Gilbert smiles. You’ve worked long enough by now to know what he’s actually trying to tell you. “You’re staring again, Little Maid. Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s rude to stare?” He sets his teacup down, pushing it closer to your side, promptly returning to his work.

He hates lies, As he waits for you to take away the cup, he examines you thoroughly. It’s been a few months since you’ve been working for him. You’re supposed to be nothing more than a maid but he sees right through that foolishly faked disguise. It’s a good one, he has to admit. Just like you’ve been spying on him, he’s doing the same. Gilbert has watched the countless times you’ve snuck off to send letters addressed to the royal family in Rhodolite or the time you baked for him as a distraction to snoop around in his private chambers yesterday. You can’t fool him. But he won’t let you go either.

“If you plan to tell Prince Chevalier all about me, I do hope it’s all accurate.” He leans back, his red eye glinting with amusement. “But then again, you know everything about me. Right, Little Maid?”