Chapter 3 Get Exposed?
1203 Words
Despite the awkwardness of last night, a good sleep reset everything.
The next morning, I woke up early. Opening the window, I breathed in the fresh, flower-scented air and felt revived.
The breakfast I made was croissants, scrambled eggs, and Assam tea.
Murphy came downstairs just as I finished preparing everything. From his expression, I could tell he was pleased with the breakfast.
Thinking last night's farce might irritate him, I handed him a lunchbox with a sheepish smile. "Prince Murphy, I made this lunch especially for you."
Murphy continued eating his breakfast without even glancing at the lunchbox. "I have my own chef in the cafeteria. Do you think your cooking can compete with a Michelin-starred chef?"
With a sigh, I pulled the lunchbox back. "I'll just have it for lunch myself then."
Honestly, I was secretly happy. The lunchbox contained my personal stash of food. If not to please Murphy, I wouldn't have parted with it. Now, I got to enjoy it.
Murphy finally looked up and asked me, "What did you make?"
"Caviar egg sandwiches."
"I thought we were out of caviar?"
I radiated a grin. "We are. I made this caviar myself and brought it from home."
Caviar was on Murphy's list of favorite foods.
Murphy was surprised. "That kinda surprises me."
Feeling a bit smug, I said, "I may not be a great servant, but I'm definitely a good cook. Regarding your meals, I surely won't let you down, Your Highness."
Murphy showed a smirk and said, "Fine, give me the lunchbox. Since you're so confident, you'll handle my lunches from now on."
I quickly handed over the lunchbox. "Of course, it's my duty."
After breakfast, Murphy gave me a contract to sign, which listed dozens of rules...
Clause 1: Do not go upstairs without permission.
Clause 2: Do not tell anyone you are Murphy's personal servant, and do not disclose any information about Murphy.
Clause 3: Keeping any of Murphy's personal items is prohibited.
Clause 4: Selling any of Murphy's personal items is prohibited.
Clause 5: Bringing anyone else home is prohibited.
...
I kept reading until I reached the last bold line.
Clause 17: Do not develop any inappropriate feelings for Murphy.
"Clause 17 must be strictly kept in your mind," Murphy reminded me seriously.
"Got it," I replied.
I signed the agreement without hesitation. I was professional and would never fall for my employer.
At that time, I didn't understand why Murphy emphasized the 17th Clause, but I later heard that his previous personal servant developed feelings for him and frequently harassed him, leading to his dismissal.
Murphy nodded with a smile and tucked away the signed agreement. "For now, you should follow the 17 clauses. If I think of more, I'll add them to the agreement. All interpretations are up to me."
I forced a chuckle. "Sure, you're the boss."
'Do I even have any room to object? Not at all. He's my employer, after all.'
Today was my first day at Reihal Public School. Murphy's driver was waiting outside the apartment early, ready to take us to school.
I changed into the school uniform—a white shirt, black vest, and black tailcoat. But I noticed Murphy's outfit was slightly different from mine.
His vest was purple with gold embroidery, and he wore a black cape with gold trim, looking quite regal.
Noticing my gaze, Murphy smirked, full of pride. "This cape is a symbol of the King's Scholarship. Different colored vests represent different awards."
He held the silver buttons on his vest and said to me, "These silver buttons signify the highest level of excellence. If you see people wearing the same cape in the school, you should learn from them."
'No wonder Reihal Public School is the best elite school in Austentia. Even the uniforms have so much significance.'
"I see," I replied with a smile. "I will definitely learn from you, Prince Murphy."
Murphy raised his eyebrows and gave a smug smile.
Reihal Public School was divided into four grades based on students' ages: Block D, C, B, and A. I was in Block C, while Murphy, a year older, was in Block B.
After a solemn and luxurious opening ceremony in the grand hall attended by over 1,800 students, we all returned to our respective classes.
My classmates were quite curious about me, but when they heard I was from a rural area, they kept their distance. Making friends here seemed impossible, and it put me in a bad mood.
Even though my primary goal in transferring here was to take care of Prince Murphy and earn money for my father's medical bills, the isolation was hard to bear.
What was more, the school's curriculums were intense, and some subjects, like Spanish and Russian, were entirely new to me. Thus, I struggled to keep up with others.
The bell from the distant clock tower chimed, signaling the end of the exhausting school day.
I was getting ready to head back to my place when I unexpectedly got a call from Selena. She was a close friend from middle school before she transferred to Ostralon.
She'd heard I was in Ostralon too and wanted to catch up over coffee. We hadn't seen each other in two years, and I missed her a lot. However…
I was hesitating when Murphy texted me.
Murphy: I'm going to a party tonight. Have the driver pick me up later.
With Murphy out for the evening, I suddenly had some free time. I immediately agreed to meet Selena. She told me to dress nicely because she wanted to introduce me to her boyfriend.
"Of course, I won't let you down," I replied to Selena.
As I said that, I caught sight of myself in a full-length window. I suddenly realized that I was still dressed as a boy.
To meet Selena, I needed to change back into my female attire.
I went home, dug through my suitcase, and found a dress and wig. In no time, the muscular short-haired guy turned into a curvy blonde in front of the mirror.
I was putting on earrings as I walked to the front door.
Just as I reached for the doorknob, it started turning.
I was instantly startled, and the door was pushed open from the outside.
'Has Murphy back already from the party?'
Panic surged through me, and I almost shrieked out. 'I can't let Murphy see me dress like this!'
I turned and ran, moving faster than I ever had and racing toward my room.
"Ouch!"
Just as I was reaching my room, my high heel twisted, and I fell to the floor.
'What was with me these past two days? How could I always trip at the worst possible moments?'
The door fully opened, and I heard footsteps entering the house and coming closer.
A sharp pain shot through my ankle.
Ignoring the pain, I lay on the floor, hoping the nearby sofa would hide me from Murphy's view.
But luck wasn't on my side. The footsteps stopped right beside me.
I covered my face with my hands, wishing I had the magic to disappear on the spot.
'Darn it. It's over. Everything's over.'
- Writer
