The Masked prince
Chapter 207: The Insecurities

Chapter 207: The Insecurities

Evelyn was in the garden hiring the new maids for the Palace. It was the first time she was doing such a thing but she was trying her best.

The Palace was smaller than Royal Palace but it was huge for Evelyn who knew she had to manage it now. There were many rooms that were unclean and left vacant.

Evelyn had heard from Rex that Regan had called for the soldiers from Mazic to come here. Hence, she was sure that those rooms would be needed and therefore they needed to be cleaned.

If so many soldiers were going to stay in the Palace, they would require a lot of manpower everywhere.

Evelyn sighed when she thought of this. The pressure felt huge and she was afraid that she would not be able to become a responsible mistress but she knew that she had to try her best.

She finally hired thirty maids and then asked the head maid about the ration left in the Palace.

However, as she heard she encountered more problems.

She didn’t know the measuring units the head-maid spoke about. Though she received a salary, she only knew the worth of those copper coins that were given to her as salary by the prince.

She didn’t know the worth of gold and silver coins.

Hence she didn’t even know how much money she would need to buy the things. Evelyn licked her dry lips as she said

"Bring the trader tomorrow."

The head maid bowed her head and said

"Yes, Your Highness."

After that, she left with the newly hired maids to assign them work.

Alone inside the garden, she suddenly felt disappointed in herself. Self-doubt suddenly clouded her mind. But it didn’t last for long as she suddenly felt a presence beside herself and gasped when she raised her head and found the prince seated by her side.

"Your Highness..."

Evelyn whispered and then shut her mouth.

"What were you thinking?"

Regan asked calmly but Evelyn shook her head lightly and whispered ’nothing’.

Regan sighed and asked a moment later.

"Are you free now?"

Evelyn was confused but nodded her head immediately.

"Good. You need to start your training now."

Evelyn nodded her head as realization flashed across her eyes. Seeing her still seated, Regan sighed. He knew that there was something going on inside her mind but he doesn’t want to force her.

Sometimes, he wished that she would confine in him on her own without him forcing her to. This time, he would test the waters.

A moment later, he said gently

"Go and change into comfortable clothes."

It was only then Evelyn realized that she was supposed to move. Biting her lips unconsciously, she nodded her head and whispered

"I will go then."

When she returned, she saw Rex, Regan, and Elias in the garden but with them, there was one woman and two men as well.

Evelyn didn’t recognize them.

She walked towards Regan who turned to look at her. He held her hand gently making Evelyn look at him but Regan was looking at the three people whom Evelyn had not recognized and said

"Evelyn, they would be under you from now on. It is their responsibility to protect you every second."

Evelyn was surprised when she heard this and looked at the three people again.

The girl standing in the front curtsied and the two men bowed their heads as they said

"It is an honor to serve My Lady."

Evelyn merely blinked and then looked at Regan as she said

"Your Highness this...I don’t think that I need this."

Regan’s face turned somber when he heard this and he said quite in a strict voice.

"You do need them."

Evelyn however doesn’t seem to agree,

Lady Irwin had actually asked her to hire two or three maids for herself. She was a princess consort so that was something necessary. However, Evelyn didn’t find it comfortable to have people serving her.

She had been a slave before and had never been served by anyone. Even though she was trying hard to adapt to her new life, it was still overwhelming for her to let others do her personal work.

But before she could open her mouth to protest again, Regan spoke up.

"I don’t want the repetition of what happened the day before yesterday, Evelyn."

"But we have Elias, Your Highness."

Evelyn said immediately. However, Regan glanced at Elias and said calmly

"Elias is under me. He can’t always be there for you."

Evelyn didn’t have any counter for that.

She turned to Elias who had lowered his head in shame long ago.

What Evelyn didn’t know was known to him and Rex!

Regan was hiring these people to protect Evelyn because he was uncertain that Elias would choose Evelyn if it came to choosing to protect Evelyn and Regan.

Regan came to this conclusion after hearing from Elias what transpired in his absence from the banquet.

What he concluded was that Elias’ bias to protect him led to the lack of protection for Evelyn.

Elias’s whole attention was gained by the servant when he said that Regan was in trouble and he needed Elias. At that moment, he completely forgot about Evelyn because he was too worried about his master.

It simply indicated that inside his heart and mind, Regan was his first priority.

Hence, Regan realized that Evelyn needs to have her own people. The people who would prior her protection instead of him.

Because he never wanted the repetition of what happened in the banquet.

Looking at the troubled expression on her face, Regan sighed and said in a gentle yet firm voice.

"First have them by your side. Tell me if you find it uncomfortable after a few days, is that alright?"

Evelyn nodded her head slowly suddenly. However, when she saw the relief flashing in Regan’s worry-filled eyes, she felt a pinch inside her heart.

Why was she being so difficult? Had she not given him enough things to worry about already?

As the insecurities started to cloud her mind, Evelyn masked them with an expression of determination on her face.

If accepting them eased his worries, then she should do that.

It was the least she could do.