"Your makeup is complete, Miss Alice."

"And I finally found your one and only pair of heels!"

Soon and Chris stepped aside to let Alice check her face in the trifold dressing mirror. "Well done, Soon! I can barely feel the makeup on my skin." Then she put on her heels and checked her entire outfit in the standing mirror. "This is bad. I haven't worn thin heels in a long time. What if I trip and fall while dancing?"

"Let Shadow deal with it," scoffed the blonde housemaid. "He wanted you to be his plus-one, even though you have your own invitation. Here's your purse."

"Thank you." Alice went downstairs and saw Shun repairing the lamp by the front door. "Shun, quick question! How do you think I look?"

He descended a few steps from the ladder for a better look of Alice, who wore a short-sleeved yellow satin ballgown with a pair of white medium heels. "Why ask me?"

"Just wanted some insight from the opposite gender."

Shun almost dropped the screwdriver after hearing such an amusing reason. "You look fine. Since you're attending a charity ball, I think it's best not to be too fancy."

"That's exactly what I told Miss Alice when she asked me for advice!" Soon exclaimed. "The point is not to flaunt your net worth, but just attend in support and donate whatever you can."

"And then there are people that donate super large amounts for the sole purpose of flaunting their wealth..." scoffed Chris again.

Alice sent her housemaids away and said, "Shadow should be here anytime soon. Shun, shouldn't you also get going?"

This time, he actually dropped the screwdriver. Right...I almost forgot that Shadow gave me special task tonight. Then he fully descended the ladder and picked up everything on the floor before taking out a folded letter. "Thanks for reminding. My family was doing fine the last time I saw them on my day off, but the letter they sent me recently suggests that one of them has a persistently high fever," he lied.

"Don't worry about it. The next time that they need your help at home due to someone's illness or injury, they don't have to send a letter. It's way too slow. Just have them come here directly and ask for you."

You have no idea what's happening tonight, and I'm not letting any of them come here for you to see them. "Thanks. The lamp is fixed now."

Suddenly, a vintage car pulled up to the driveway before the driver stepped outside. "Alice, are you ready to go?" Shadow asked.

"I'm coming!"

All three servants watched Shadow walk over to the front door to escort Alice to the passenger door, which he opened and closed for her before he return to the driver's seat and drove off. Shun rolled his eyes and asked, "Since when did Alice agree to going to the charity ball with Shadow? I thought she still hesitated."

"Let's just say he's just way too convincing..." the girls replied.

Unbeknownst to Alice, the family letter mentioned was a fake written by Shadow so that she would excuse Shun for another day off. Shadow also previously gave the raven-haired servant another paper with specific tasks to complete on the night of charity ball, hence the need for an excused absence.

At the charity ball venue, Shadow led the way to their seats. "In this day and age, I believe it's very important to provide funding to schools and orphanages so that those children grow up to be our future leaders."

"Yes... I think so too..." Alice replied sheepishly as she took her seat at a table fit for ten, although the other guests at this table hadn't at all yet. "So many other people that I don't know..."

"Let me see." Shadow turned around, placed his arm on the back of the chair, and scanned the area. "Bachelors, bachelorettes, engaged couples, and married couples. Surprised to see a mix of this population at a charity ball."

"How do you even know what their marital statuses are?!"

"I know people! I'm pretty sure some of these guys have tried pursuing you before, but that didn't end up well. Obviously, you can assume that the older couples are married. Do you know how much effort these rich parents put into 'advertising' their single children as available? To them, this is just another matchmaking opportunity."

And because I don't have any parents or guardians nearby, I'm stuck with you. "You know so much about these people."

"But they don't know anything about me because I'm not their level, thus they couldn't care less. It doesn't hurt to socialize with them, though."

While the front entrance was guarded by security, the back entrance—technically an exit—had no security personnel, which allowed Shun to pick the lock and let himself inside. Shadow wants me to take notes of everyone in attendance. How am I supposed to remember everyone when they all look the same with fancy attire on?

After the event host made all his announcements, the kitchen staff delivered food and drinks to every table. I forgot to eat when I left Alice's house. How much longer does this have to take? Then the host cleared the area in front of his podium for couples to dance. After finishing their meal, Shadow brought Alice over to the open space for dance instructions.

"Follow along, Alice. My left hand with hold your right hand. Your left hand will go on my right shoulder. My right hand will be on your back. If you ever feel uncomfortable or lost, just let me know."

"Wait, what are exactly we dancing to?"

"Wherever the music takes us!"

Shun rolled his eyes. Rich people have so much free time on their hands. He finalized his list of observations and strategically threw a pebble at Shadow's feet. You deserve that.

"Oh my god, I almost fell." Shadow looked around but didn't see anything odd on the floor. "Be right back. I need to use the men's restroom."

After opening the door of the men's restroom, his face was immediately greeted by Shun's hand holding a notebook. "Took you long enough."

"Hey! I was socializing with people and spending time with Alice. So what kind of notes did you take?"

"As much gossip I could get without appearing suspicious. I didn't get to hear everyone's full names, but I wrote down what events are happening around each person. Maybe you have a full guest list to compare to?"

"Let's see...possible bankruptcy, suspected affair with someone else, upcoming company merger...you sure heard a lot of interesting things today. Wish you could do the same about Alice."

"She doesn't talk about anything at home. After we talked about her keeping the shares the other day, she hasn't mentioned anything else since."

"Then get her to talk."

"And why do you need this information in the first place?"

"So I can have leverage against people. Goodbye!"

Thank goodness no one was in here or came in during that pointless conversation. Shun washed his face in the sink before leaving the premises, only to hear a familiar female voice shriek in agony. "Oh my god, I almost fell too."

"What?! Take a seat, and I'll see what happened." Shadow escorted Alice back to her chair and took a look at her feet and shoes. "One of your heels broke."

"It broke off from the actual shoe, or...?"

"No, it snapped in the middle." He looked around and saw the broken piece nearby. "I don't know what to do with this."

Suddenly, nearby people started gossiping. "She knows how to dance? Where has she been this whole time?"

"Just look at those two. A match made in heaven with that cheap ridiculous clothing."

"What an eyesore. I'm leaving."

Shun tapped against the wall impatiently but quietly. Nobody asked for this to happen. Alice doesn't deserve those nasty comments. He made his way into the utility room and found tape. This should last her long enough before it's time to go home. Coincidentally, there was a mouse running through the equipment, which started Shun but also provided a great opportunity to toss the tape onto the ballroom floor. That's it. I'm out of here.

The event host saw the rolling tape and caught it immediately. "Miss Alice, maybe this will be of good use."

"That might actually work! But tape doesn't roll on its own for no reason."

"I will check on the utility room afterwards."

While everyone remained at the charity ball, Shun walked through the town streets and arrived at the secret door of his previous residence. He was about to knock on the door, but then retracted his hand. It's getting late. I should just leave a note behind. Shun scribbled a note quickly on another notepad before sliding the note under the door.

"I'm doing fine. I've been too busy to come back to sit and talk. Shadow's demands just keep getting more ridiculous as he gets more desperate."

He returned to Alice's residence and noticed that most of the lights were office. "Alice isn't back yet?"

"Still out with Mister Shadow!" replied Soon as she rushed from upstairs to the kitchen. "Would you like dinner?"

"I'll just have soup, if you made any."

"I did! Help yourself while it's still warm."

After devouring a bowl of soup, Shun washed the dishes and began searching through all the cabinets and drawers throughout the house again. Why is it so hard for me to accept something when Alice offers it? Because she has no idea of the true reason why I'm here? Her worth is high, but she doesn't know what she's doing?

"What are you doing?"

He previous open the drawer of a table stand in the hallway and pushed it back after hearing Chris's voice. "Do you have mosquito coils and mothballs?"

"That's so random! Why do you need all that?"

"There are mosquitos and moths in my room due to damp weather," he lied.

"You're just like Alice! Those things also bother her and only her." Chris beckoned Shun over to Alice's room but halted him from entering. She inserted keys into both locks and ordered, "Stay outside while I get the supplies from her room."

At this rate, I need to keep track of every single lie I tell before I blow my own cover. He looked out a window and saw Shadow pulling his vintage car into the driveway. "Shadow and Alice are back."

"And here's everything that you need!" The blonde housemaid shoved a box of items into Shun's hands before running to the front gates with Soon. "Alice, welcome back!"

The redhead waved to her housemaid and told her driver, "Thanks for teaching me how to dance and driving me back."

"Are you sure you don't need me to walk inside?"

"I'm a lot better now. Thanks again and see you next time." Once Chris and Soon were close enough, Alice asked, "Can you two prepare the water bath for me? I definitely danced too much today."

"You got it!"

Shun watched the housemaids run back inside before asking the redhead, "How's your ankle?"

"Much better now compared to—wait, how did you know that I broke a heel?"

Speaking of blowing my cover... "Your gait. You're clearly limping but trying to hide it." He offered his hand to help. "What happened?"

"Sounds like I hired the right person." Alice held onto Shun's hand and walked up to the porch with his assistance to take her shoes off. "Look at this. I haven't worn these heels in a long time, but when I do, I end up dancing and breaking the heel in half."

"Did other people notice?"

"They did. It was so awkward and embarrassing, especially since there we so many other people from much wealthier and more prominent families. I can't compare to them. Even Shadow looked intimidated, and he's usually very outspoken about himself. But he connected well with the other guests better than I did. I just don't want to seem like I'm using my late grandfather's name to climb up the social ladder."

"Then maybe you should get married to Shadow. With both name and status, you won't need to worry about being looked down upon." With Alice sitting on the sofa, Shun pulled the ottoman over for the heiress to rest her feet on. "I'm sorry for putting you in an undecisive position in regard to attending the charity ball or not."

"Shun, it's not your fault. Everything was just bad timing. But why do you insist that I should get married to Shadow?"

"He doesn't seem like a bad person and genuinely wants to connect with you."

"So what if that's all true? I still think there's something off or missing that puts me at unease."

"In that case...how did you meet him in the first—"

"Miss Alice, the bathtub is ready!" Soon exclaimed.

Alice jumped off the sofa immediately but almost fell to the ground due to twisted ankle if Shun hadn't caught her. "That's the second time you've caught me ever since working here. Anyway, all of you can go to rest. I'm going to spend the rest of my day relaxing by myself."

"Alright," the three of them replied.

The redhead locked the bathroom door behind her, sat on a stool, and rubbed her swollen ankle. I really need to learn how to become more independent and self-reliant.

-x-x-x-x-x-

A few days later, Shadow parked his vintage car in the same hidden spot and met with Shun for another secret meeting. "Please tell me you found some valuable items in the house."

"You literally told me to only grab what's valuable but also easily transportable. What am I supposed to do? Walk out here with a giant vase stuffed with rolled-up tapestries and artwork? Anything valuable would be in Alice's room, which is either double locked all day or secured by her when she's home."

"Okay fine. Is she ready to move on with me yet?"

"To be honest, I think going to the charity ball with you and later breaking her shoe and ankle has her startled."

"That gives me more reason to visit—"

"I also suggest postponing any 'visits' until further notice because she's been going out for meetings and business, and also has lawyers visiting her," he lied. "Now's not a good time."

"Fine. But keep telling her good things about me so that she misses me," was the last thing Shadow said before driving away.

How much more conceited can you be? Shun returned to Alice's residence to see messy cardboard boxes in the living room. "Alice, what are you doing?"

"Cleaning out items for donation..." She came downstairs with another box full of items and dropped it on the floor. "Just because I live in a large house doesn't mean I should keep all this junk here."

Shun looked through all the items that the redhead wished to discard. "A lot of this looks very valuable. Look at all the vases you have. It's your decision to keep or donate, but maybe you can pawn these for cash back."

"That's what I'm trying not to do. I don't want to pawn anything and seem like I'm desperate for money, especially since I still have Grandfather's inheritance waiting for me."

"Then keep everything. Maybe the value will increase over time. You're still young and have a long way ahead of—"

"Alice, here's today's mail!" chimed Chris as she skipped back inside. "Oh my god, you're actually out your room! Better share your mosquito coils and mothballs with Shun before he tears the house apart again trying to find them."

The raven-haired servant shot a glare at the blonde housemaid and defended himself. "At least Chris knew to get them from your room for me instead of watching me exhaust myself from aimlessly searching the house!"

The redhead grabbed the mail from Chris and sent her off. "Don't worry about it, Shun. Chris has always been like that. Since I don't need most of this stuff, do you want to take any of this?"

"I really don't. I have no need for—"

"I just realized. Other than food and shelter, I haven't compensated you with anything for all your hard work here. Please take at least something home. I can tell you're an obedient child. I don't want your family to worry about you or be scared of asking me to let you return home for emergencies and—"

"Can you not act like you can do anything you want because you have everything at your hands?" Shun interrupted.

Both of them stared at each other in disbelief until Alice decided to retreat back to her room. "Just help me organize everything so that I know what I want and don't—"

"Wait." He grabbed the redhead's hand to stop her, in which she turned around and stared at his hand on hers. Shun to let go immediately and apologized. "I take back what I said, but also...don't get married to Shadow just for publicity and money."

"What do you mean?"

"If the feeling is finally mutual, then go for it. If not, then don't even think about it."

Alice smiled and flicked her servant's forehead gently. "You really are one of a kind. I think that whoever gets married to you will definitely have a blissful life ahead."

"You did not just say that about me—"

The redhead removed her diamond-studded gold bangle and placed it into Shun's hand before pressing his fingers over it. "Don't say no. I have a lot of leftover jewelry from my parents and grandparents...some of which isn't my taste."

"But I—" Alice skipped upstairs before he could finish his sentence. Turns out she's a total free spirit. Shadow picked the wrong girl to mess with. The raven-haired servant observed all angles of the gold bangle and watched the diamonds glisten against the sunlight. And also hired the wrong person to carry on his ridiculous plan...