"'What a coincidence' my ass! Why do you have a maid outfit in your storage ring?!"
Hysteria's face burned red as she snapped.
The outfit lying on the table was—by all accounts—a textbook example of maidwear: a black and white base with frilly apron detailing, plus a matching flower-shaped headpiece.
But a closer look revealed the very specific flavor of someone's personal taste.
The skirt was so short it barely covered the thighs.
The stockings were so sheer they looked like they'd tear at the slightest pull.
This is not a proper maid outfit!
If she actually wore something like this and got seen, her career as a royal princess would be over.
But... after everything that had already happened tonight—and with Elena still out there trying her best—how could she quit now?!
It was just temporary. Endure it for now. Once she saved this idiot in reverse, she'd make him pay for every last thing—skirt lifts, maid costumes, all of it!
"Personal hobby. No comment,"
Linen replied with serene composure, sipping his tea with a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.
Last time on the rooftop, I pushed too hard and she blew past it before I could trigger anything. That was my mistake.
But I don't learn from failure—I level up.
This time I've got props, timing, and a cooldown window all baked in.
The idea that the proud third princess of the Flame Rose Empire would actually wear a maid uniform for him? Impossible. Not even her father, the emperor, could demand that.
Locked in.
If Hysteria actually agreed, he'd eat his teacup on the spot—
SLAM!
The redhead suddenly stood, smacked her palm on the table, and snatched the uniform.
"Hey now, Hysteria—rejecting me is fine, but leave the outfit out of it."
Linen reflexively assumed she was about to rip it up.
But then he was met with a deceptively sweet smile and an even sweeter voice.
"Now what kind of joke is that, Classmate Linen? You're the one who asked me to wear it, right?"
"To provide a proper... study atmosphere for His Highness, of course I must comply with such a small request."
And with that, she turned on her heel and practically fled to the dressing room—giving him no time to counter, perhaps afraid he'd up the stakes even more.
Inside, sounds of rustling fabric and clicking fasteners filtered through the door.
A few moments later, Hysteria stepped out in full uniform, standing prim and poised in front of him.
"Is this acceptable, Classmate Linen?" she asked sweetly.
Linen swallowed.
It was a sweet smile. If only the vein bulging at her temple wasn't so prominent, it might've actually looked sincere.
But the real issue here wasn't whether she looked good.
She actually went along with it?!
Did he miss something in the original novel? Did this girl have some secret kink?
Still, judging by the look on her face... it seemed her suffering may have surpassed his own.
"You're surprisingly cute. Didn't expect it to suit you this well."
Linen took another sip of tea to hide the awkwardness.
"Hmph. Of course it suits me."
For a moment, Hysteria puffed up with pride.
And then immediately wanted to slap herself.
Why am I getting into character?!
But it seemed someone else was even deeper into their roleplay.
"In that case, could Classmate Hysteria pour me another cup of tea?"
Linen pushed his cup forward.
He seriously expects me to act like a maid?!
Gritting her teeth and repeating Endure. Endure. in her head, Hysteria picked up the pot and refilled his cup.
Linen reached for it—only to yank his hand back when the cup burned his fingers.
Without a word, a pair of elegant hands reached forward and placed a coaster under the cup for easier handling.
As a fire-element specialist, heat like this was nothing to her.
Linen paused, slightly surprised, then looked up at her.
"Didn't expect you to be this into it, Your Highness."
She said nothing. Face cold, jaw clenched. No more kindness for this jerk.
"Still missing something, though," he said, sipping the fresh tea with a sigh.
"What now?" Hysteria snapped.
"When I get tired while studying at home, I usually rest my head on my maid's lap."
"You absolute—!"
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. Rejection successful.]
[Reward granted!]
"Kidding~" Linen said cheerfully.
Whew, finally hit the guaranteed rejection for tonight. Thought I'd come up empty.
And judging by the time, it was about to begin.
He stood.
"We've been at this a while. Let's take a break. I'll head down to the lounge and grab some snacks."
His gaze flicked across her maid outfit one last time.
"I imagine you're still... not quite used to that getup."
And with that, he left.
Leaving behind one fuming princess to stew alone in the room.
"Not quite used to that getup"?! Is he saying I'm not even a good maid?!
Her toes—still wrapped in those cursed black stockings—curled up with rage under the table.
Fine. You want to see a maid? I'll SHOW you a maid!
Not because I enjoy it! Just because I hate losing!
Just as she gathered her resolve, the door knocked.
That was fast.
Hysteria stood to answer it—only to find Elena on the other side.
The two girls stared at each other in surprise.
Elena's eyes widened. A slow, amused smile tugged at her lips.
"Shia… your outfit..."
"AAAHHHH—Don't say anything! Just tell me what intel you found!"
Face flushed red, Hysteria waved off the comment.
But Elena's smile dimmed slightly as she shook her head.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't find anything useful in Linen's room."
Hysteria's blood pressure spiked instantly.
So all of tonight was for NOTHING?!
Did I seriously dress up as a maid for that jerk—for no reason?!
But one look at Elena's apologetic face, and she couldn't bring herself to lash out.
"It's okay. Come back in. We'll find another way."
Elena sighed, stepped in, and went to the wardrobe to change.
As Hysteria returned to the table, the doorbell rang again.
This time it's definitely him.
Fine. I'll show him what a perfect maid looks like!
Face composed, smile fixed, she opened the door.
"Welcome ho—"
Her words froze mid-syllable.
The girl outside blinked, startled by Hysteria's overenthusiastic greeting, but quickly regained composure.
At Eden Academy, where the wealth gap was enormous, seeing a student with a maid—or being one—wasn't unheard of.
The girl smiled and held out an envelope.
"Sorry to disturb you. I'm with the campus messenger team. Someone saw Linen enter this dorm earlier, and this letter's for him. If you're his maid, can you sign for it?"
WHO'S HIS MAID?!
Hysteria was about to snap—but then she spotted the sender's name on the envelope.
Ken Listan.
That's Professor Ken's name!
So that's why Elena couldn't find anything—the intel hadn't arrived yet.
As expected... it takes the great Princess Hysteria to set things right!
In her mind, she could already see Linen, weeping with gratitude after she saved his sorry hide.
"Yes. I'm his maid. Thank you!"
Before the messenger could process her answer, Hysteria snatched the letter and slammed the door.
---
Around the stairwell corner, Linen popped a crisp candy into his mouth.
Everything had gone according to plan.
Well—almost everything.
That flame-haired princess's reaction, though… was starting to genuinely confuse him.
She actually seems like she's enjoying this.
Wait… did I push too far and awaken something in her?
Still, they'd danced around long enough.
It was finally time for the grand betrayal to begin.
The moment the heroines discovered the truth—that he was the mastermind—surely they'd be furious.
Just thinking about it gave him chills.
God, this is gonna be so damn good.
...
A few minutes later, in Elena and Hysteria's dorm—
A scream of disbelief rang through the air.
"HOW CAN THIS BE?!"
"What's wrong?"
Linen had just stepped in with a tray of desserts.
"Elena?" he asked.
Elena stood frozen, the letter trembling in her hands.
She couldn't believe what she'd just read.
The prince who had been so kind to her. The one who had helped her again and again…
He was the mastermind behind it all?!
No. No way. Absolutely no way!
In that instant, Elena made up her mind.