"But I will give this insolent maid an exception."
The ladies were surprised with Crown Prince Ignis' declaration. Their eyes scurried around Anna's appearance, who was completely out of their calculation. Because Anna was not even a beauty compared to them!
Lady Alice was the first one to open her mouth after such a bold statement, "My, my, Your Highness is quite bold in this. Do you perhaps have a good feeling for this maid? I may not be the best observer, but I believe the tale of a Crown Prince marrying a maid only happens in fairy tale, Your Highness."
Prince Ignis clicked his tongue annoyedly at Lady Alice. He knew that Lady Alice was trying to fish more information from his mouth. He knew that Alice was a skilled woman that could extract any information with just one conversation with her target.
It was just annoying for Ignis to be cornered by his own friend to confess. And he didn't want to confess, at least not now.
"She is doing her job well on cleaning my private pavilion and cleaning my room. So I guess she is fine," Prince Ignis replied.
The other ladies were relieved when Prince Ignis said that. For a few seconds, they really thought that they would be beaten in this competition by a maid. That was a humiliation for a noblewoman!
Prince Ignis glanced at Anna, worried that Anna might be angry. But true to her nature, Anna didn't even budge. She just shrugged it off and poured more tea on the ladies' cup.
"Your Highness, you surely jest! You're just describing a good maid, not a good marriage candidate!" One lady joked as she sipped her tea.
"But wouldn't it be a good story for a children's book?" another one added.
"An average maid marrying the handsome Crown Prince? Oh, what a bizarre fairy tale! Surely, only the weirdest would read such a thing!"
They were all laughing at their jokes, only Lady Alice, who kept her decency with a thin smile, Crown Prince Ignis, whose face was about to explode, and Anna, who was as nonchalant as a woman could be.
Prince Ignis didn't want Anna to hear more slander from these ladies. He didn't even want these ladies in the first place. He just needed them to make Anna jealous, not to slander Anna!
Crown Prince Ignis glared at them, "STOP LAUGHING!"
The ladies paled when Crown Prince suddenly raised his voice. His glare almost gave them a heart attack, but they didn't understand what went wrong, "Y—Your Highness, what's disturbing you? Is it the maid? It's fine if you want to let her leave. We don't need more tea."
Prince Ignis looked at Anna. He was really worried that Anna would hear more slander than this. He shifted his glare back at the ladies and yelled at them, "Leave now! This teatime is over! Leave my pavilion!"
The ladies were too scared to ask more. They bowed their heads and scurried to leave Crown Prince's pavilion. After the noble ladies were far from the pavilion, Prince Ignis wanted to apologize to Anna, but Anna suddenly said, "Your Highness, you are too the noble ladies. Who knows, one of them might be your fiancée in the future."
Lady Alice held her laugh because she found this situation ridiculous.
How could a handsome and powerful Crown Prince was desperately trying to get the attention of a maid? And even worse, the maid didn't have a slight interest in the Crown Prince.
Either she was so dense, or Ignis was just not her type.
Prince Ignis glared at Lady Alice and then said to Anna, "You can leave now. Don't bother about those woman's words. They are all stupid slander."
"Huh, slander?" Anna frowned. "What they said is true. I don't understand why you are so concerned about it, Your Highness."
"… Just leave now, will you?" Prince Ignis asked nicely for the last time.
Anna nodded and excused herself. She left Ignis with Lady Alice. She glanced at Lady Alice for the last time, and Lady Alice replied with a wink.
***
"AHAHAHAHAH! She is so dense!" Lady Alice couldn't handle her laugh. Luckily, she was with Prince Ignis, her good friend. Otherwise, she wouldn't laugh vulgarly like this.
Prince Ignis clicked his tongue, "Why are you laughing? Do you think it's funny?!"
"Of course it is!" Lady Alice giggled. "The Great Crown Prince Ignis Lunaris has been conquered by a simple maid! What news!"
"Shut up, Alice!" Prince Ignis crossed his arms.
"This is quite surprising, you never told me that you're suddenly attracted to a maid. You should tell me the detail later."
"Since your plan to make her jealous has failed, do you have another idea?" Lady Alice asked. "I'm quite entertained with your method of pursuit, Ignis."
"About that… do you think she would be impressed if I show my vermillion bird blaze? I'm she would be amazed when I soar high and burn the sky with my feathers."
"Oh, come on, Ignis. You're not a peacock. Besides, that's just an animal instinct," Lady Alice rolled her eyes. "Don't be such a kid. Be more gentle towards her. This is why Corvus is way more popular back then."
"DON'T MENTION THAT BASTARD'S NAME!" Prince Ignis yelled out loud.
Lady Alice sighed. It seemed that Ignis still wouldn't forgive his little brother. Knowing nothing good would come if she continued, she shifted the topic, "How about Her Majesty? Did you talk about her about your preference to that maid?"
"No, and I will not tell her until I can make sure that Anna will be my fiancée," Ignis said. "You know how controlling my mother can be."
"Wise move," Lady Alice smiled. "Well, I wish you the best of luck. You can always invite me if you are up for a discussion. Or you need my help to bring you closer with her," Lady Alice winked.
Prince Ignis looked away, but a faint trace of red was visible on his face.
Lady Alice looked to the sky and suddenly sensed something, "Ah, today will be a full moon. I can't wait to swim tonight."
"A full moon, huh…"
"It's been a while, and I love to swim during a full moon," Lady Alice said. "The sea near my seaside mansion will rise during a full moon. Do you perhaps, want to swim with me, Ignis?" Lady Alice offered.
"No, thank you, I don't like swimming," Prince Ignis refused. "Besides, your animal form is a porpoise, and I'm a vermillion bird. Do you really think I prefer to swim in the rough sea? I'd rather stay near a lakeside, watching a black swan paddling around."