"Greetings, Grand Duke Averill." Sir Edward said with sheer politeness. "I'm relieved that you've arrived safely at the palace, Your Grace."

"It's been a while, Edward." Alistair's tone was low and manly, contrary to the shrill voice he had when I met him as a kid. "You shouldn't have went out of your way to greet me like this. I know everyone is busy with the banquet's preparations."

"Nonsense. The Averill duchy is the shield that protects the empire." The head butler replied in dissent, bowing his head and placing a hand on his chest. "Such courtesy is only right and necessary."

Alistair gently patted the butler's shoulder. His silver hair seemed out of place under the brightness of the sun, and I'm sure it looks better in the cold and faded north. However, his golden eyes were as beautiful as I remember them, brimming with confidence and full of conviction.

"As per my usual request, please refrain from sending me maids with blonde hair." Alistair said out of nowhere, which had me nonplussed.

What's with that oddly specific request?

"Understood, Your Grace." And Sir Edward is accepting it just like that?!

"So it's the same this time, too." Leila commented.

"What do you mean?" I curiously pried.

"Rumour has it that Grand Duke Averill dislikes women with blonde hair." Leila explained in hushes. "No one really knows why but it's the usual drill, so... Bye for now, Belle! I'm sure you'll be designated to the outer part of the palace."

He dislikes women with blonde hair? Why? I don't want to sound self-important, but... is it because of me, perhaps? Does blonde hair remind him of me?

Seriously, there's no reason for him to be fixated on a random kid he only met once. While I'm a bit touched that he thinks of me that much, I would've preferred it if he just forgot about me and moved on with his life. I'm not worthy of his sentiment.

"Wait. I shouldn't get ahead of myself." I quickly dismissed my own idea. "Perhaps he simply hates blonde hair in general. It's not related to me."

Shortly, the Grand Duke of Averill made his way inside the Sun Palace to give his greetings to the emperor. He walked with an air of dignity and never threw a single glance on anyone.

Well, I'm glad he didn't. If I met his gaze even once, I would've been shaken by his golden eyes.

Anyway, I was strictly instructed by Sir Edward to stay in the outer part of the palace as soon as he noticed my blonde hair sticking out among my peers. Well, shit. I'm sorry if you find my hair color annoying.

"It's nice to see you again, Alistair." I whispered to the wind while looking at the Sun Palace where he went. "I pray that you find peace and happiness."

I was a bit disappointed to be assigned somewhere far from the main hall, but I guess it's also for the better. I'm not sure if Alistair would recognise me at first glance, but it's a fact that he had seen my face once.

By any chance he discovers that I'm the same kid who's supposed to be dead, he might accuse me of using black magic. No one should ever know.

---

Due to the preparations for the banquet, I was restless for the next few days. Thanks to that, however, I slowly got used to the life of a maid.

The outermost part of the palace was where the low-ranking nobles were staying, so I spent most of my time catering to their needs. So far, so good. The other maids were also nice to me.

"Have you had dinner, Belle?" Wendy asked when we came across each other at the hallway.

I halted from wiping the windows. "Not yet."

This lady here is Wendy, the one whom I've been especially close with these days. She's got peculiar blue hair and aquamarine eyes. Wendy was never mentioned in the novel, so she must be an extra like Leila, Rumi, and even me. All hail extras!

"I'm done, so let me do that." My blue-haired friend offered thoughtfully. "Go grab a bite."

"Wendy," I turned to her, teary-eyed. "Marry me."

She laughed. "Unfortunately, I prefer men."

After a few banters, I excused myself from her to have my dinner. However, much to my surprise when I arrived at the kitchen, there was some kind of commotion among the head chef and the maids.

I joined their little circle. "What's up?"

One of the servants was crying and the others were comforting her. I also noticed a tray of untouched food on the trolley nearby.

"That Viscount Silvia tried to lay his hands on another maid again." One of them said in a reprehensive tone. "Why can't men keep their hands to themselves?!"

"Shush! Do you want to die?!" Another one interrupted nervously. "A noble is still a noble! No matter what atrocities they commit, all we can do is swallow our pride and eat their shit!"

The head chef breathed a deep sigh. "So, who's going to bring him his food?" The elderly man queried.

All the maids exchanged agitated looks. By the looks of it, no one wants to do it. They must be scared.

I raised my hand. "I'll do it."

"B-Belle? Are you sure?" The maid who was crying asked with a hint of concern.

"Yeah, I don't mind. If he tries to get under my dress, I'll threaten that scumbag and tell him to stop if he doesn't want me tattling to the head butler." I gave them a reassuring smile.

All of them looked genuinely worried.

"What if he tries to hurt you, Belle?"

"If he dares to raise his hand against me, then even better. That'd be evidence." I reasoned.

"B-But..."

"Listen, we are maids of the Sun Palace and we serve the imperial family of Solaris. Touching us would be akin to touching something that belongs to the imperial family, so we shouldn't be scared." I explained with an air of confidence.

"Belle!" They sentimentally called in unison.

"I know, I know. I'm so cool, right?" I jokingly remarked. "Anyway, don't worry about me and get back to work. I'll get this done in no time!"

I took the trolley and waved them goodbye before leaving the kitchen and heading to the viscount's room.

I'd be lying if I said that I'm not scared, but my anger outweighs my fear. I can't blame the maids for being submissive, because this is an era where gender and status play a big role in society.

Compared to them, however, I'm someone from the 21st century and a different world at that, so I'm not easily shaken by such harassment. There's no way I'll bow down to such a disgusting piece of shit.

He needs to learn his lesson.

When I arrived in front of the viscount's room, I took a deep breath before knocking twice. "Excuse me, my lord."

The viscount peered behind the door upon opening it. "What is it?"

I cleared my throat. "I've come to serve you dinner."

"Oh, come in." He flashed a lascivious grin before widening the door.

Viscount Silvia was a man of tawny hair, lanky build, and average looks, probably around his late thirties. Incredibly shameless, by the way. While I was serving the food on his table, he was openly leering at my breasts. It made my skin crawl, but I tried my best to seem impervious until I was done.

I bowed to him. "Enjoy your meal, my lord."

The viscount looked at me from head to toe. "This is the first time I've seen you."

"That is because I am originally a maid from the main hall." I replied without lifting my gaze.

"Is that so?" He ran an eye over me and rubbed his chin in satisfaction. "You're quite pretty."

I faked a smile. "You flatter me."

Before I could even react, his hand was already on my waist. My face distorted in revulsion when he started rubbing my hips. I immediately took a step back and lowered my face to hide my disgust.

What a scumbag.

"My apologies, but I'm afraid you can't do that to me, my lord." I told him as calm as possible.

"This bitch!" He seemed taken aback that I called him out. "Do you know who I am?!"

"I am aware that you are a viscount." I responded, my head still lowered. "But that doesn't give you any right to touch the maids inappropriately."

His voice thundered across the room. "You wench!"

The next thing I knew, he seized the vase from a distance then bashed it on my head. The sound of the vase shattering rang on my ears.

For a moment, I was stupefied, because I didn't think he would actually hurt me. We were still in the palace, after all. I thought he'd at least have some sense to not hurt a maid from the palace.

I placed a hand on my forehead as it bled profusely. Wow, he's dumber than I thought.

"I am a noble and you're nothing but a lowly commoner! How dare you lecture me?!"

I was rendered speechless at the sight of my own blood on the floor. When I finally snapped out of it, I immediately stood up and rushed towards the door. I had just held the knob when the viscount dragged me back and hurled me against the wall.

I screamed on top of my lungs while squirming from his grip. This fucker... He's batshit crazy!

"You pompous bitch! I praise you a bit and you look down on me?!" He spitted on my face.

This time, I heard some panicked voices and consecutive knocks at the door. Viscount Silvia, however, didn't seem to be on the right mind at the moment. He was so fixated on me and his face was totally flushed in anger.

"What is this commotion all about?" A familiar voice spoke outside the room.

"Y-Your Grace, there's a maid screaming inside but the viscount isn't opening the door."

I lost my strength and slumped on the floor.

"Stand back." I heard someone unsheathing their sword.

I was still out of breath when somebody whacked the door open with their blade. With both hands, I covered the side of my forehead in an attempt to stop the bleeding, but drops of blood still escaped from my fingers.

"Heh. A mere viscount dares to act as if he owns the servants in this palace?" The glimpse of his bright, silver hair made me want to cry. "Quite some nerve you've got there, Viscount Silvia."

It was Alistair.

"Belle!" Wendy, who was behind the Grand Duke, impetuously ran towards me.

I could feel Alistair's eyes on me, but I didn't dare to look back at him. I admit that I wanted to meet him, but not in this way. Not me in such a state.

"G-Grand Duke Averill!" The viscount didn't seem to expect him to intervene.

Alistair frowned. "What is this shameful behaviour?"

"That maid was rude to me first!" The viscount lied through gritted teeth. The audacity of this guy!

"Oh?" The second male lead tilted his head. "Shall we hear the maid's account, then? She's injured."

I flinched on my spot. I couldn't find my voice.

"Belle, tell the Grand Duke what happened." Wendy encouraged me.

I swallowed the lump on my throat. "He touched me without my consent. I rejected his advances and told him that being a viscount doesn't give him any right to touch the maids inappropriately."

Wendy gasped in horror. "B-Belle!"

"I admit that I may have spoken out of line, but he's been pestering the maids lately and causing them much discomfort." I bravely spoke. "Someone had to tell him so I did."

"This bitch-!" The viscount was about to hit me again but the Grand Duke stopped him.

"Viscount, would you please shut up? I'm already annoyed as it is." Alistair said in a warning tone. He returned his gaze on me. "You there. Raise your head."

Despite my vision getting hazy, I did as he ordered and lifted my gaze to him. At that moment, I didn't care anymore.

Our reunion was far from ideal and this was definitely not how I imagined it to be, but even if the circumstances weren't like this, it wouldn't have made much difference.

He's the Grand Duke of the Averill duchy and the second male lead of this novel. I'm a maid of lowly origins and an extra who's supposed to be dead. There's no ideal way for two people of such roles to meet.

As soon as he saw my face, Alistair seemed at a loss of words.

"You..." he muttered grimly, as if he saw a ghost from his past.

Before I could even say anything, my consciousness faded away.

---