Chapter 8: A Girl’s Novel? Mission Walkthrough!
Evelia walked with an empty plate in hand, and along the way, she heard quite a few comments about Armand.
In noble and social circles, opinions about Armand were mixed. The remarks from noble ladies who liked handsome faces didn’t count for much, and the politicians’ dislike for a military man often came more from prejudice, or even jealousy.
Those old men knew how hard it was to study for years just to get promoted and make money. But they couldn’t understand how some uneducated punk who probably never even read a book could become the commander of a royal knight order, even though this so-called punk had risked his life more than once.
In this estate, though, it seemed like all Armand’s soldiers were loyal to their leader. So when they talked about him, they only had good things to say. In fact, the praise was so strong that Evelia started to wonder if they were trying to sell her on this bachelor commander.
They said Armand was cheerful and optimistic, loyal and kind, gentle and caring. That he could fight hard and hold the line. Maybe not the most proper gentleman, but an expert in outdoor survival. He could also cook, maybe not fancy food, but solid, strange-looking meals that you could eat during a march.
And beyond all that, they said he was loyal to his friends, serious about his work, and completely focused. He wasn’t great at reading or writing, but in battle, no one could match him. With all those good traits and his handsome looks, it was a bit too much.
Honestly, Evelia found it hard to believe someone like that could really exist. But seeing those knights' eyes light up as they praised him, she couldn’t help but start to wonder if they were telling the truth.
But if all that was true, how had someone like him even survived this long?
How could a guy who sounded like a naive fool climb all the way to become commander of the royal knights? Just by being brave and kindhearted?
That seemed way too far-fetched...
Evelia sighed as she headed toward the kitchen with her plate. Even though she never really got tired no matter how busy she was, she still needed some time to sort out just what kind of man Armand really was.
Maybe it was the old butler helping him out behind the scenes? That old man seemed like someone Armand trusted deeply.
If Armand was a straightforward warrior, then it made sense he’d need a strategist. The person filling that role was probably that butler named Luger.
A really tricky-looking old guy... Evelia thought she’d better prepare herself before dealing with him. Compared to that, even dealing with simple-minded Armand didn’t seem so bad.
After all, smart people were always harder to handle than fools.
……………………………………
“I can’t believe I got assigned to the commander’s estate this time...! I’m so excited...!”
“Yeah, yeah! Handsome knights everywhere~~ Ahhh~ I’m gonna die~~ Look at those muscles and those cool uniforms~~!!!”
“I can’t wait to see them training and all sweaty! They’ll definitely take off their shirts when it gets too hot! And then I’ll just—”
“Eww~~ Put on some pants, will you~!”
Just as Evelia was about to enter the kitchen with her plate, she heard the excited, hushed voices of some maids on their break. They tried to keep their voices low, but their excitement was impossible to hide.
“Hey, have you read that new romance novel?”
“You mean The Knight and the Maid?”
“Yes, yes, that one! You’re a fan too?”
“Of course…! That’s why I’m so excited to be here! Oh My Gosh—falling in love with a knight… it’s just too sweet…!!”
“Yeah, yeah! Imagine being in the garden at night and your knight kneels down and swears his love to you—”
“Kyaaaa~!!”
...What are these women even doing?
Evelia stood at the half-open door, listening to the loud shrieks and chatter.
She had always been more of a loner. Even when she returned to her old group, the people there were all quiet types. Now being in such a noisy place, Evelia felt like her ears were being attacked.
Especially those high-pitched squeals... they were like nails on a windowpane.
“Huh? Miss Evelia? You’re back! Thank you for your hard work! We’re so sorry to trouble you with passing out the snacks. Here, this is the cake we saved for you!”
“…!”
Just as Evelia stepped through the door to see what all the screaming was about, someone held a delicate blueberry cake right in front of her.
“Try it! The chef is really proud of this one!”
…They’re way too enthusiastic.
From Armand down to everyone else in the estate, everyone here was just too warm and welcoming. Evelia felt completely out of place.
“Thank you.”
But since her mission required her to blend in, Evelia chose to accept their enthusiasm and took the blueberry cake, which looked quite tasty.
“What were you all talking about just now?”
Evelia didn’t like sweet food, so she just brought up a random topic to change the subject. She didn’t expect it to work so well, the moment she asked, the maids all got excited again.
“Of course we were talking about knights—knights!”
“Who doesn’t love a gentle and strong knight? Gosh… they’re like a dream come true—!”
“Ahhh~ and Mr. Armand… he’s just like a main character from a romance novel… His smile is as bright as the sun~~”
…Aren’t these girls seeing him through too much of a fantasy lens?
Evelia set down her cake and looked in confusion at the lovestruck girls.
Aside from his face, what’s so great about Armand…?
She quietly complained in her heart while listening to the girls chirp on like sparrows, their conversation slowly drifting further off track.
“Hey, why do you think Mr. Armand is still unmarried? Could it be a secret relationship? Like in those stories where he has to hide the one he loves to protect her because everyone’s watching him?”
“He doesn’t seem like a married man to me~ He’s nearly 30 but still looks so young.”
“26 isn’t that close to 30! You can’t just say ‘nearly 30’! But if he’s still single, maybe it’s because he hasn’t met the right girl yet?”
…Honestly, I think the guy probably has his own problems.
Evelia kept up her silent commentary.
“Ah! What if we end up in a story like the ones in romance novels, where the knight falls in love with the maid?! Mr. Armand is still single, don’t we have a real chance?!”
“Ahhh~ That would be amazing. But realistically, I don’t think we’re good enough. I’m a self-aware maid, someone like Mr. Armand… even if he were to date a maid, she’d have to be a top-tier one~”
“Yeah… you’d need to be someone who sees him regularly.”
“And also really beautiful to match Mr. Armand…”
As the girls said this, they all suddenly seemed to realize something at the same time. Their eyes turned toward Evelia in unison.
“…?”
Evelia tilted her head slightly, expressionless, as she noticed their eyes gleaming like little rats in the dark, kind of creepy.
“Now that I think about it, the only truly beautiful, top-tier maid around here is Miss Evelia!”
“…What?” Evelia blinked, unsure why the topic had suddenly shifted to her.
“And you’re Mr. Armand’s personal maid! If it’s you, maybe you could win his heart like in the romance novel!”
“…?”
By this point, there were already a dozen question marks popping up in Evelia’s mind.
“Haven’t you read that novel?”
—’Do I need to read it?’
Evelia really wanted to say that, but in order to get along with everyone in the manor, she just gave a small, polite shake of her head.
“It’s this one!”
One of the maids suddenly pulled a thick, pink-covered book out of her personal locker and shoved it into Evelia’s hands. The cover showed the silhouette of a black-clad knight kneeling on one knee, holding the hand of a pink-colored girl.
…Why does this feel strangely familiar?
Evelia looked at the overly pink cover, feeling a little complicated inside.
“The Maid’s Knight”
The title was simple and easy to understand. Just five bold characters printed on the cover, decorated with a few flower stickers.
“This book is about a young maid who, after spending some time with a cold and distant knight, slowly melts his icy heart with her kindness and warmth. Over time, they fall in love, beat the bad guys, and live happily ever after~”
—So cheesy.
Evelia didn’t even know how many complaints she’d had today. Ever since coming to this manor, she felt like her brain was being corrupted by these weird people.
“It tells you exactly how the maid won the knight’s heart. Ahhh~ it’s so sweet. Miss Evelia, you’re about our age, right? You’ll definitely like this kind of story. Give it a try!”
The maid excitedly shoved the book into Evelia’s arms, like a fangirl recommending her favorite work.
Evelia thought to herself, even if they were the same age, there’s no way she’d like something so childish, right?
But then, the next second, her brain seemed to catch onto some key words, and she paused in the middle of handing the book back.
“Win the knight’s heart.”
Even if it sounded corny, wasn’t that exactly what she needed?
The second prince had ordered Evelia to get information about the crown prince from Armand by any means necessary. Earning his trust was the most reliable long-term method. And if she could win Armand’s heart, wouldn’t that be even more effective?
Evelia honestly had no idea how to make a man like her. She’d never had time or chances to learn anything about love before. But now, wasn’t this the perfect opportunity?
A knight and a maid… it was basically a ready-made setup. She could treat this romance novel as a how-to guide or even a “strategy walkthrough.”
Thinking this, Evelia accepted the book from the maid.