I Became The Servant Who Received The Crown Prince’s Obsession

Chapter 47

Inside the carriage, Clyde changed into an overcoat, transforming from the crown prince into a figure closer to that of an ordinary man. Though a significant number of guards discreetly followed, the only attendant by his side was Edith.

The two walked through the streets in quiet solitude, unnoticed by others. The busy vendors simply saw them as ordinary visitors exploring the market.

Passing through the permanent market, lined with clothing stores, restaurants, and tea shops, they arrived at the temporary street market. Laborers employed by the palace were setting up awnings and partitions to organize the area.

This was part of a broader development project to revamp the street market, timed to coincide with the upcoming street festival.

The voice of a middle-aged woman selling household items could be heard as she spoke to a worker.

“There’s a gap in the ceiling here. Please make sure to patch it up properly,” she said. Despite her grumbling, her expression was undeniably bright.

This area had previously been exposed to the scorching summer sun. When it rained or snowed, the vendors would scramble to cover their goods with waterproof tarps. Now, even the simple addition of a roof over her stall made the woman beam with joy.

“Where’s the gap? I thought I was being thorough,” the laborer said, climbing a ladder.

The vendor pointed to a crack in the wooden planks, her tone suddenly softening.

“Here, right here. I’ll guide you from down here.”

The laborers and vendors shared a mutual sense of satisfaction as the chaotic and disorganized street market transformed into a cleaner, more orderly space.

Every so often, someone would praise the royal family for finally spending money on something worthwhile. They weren’t aware that the crown prince was among them—such remarks were simply part of the casual chatter.

Edith strolled down the street, pretending to browse the goods. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Clyde smiling faintly, his lips twitching as he tried to suppress a grin.

“You look pleased,” she said.

Clyde lifted a hand to his mouth, trying to hide his expression.

“It’s taken five years to get to this point. There was a time when holding a festival wasn’t even possible.”

“Five years? Since when are you counting?”

“Since His Majesty fell ill and could no longer rise from bed…”

Clyde’s voice trailed off, and Edith couldn’t look away from him. He smiled softly for a moment, but his gaze shifted to the bustling market, now filled with the sound of hammering, and his eyes reflected a deep melancholy.

The timeframe brought back memories for Edith as well.

After the emperor had been poisoned, Clyde had taken on the full burden of the imperial responsibilities. Despite not yet being of age, he had acted as the emperor’s proxy, battling against powerful officials hungry for control.

“It must have been hard,” Edith said quietly. “Fighting all alone like that.”

She’d heard that during his older sister’s funeral—when the previous crown princess had passed away—Clyde had broken down in tears and eventually fainted.

“Looking back, there’s so much I regret. During the early days, I let too many privileges and powers slip away.”

“That’s not the case anymore, though. You might have frequent disputes now, but you rarely make decisions that result in pure loss.”

“That’s largely thanks to you, Edith. Since you’ve been by my side, my success rate in battles against the officials has improved.”

“You don’t need to flatter me. It’s all because of your strength, Clyde.”

He shook his head firmly, as if rejecting the idea outright.

“Do I really seem that capable to you?”

“What?”

“I’m a very inadequate crown prince. I’m just grateful you see me in a good light.”

“No one thinks you’re lacking, Clyde.”

“They wouldn’t say it out loud, but they surely think it. In reality, I’m a mess. There are still so many hurdles to overcome.”

The street they walked was bustling with activity. On one side, vendors had set up their stalls, and on the other, construction was underway.

As a passerby bumped into Edith’s shoulder, she staggered slightly. Clyde immediately pulled her close, taking her hand in his.

Walking side by side so closely, they looked every bit like a couple. They spoke in hushed tones, their heads tilted toward each other in a way that appeared deeply affectionate. Yet their conversation was serious.

“It took me five years just to feed my people a single meal,” Clyde murmured with a short sigh, his words laden with the weight of his struggles.

As they turned into the intersection at the heart of the street market, food stalls became more plentiful. The enticing aroma of various dishes filled the air, and some of the offerings looked particularly appetizing.

Edith quickened her pace toward one of the stalls, eagerly grabbing a skewer of grilled meatballs. The glossy glaze of seasoning made them look irresistibly delicious.

“Clyde, you should try one too,” she said, holding out a skewer.

“Why not?” he replied.

In the curious blend of melancholy and newfound joy, Clyde reached for the street food without hesitation. He picked a skewer with a sweet glaze, while Edith chose one with a saltier flavor.

As they each took a bite, some of the rich, warm sauce dripped onto Edith’s sleeve.

“Ah!” she exclaimed.

Clyde quickly pulled out a handkerchief.

“Hold still,” he said.

His touch was meticulous as he dabbed at the sauce, ensuring it didn’t stain her skin. He pressed just enough to wipe the mark away without causing discomfort.

The handkerchief he used looked far more expensive than her clothes, making Edith feel a little self-conscious. But she accepted his gesture gratefully.

“Thank you. That’s enough now,” she said.

“Give me your skewer. I’ll hold it,” Clyde insisted.

“No, it’s fine—”

“I said, give it here. You just focus on eating.”

He took her skewer, adding it to his own in one hand. Like an attendant at a royal meal, he watched her closely, ready to offer the skewer the moment her mouth was free.

“Clyde, I can handle holding a skewer on my own, you know,” Edith said, smiling wryly.

“Who said you couldn’t? I’m just seizing an opportunity to be useful when you let your guard down.”

“Let my guard down?”

Suddenly, he leaned in closer.

“Hmm? Just a passing remark. Don’t overthink it,” he replied with a mischievous glint.

Right then, Clyde cleverly stuffed two meatballs into his mouth at once, leaving himself unable to respond further. Edith found herself unable to press the matter and sighed inwardly.

The warm and pleasant atmosphere between them made it harder for Edith to reveal what she had planned to say.

She had intended to announce her resignation from her position as his attendant. After the weeks-long festival, she planned to leave the palace and thought it best to inform him in advance. Today had seemed like the right day to bring it up.

But as fate would have it, the food-sharing moment derailed her intentions. Clyde’s gaze only grew more tender, as if fate were steering their interactions toward a confession of affection rather than a farewell.

She couldn’t bring herself to say it.

“I regret to inform you, but I plan to step down from my position,” she had rehearsed repeatedly to herself. She knew it would be difficult to say the words to his face.

And indeed, just starting the conversation felt impossible.

Clyde, with his striking golden eyes, radiated heartfelt emotions as he spoke about the significance of holding this festival for the first time in five years. He confided how much it meant to him—not a lavish banquet for the nobility, but a celebration for the citizens and a way to reinforce the royal family’s authority.

She couldn’t bring herself to ruin the moment.

“Clyde,” she began tentatively.

He finished his skewer and turned to her, gently wiping a smudge from the corner of her mouth.

“Yes? What is it?”

“…Nothing. Shall we look around some more?”

Clyde tilted his head, curious but not pressing. “Sure, let’s go.”

The two stopped by nearby food stalls to enjoy some fried snacks and cleanse their palate with fruit. They finished their culinary adventure with drinks and dessert pastries.

Thanks to the food-sharing event marking the beginning of the festival, the festive atmosphere was palpable throughout the city.

Edith had been to this street market several times before. At night, some stalls lit lamps to stay open, while others, unable to make enough to even cover the cost of candles, had to pack up early.

But this time, nearly every stall was brightly lit. It was a clear sign that business was booming.

“The whole city feels so alive and bright,” Edith remarked.

“Doesn’t it? I hope this festival helps improve everyone’s livelihoods,” Clyde replied.

They watched the bustling scene: customers haggling over prices, people passing by with snacks in hand, children thrilled by the vibrant night market.

In the midst of it all, Edith felt like the only one unable to enjoy the festivities.

“Clyde,” she said softly.

“Why do you keep calling me? Do you have something to say?”

Clyde’s golden eyes shone brightly, as if he was eagerly anticipating what she had to say. It seemed as though he hoped for something positive—not that she was leaving, but rather that she wanted to stay by his side.

But in the end, Edith couldn’t bring herself to speak. She dropped her gaze to the ground.

*Now isn’t the right time. I’ll have to find another chance to tell him later. Maybe it’ll be easier if I just hand him my resignation letter.*

“If it’s something important, take your time. I’ll wait,” Clyde said, his voice warm and reassuring.

“…”

“But in the meantime, what do you think of that rest area they’re setting up over there? Does it look practical?”

Sensing her hesitation, Clyde deliberately shifted the topic to put her at ease.

In the middle of the street market’s intersection, benches were being installed. The area had once been a dusty dirt path, hardened by countless footsteps. Now, spacious benches were set up for people to rest while exploring the market.

Edith pushed aside her unspoken concerns and decided to match his lighthearted tone. She gracefully walked toward the newly built seating area. The ground, now covered with small gravel, crunched softly underfoot as she stepped.

“It looks amazing. It’s hard to believe this used to be such a barren market,” she said.

“Even to me, it looks decent. I approved the idea of adding facilities to the market, but I never got around to reviewing the blueprints myself,” Clyde admitted.

“Oh, come on. If you were inspecting blueprints too, that would be overdoing it a bit. Delegating such tasks to your subordinates is what makes a wise ruler,” Edith teased.

“That’s why I held back, even though I was curious,” he replied with a small smile.

The newly crafted benches still had rough spots from incomplete sanding. The two carefully chose a spot that seemed relatively smooth and gingerly sat down. But the surface wasn’t quite comfortable.

Clyde rummaged through his inner pocket, but his handkerchief, used earlier to wipe her sleeve, was no longer clean. Instead, he took off his coat, dusted it off, and neatly spread it out over the bench for Edith to sit on.