The Tyrant’s Leash Is Held By A Maid

 

“Well…  So…”

 

Liana lifted her head, which had been

glued

to the map, and looked

about.

 

It was her mistake, so it was good that she came out bravely saying she’d bring the accessories herself. But she overlooked one thing.

 

‘Liana Siodo, you suck

at directions

…’

 

After taking a deep breath, Liana

buried her nose in

the map again.

 

In the invitation from Prince Illyd, it was written that he would like to have dinner

with Lady Natasha

after they saw the flower garden.

If she was outdoors, the wind would

disturb

her hair. And Liana had planned to decorate Lady Natasha’s head with her hair up

using

flower-shaped pins.

That was Liana’s plan for Natasha’s hair. However,

she hadn’t planned to

forget the bag containing the ornaments in the carriage.

 

Miss Natasha told her not to go

herself,

but to send another maid. But Liana

insisted

she would go on her own since the distance between the Imperial Palace and wagon storage wasn’t far away.

She

claimed

she wanted to

resolve

it herself since it was her mistake, but inside, she felt

differently.

 

A single piece of jewelry used by nobles

had

a price comparable to a maid’s annual salary.

Liana did not know

how long an ordinary maid would have to work to pay

the debt

for lost accessories

.

Perhaps the jewels could be lost on the way. She thought it was unlikely that the court ladies of the Imperial Palace

would behave carelessly,

but Liana didn’t want to

entertain the

possibility.

 

‘Debt? I’m finally living this much, but to be in debt? I can’t do that.’

 

Thus,

while Lady Natasha

rested

, Liana followed the directions on a map and arrived at the wagon storage. Fortunately, the ornaments in the bag were safe.

 

But she was lucky only for a moment. 

Liana sighed again moments later at another mistake of her own.

 

“Where am I…?”

 

She

had been foolish to think she could return

just fine following the same path she took before.

 

The Palace was too wide, and the map was too simplified. If there was any servant, she would have asked already, but, as if she had taken a wrong turn, she couldn’t even see the usual guards.

Liana’s black shoes pounded nervously on the marble floor of the corridor where the red sunset shone.

 

‘I must be inside the Imperial Palace, so why does it turn out like this?’

 

Liana

stood

there, looking around and measuring the time. At the end of the long corridor,

she saw a large door.

Even at first glance, the ivory-colored door with a large lion symbolizing the Empire engraved in the center was not an ordinary door.

 

She decided that she would not wander any further

and instead would

wait for someone here.  Liana wa

s sure help was nearby

.

And before

long, the door opened. Liana’s face brightened when she saw

someone exit.

As she expected, from that dignified room came a series of maids who politely bowed on their way out.

 

She just needed to ask the lady-in-waiting.

Having found her savior, Liana was excited to return to her Lady, and she

quickened

her steps.

 

“Excuse me

!

I’m a maid from the Baldwin family, and I got lost on my

way from the

wagon depot. If it’s okay with you…”

 

“Baldwin?”

 

However, once again, Liana’s plan didn’t go as she expected.

It was because the face of an unexpected person

exited

the room while the door was still

ajar

.

As soon as Liana saw

the room’s owner

, she hurriedly put her hands together and bowed her head.

 

“I greet His Highness, the Prince of the Great Empire.”

 

“No need for formalities. What are you doing

here

?”

 

Illyd spoke to her in a friendly manner, nevertheless, Liana couldn’t help but keep her head low b

ecause… 

 

Because he was taking off his shirt.

 

Liana’s eyes wandered here and there, unable to find a

place to fix her

eyes to avoid the Prince’s naked body.

 

“Did Natasha send you?”

 

“That, it’s not…”

 

Her

eyes, wandering in the air for a long time, barely settled in the mane of the lion carved on the door.

 

“It’s not that. I got lost on the way from the wagon depot. I came here to ask for directions–”

 

“Where are you looking at while you speak?”

 

Illyd asked,

following the direction

where Liana’s erratic gaze had reached.

 

“Although the lion is a symbol of the Imperial Family, the subject of the said symbol is right in front of you.”

 

“I, I apologize

!

”

 

Surprised by Illyd’s body coming closer, Liana hurriedly stepped back.

Any man’s

nudity

would startle her, but it was even more so since it was Prince Illyd’s

exposed

top. Unlike when

sheathed in clothing, his chiseled, muscular torso was overwhelming

.

 

Liana could not raise her head

, her gaze was absorbed by the body of an overly perfect man.

 

“I apologize, I was flustered…”

 

“There’s nothing to be flustered about.”

 

Illyd had been watching her candid reactions, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly.

On the other hand, Liana, who couldn’t see his face, wa

s just trying to hide

her blasphemous thoughts.

 

Keeping his own mischievous thoughts to himself, Illyd grabbed Liana’s wrist.

 

“It’s fine. It’s actually a good thing. There was something I wanted to ask you.”

 

“So-something to ask?”

 

Liana’s eyes widened when suddenly a large hand grabbed her wrist.

 

‘Lady Natasha must be waiting.’

However, unable to disobey the Prince’s order, her feet crossed

the threshold of the bedroom as Illyd led them.

 

For a moment, Liana’s worries vanished and her eyes widened at the sight of Illyd’s luxurious bedroom.

It was hard

to count

how many windows there were. Six dome-shaped windows, dazzlingly decorated. Eight on the ceiling. And over there…

Liana had thought

that her Lady’s bedroom was

luxurious, but

the Prince’s bedroom was truly on a different level. 

 

While lost in thoughts, the Prince’s hard chest came

into her line of sight

. As Liana bowed her head in surprise, Illyd bent down and made eye contact with her.

His eyes, like a blue sea reflecting the Milky Way, were folded like half-moons.

 

“You… Pick some clothes for me

.

“

 

Dazed while watching the Prince’s smile, Liana

suddenly realized that he was still holding her wrist.

 

“The clothes, for what occasion?”

 

She struggled to hide her t

rembling and

carefully

pulled her hand from his large unyielding one

.

 

“For dinner. What kind of clothes does your Master like?”

 

Illyd gently released her hand while answering. At those words, Liana’s heart quickly regained its composure.

 

‘So that was why.’

Like the pieces of a puzzle fitting perfectly, Liana understood the Prince’s actions.

She was wondering why he brought her in a hurry, and it seemed to be because he wanted to look good to Lady Natasha.

And, since Liana was just a maid, not a woman, it was obvious he wouldn’t have any trouble

baring his

body to her.

*

Liana quickly grasped the situation and answered with a calm attitude.

 

“Lady Natasha… She likes neat and modest clothes. She prefers men who

dress

neatly, even if they look simple, rather than

clothing

with colorful embroidery.”

 

“And you?”

Illyd asked casually as if not giving much thought.

“What kind of clothes do you

like for men

?”

 

“I… I’m just like Lady Natasha. A man dressed neatly.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Illyd’s brows furrowed slightly in response to

her

simple answer, but it lasted just a second. He

relaxed

his

expression, shrugged, and asked.

 

“What should I wear then? Pick

something

for me, I trust your eyes.”

 

One side of the bedroom held numerous suits lined up by the attendants.

Liana had mainly

helped women to dress and so looked at the suits with troubled eyes.

Hesitating a little, she finally

chose a white shirt and a glossy gray cravat. The vest she

selected

also had a simple design with black buttons.

 

Without commenting,

Illyd picked up the clothes Liana had chosen.

Worried at his possible reaction when seeing her choices, Liana

sighed in relief when Illyd went to the dressing-room.

Liana waited nervously for Illyd to

reappear

. At the thought of her Lady waiting for

her,

she

kept glancing at the door unconsciously.

 

He finally

emerged wearing

the new outfit and met Liana’s eyes through the mirror.

 

“Isn’t it too boring?”

 

“I think it’s perfect.”

 

“Really?”

 

Illyd looked at his

reflection indifferently.

Wearing what Liana chose,

he definitely appeared

more modest than

when in his

fancy, soft tailcoat. However, the

gray-toned

attire highlighted his bright face even more.

Neat clothes without any decorations revealed Illyd’s wide shoulders and balanced body without any addition or subtraction. The slightly tight suit felt a little tighter near the back and thighs.

However, the elegant face that anyone would have thought was beautiful

appeared

somewhat

displeased.

 

Noticing his dissatisfaction, Liana

glanced at the numerous cravat decorations brought by the servants.

Her fast-moving eyes stopped at an obsidian pin studded with diamonds.

 

“If you think

it’s

too plain, this…”

 

As Liana lifted the pin, Illyd approached her as if asking her to do it.

Liana steeled her face to calmness and placed

the black-gem pin into Illyd’s cravat.

Illyd

bent over

so that she could easily attach the jewe

l and

stared at Liana’s white face intensely.

 

With a click, Liana, who made sure she had correctly placed the safety on the back, lowered her hand. She took a step

back from

Illyd, pretending to be as composed as possible.

 

“It’s done.”

 

Blue eyes like the night sky and purple eyes like the sky at dawn briefly met.

Moments later, Illyd smiled after looking at her like a child observing an exotic animal for the first time.

 

“Thanks, Natasha Baldwin’s maid.”

 

“It was my honor.”

 

“It would have been nice to have a maid like you in the Imperial Palace. It’s a pity.”

 

Even though there was a maid right next to them, Liana bowed her head, hiding her

embarrassment

at the Prince’s childish remark.

But t

he court ladies standing by looked as calm as always, as if such

behavior was typical.

   Gina’s Corner:

* Liana reasons that since she’s a maid, Illyd would never look at her as a woman.