Of course, I thought dryly, this had to happen on the one day I left the dorm to relax.
With the resignation of a man who knows he's been outmaneuvered, I turned toward the counter.
The cheerful chatter of the princess and Cassandra's occasional laughter filled the air as I prepared two drinks - one floral blend for the princess, something mild for the knight - and arranged a selection of pastries.
The knight's piercing gaze followed my every movement. She intercepted each item before it reached the table, inspecting them with the intensity of someone expecting poison in every crumb.
Not that I blamed her. If I were a bodyguard to literal royalty, I'd be doing the same.
Still—being stared at like a suspicious fork was starting to wear on me.
Originally, I had planned to escape the moment I realized they weren't the "mysterious colleague" I wanted to meet. But that plan was shot down the instant Cassandra leaned close and whispered:
"She's our sponsor."
I barely suppressed a flinch.
She smiled and said a few more words.
The meaning was clear—the shop's funding, my future salary, even the damn tea leaves. All bankrolled by one small, terrifyingly rich child.
So, my escape plan withered on the spot.
Even my self-preservation bowed to economic reality.
But thing was - I haven't even started working officially yet.
Dammit.
Silently, I placed the refreshments on the table. The princess—Sara—was still chattering away, tugging at Cassandra's sleeve like an overexcited puppy.
"—and Father said I could visit the lower districts if I had proper escort, which is why I brought Lannette," Sara was saying, swinging her legs beneath her chair. The motion made her braids bounce. "But he doesn't know about the shop yet, so—"
"Your Highness," the knight—Lannette—interjected, her voice like a whetstone on steel.
Sara pouted. "Oh, don't be such a stick. Cassie's practically family!"
Cassandra smiled warmly at the princess. "I'm honored you think so, Your Highness."
A chance!
I took a few steps back, ready to melt into the background where I belonged. But before I could slip away, Cassandra glanced in my direction, catching my retreat.
She gestured for me to sit at the table with a casual wave of her fingers. "Why don't you take a seat with us?"
My Background Character Aura is really useless against her, huh?
I blinked once, then nodded and pulled out the chair across from them, moving as smoothly as I could without knocking anything over.
"..."
The table suddenly felt way too small.
The moment I sat, three pairs of eyes locked onto me. The princess' curious tilt, Cassandra's smile, and the knight's I-will-end-you stare.
"..."
Great.
Cassandra rested her elbows on the table with the expression of a host starting a formal introduction. "Your Highness, allow me to introduce Amaniel von Luthaire. He's the manager of this shop."
Then she turned to me. "Aman, allow me to introduce Her Royal Highness, Second Princess of the Kingdom—Princess Sara von Valtheim."
Not surprised, I guessed it long time ago.
I gave a small nod of my head and greeted her calmly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. I'll be managing things here from now on. You can call me Mr. Aman… or Brother Aman, if you like."
A beat of silence.
The princess blinked.
Cassandra coughed into her teacup, shoulders shaking with barely contained laughter.
The knight's hand twitched toward her sword.
"..."
...Perhaps that was too familiar.
The princess studied me for a long moment before nodding. "Pleased to meet you too, Mr. Manager."
"..."
I almost sighed aloud.
Right.
That worked better.
Why didn't I just say that from the start?
As I considered how close I'd come to accidentally digging my own grave, Sara had already turned away from me with childlike swiftness, beaming at Cassandra again.
"So, when are we going to start Cassie? You promised to take me out today!"
Cassandra's smile froze—just slightly—and took on the expression of someone trying to escape a trap they set themselves.
"Aah… about that," she said, rubbing the back of her neck with a sheepish grin. "I'd love to, I really would—but I've got mountains of paperwork to finish for the opening. And several logistics reports to verify. I'm truly, deeply sorry, Your Highness. But..."
!
My stomach dropped. Oh no. Not this.
No.
No no no.
I could already see it coming, every neuron in my brain lighting up in alarm.
And right on cue—Cassandra's eyes flicked toward me with a perfectly innocent smile.
"But don't worry," she said sweetly, "Mr.Manaer will be your guide. He'll show you around town, help you enjoy the day, and then take you back to the academy before the ball. He's a student there, after all."
I closed my eyes.
This day was not going to end peacefully.
I really should have stayed at my room, darn it.
Princess Sara's lower lip trembled, her rose-gold eyes shimmering with the kind of practiced innocence that could melt stone. "But Cassie—"
Cassandra, the unshakable traitor, merely pulled the girl into a warm hug. "Next time, I promise," she said, her voice softening just enough to sound sincere. "I'll clear my entire schedule."
Sara buried her face in Cassandra's shoulder, muffling a dramatic sniffle. "You always say that."
"And I always mean it," Cassandra lied smoothly, patting her back before gently prying her off. "Now, behave for Mr. Manager, alright?"
The princess sighed, shoulders slumping in defeat. "...Fine."
Cassandra shot me a look that said, Your problem now.
I hate you, I thought back, just in case telepathy was suddenly a thing.
Outside, a carriage worthy of royalty waited—gleaming black lacquer, gold trim, and a crest emblazoned on the door that probably screamed "Rob me, I'm important!" to every thief in the city. But they wouldn't dare since they valued their lives.
Sara bounded up the steps with the energy of a wind-up toy, waving at Cassandra through the window. "Don't forget your promise!"
Cassandra waved back, smiling like she hadn't just doomed me.
The knight—Lannette—motioned for me to enter first, her expression flat. A test? A threat? Hard to say. I climbed in, half-expecting a knife between my ribs.
The interior smelled like lavender and privilege. Sara had already claimed the cushioned seat opposite me, her earlier pout replaced by a scrutinizing stare.
Lannette settled beside her, arms crossed, gaze sharp enough to flay skin.
The carriage lurched into motion.
Then—
"Don't get any funny ideas about Sis Cassie," Sara announced, tilting her chin up. "She's going to marry my brother."
I blinked.
Lannette pinched the bridge of her nose. "Your Highness."
Sara ignored her. "Now that her useless fiancé's gone, she's free to choose properly."
I barely stopped my lips from twitching.
Ah. So that's the game.
"I'm just an employee," I said, keeping my tone neutral. "And Lady Cassandra is two years my senior." And your brother's probably the same as me, I almost added, but wisely bit back. No need to poke the royal child.
Sara huffed. "As long as you understand."
I nodded, my face carefully blank.
A beat passed. The carriage wheels clattered over cobblestone.
Then—
"I heard you helped break her engagement," Sara said abruptly, eyes narrowing. "Is that true?"
Lannette's stare intensified.
I shrugged. "I did nothing worth mentioning."
Sara leaned forward, elbows on her knees. "So you did do something."
Persistent little thing, aren't you?
Before I could deflect further, she clapped her hands. "Take me to the best sweets shop in the city."
I stared.
She grinned. "Now."
"Of course, your highness."
Dammit, nobody said this job came with a royal babysitting questline.
She tricked me into this!