Have you ever experienced a moment where all your senses stop functioning and you just stand there, distrait and unable to think straight?

That's what happened to me. Even though my eyes were perfectly fine and I could clearly see Alistair in front of me, I just seemed to have lost my grip on reality. He was also mouthing some words, but his voice wasn't getting through me at all.

A sudden realisation knocked me out of my wits.

I'm going to die again. For the second time.

"Isabelle!"

The Grand Duke's voice taut with panic and worry got me back into my senses. When I lifted my gaze to him, confusion was written all over his face.

I blinked consecutive times. "Your Grace,"

"What's the matter? Your face suddenly blanched." He placed a hand on my forehead. "Are you sick?"

The warmth of his hand helped me calm down. Clutching my dress with both hands, I took a deep breath to settle down. There's no need to be afraid.

I already died once, didn't I?

"I apologise for showing you something unsightly, Your Grace." I wiped the sweat off my temple. "I think it's because I've been cooped up inside the palace all week, so I feel kind of suffocated."

The Grand Duke covered his mouth with one hand as he drowned in cogitation. A few seconds later, he returned to his desk and searched his stuff.

"Ah, looks like I'm running out of ink. I should go out to buy some." Alistair cleared his throat rather pretentiously then shot me a sideward glance. "Do you want to accompany me to town, Isabelle?"

My lips parted. Since I just told him that I've been cooped up here all week, is he being considerate by taking me outside with him? Ah, this is bad.

At this rate, I might misunderstand.

"If it's okay with you, I'd love to." I shyly replied.

The Grand Duke simply smiled to me then shifted his gaze to the door. "Louie, we're going out."

An ironclad knight entered the room. He seemed young, probably around his twenties. A man with brown hair and average looks, but the Lohefalter crest on his chest made him more charismatic than he's supposed to be. Oops, was that mean?

"This is Louie, my personal knight. Regrettably, he's a bit dumb... but his skill with the sword is second to none so you can trust him with your life." Alistair introduced him.

"Nice to meet you, Sir Louie." I smiled to him politely. "Isabelle, a maid from the Sun Palace."

"The pleasure is mine." Sir Louie curtly nodded to me before turning to his master. "Why are we taking her with us?"

Alistair shrugged. "Because she's my maid."

"But she's blonde. I thought you hated blondes?"

"I changed my mind." Alistair glanced over me then grinned. "Blonde hair is, in fact, beautiful."

"That's ridiculous." Sir Louie shook his head in disbelief. "You used to snarl at every blonde girl you came across with, like a dog ready to bite."

"Well, I'm even more willing to bite now." Alistair stared at me then smirked. "But this time, not out of anger... if you know what I mean, hmm?"

Oh, my god. He's such a big flirt!

I cleared my throat to lessen the awkwardness. Sir Louie, on the other hand, was dumbfounded by his master's wanton remarks. He even blushed.

"Louie, quit blushing. You make it seem like I am flirting with you." Alistair said with a straight face.

"B-But my heart also skipped a beat, Your Grace." The knight rebutted shamelessly.

Alistair winced. "Then you better get your heart back to normal, else I'll rip it out of your chest."

"Your Grace!" Sir Louie cried.

I mentally laughed at their banter.

The way Sir Louis talks to the Grand Duke is so casual. He's not rude to the lord, but he's not exactly formal, either. They talk like normal friends.

"Enough." The Grand Duke clicked his tongue then waved his hand. "Prepare the carriage, Louie."

The three of us left the room with the Grand Duke leading the way. When Sir Louie and I walked side by side, he stroke a conversation with me.

"So, are you two in that kind of a relationship?" The young knight asked me bluntly.

Dude, stop acting like a paparazzi. I swear that curiosity of yours will get both of us killed.

"No, not at all. How could His Grace be involved with a lowly maid like me?" I spoke in hushes.

"Eh?" Sir Louie rubbed his chin. "He seems to be interested with you, though. Shall we confirm it?"

Before I could even respond, Sir Louie grabbed me by the shoulder then pulled me closer to him.

"Your Grace, what's your business in town today?" The knight briskly queried his master.

The Grand Duke was about to answer, but then he halted abruptly from his tracks when he noticed Sir Louie's arm draped over my shoulder.

"Your Grace?" Sir Louie called teasingly.

"Let's see," Alistair gave him a small smile. "My first business would be cutting that damn arm of yours, if you don't let go of her at this instant."

"Oops!" The puerile knight immediately lifted his arm from me. "My apologies, Your Grace."

"Stop irking me, Louie." The Grand Duke sighed before turning to me. "Come here, Isabelle."

As he ordered, I hurried to Alistair's side. I secretly glanced over Sir Louie, only to find him grinning from ear to ear. He then mouthed, I told you so.

My cheeks flushed. Don't give me weird ideas!

Okay, even if he is indeed interested with me, that doesn't mean anything. Alistair is the second male lead of this novel and he's bound to fall in love with the heroine. His interest is only fleeting.

I wouldn't dare get my hopes up.

Besides, my plate is already full. During the royal banquet, the protagonist will catch a man red-handed after murdering a blonde maid.

Unfortunately, I'm the only one with blonde hair in the palace aside from one male servant. Now, unless that dude is into cross-dressing as a maid, there's no one who fits the description but me.

I'm not letting myself die just like that. I may have failed during the prologue, but I'll make sure to survive the next chapter despite being an extra.

"I apologise if he made you feel uncomfortable." Alistair whispered, referring to Sir Louie.

"It's fine, Your Grace. He was only being friendly."

When we got out of the Sun Palace, a carriage was already prepared for us. The head maid and some other servants were also waiting outside.

"I have some business in the town." The Grand Duke informed Ma'am Olivia. "Isabelle will be coming with me, along with my knight, Louie."

"Understood, Your Grace." Ma'am Olivia gave me a meaningful look, as if telling me to behave myself. Oh, come on. Why are you making it seem like I'm some troublemaker? Aren't I such a sweetheart?

Anyway, the Grand Duke told me that the three of us will be riding in the same carriage. Strictly speaking, when it comes to status, I'm the least important person among us. Sir Louie must be at least a baron or a count. Alistair, well... of course he's a grand duke. I'm like a rock with some gems.

And so, I stood on the side of the carriage with my gaze down while waiting for the two gentlemen to get on. However, to my surprise, a hand appeared beneath my lowered head. It was the Grand Duke.

"Take my hand." Alistair smiled. "You go first."

"Your Grace, the servants are looking." I told him.

He tilted his head, feigning innocence. "And?"

I scratched my cheek. "They might think that you are giving me special treatment." I pointed out.

"I am giving you special treatment, Isabelle."

My jaw dropped and I was rendered speechless.

It seems like the Grand Duke intends for us to stand there all day unless I take his hand, so I just went with it and got on the carriage with his help.

"We shall return before the sun sets, Olivia." Alistair remarked before following inside.

When Sir Louie got on the carriage, we finally departed. Even as we moved away from the palace, I could still feel the servants' stares.

"Do you have anything to say, Isabelle?"

I lifted my gaze to the Grand Duke. "No."

"Is that so? You seem irritated, though." Alistair chuckled. "How about this, then? While we are inside this carriage, I shall allow you to speak however you want, and you won't be punished."

Now, that's a tempting offer.

Sir Louie kept looking back and forth at the two of us, and he seemed really confused by the tension.

"Am I allowed to do it too, since I'm also here in the carriage?" Sir Louie shyly asked him. "Can I call you a piece of dung or a huge pile of shit without being punished, Your Grace?"

Alistair smiled sweetly. "Do you want to die?"

"My apologies." The knight faked a cough.

His Grace returned his gaze to me. "So?"

"Do you really mean it?" I charily asked.

Alistair nodded reassuringly. "Yes."

"Well, then..." I straightened my back then cleared my throat. "Having only met for a few days, this might be impertinent of me to say to you."

"Go ahead, Isabelle." he encouraged.

"I'm not the type of woman who's easily swayed by sweet talk." I bravely looked him in the eye. "So no matter how hard you try to coax me to spread my legs for you, it's not gonna work, Your Grace."

For a moment, Alistair seemed to be at a loss of words. His eyes blinked in disbelief many times, and he attempted to open his mouth to say a few words, only to close it again. Sir Louie, on the other hand, was completely stupefied on his seat.

After a lengthy silence, the Grand Duke smiled.

"Isabelle," He chuckled heartily. "What makes you think that I want to get in between your legs?"

I didn't say anything in response.

"Well, I admit I may have thought about being in between your lips at least once." He confessed in a respectful tone. "Your legs, however, whether you believe me or not... I haven't thought that far ahead. I'm a gentleman, not some wild animal."

My face reddened in embarrassment.

"Still, now that you've given me an idea, it's quite enticing." Alistair crossed his legs then grinned.

"Whether it's my mouth or legs, it doesn't matter." I frowned. "You'll never get in between any of them, because your charm doesn't work on me."

"Yet." Alistair added. "It is not working yet."

I looked away in discomfort. "Tch!"

"Now you're even clicking your tongue on me." The Grand Duke laughed. "Whatever shall I do with you, my gutsy and daring maid, Isabelle?"

My heart pounded from the way he called my name. I could only wish that he wouldn't notice how much my hands were trembling because of him. I was nervous, but the good kind of nervous.

"P-Please don't do it while I'm here!" Both of us were startled when Sir Louie screamed like a baby. "At least do it when I'm not with you!"

Alistair chuckled. "Do what?"

"You know, spreading your legs or whatever." Sir Louie answered nervously. "Have some decency!"

"You dimwit, no one's spreading their legs." The Grand Duke stole a glance from me. "Well, yet."

I hated it. I hated the little smiles he kept giving me along the way. I hated the sneaky glances he kept throwing me that day. I hated his mind games and his brimming confidence in winning them.

But I hated myself more because I was affected by all of it. I'm supposed to know my place, that I'm just an extra in this story, that he's the second male lead, someone that I cannot even dream of.

Still, the heart wants what it wants, right?

---