My face turned bright red.
"Wha-what are talking about?" I blurted out, my mind racing with panic. "I…would never…"
"Oh my! The rumors are true!" The maid interrupted me, her surprise looking odd upon her blushing face. "Who agreed to your bribery? Was it Donna? Merqui? Sylise?"
I nearly had a heart attack right where I stood.
What the fuck Hermes? You're an absolute buffoon! Not only are you a spoiled brat, but you're also a depressed playboy? How was I supposed to accomplish anything in this world if this guy's reputation was this bad? This was absurd!
I considered turning myself in for execution right there and then, but I decided against it. I couldn't do that. This situation may be extremely embarrassing, but if I play my cards right, I could definitely squirm my way of this sticky situation.
But how? I never spoke with many girls when I was Greenfield Academy. After all, I was terrified of girls! Any testosterone-high teenager would be! So how in the hell was I supposed to convince this maid that I wasn't using my status to get free biddies?
"What did you bribe her with?" The maid continued, her curiosity obviously taking over duty to act respectful before royalty. "Titles? Power? Your loyalty?"
"I'm not…I'm not doing any of that!" I said defensively. "It's all a misunderstanding! I swear I-"
"Oh really?" A smirk crept up her face as she jabbed back at me. "Then explain why you're walking into the maid's quarters."
I gulped. I was trapped. What reasonable excuse could I give her? I couldn't just tell her that I was some boy from another world, that I had taken over the third prince's body, and that I had no idea where anything was in this palace. I would die instantly!
So if I can't tell her the truth, what excuse could I give?
Was my only choice to go along with maid's accusations?
"Has the cat caught your tongue?" The maid's smile widened. "Can you not find another excuse to cover up your ploys?"
I sighed. This was stupid. I had stayed silent for too long. My other choices were gone now. I had to go along with the accusations and use them to my advantage.
"Goddess help me, my luck is awful today." I said aloud, trying my best to fit into character. "What are the chances that I pass someone on the way to the maid's quarters?"
"Very high, actually." The maid responded. "You didn't really think through this very well, did you?"
I scowled. This maid was sly. Very sly. Now that I looked back at it, she probably blushed on purpose to confirm the rumors. I needed to careful with what I said around her.
"Perhaps my plan wasn't as foolproof as I thought. Still, tell me maid, does-"
"Milia." She suddenly said, cutting me off. "Please call me Milia…my prince."
I let out a quick chuckle. It seemed that this girl had a bit of pride in her too.
"Of course…Milia. Now let me return to my question."
"Which is?"
"Does a maid typically inquire to what a prince is doing?" Her face tightened up immediately. Good. Let's see how she came back from this one.
"Well…not usually…but this is a special case."
"How?" I asked intimidatingly. "Why should a lowly maidservant like you have the right to speak with royalty whenever you please?"
I heard her click her tongue in frustration. I smiled. The prey had now become the predator.
"My prince…I understand your…your concern…for others prying into your personal matters, but-"
"But what!?" I snapped, trying to look angry. "There is no excuse to this behavior, and you have no right to uncover this information!"
"But my prince…"
"Spare me the pleasantries, maid. I see your game here. You are trying to use this information so that you can further your position in this palace, aren't you?"
My smile widened even more as I finished my question. She was completely trapped. She may be crafty, but in the end, a maid is only a maid. Setting herself against a prince would mean her demise. I could easily send her out of this palace before she could spread any gossip about me today. She would have to back down now.
"No. This is not for gossip."
Huh? She didn't back down? What in the world was she thinking?
"You lie, maid. Why else would you stop me in the hall then? What-"
"Integrity." She said suddenly. "I stopped you because of my integrity."
Confusion quickly covered my face.
"Integrity?"
"Yes. I did it for integrity." She responded with confidence in her voice. "Tell me, Hermes. Should I let my fellow maidservants be taken bed by you, only for you to dispose them afterward?"
I bit my lip. This maid. How crafty could one person be?
"No, I suppose not." I responded. "But what can you do about it? I could easily find a way to ship you far away before you could expose my actions."
I caught her grimace as I finished speaking. She took a few seconds to think before responding.
"Yes. You definitely can ship me off." She said, the confidence still evident in her voice. "But will you?"
I harrumphed before responding.
"Does that matter? Even if I let you roam free today and you spread rumors, then I can just kill off the rumors, correct?"
Milia stared at me blankly for a few seconds before responding.
"Hermes, do you really think you're capable of taking care of rumors about you? I-"
"I am confident in my abilities…Milia. I may have an awful reputation right now, but that will change soon."
She looked at me with confusion showing in her eyes.
"How?"
"I made a pledge to king just a few minutes ago, Milia. I pledged to protect humanity against the Demon King. My pledge may be audacious, perhaps even crazy, but even if I fail miserably, my reputation will grow. Senseless rumors will have no foothold when my actions show my true intentions. I cannot lose, Milia."
Milia went silent after I finished my explanation. After all, what more was there to say? She had no possible routes to beat me anymore. Not one.
"I apologize for the rudeness, my prince." I lifted my brow as I heard her answer. Back to 'my prince' again? "But even if it means my demise, I will not allow you to deflower one of my fellow maidservants."
I stared back at her blankly. She was still worried about that? As if I was going to have sex with a servant in this situation! I'd be courting death!
That said, I could use her concern to my advantage. In fact…Yes…That'll be perfect.
"Don't worry." I said assuringly. "I'll listen to your request. However, in return, I would like to make one simple request."
She looked back at me quizzically.
"Wha-"
"Bring me to the Hero's Party."