Noah sat quietly, his face blank, eyes half-lidded in his usual sleepy-prince look.
Back when he first transmigrated, he felt like a little thief.
Sitting there like a five-year-old statue, eavesdropping on half-innocent, half-sinful girl talk.
But at this point. He had grown a thick skin. He knew the trick—say less, listen more. Play the role.
"Look at him… so innocent and pure," Lira giggled. "No way he's going to remember any of this stuff, right?"
"Unless he's some genius child prodigy with a perfect memory," Frey replied, side-eyeing Noah.
She turned to him and smiled sweetly. "Should I start serving you, Your Highness?"
Noah nodded, keeping his expression gentle. "Yes, please."
Lira chuckled.
"You're so well-mannered, my dear prince. Can you stay like this forever? Or are you going to grow up and become one of those cold, brooding royal types who never smiles?"
'Emo prince? Hell noooo, girl,' Noah answered in his mind.
"I'm voting for brooding," Mira added, grinning as she poured juice into a crystal glass.
"That way, we can say we knew him back when he was all soft and squishy."
Frey snorted. "Forget that. You're just hoping to marry into royalty."
"Who isn't?" Lira shot back.
"One lucky maid did it fifty years ago. Became an official wife. Not even a concubine. An official wife, you know! Do you know what she got in the end? They even built her a golden bathtub."
"Do you want a golden bathtub, Lira, or just the golden goose of a prince?" Mira teased.
"Both."
They all laughed.
Frey rolled her eyes but smirked anyway.
Lira leaned in, holding up a piece of fruit to his mouth. "Say ahh, little prince."
Noah opened his mouth without a word and let her feed him.
He'd gotten used to all this. The pampering. The noise. The teasing tones. He let them talk, laugh, and gossip like he wasn't even there.
And they liked him more for it. A good, quiet prince who always smiled politely and didn't ask silly questions. A prince they could dote on freely.
The trio of maids continued to talk about various things as they fed Noah. From scandalous girly-girl talks to rumours in the capital, they touched upon many things that unfolded around the royal palace.
While feeding Noah, they also started having breakfast. It was Noah's suggestion they do that in his chamber as he liked having nice company.
Noah never acted like an arrogant prince in front of his maids. He treated them like elder siblings for the most part while maintaining his image as the 9th prince.
As the breakfast continued and the trolley slowly emptied, Noah simply leaned back and enjoyed the moment.
Good food. Check.
Comfortable chair. Check.
Warm sun. Check.
Lastly, a front-row seat to the daily life of the palace women. Double check.
It didn't take long for him to be done with his lunch and watch his three maids take leave.
Noah leaned back on his chair as the trio of maids finished clearing away the breakfast dishes.
Elena, the maid who had joined the meal a little later than the others, stood up last.
She had taken the seat beside Noah during breakfast and seemed more comfortable around him than the others.
As the other maids gave polite bows and left the royal chamber, Elena stepped closer and gave him a respectful nod.
"All the arrangements are done, Your Highness," she said with a small smile. "Your ride is ready, and the 10th Prince Emeric is already waiting. You'll be leaving for the gala and auction shortly."
Noah returned her smile with a light nod. "Understood. Thank you, Elena."
Soon after, Noah stepped out of his royal chamber. Two guards in dark blue uniforms followed a few steps behind as he made his way through the palace corridors.
Paintings of past royal victories lined the walls, and the golden trim on the columns gleamed in the morning light.
He nodded at the palace staff who greeted him along the way, not stopping for small talk.
When he finally stepped out onto the grand palace courtyard, he saw the royal ride parked and waiting.
A sleek, jet-black steam-powered car stood near the gates, gleaming under the sun.
Though it ran on steam, this was no clunky vehicle.
The smooth curves, silver detailing, and glowing arcane runes across its frame made it look more like an art piece than a machine.
The vehicle hissed quietly as soft steam drifted from its exhausts. Unlike the old-world steam-powered cars Noah had once known, this one used magic to generate and control steam.
It had no coal, no engine noise—just elegant hums of enchanted gears and smooth, magical transitions. Its magical security enchantments were layered across its surface like invisible armor—perfect for royal travel.
Leaning casually against the car was Prince Emeric Ifrit, the 10th prince.
Tall and sharp-featured, Emeric had the look of someone who spent more time in front of mirrors than on training grounds. His silver hair was styled perfectly, and his clothes looked like they'd been tailored that very morning.
"Noah," Emeric said, his voice smooth but lacking warmth. "Took you long enough."
Noah gave him a calm look and walked forward without rushing. "You're early, brother."
Emeric shrugged. "Don't want to miss the good stuff at the auction. I hope you brought plenty of gold."
Noah gave a faint smile.
He knew exactly why Emeric had invited him. The 17-year-old prince had already blown through most of his royal allowance on flashy clothes, rare perfume, and ridiculous gadgets.
Now, he was eyeing Noah's wealth to get his hands on something special at the event.
Noah didn't mind. Even though he was the youngest child of Emperor Alexander, with no mother or noble family from his maternal side backing him, he wasn't helpless.
In fact, being the emperor's "innocent" youngest child had come with its own perks.
Noah had used his royal father's affection to quietly build up a mountain of gold coins. While others saw him as naïve and harmless, he had been learning how to turn kindness into capital.
He would just ask for gold coins every time he met his father, telling him that he wanted to buy a few things. He would then buy some cheap but meaningful things like obscure paintings for his father to justify the lack of funds the next time they met.
Noah did not hate his royal father for having too many wives, concubines, and children like some emo protagonist blessed with the phenomenon of transmigration. Instead, he appreciated his father for giving him a good start in his second life.
So what if he was so far in the line of royal succession? Noah didn't want to inherit the throne anyway. He just wanted to live a good life as the prince.
The car doors opened with a soft hiss as the magical locks recognized their presence. Noah stepped inside the luxurious backseat, followed by Emeric.
As the steam-powered car began to roll forward, guided by enchanted gears and glowing circuits, Noah leaned back into the plush seat. The windows shimmered with protective runes, and a quiet hum filled the cabin.
Outside, the royal palace shrank into the distance as the car made its way toward the heart of the capital.
Noah glanced sideways at Emeric, then looked out the window with a small, knowing smile.
'Let's see what treasures you're after today, brother… and how much of my gold you plan to borrow. I'll be sure to charge you with hefty interest along with the principal amount soon.'