"Oh, it's…" I opened my mouth to say something, but then closed it. If I ordered people to do tedious things for me while being on the verge of getting kicked out, then of course they were going to hate me. However, if I tried explaining that to him and told him that I didn't want to cause any future trouble, he was just going to look at me as if I was crazy.

'If I weren't the villainess of this novel, I wouldn't be trying to save myself like this.'

I was grieving over my situation when Max reached out his hand to me. "Give that to me," he said.

"No, I want to do this," I responded belatedly, but I knew there was no way a stubborn man like him would listen quietly to my words.

"Come on," he urged. I sighed at his unyielding attitude and handed over the scissors. He then gave them to Merilyn, a sharp look flashing through his eyes. "She could have been pricked by the thorns or accidentally cut herself with the scissors. As the head maid, shouldn't you be the one taking care of things like this?"

As a fallen noblewoman, Merilyn held a higher social status than Max, but his warning tone sounded so natural as if he had ruled over others for a long time. However, since I already had some insight into his true identity, I immediately denied this absurd idea.

'Well, the truth is that he's just senseless about worldly affairs.'

Nevertheless, Merilyn, who had no idea about Max's identity, humbly apologized and accepted the scissors as if she were overwhelmed by his aggressive aura. "This was due to my carelessness. I'm sorry," she said.

Max, who received an apology for a ridiculous reason, looked at me vacantly then opened his mouth. "For the sake of your lady, I'll forgive you."

'What? Who is he to forgive my maid?' I was a little annoyed, but I knew that if I tried to start an argument with him, I would just use up my energy. I gazed at the flowers in disappointment and sighed. 'I'll pick these later.'

Having nothing else to do here, I was about to walk away when Max spoke. "So, how many do you need?" he asked.

Without thinking, I said the first number that came to mind. "Um, about 20?"

As soon as I finished speaking, a metallic sound rang through my ears and a silver flash sparked in front of my eyes. His arms had moved so fast that I didn't even realize he had swung his sword. When the roses he had cut with his sword fell and scattered on the ground, I understood what he had done.

'He… just helped me cut the roses, right?'

I felt somewhat strange as I stared blankly at him. Max then turned his head slightly and said, "Stay still and don't make any unnecessary movements. You'll get in my way."

If it weren't for his words, I would have thought that he was being kind. It was amazing how he spoke in a way where each of his words contradicted his actions. 'Still, he helped me once again.' In any case, it was true that his considerate behavior made me feel weird. 'This isn't the first time. He's done several acts of kindness like this for me before.' A crazy idea came to mind, but I didn't think it was an impossible one.

Max, who had no idea what I was thinking, diligently trimmed the stems of the roses. Clumping them together like a bouquet, he handed them to me. "Here," he said.

"Oh, thank you."

"It's good that you know to thank me."

Hearing his blunt voice, I dismissed my delusional thoughts. 'I knew it. There's no way he would.'

"So, what other flowers do you need?" he asked.

I didn't know if he was having fun cutting the flowers, but unlike his voice, he wore an excited look on his face.

I let out a sigh. 'Should I call this a form of talent donation?'

* * *

"Your Majesty, Viscount Shaer, who was sent as an envoy to the crown prince, has returned."

"Tell him to come in."

A short middle-aged man soon entered and saluted the emperor. "I greet the Sun of the Great Empire."

Instead of acknowledging the greeting, the emperor jumped directly to the matter at hand. "What did the crown prince say?"

At the emperor's aggressive tone, Viscount Shaer hesitated for a bit then opened his mouth. "Ah, he says that he has yet to settle the dispute… There have actually been several battles against the barbarians."

The emperor clicked his tongue. "What an incompetent man! Get out of here!"

The atmosphere grew heavy as Viscount Shaer left the emperor's office with a meek expression. The grand chamberlain, who was sneaking glances at the angry emperor, carefully opened his mouth.

"There is one more piece of news," he said.

"What is it now?"

"I was told that there have been suspicious movements in the south."

At his words, the emperor glared at him fiercely. "What?! Give that to me now!"

The grand chamberlain hurriedly handed over the report at the emperor's ferocious, exasperated voice. The emperor's whole body trembled soon after he opened the report. "Marquis Lennox at the border reported a reduced number of troops to the capital and is training them instead?" He tore up the report and shined his eyes coldly.

The grand chamberlain hurriedly handed over the report at the emperor's ferocious command. Soon, the emperor's whole body began to tremble when he read the report. "Marquis Lennox at the border reported a fake number of troops to us and is training extra men that we haven't been aware of?" His eyes shone coldly as he tore up the report.

"Tell Duke Floyen to come to the imperial palace immediately," he said in an icy voice.