowering himself toward her, so she pressed close to him and whispered.

 

“Your Highness, it seems we’re being watched.”

 

She had tried to convey the message as discreetly as possible, but apparently it didn’t sit well with him, the displeased aura that had been confined to his brow now spread across his entire face.

 

Seeing that his expression looked more uncomfortable than simply angry, she hesitantly started to step back, but he immediately shook his head.

 

“I know. It’s an event hosted by the Crown Prince, so this much was fully expected.”

 

When Theodore whispered back into her ear just as she had done, she instantly understood why he had been acting strangely.

 

The breath touching her delicate skin was unbearably ticklish, causing her body to instinctively shrink.

 

“So what should we do?”

 

“Just act like you normally do. We’ll turn the spies against themselves and use them to prove our innocence.”

 

“What if more people approach me as blatantly as Aide Jaderic did?”

 

“You’re good at something, aren’t you?”

 

What was that? Improvising on the spot?

 

Theodore let out a soft chuckle as he met Renata’s questioning gaze.

 

“Badmouthing me. Whenever someone says something troublesome, just use me as an excuse to brush them off like you did just now.”

 

“…That’s probably the hardest thing in the world.”

 

“No, I think you could do it right this second.”

 

As she was about to respond half-heartedly, intending to lightly brush off the sophistry that was starting to spill out, he pointed somewhere and said, “Look over there.”

 

The sword at Theodore’s waist. Or, to be precise, the ornament tied to the hilt.

 

The thing that had been hidden by his jacket until just moments ago was…

 

“Why is that hair tie here?”

 

More accurately, it was an extravagant item adorned with diamonds worth the price of an entire mansion.

 

And it was the very same item she had returned to the dressing room just a few days ago, so why was it here now?

 

‘That damn prince, don’t tell me…!’

 

He had pretended to know nothing, even signed off on the report, and then, behind her back, he was sabotaging things like this?

 

If he was going to do that, he could at least have rejected some of the work to lighten her load!

 

She hadn’t even voiced it aloud, yet as if he had heard every word of her inner thoughts, he burst into laughter.

 

Laughing? Is this funny to you?

 

“Ahaha, your reactions are so entertaining that I can’t help but keep teasing you.”

 

“I’m truly honored to have contributed to Your Highness’s happiness.”

 

“You being happy makes me feel good too.”

 

Seeing the fire blazing in Renata’s eyes, Theodore pursed his lips inward and shrugged his shoulders as if holding back another laugh.

 

“Just so you know, attaching a woman’s accessory to a sword hilt is something that should only be decided after very careful consideration.”

 

Some young knights had ornaments dangling from their swords, and every single one of them was either someone’s lover or about to be married.

 

In other words, it was a custom practiced only by those whose relationships were clearly defined.

 

“I know.”

 

“Then why is someone who already knows doing this?”

 

“Even guys uglier than me are walking around with them—wouldn’t I feel left out if I was the only one without one?”

 

“If that’s the reason, then shouldn’t you pick one of the items that were sent to you, Your Highness? Because that one… I never gave it to you.”

 

“Ah, is this yours?”

 

This was a trap.

 

The prince, who never missed a chance to tease her, would definitely never return it if she admitted it was hers.

 

So if she confirmed it here, she would inevitably end up as the aide who had presented her own possession to the prince with ulterior motives.

 

“No, I already gave up ownership and returned it, so it belongs entirely to Your Highness now. Besides, the gem matches the buttons on the riding outfit you’re currently wearing perfectly, so there’s absolutely no sense of mismatch.”

 

She had expected him to sulk since it wasn’t the answer he wanted, but unexpectedly, he only gave a wry smile and changed the subject.

 

As if he had already anticipated she would answer that way.

 

“I’ll be away for a few days because of some business.”

 

Since the prince was the leader of the rebels, if he was leaving his position for something, it could only mean he was heading out on a dangerous mission, right?

 

“Please make sure to remember that you have to return before the weekend banquet. I’ll pray for your safe return.”

 

“Wow, you’re really sending me off right away. You’re not even a little sad that you won’t see me for a while?”

 

“Didn’t you just say ‘a few days’?”

 

She shot him a look that said, It’s not even months, just a short while, so what are you talking about?, but no reply came.

 

Renata was just about to play along and give an appropriately light response when she suddenly found herself opening and closing her mouth wordlessly.

 

Because Theodore had stretched his lips into an exaggeratedly pouty, genuinely hurt expression.

 

“Ha… how did I end up becoming such an idiot?”

 

With those final words, he left.

 

But even after he was gone, the image of Theodore turning away while letting out deep, heavy sighs kept circling endlessly in her mind.