"I will carry on the mission, Your Highness, I will lookout for the Prince until he succeeded in the throne" I said, bowing deeply to the Emperor—my master—while he lay weak and frail upon his bed.

He nodded slowly and gave a faint smile; a silent sign that his time in this world was coming to an end.

I turned, opened the window, and put on my white mask securely over my face. Then, without hesitation, I stepped onto the ledge and leaped off the balcony while vanishing into the dark night.

I went to my hideout in the near village to rest for the night. When morning came, news already spread out.

"The Emperor is already dead, how pitiful, he was a good emperor after all" an old woman said in the market.

Here I am buying a piece of bread while also wondering who's gonna be the next emperor of this estate.

The late emperor actually has five children. The high chance of becoming one is the two eldest sons. They're twins after all so it's not a matter of who's older since both of them are the two eldest of the family so it's a hard decision.

Whatever it is. My job is to look after Prince Ezekiel. The only son of the third son of the emperor who died during the war last 4 years. This so called Prince Ezekiel will be the next in line after the ruling of whoever will be the next emperor between those twins.

A man suddenly bumped into me and slid a letter inside my brown paper bag with bread in it. He didn't even stop or apologize, just walked away fast into the crowd like he was never there. I didn't chase or call him since I already got the signal.

I went back to my shabby hideout house to check it out. Must be from the palace. I locked the door tight, pulled the curtains close, and only then did I take out the white envelope from the paper bag.

I opened it carefully and read the following words on on it—"Greetings Agatha Morettis,

We hereby ask for your appearance this afternoon. We will send a carriage nearby the gate of the village. Do not be late since this is the final order left by His Majesty before he passed away."

Agatha Morettis. So that’s the name they gave me. How ugly. Sounds plain, boring, and disgusting...though it is a perfect name for disguise, I guess, but still, it sounds awful to my ears, augh.

I memorized every word, then held the paper over the small candle on my table and watched it turn into ashes. I burned every trace before stretching my arms to relax myself.

The last mission of my master—after this, I guess I can just die peacefully. No more code names, no more hiding, no more killing. Just…the end?

When afternoon came, I went to the exact waiting location just like they said. There it was, a white carriage standing quietly by the big oak tree near the village gate. I saw the Westernberg crest painted in gold on the side—so that must have been the carriage.

I recognize the coachman guiding the horse immediately; I've seen him before, standing side by side by his majesty. So I guess the one inside is the evil butler.

I pulled the carriage door open and I was right.

There he sat, legs crossed, fingers tapping slowly on his legs. He looked up at me, lips stretching wide into a creepy smile that showed too many teeth.

"You look disgusting when you smile, you know?" I blatantly said.

"Long time no see, Silk Reaper" he mentioned my code name while grinning like the evil man as he truly is.

I smiled back and said "Same to you, Silver Slasher"

His grin widened even more, looking even more wicked now that I called him by his own codename. We were both ghosts of the palace—people the nobles knew existed but is just pretending it didn't. We are basically just tools used when hands needed to be clean and secrets needed to stay buried.

Our existence was never exposed to anyone. That’s how good we are at hiding. Not even the late Emperor’s own children knew we were spies. No one else had a clue. Only the Empress, the late Emperor, and our fellow agents knew the truth about us. We were the shadows they sent to other lands, to dig out secrets and watch over foreign nobles and royal families from afar.

If one decided to betray us, they will immediately disappear without a trace in this land and enjoy their life in the afterlife.

"Still sharp as ever, I see," he chuckled, "That's good. You’ll need that wits of yours where we are going. Things inside the palace are…chaotic right now. The twins are already fighting over the throne, and every noble houses is picking sides like it’s some kind of game."

"And right in the middle of all that mess is your new assignment: Prince Ezekiel."

I leaned back against the velvet seat, crossing my arms. "I know the task Silver. Watch him, make sure he stays alive, make sure no one uses him against anyone else, and he shall make a good emperor soon. That was the late Emperor’s last wish."

Silver Slasher shook his head slowly while smiling.

"You little brat. Stop calling me that, I have a name. It's a nice name compared to yours. Call me Sir Arthur."

I scrunched my forehead to his remarks.

The carriage rumbled forward, wheels rolling over the dirt road, carrying me straight back to the place I thought I had left behind forever. My last mission. My last debt to pay.

And I had a feeling….this wasn’t going to be as simple as just being a maid.

"Here is your room, and here is your uniform. If you need anything at all, you may visit Sir Arthur’s office whenever you wish," said the maid in charge of the household accounts, bowing slightly before turning to leave.

Her name is Fernvale Mauve. A pretty, soft-sounding name, made to look like something an ordinary noble girl would have, and I felt a small twist of jealousy in my chest.

Oh, and yes — this girl is also one of us, a fellow spy walking in broad daylight and even in the darkest depth of the night.

They had given her such a gentle, soft sounding name, but me? Agatha. Just plain, simple, and utterly unremarkable. Did that butler, Sir Arthur, hold some kind of grudge against me? Was he trying to make me blend in too well, or was he just being cruel?

"Got it," I replied shortly, my voice calm and flat as I gestured for her to leave. The door clicked shut behind her, and I stood alone in my new quarters. It was not an enormous chamber, but it was spacious enough — not too grand, not too plain, just a decent size that suited me perfectly. It had everything I needed: a small bed, a wooden table, a wardrobe to keep my things, and large windows that let in soft light from the outside.

I remembered this girl, Fernvale Mauve, very well. Her codename was Windmill. It suited her perfectly — her magical abilities were shaped like sharp, spinning shurikens that cut through enemies like wind, moving so fast they were almost impossible to see. She was very skilled.

I changed into my new uniform — a simple, modest dress in soft grey and white, exactly like what all palace maids wore. It felt strange at first, but I adjusted quickly. This was just another part of the disguise.

As night fell, I lay down on the bed and closed my eyes, letting my mind rest. I could only hope that tomorrow would go as planned. From today onwards, I was officially the Prince’s personal maid.

I wondered to myself — why was there no one else assigned to be his personal maid before me? Why was I the only one chosen for this important duty? Fern didn’t tell me anything, and that evil man, Sir Arthur, had kept all his secrets locked tight behind that smiling face of his.

Well… I suppose it was a good night for me, all things considered. After all, this was the start of my final mission.

— — —

"Agatha. You’re my personal maid right? I’m so glad to meet you."

Prince Ezekiel said this as he walked up to me quickly, his eyes shining bright and his face full of excitement. He stood in front of me, not letting me move or go anywhere, just looking at me like I was the most interesting thing he had ever seen.

I just bowed my head low and kept my voice flat and calm. "Yes, Your Highness. I will be serving you from now on."

He smiled widely, his whole face lighting up. "That’s great! I was waiting for you. You look different from the other servants here. You seem quiet, I like that."

I said nothing more. I just stood there quietly, keeping my head down, acting like the proper maid I was supposed to be. I didn’t smile, I didn’t say more than needed, and I kept my expression serious all the time.

Come on little spoiled brat, just say what would you like for today—coffee? juice? food? I can prepare all of that.

From that day on, every single day was the same. Ezekiel followed me everywhere I went. He was always around, talking to me, asking me questions, or just standing near me while I did my work in other things.

He was cheerful and full of energy all the time, never seeming to get tired or bored.

One morning, I was arranging the books in his study. I was putting them back in order, making sure each one was in the right place. He came in running, almost tripping over his own feet, and stopped right next to me.

"Agatha!" he called out loudly. "Call me Kiel. Just Kiel when we are alone. No need to be so formal, okay? We can be friends, right?"

I paused my work and looked at him for just a second before looking down again. "I am your servant, Your Highness. It is not proper to call you anything other than Your Highness."

He pouted a little and leaned against the table, crossing his arms. "But why? Everyone else calls me that anyway. It sounds so stiff and boring. Call me Kiel. Please? I’ll give you extra sweets. Or let you use my things. Just call me Kiel."

"I am sorry, Your Highness. My duty is to respect you properly. I will continue to call you by your title."

He sighed and shook his head, but he didn’t go away. Instead, he started walking around me while I worked. He asked me what I was doing, where I had come from, and all kinds of small questions like what's my favourite color.

He talked non-stop, and I answered only when necessary. Although I avoided answering personal question like where I had come from since that's basically confidential.

After finishing cleaning his bed, I went to prepare his clothes for the next day. I laid them out neatly on the bed. He came over and looked at them, then looked at me.

"Agatha, look at me," he said, reaching out to tap my arm gently. "Call me Kiel. Just try it once. If you say it, I’ll do anything you want. I promise."

I moved back a little to keep some distance between us. "Please do not bother me while I work, Your Highness. I have things to do. If you need anything, just tell me, I can bring you juice or cookies."

He didn’t get mad. He just grinned and followed me as I walked to the wardrobe to get more things. "Bother you? I’m not bothering you! I’m just talking to you. You never smile, you never laugh. Why are you always so serious? You look like you have a stone on your face all the time."

"I am doing my job properly, Your Highness."

"Hmm… okay, okay. I’ll stop for now. But tomorrow I will ask again!" He said this cheerfully, like it was a game to him.

Why is he so full of energy? Isn't 19yrs old people supposed to be tired of living already? Especially when you're gonna be the Emperor sooner enough.

I'm 18 and I want to disappear already.

One afternoon, I was in the garden picking fresh flowers to put in vases around his rooms. The garden was big and beautiful, full of colorful plants and trees. I was bending down to pick the most perfect blooms when he appeared behind me suddenly.

"Agatha!" he shouted softly, so he wouldn’t scare me but still loud enough for me to hear. "Call me Kiel! I’ll run around the garden three times if you do. I’ll let you win any game we play. Just say it!"

I stood up straight and held the flowers in my hands. "Your Highness, please. This is not something I can do. It is against the rules and against my duty."

He jumped up and down a little, looking very happy even though I said no. "You’re so stubborn! I like that about you. But I will keep asking every single day until you say it. I promise you that."

"I understand, Your Highness."

"Good! Now… can you tell me what kind of flowers these are? And where do they come from? And… can you tell me why you never talk much? Do you not like talking to me?"

"I talk as much as I need to, Your Highness. And I do not dislike talking to you. I am just focused on my work."

He nodded, but he still kept standing next to me, not moving away even though I had finished picking the flowers. He watched me arrange them in the vases, asking me small questions every few minutes.

As the days passed, this became his daily routine. Ezekiel would follow me everywhere I went. He would come into the kitchen while I was preparing food, stand in the corner and talk to me while I cooked. He would come into my room when I was cleaning, just to sit there and tell me stories or ask me questions.

Other servants are looking weirdly at us though but he doesn't seem to care.

Every single time, he would bring up the same thing.

"Agatha, call me Kiel. Please? Just once. I’ll be your best friend. I’ll protect you. I’ll do everything you say. Just stop calling me Young Master or Your Highness. Call me Kiel."

And every single time, I would answer the same way.

"I am sorry, Your Highness. It is not possible. I will call you Young Master, or Your Highness, as is proper."

He would make a face, sometimes pouting, sometimes grinning, sometimes pretending to be sad, but he never got angry actually. He just kept asking, every single day, over and over again.

One day, I was helping him get ready for a meeting with other nobles. I was adjusting his clothes, making sure everything was neat and tidy.

"Agatha," he said softly. "You look really nice when you work like that. You’re very good at taking care of things. But why won’t you call me Kiel? I’m not that scary, am I? I don’t bite. I promise."

I finished adjusting his collar and stepped back to look at my work. "You are not scary, Your Highness. But there are rules. And I must follow them."

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair, making it messy on purpose. "Rules, rules, rules. Everyone says that. But you’re different. You don’t act like the other servants. You don’t bow too low, you don’t talk too much, you don’t laugh at everything I say. You’re…interesting."

"I am just doing my job, Your Highness."

"Yeah, yeah. I know. But still… call me Kiel. Just try it. One time. If you say it, I’ll give you the most beautiful dress in the whole palace. Or I’ll give you all the jewels you want. Anything."

"I appreciate the offer, Your Highness. But I cannot accept. And I cannot call you anything else."

And its not like I would use that bunch of expensive things. At the end of the day, I'll die anyway.

He smiled widely, like he had expected that answer and was happy anyway. "Okay, okay. I’ll wait. I have plenty of time. And I’m very patient. I’ll keep asking every day. Until you say it. I know you will eventually."

I said nothing and just stood there quietly, waiting for him to go so I could continue with my other work.

Another time, we were walking through the long hallways of the palace. I was walking a few steps behind him, as was proper. He suddenly stopped walking and turned around to face me.

"Agatha!" he called out. "Come here for a second!"

I walked up to him and stopped at a respectful distance. "Yes, Your Highness?"

"Call me Kiel," he said, looking directly at me with bright eyes. "Just once. Please. I’ll let you walk next to me instead of behind. I’ll let you sit with me at meals. I’ll do everything you want. Just call me Kiel."

I bowed my head slightly. "Thank you for the offer, Your Highness. But I must remain in my place. And I will call you as is right and proper."

He put his hands on his hips and looked at me, pretending to be upset. "You’re so mean! You know that? You won’t even try. But I still like you anyway. You’re the best maid I have ever had. Even if you are stubborn."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"You’re welcome. Now…let’s go. I want to show you something. Come on, follow me."

He started walking again, walking much faster than usual, and I followed behind him just like always.

Days turned into weeks, and every single day was the same. He pestered me about calling him Kiel. He followed me everywhere. He talked to me constantly. He smiled and laughed and was cheerful all the time, never being serious or strict like I was. I kept my distance, kept my voice flat, kept my actions calm and proper. I never smiled, I never laughed, I never gave him any extra attention beyond what was needed for my work.

Even when he tried to be funny or make jokes, I just looked at him calmly and said what was necessary. Even when he tried to do nice things for me, like bringing me food or giving me small gifts, I accepted them politely but without any extra emotion. Why is he doing this?

One evening, as the sun was setting, we were in the garden again. I was sitting on a bench, resting for a moment after finishing all my tasks for the day. He came and sat down next to me, not too close but close enough to talk easily.

He looked at me and sighed. "Agatha… you never change, do you? Every day is the same. You work hard, you talk little, you never show any emotion. But I don’t mind. Actually…I kind of like it. You’re different from everyone else. You’re quiet, you’re strong, you do what you have to do without complaining."

I looked at him for a moment, then looked away towards the setting sun. "I am just doing my duty, Your Highness."

He smiled and leaned back against the bench. "I know. And I respect that. But… can I ask you one more thing? Just one last time. Call me Kiel. Even if it’s just once. I won’t ask again after that. I promise."

I looked at him again, and this time I looked a little longer than usual. I saw the hope in his eyes, the way he was waiting for my answer. But then I remembered what I was, and what my duty was.

"I am sorry, Your Highness. I cannot do that. I will continue to call you Young Master, as is right."

He looked disappointed for just a second, but then he smiled again and nodded his head. "Okay. I understand. I’ll keep asking anyway. And I’ll keep hoping. One day, you’ll say it. I know you will."

He stood up and stretched his arms above his head, looking happy even though he didn’t get what he wanted. "Well, it’s getting late. I should go back to my room. Come on, I’ll walk you back to yours. Just to make sure you get there safe."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

We stood up and started walking back towards the servant quarters. He walked beside me now, not behind, but he still didn’t ask me to call him anything else.

As we walked, he looked at me from the corner of his eye and smiled to himself.

That was how it was. He was the cheerful, playful prince who followed me everywhere and asked me the same question every single day. And I was the cold, serious maid who always gave him the same answer. And this was how our days went on, one after another, in the big palace where nothing ever changed, except for the fact that he never stopped asking, and I never stopped saying no.