I Became the Maid of the Lout Prince

Chapter 242

The sudden appearance of Seraphine was an unexpected twist that wasn't part of my original plan. Given that our secret operation was aimed at taking down McHart, a member of the royal family, it had been impossible to inform someone like Seraphine, a royal herself, without risking exposure. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust her, but rather that it was simply unfeasible to secretly communicate something as sensitive as regicide to a princess. Even bringing it up might have led to disaster before we could even carry out the plan.

But now, with Seraphine here—a development that never occurred in the original story—I could only surmise that her appearance had something to do with either McHart, myself, or perhaps even the situation involving Ethan and Cerista. Somehow, Seraphine had found out about this. How she did so was anyone’s guess—whether through the sheer information power the royal family possessed or perhaps through some foresight into the events of today.

"For now, only those who can take responsibility for their words should speak," Seraphine declared, her voice clear and authoritative. "Anyone who disrupts this moment with unnecessary words will be remembered by me. And I have an excellent memory."

Thanks to Seraphine's intervention, the unruly crowd was quickly subdued. It was a feat neither Ethan nor I could have managed with a few words, so, in an unintended way, I owed her for this.

"Seraphine! Get this madman off me! He's dared to threaten a royal—me!" McHart, who lay pinned under Ethan's foot, reached out to Seraphine as if she were his last hope. Of course, with both his arms severed below the elbows, even if a lifeline had been thrown to him, he wouldn't have been able to grasp it.

Seraphine clicked her tongue softly, a look of disgust crossing her face as she gazed at McHart. Her disdain for him was palpable, just as it had been in the original story. Fortunately, with her back to the crowd, only Ethan and I could see her expression.

"Haven't I always told you, McHart?" Seraphine's voice was cold. "If you go around seducing other people’s women indiscriminately, someday, someone will come along who won't care that you’re a royal and will put a blade to your throat."

"I—I didn’t mean—"

"I’ve seen you harassing Lillis with my own eyes, so don’t bother denying it now. I won’t believe you anyway."

"N-never mind that! Just save me! Your brother is about to be killed by this lunatic!!"

"Ethan, would you mind lowering your sword? I understand your feelings, but he is still my brother."

Seraphine’s words, though diplomatic, were clear: "I know you’re angry, but blood is blood, and not helping him would cause problems."

Though Ethan, as a noble, surely understood the subtleties of her words, he didn’t lower his sword. He remained resolute, his blade still poised at McHart's neck.

"No matter what the princess says, I cannot comply. This prince has threatened and attempted to take my fiancée, Lillis. He even stooped to using demonic power to fulfill his vile desires. For the sake of the Argentian Empire and the Valtoria royal family, it is better for him to die here."

...Now he's openly calling me his fiancée.

While I understood that this wasn’t the time to clarify the complexities of our relationship, hearing Ethan declare me as his fiancée so openly always made me feel a bit embarrassed. But I wasn’t the only one reacting to his words—several ladies in the crowd seemed to blush, though likely for different reasons.

"Prince McHart is a demon? That’s a slanderous lie!"

"He’s just making up stories to get out of trouble after threatening a royal!"

"Let go of the prince, you murderer!!"

McHart's supporters in the crowd began hurling insults at Ethan, and some of the more agitated ladies even threw objects at him. Fans and handkerchiefs missed their mark, but one object, a champagne glass, flew straight toward Ethan’s head. I quickly reached out and caught it before it could do any damage.

-Thump!

"..."

"Though I don’t want to believe it... If he is involved with demons, even as a royal, he must face the appropriate punishment."

"Understood."

With Seraphine’s final words, Ethan sheathed his sword and stepped off McHart’s body, ready to let the matter be judged according to Seraphine’s suggestion.

‘Not exactly the outcome I planned, but at least the worst-case scenario was avoided.’

Had McHart been killed—or killed himself—things would have become very difficult for Ethan, no matter how justified his actions were. The original plan had been for McHart’s demonic nature to be revealed naturally, with the hero, Cerista, and Agnes all present to take him down. At the last moment, I would have used the "Mirror of Truth" to expose the traces of demonic power within him, ensuring that his death was seen as justified.

Afterward, we would have left his body in the courtyard, where it would be discovered the next morning. With the "Veil of Concealment" spell, no one would have noticed the body until then, allowing us to distance ourselves from the scene and avoid suspicion.

But with so many eyes now watching, that plan was no longer viable. The best course of action was to prove McHart’s demonic ties in front of everyone, ensuring that Ethan wouldn’t be wrongfully accused of regicide.

"Lady Cerista."

"..."

"Lady Cerista, please step forward."

The mention of the Saintess’s name caused a ripple of murmurs in the crowd, but Cerista did not immediately reveal herself.

-Murmur, murmur.

"..."

Instead, the crowd parted, revealing her location. Surrounded by people, there she was, wearing a suspicious mask that only made her stand out more.

"Uh, um..."

"..."

"I think there’s been some misunderstanding... I’m not the Saintess, just someone who happened to pass by and decided to join the gathering..."

"Lady Cerista, this is not the time for jokes."

"It really is the Saintess. I thought she looked familiar."

"Did you really think no one would notice?"

"..."

Blushing furiously, Cerista finally stepped forward, quietly removing her mask. I couldn’t help but think that wearing something so conspicuous had only made her more noticeable.