After overhearing the mysterious nobles at the restaurant, my brain immediately jumped into action.



✔ Suspicious whispers? Check.

✔ A mention of the King? Check.

✔ Me, sticking my nose where it doesn't belong? Absolutely.



Clearly, this was a mystery I had to solve.



Step One: Follow the Suspects (Stealth Level = -100)



I casually walked past the nobles' table, pretending to admire the restaurant's décor.



Unfortunately, my idea of "casual" was:



✔ Slowly walking while staring directly at them.

✔ Tripping on absolutely nothing.

✔ Gasping dramatically every time they mentioned "the King."



One of the nobles glanced at me suspiciously.



I immediately panicked.



"OH MY! What a lovely... uh... ceiling!"



The noble's eyes narrowed.



My mother smacked my arm.



"Stop embarrassing us."



I internally screamed.



Step Two: Eavesdrop (A.K.A. How to Get Caught Instantly)



I snuck behind a decorative plant, inching closer to their table.



Unfortunately, my chosen hiding spot had one major flaw:

I was fully visible.

✔ Half my body was sticking out.

✔ I was whispering "sneaky sneaky" under my breath.

✔ At one point, I sneezed so hard that the plant fell over.



The nobles turned and looked directly at me.



I froze.



"...Are you spying on us?" one of them asked.



My brain short-circuited.



"NO!" I shouted. "I AM... AN INSPECTOR! FOR... PLANTS!"



I dramatically pointed at the fallen plant.



"THIS PLANT HAS BEEN MURDERED!"



Silence.



Pure. Uncomfortable. Silence.



Then—



The waiter dragged me away.



My parents apologized profusely.



And just like that—



Step Two was a failure.



Step Three: Try Again (And Almost Get Kidnapped... Again)



Despite my spectacular failure, I wasn't giving up.



That night, I decided to follow one of the nobles home.



(You know, like a normal, completely logical maid would do.)



So there I was—



Sneaking through dark alleyways, trying to be as stealthy as possible.



Then—



A hand grabbed my wrist.



I froze.



Another hand covered my mouth.



A voice whispered in my ear—



"You again? You really don't learn, do you?"



~~~



Meanwhile, back in the palace, the King had just received some... disturbing news.



A knight rushed into his study, breathless.



"Your Majesty—Lady Thalia—she—"



The King's golden eyes snapped up.



"What happened?"



"She... was last seen stalking a group of nobles, attempting to investigate her own kidnapping."



The room fell silent.



The King's hand stilled over his paperwork.



Then—



In a flat, terrifying voice—



"...She what?"



The knight visibly gulped.



The King rose from his chair.



"Where is she now?"



"We—uh—don't know."



For a long moment, the King said nothing.



His expression remained cold, unreadable.



Then—



In a voice that sent chills down everyone's spine—



"Prepare the horses."



The entire palace froze.



Because when the King personally left the palace—



Someone was about to die.



~~~



Back in the dark alleyway, I was pinned against a wall, staring at a hooded figure.



"...So," the stranger mused. "You really can't stay out of trouble, can you?"



I gulped.



"...I, um, I can explain?"



The figure sighed.



"Just tell me—how much does the King value you?"



I froze.



A cold chill ran down my spine.



This wasn't just a random noble's scheme.



This was a deeper conspiracy.



Before I could speak, another voice cut through the air.



Low. Cold. Deadly.



"Let. Her. Go."



I gasped.



The hooded figure stiffened.



And from the shadows—



The King stepped forward.



The moment the King appeared, the entire street fell silent.



The air itself grew heavy.



His golden eyes glowed in the darkness.



And for the first time that night—



The kidnapper trembled.



"...Y-Your Majesty—"



The King didn't wait for an explanation.



He moved in a blur.



A sword slashed through the air. Blood splattered against the cobblestone. The kidnapper fell—never to rise again.



The King didn't even look at the corpse.



Instead, he turned to me, his gaze unreadable.



"Thalia."



I nervously laughed.



"Yes, Your Majesty?"



A long, tense silence.



Then—



In a flat, terrifying voice—



"You are not allowed to leave the palace ever again."



I gulped.



"I, uh, don't suppose I can negotiate—?"



"No."



Welp.



At least I tried.