Frankly, I was mildly nervous since this was supposed to be my first day serving Grand Duke Averill. Well, shit. I didn't think it'd be my last, too.

Forget about being mildly nervous. I'm basically quaking in my shoes after Ma'am Olivia decided that she had nothing better to do than to splash a bucket of water on the grand duke.

"M-Ma'am," I stammered. There's only the two of us here and no one saw us yet, so we can still save our asses. "It's not too late to make a run for it."

To my surprise, the Grand Duke opened his eyes and jolted out of the bed. His eyes roamed around in confusion, and he looked like a lost puppy as his body shivered from the ice-cold water.

I waited for him to reproach the head maid, but Alistair simply stared blankly at us then rubbed his half-lidded eyes. He seemed half-asleep.

"As you can see, he's a morning dunce." Ma'am Olivia implied, even gesturing her palm towards the Grand Duke.

"D-Dunce?" I sweated profusely. "I'm not sure if we should be calling the grand duke a dunce..."

"A dunce, dolt, birdbrain, or blockhead... It doesn't matter what you call him. It just means that he's as useless as a newborn in the morning." Her words made me shriek in horror. Jesus, don't say that while I'm here! If you want to die, at least don't drag me to hell with you!

Thankfully, Alistair didn't seem to be on the right mind to listen to our conversation. Seriously, he looked like he was on cloud nine.

"Anyway, like I've said, His Grace requires a lot of help at this hour. He'll only get into his senses once he's had his tea, so make sure it's already brewed before you do this." Ma'am Olivia explained to me while pouring a cup of tea.

I bit my nails nervously. "Do I also have to wake him up like this?"

"You can slap him if you want." She suggested.

"Haha, I'd rather not." I laughed awkwardly then shot her a horrified look. Like hell I'd do that. Stop suggesting things that would get me killed.

"Your Grace," Ma'am Olivia tapped the lord's shoulder lightly. "Please have some tea."

The Grand Duke absentmindedly took up on her offer then relished the chamomile tea. While waiting for him to finish it, the head maid and I stood quietly on the side of his bed. After quite some time, Alistair handed the cup to us, not leaving a single drop. Looks like the tea really helped since he seemed fully awake now.

"Thank you, Olivia. The tea is especially delicious today." The Averill lord softly remarked.

"It was prepared by Belle, Your Grace." Ma'am Olivia replied.

"Ah," His eyes darted on me. "You were here, too."

You're only noticing me now? I've been here the whole time. Is this what it means to be an extra?

"Good morning, Your Grace." I politely greeted.

"Yes." He gave me a lazy smile. "Good morning."

The grand duke finally got up from his bed to get ready for today. When Ma'am Olivia said that the bath was ready, Alistair told us not to disturb him and that he didn't need any assistance in the bath. With that, he departed and left the two of us in the room.

"So that's the end of my morning duties, Ma'am?" I asked the head maid once we were alone.

"No. I told you, didn't I? He's a morning dunce."

Despite the Grand Duke's orders, Ma'am Olivia headed to the bath so I had no choice but to follow her. When we stopped by the door, the head maid turned to me with a stern face.

"After he enters the bath, you stay here for ten minutes, Belle." she instructed.

I was confused, but still answered. "Okay..."

Without moving an inch, we stood quietly by the door. I don't understand. What exactly are we doing here? Alistair said he didn't need any assistance, so what's the point of waiting here outside?

Finally, what seemed to be an eternity ended when Ma'am Olivia spoke. "We're going inside."

"Huh?" I panicked. "Can we really do that?"

I mean, he's taking a bath and he clearly told us not to disturb him. Can we just barge in like that?

Of course, he's the second male lead so I kinda wanna see him butt naked, too... but not at the cost of my life!

"Ma'am, don't give in to the temptation and calm down." I tried to convince the head maid, but to no avail. She seemed determined, like a warrior stepping into the battlefield.

"We're going in." Ma'am Olivia firmly announced.

When we entered the bath, I prepared myself to be reprimanded, but the scene that greeted us inside was definitely not what I was expecting.

Grand Duke Averill was soaked in heated water with his back leaned and arms spread on the edge of the squared tub. At first glance, he just seemed to be enjoying the bath... but upon closer look, he's actually fast sleep!

"His Grace grew up fighting in the frontlines alongside his father, the former grand duke, so he's always on his toes at night.

"Only when he's surrounded by his servants can he truly relax, so he's usually like this when he's in the north or within the palace." Ma'am Olivia explained while preparing the lord's robe.

I glanced over Alistair and the scars on his back didn't escape my eyes. When I read his past in the novel, it was a mere backstory told in a few pages. Now that I've seen his scars in person, I couldn't help but feel sympathy for him.

It may have been fiction for me, but for Alistair, this was the harsh reality that he had to live. It must've been difficult.

"Isn't that dangerous?" I addressed with a hint of concern. "If his guard is too lowered around the servants, what about potential attempts of assassination?"

"Which is why you should be honoured, Belle. The Grand Duke is extremely cautious when it comes to the people he keeps by his side."

The head maid gently patted my shoulder.

"I don't know what he saw in you, but he chose you to serve him during his stay here in the palace, so serve him with all your heart." Ma'am Olivia remarked bluntly.

Well, what he saw in me were my blonde hair and azure eyes. We barely know each other, so I doubt he asked for me due to my competence or talent.

The grand duke wants me by his side simply because I remind him of some random kid, without knowing that we're the same person.

I watched the head maid as she discreetly patted the Grand Duke on his shoulder to wake him up. Alistair was still in a daze when he woke up.

"You seem very familiar with His Grace, Ma'am."

"Well, I was the crown prince's nanny during his childhood. Being cousins, naturally, they were also playmates."

Oh, I do remember the novel vaguely mentioning that Alistair and Dion were childhood friends, but the details were never specified.

"The north was a barren and cold place, so I always ensured that His Grace would have a comfortable stay in the palace whenever he came to visit." Ma'am Olivia recounted in a sentimental tone.

As the Grand Duke got out of the bath, the head maid assisted him in putting his robe on. He didn't seem to mind. Instead, he seemed rather at ease by Ma'am Olivia's presence.

"I apologise for being so indolent in the morning." Alistair remarked with a contrite expression.

"Please do not make such a face, Your Grace. I'm rather honoured that you trust me enough to be so defenceless around me." Ma'am Olivia beamed.

"Of course." His Grace said as a matter of fact.

"However, starting tomorrow, Belle shall be the one to tend to your needs as per your request." The head maid motioned her hand towards me.

"Ah," The grand duke shifted his gaze to me then smiled apologetically. "You were here, too."

Again, I've been here the whole time. Come on, dude. At this rate, you'll hurt my feelings.

It seems that Alistair doesn't have any important appointments today, so he only plans to stay in the palace to sort some documents of the duchy.

I guess that's also why he was dressed moderately. Despite only wearing a plain white undershirt and a pair of black trousers, the Averill lord looked as striking as ever. It's as if every piece of clothing would look good with his herculean build.

The way his biceps flexed at the tightness of his sleeves was such a feast on the eyes, by the way.

"Isabelle,"

"Muscles..." I purred while staring at his arms.

"I'm sorry?" Alistair blinked twice.

I faked a cough. "I-I mean, I'm going to work hard today to gain some muscles..." Really, what a lame excuse.

"Well, good luck with that." He laughed mischievously. "Don't overdo it, though. Something about a burly and muscular maid doesn't sit well with me."

Only then did I realise that Ma'am Olivia had already left the room and it was only the two of us now. His quarters in the palace weren't exactly that big, but it was pretty spacious for a single person. The room had a king-sized bed, a small table set for receiving guests, and a wooden desk where he can do some office work.

As the lord buried himself into a mountain of papers, he turned his back from me so I lost the timing to excuse myself. Uh, I wanna get out of here. So awkward.

Anyway, I deliberately cleared my throat to catch his attention, which thankfully succeeded. He was in the middle of skimming some documents when the Grand Duke looked at me over his shoulder.

"Your Grace, I'll be right outside. Please call me if there's anything you need." I excused myself.

Alistair tilted his head. "Why?"

"P-Pardon?" I stammered.

"Why do you need to go outside?"

"Well, that's..." I scratched my cheek. "Because I don't want to disturb you?"

"You're not disturbing me." Alistair replied in a calm and soothing voice. "Rather, I would appreciate it if you keep me company."

If he says it like that, then I have no choice but to do as he wishes. As if a mere maid like me can turn down a grand duke. How could I say no?

I stood near the doorway. "Then I'll be right here."

"No." Alistair pointed the vacant chair near his desk. "Come here and take a seat."

I waved my hands. "It's fine, Your Grace."

"Sit, Isabelle. Don't make me repeat myself." He clicked his tongue. "There's no way I would make a lady stand while I'm seated comfortably."

Jesus, this is so burdensome. Why is he being like this? What would the other servants think if they see me lazing around in the Grand Duke's office?

Despite my inner complaints, I did as he told me and settled on the vacant chair. However, seems like His Grace noticed the sour look on my face.

Alistair raised a brow. "Do you dislike being here?"

"How dare I have such disrespectful thoughts?" I heaved out a deep sigh. "I'm only worried about the opinion of my fellow servants. They must have a lot of questions."

"Like what?" He kidded with his lips.

"Like why you specifically requested for me as your personal maid." I bravely answered.

He gave me a lopsided grin. "Why do you think?"

For a moment, I was at a loss of words.

I have no idea what's going on through his head. He never acted this way towards the heroine. In the novel, the second male lead never played mind games like this. Alistair Kirsten de Averill was a straightforward man who opened his mouth impetuously – that's how he was portrayed in the novel.

"This humble servant also wants to know." My voice was surprisingly clear and steady. "Would you be so kind to enlighten me, Your Grace?"

I also want to hear it from his own mouth.

His eyes sparked in amusement. The grand duke got up from his seat then approached my spot, his figure towering over mine. The way his golden eyes peeked in between the strands of his silver hair was so distracting.

"It's because of your face." Alistair said assertively.

"My face?" I kept my eyes on the floor despite the closing distance between us. "Do you like it?"

"Like? How bold." His cold stare almost pierced me. "Unfortunately, rather than like, I resent it."

My eyes twitched. Did I hear that right?

"Frankly, you look like someone from my past, and I'm not particularly fond of that person." The Grand Duke explained in a frigid tone. "Her face keeps unlocking bad memories that I had long sealed in the depths of my mind."

"So you hate this person," My brows furrowed in annoyance. "And you want to take it out on me?"

The side of his mouth lifted. "Sort of."

"Then what are you going to do, Your Grace?" I clenched my fists. "Do you plan to torment me while I temporarily serve as you as your maid?"

"Torment you?" Alistair smiled intently. "In a good way, yes, I suppose I will."

What the hell does that even mean?

I was just about to retort when something on his desk caught my eye. It was a bottle of wine. A bottle of dandelion wine, to be specific.

For some reason, I couldn't take my eyes off it.

Why do I feel like I've seen that before?

All of a sudden, an ominous feeling took over me. That's when a passage from the novel randomly appeared on my mind like a warning sign.

My face paled. Ah, is this some kind of spoiler warning? At the night of the banquet, it appears that somebody is going to die.

A blonde maid. Who else could it be but me?

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