Chapter 2
I finally lay down in bed just before midnight.
<Remaining lifespan: 4 hours>
“Looks like I can sleep for about three hours.”
Of course, my remaining time kept ticking down even while I slept. I planned to sleep three hours, then spend the last hour doing quests to extend my life.
Wanting to sleep well for those three hours, I closed my eyes and drifted off quickly from exhaustion. Just as I was drifting between sleep and wakefulness—
—Ding.
<SYSTEM: Player, are you asleep?>
I didn’t answer, but the system kept chattering anyway.
<SYSTEM: It’s already been one month. At first we wondered how someone like you would survive (◞ ‸ ◟；).>
“….”
<SYSTEM: Now you’re starting to look like a proper maid. ✦‿✦ Amazing, player—awesome job!>
“….”
<SYSTEM: The boring tutorial is over. From tomorrow the real survival game—or rather, the fun main game—starts. (୨୧ ❛ᴗ❛)✧!>
I jolted awake at that. “…This was the tutorial?”
<SYSTEM: Did you think this game was the real game (●´⌓`●)? Shame on your conscience. This was nothing! Easy-peasy! ◞•̀︷•́)੭!>
My head spun. I was barely hanging on as it was — and that was the tutorial? I briefly thought death might be preferable.
<SYSTEM: We won’t give you really hard quests from the start, so don’t worry.>
“…”
I didn’t trust that at all and stayed silent.
<SYSTEM: Hey! Don’t be suspicious. They’re really easy quests, honestly.>
“What kind of quests?”
<SYSTEM: Then here’s the first main-game quest. Drum roll—!>
My mouth went dry. Knowing the quest ahead would let me make a plan. So far I’d been tackling whatever tasks dropped in front of me. This could be my chance to use my knowledge as someone possessed by a game character.
—Ding.
<SYSTEM: It will be revealed in 4 hours. See you tomorrow!>
***
“Phew… I’m exhausted.”
Because I hadn’t slept much the night before, I was bone-tired. I cursed the system for teasing me by saying it would tell me later, keeping me from sleeping peacefully. Just then, the familiar alert sounded and a system message popped up.
—Ding.
<MAIN QUEST: Break the holy potion you are to deliver to Lian Hernandez and become Rebecca’s maid!
Reward: Lifespan +8 hours / Penalty: Death>
The penalty was as expected, but the reward was shockingly big compared to usual.
As the system said, the first main quest wasn’t hard. It even felt easier than the tutorial.
If I follow the original game, this is straightforward.
In the original game, Floria becomes Rebecca’s maid. It’s revealed later in the story that Floria originally served another household — the Campbells — and was forced out when she broke the potion meant for Prince Lian. I’d messed up back then and was kicked out; it was a bleak time.
Now I thought that old mistake was a huge blessing — because I ended up serving someone as kind as Rebecca.
The first quest was simply to break the potion I was supposed to deliver to Lian.
But why am I delivering a potion? Usually the retreat house staff do that.
The Campbell count’s house, known for its holiness, runs a retreat house for royals and nobles. Only experienced maids work there. I wasn’t supposed to be doing potion deliveries. How had I ended up with it?
The mystery cleared up quickly.
***
I was doing housework like usual when someone stopped me.
“Floria!”
I turned. My roommate Anna stood there, tearful. Before I could ask what was wrong, Anna grabbed my hand urgently.
“Floria, I’m sorry — could you deliver the potion to the retreat house for me?”
“A potion?”
Anna handed me the bottle. The cool glass held a silvery, shimmering liquid that looked special at a glance.
It’s a holy potion.
I understood. Normally clumsy Floria wouldn’t be assigned this. Anna was a veteran with over ten years’ service.
She must have had something happen, and I was stepping in — and somehow had already caused an accident before. It made sense.
I already guessed the reason, but I played innocent and asked who the recipient was.
“Prince Lian Hernandez.”
Hearing that made my stomach twist.
If I break this potion, Anna will get in trouble.
A frown creased my brow. Anna misread my expression and tried to reassure me.
“He’s kinder than you think. It’ll be okay.”
“…”
“I should be the one going, but—”
Anna’s voice trembled as she explained. “My little sibling is sick. I’m the only one who can take care of them. There’s no one to ask, and the head maid won’t understand.” The head maid would just tell Anna to stay home and rest if she asked.
I answered as calmly as I could.
“All right. I’ll deliver it to His Highness.”
“Thank you, Floria!”
Anna hugged me with a bright smile. My conscience pricked, but there was nothing I could do — if I failed the quest, I’d die. I had no real choice.
“I’m really sorry to ask, but you must be extra careful with this!”
“Huh?”
“It costs sixty gold. If you break it, the person responsible has to pay.”
“Sixty gold?”
One gold is roughly 50,000 won, so… 3,000,000 won?
Sweat beaded in my hand. I knew it was expensive, but I hadn’t expected this tiny bottle to be worth that much.
If I break it, what will happen to Anna?
I didn’t mind taking responsibility myself — after all, I’d be breaking the potion on purpose to survive.
The issue was Anna: even if I broke it, she’d also be blamed for leaving without permission.
Sixty gold would be a massive burden for her. And if it were known she’d delivered a ruined item to a prince, finding other work would be hard.
Seeing my face, Anna tried to downplay it.
“The glass seems fragile, but it won’t break that easily. Don’t worry.”
“O-okay.”
Sorry, Anna. Actually, I’m going to smash this potion as hard as I can.
Even though my conscience stabbed at me, I had no choice.
“Really, thank you so much, Floria.”
Anna squeezed me tight. “Having you here makes things so much easier.”
She kept her gratitude tucked into her quiet voice.
“Work is tough so people quit quickly. There aren’t many people my age here. At first you were slow and frustrating, but now I rely on you so much.”
Her words made the potion feel heavier in my hand.
“Come back later and I’ll repay you. I’ll be back this evening—see you then!”
Anna left. Alone in the room, I stood and stared at the potion.
“…Now what should I do?”
Die. That’s better than that stuff you are doing~