The male lead laughed at me, as if he was delighted by my words.

Then he walked over to me.

What does this person want from me now?

With his towering height that seemed like a ghostly presence, he cornered me threateningly, and I had no choice but to step back.

The charming corner of the male lead’s mouth drew a curve. He forcefully pushed me into a corner and spat out his words in a threatening manner.

“How can you claim to serve me sincerely?”

The male lead’s long finger grazed my neckline.

Feeling the slight touch lingering on my neck, I flinched and immediately lowered my gaze.

My head began to spin as if a warning light had been switched on in my brain.

It was clear that he was looking down on me.

“Since I am well-known as a survivor of betrayal, you must already know…”

Swiftly, the male lead’s face came right in front of mine.

In his red eyes, my contemplative self-reflected vividly.

“There’s nothing for you to gain by sticking with me.”

If I made the slightest wrong move, it felt like our lips would touch.

Even if I wanted to step back, there was no space to retreat.

I struggled to control my expression. I had to show no signs of hesitation. I had to stay calm.

Silently, I recited the national anthem in my mind.

“You can’t possibly serve me wholeheartedly on such a subject. Wouldn’t you?”

Let’s think of it as an interview.

I kept my eyes down and opened my mouth.

First, what I can do.

“When I examined the kitchen this morning, I noticed many areas that need improvement. The hygiene of the kitchen staff was not thorough. Considering that the food is served to Your Highness, it seems necessary to have proper management.”

The male lead’s eyebrows rose high.

It seemed like he wanted me to continue.

I spoke in a slightly more relaxed voice.

“If you have a preference, I’ll direct the chef in that direction.”

Upon hearing my words, the male lead slightly distanced himself from me and looked down at me with his characteristic cold red eyes.

“Go on.”

Second, self-sacrifice.

“I have been informed that a new maid has been brought in.”

“So?”

The corner of the male lead’s mouth curled up.

He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at me, his face suddenly filled with interest, and my mind went blank.

It was premature to say that the duke and the head maid were in cahoots.

Besides, I wasn’t sure if the new girl Milla had seen today would be the one who would be assigned to the crown prince’s bedchamber after my death.

The most important thing was that the male lead didn’t seem oblivious to this fact.

But I didn’t have time to carefully consider and weigh all these things.

I had to give a wise answer.

To show how devoted I could be to him, how loyal I was to him.

“…… I would probably have died today.”

The male lead’s eyes widened.

He grinned like a madman, as if he found it incredibly fascinating.

I felt like I understood why the heroine called the male lead a lunatic.

That bastard was undoubtedly insane.

“The cause of death would be suicide, I suppose.”

I desperately hoped that he would understand if I went this far.

But the male lead still waited for a continuation.

I held my breath and then burst out with my words.

“Nevertheless, I am alive.”

Then, my brain exploded with thoughts.

Should I kneel here?

What does submission mean in this place??

I tried my best to recall Rose’s memories, but they were as black as a TV screen that had reached the end of its broadcast time.

So, I simply gathered my hands on my navel as politely as possible and bowed my head.

“My very existence was saved by your highness. Therefore, I humbly request that you kindly allow me to repay that favor.”

After that, about five seconds passed, and I didn’t feel any pain. It seemed like my crappy acting worked.

“Humbly, you say.”

The male lead took a step back from me.

It felt as if the tightness in my throat had loosened.

“I accept your request.”

I opened my eyes wide.

What had I heard just now?

“Instead, drop those ridiculous manners. It’s annoying.”

* * *

It didn’t really hit me until the next day when I opened my eyes and greeted the dawn.

I survived.

I’m alive.

“Whaaaaah-!”

I screamed, covering my mouth and staggering around like a mad person.

My heart was pounding.

This can’t be happening.

I didn’t die from the assassin sent by the Duke, nor did I die at the hands of the Crown Prince.

I was alive and well, with all my organs and limbs still attached.

I couldn’t believe it.

To think that I, a mere extra with no presence in a ruthless trashy novel published in the early 2000s, would survive while being possessing someone! The slave instincts… no, the professional spirit that resided deep in my heart rekindled with fervor.

I may have been pathetic, but the result was what mattered.

I pleased the Crown Prince.

That wretched Crown Prince, the potential tyrant, had decided to officially employ me!

Now, all I had to do was do my best, take care of my tasks without bothering the Crown Prince.

I didn’t have to care about the other servants’ gazes.

After all, as a personal chambermaid to the Crown Prince, I held a relatively high position compared to the other servants, so they wouldn’t easily disregard my words.

Of course, the reality of having to see the Crown Prince’s disgustingly ecstatic face every day was like a dirty rag before a tablecloth, but at least I was alive.

I never expected to be such a positive person.

With a refreshed mind, I tidied up my appearance and tightly tied up my hair.

By the way, I really didn’t like this pink hair.

It stood out too much.

‘Should I dye it black or something?’

While looking at the mirror and examining my appearance, my gaze eventually shifted to the problematic diary.

I was so preoccupied that I didn’t even think about what to do with it.

It was quite nerve-wracking.

What in the world is this diary?

Was it really written by Rose?

If so, then where did the original owner of this body, ‘Rose,’ go?

The simplest way to think about it was that Rose was possibly in my original body.

It seems like I’ve thought too simplistically, but if my hypothesis is correct…

Rose escaped.

No matter how much I think about it, this place was more dreadful than Earth.

It was a combination of a vividly alive social hierarchy and discarded human rights, a complete madness.

Moreover, if the person in this situation right now isn’t me but Rose herself, would she have been able to safely pass last night?

If we recall the original work, ultimately, there were no maids or anyone serving by his side when he ascended to the throne.

Perhaps Rose died in the original work.

And that was also last night.

“What the bloody hell am I doing here…….”

I muttered a lament mixed with my thoughts and nervously touched the cover of the diary with trembling hands.

I didn’t like it, but I felt like I should open it anyway.

I squeezed my eyes shut and flipped the cover open.

Then, slowly, I opened my half-closed eyes and glanced at the first page of the diary.

To my horror, there was no trace of the previous contents in the diary. And only one page, the front page, was filled with eloquent writing.

[Mellory is an herbalist.]

[Mellory gave me a box and taught me how to distinguish poison.]

[If you put a small amount of poison on a venzent leaf, the leaf turns blue.]

[I put the box containing venzent leaves in the third drawer of the desk.]

I slowly read the contents and swallowed hard.

By this point, it was a bit frightening.

I turned around like an oil-less robot, making a creaking sound.

I stared directly at the third drawer.

My hands were shaking.

This was a part I had been thinking about finding a solution to no matter what.

But realistically, there was no way to confirm whether the food served to the Crown Prince was poisoned. However, if there really was a plant that could distinguish the presence of poison…..

I hesitated no longer and opened the drawer.

“No way.”

It felt like a lie.

There really was a small box in the drawer.

I quickly opened the box.

Inside the box, there were roots of a plant that looked similar to basil, fresh and vibrant.

Fresh and vibrant plants.

It had been only two days since I was transmigrated into this body.

But how could a plant be so fresh and vibrant even after two days without sunlight at room temperature?

I wanted to scream.