After the situation with the maid, one would think it was the end of Sui's suffering!
But the reality was different from what anyone could think of.
As soon as the incident with the first maid occurred, Sui was ignored and snubbed left and right.
The worst part was that Sui had no ground to complain because all the excuses the maids gave her were genuine.
For example, when she told one of the senior maids about the location of the princess's room, they quickly excused themselves by citing a critical task.
The others gave Sui the wrong direction on purpose.
Sui was eating too much time looking for a room, and she was sure that the nanny must be having a field day looking at the time and Sui's tardiness.
'I am done for! Ugh, should I turn back and leave? Or maybe I should head toward the princess's office.'
Sui shook her head but did not seem to have a choice.
The office was the only location Sui knew in this goddammed palace except for the kitchen.
So, Sui quickly headed toward the office and opened the door.
Sui expected to see an empty office, but she stiffened when she noticed another presence inside the room.
"Who is it…you are the maid from yesterday, right? The one Yunjin appointed as her guard? What are you doing here? You should have headed to her room, right?"
Duke Victor sat on the guest sofa in Princess Yunjin's office and sipped at the tea.
No one else was inside the room, and it did not look like anyone was attending to the duke either.
'Then, did the duke brew this tea himself? Do dukes usually do such a thing? No wait! That is not the point here.'
Sui was curious about the duke and his relationship with Princess Yunjin, but she also knew that she could not waste her time thinking about useless thoughts.
"Duke Victor, it's a pleasure to meet you. I apologize for suddenly entering this room. I was trying to look for Princess Yunjin's room, but ended up coming here by mistake."
Sui quickly apologized and she did not even bother to name-drop the maids as the culprits behind her decision.
Even if the maids were the reason Sui was going around in circles, she could not get them into trouble.
Besides, Sui would look even more guilty if she pinned the blame on the maids and it would make her foolish more foolish, and more naive than she was.
"You ended up here while looking for Yunjin's room? Oh my! Looks like the old lady still has the cunningness to play tricks on cute newbies. Let me guess…did the maids ignore you and give you the wrong direction?"
Duke Victor sounded smug when he asked Sui this question. It seemed as if he already knew what happened and was playing around with her.
'The duke already guessed what happened, huh? Somehow, I am not surprised by this face. There is a reason this man is our military strategist. Figuring this much should be a piece of cake for him.'
Sui felt calmer at being found out.
It was mainly because the duke did not look angry at Sui. instead, he was smiling in an amusing manner that made Sui think of the princess.
'This is the same cunning smile the princess often makes when she has a plan in her mind. It makes her look sharper and even more handsome…. let's get back on track.'
Sui quickly forced her thoughts to go back in the right direction and faced the Duke.
"So, what are you going to do now? Knowing Yunjin, she might be waiting for you to come to her room. That stubborn girl will not leave her room until you go to her."
Duke Victor sounded sure of this but Sui did not feel as confident about this as he did.
The princess could not spend the whole day waiting in her room for Sui to show up, right? Especially when there was too much work to be done.
Right?
"Sui, shall I help you find the princess's room? Since the maids and the guards are making things difficult for you, I should balance out the scales. What do you think?"
Duke Victor asked and his smile was one full of trouble.
Sui's first instinct was to reject this help.
'But am I even able to refuse any help? I doubt I will be able to find the way to Princess Yunjin's room on my own. And the general looks interested as well. Maybe I should-'
"Ugh, you are taking too long. I have decided that I will help you out. Come, follow me."
The order had been given and Sui had no choice but to follow the man.
The duke was forceful but playful at the same time. The aura of indifference and carelessness around him gave him an aloof feeling that made him seem mysterious.
The duke turned the corner and Sui was about to follow him when one of the maids grabbed her shoulder and turned her around.
"Where do you think you are going? That area is not accessible for you to approach. Please turn around. Ah, if you are looking for the princess's room, then it is down that corridor."
The maid quickly pointed to the corridor Sui had walked out from.
Even Sui could tell that the maid was trying to hinder her progress.
"What? You don't believe me? Well, you don't have to. But if you try to enter that corridor again, I will have to call guards to arrest you."
The maid looked smug about her actions.
She was likely from a low branch of the nobility. Those people loved the idea of being able to wield power and knights since they were never able to do so in daily life.
"Oh my! I was not aware that the maids of the Imperial Castle had such authority. Especially to order Princess Yunjin's guard to be imprisoned without the princess knowing. I wonder what the princess would think if I told her this."
Duke Victor walked back into the corridor.
The man had likely turned around as soon as he noticed that Sui was not walking behind him.
His smile was impeccable, but the danger lurking underneath it chilled the maid and Sui.