Prologue. I Shouldn’t Have Gotten Involved

Thud.

Plop.

Slap.

These sounds were none other than the sound effects of various documents being placed in front of me.

“……”

“Your hand stopped, Rose.”

This crazy, abusive boss.

“Are you quite leisurely?”

I glared at the contributor of this insane workload to protest, then answered with a shallow sigh before moving my hand again.

My hands were covered in ink. The first joint of my middle finger was even more calloused than during my past life as a student!

I really missed the laptop keyboard I used to pound on it while cursing in my previous life.

I inwardly voiced dozens of complaints, but unable to deny reality, I continued to process the insane amount of paperwork, focusing on the scratching sound of the pen nib.

How did it come to this?

I’m sure I was supposed to have been reincarnated as the female protagonist of this work.

Just because I slightly twisted fate.

Isn’t it too much for the family to go completely bankrupt, oh God…!

*

Roselita Saliche, the precious only daughter of the Saliche baronial family.

That was my name and status in my second life.

A second life, despite having seen it countless times in novels I read for fun, I never thought it would become my reality.

If I had known such a future awaited, I would have chosen to read only healing works full of warmth.

Then I might have been born as a beloved youngest child, or as Maid #1 serving that youngest child.

But in my past life, the novels I picked up to momentarily forget the pain of reality were too numerous and varied in genre.

So when I was born into a depressing work among those various books, I should have realized.

‘That I have absolutely no luck.’

But there was a reason I didn’t.

Even if the genre was depressing, the person I was reincarnated as wasn’t a villain or a two-line extra, but the protagonist.

‘Although it was a life that brushed with death seven times and was frequently involved in kidnappings and threats, the ending was definitely a happy one.’

That’s why when I realized I was born as the protagonist in a depressing work. I honestly wanted to change my fate.

In my previous life, I was just an ordinary person who relieved stress through novels and entertainment programs.

How could someone like me overcome all sorts of hardships and adversities as a protagonist?

There’s no way I could do that.

‘God, I don’t know why you’ve put me in such a life, but I am not worthy.’

Around the age of seven, when I realized this world was from that depressing novel, I confessed my inadequacy to God, at least in my heart.

That’s why I hoped to willingly give up my role to an enthusiastic villain or extra reincarnator who might have appeared in this world.

I never wanted to be the protagonist of a grand work.

I’m satisfied just being the protagonist of my ordinary, peaceful life.

The Saliche baronial family I was born into was moderately sound, and my parents were affectionate and didn’t do foolish things.

Just as they had constantly worried about and supported the female protagonist in the original work, nothing changed in their role as my parents.

So I only changed my fate a little.

From the life of Roselita, the protagonist who gets entangled by saving the male lead in childhood, to just an ordinary life of a rural noble lady.

Until then, I really didn’t expect it.

That just trying to live an ordinary life…

‘I’m sorry, Roselita.’

‘Our beloved daughter, of all times, in the year before your debutante ball….’

Would result in paying the price of the family going completely bankrupt.

*

If I had known this would happen, I would have done the business that Roselita did in the original work.

I deeply regretted it as I looked at the family that barely managed to keep the territory and mansion after selling off all expensive items.

There were even debts left to be paid.

But it was already too late.

‘If I had touched the protagonist’s share, I felt like I would really have to live the protagonist’s life….’

But now was not the time to be picky.

Business? That requires a foundation too.

There’s no use waving at a train that has already left, hoping it will reverse.

‘Don’t worry too much, Roselita. We will definitely protect you.’

My kind and affectionate parents said so, but I wasn’t one to just sit still believing only those words.

Wasn’t I the one who lived tenaciously just to take care of myself in my previous life?

It would be absurd for me, who grew up healthy with all limbs intact, to just rely on my parents and do nothing.

So, unlike other young ladies my age, I jumped into the job market instead of preparing for my debutante ball.

But my status as a baron’s daughter made it difficult to find a job, and I had to search everywhere and ask around.

Most places either rejected me outright based on my status or were engaged in illegal activities.

After great difficulty, I was finally able to find a legitimate, legal job that even paid quite well.

<Looking for an Assistant for the Second Prince’s Office>

Although it was an assistant position for the male lead….

I tried not to get involved with the male lead but ended up like this.

But humans are weak, and in the end, I submitted an application.

When you’re about to starve to death, is it time to worry about the fate in a book? People can’t live without food.

I tried so hard not to get entangled with the male lead, and now I’m this desperate.

Less than two weeks after submitting the application, an interview notice arrived for me.

And so, in the winter of my nineteenth year.

I, Roselita Saliche, chose to go to the capital to somehow protect my family.

Coincidentally, it was the same age at which Roselita in the original work entered the capital with the male lead.

*

Looking back, the red alert was blaring loudly from that interview.

“Please come in, Miss Saliche.”

For some reason, I was the only one who arrived at the interview location.

“We’ve been waiting for you for a long time, Miss Saliche. If the Saliche territory had been just a bit closer, we would have sent a royal carriage.”

The male lead, who had been prickly to everyone except the female protagonist in the original work, and sometimes even to her, greeted me with such a kind and bright attitude.

“Th-Thank you. You’re too kind, Your Highness.”

Seeing my awkward response to his surprising words and the thought that he could become my boss, the prince gave a rather annoying smile — which I only noticed after working beside him for a while.

“Too kind? The documents you attached with your resume were so impressive that I thought I would surely regret it if I let you go.”

And the fact that the prince, who had been arrogant to others, was for some reason excessively polite to me, a rural noble lady, that day — looking back, it was full of suspicious points.

“The interview is just a formality, I called you to discuss your work conditions. Since your territory is far, it would be convenient to start work right away.”

The male lead, very cunningly, only offered conditions that I absolutely couldn’t refuse.

“The work conditions I want to offer Miss Saliche are as written in this document.”

The contract he handed me while saying that was even more groundbreaking than the world of my previous life where labor laws were established, and much better than the job posting.

Basic monthly salary of 500 gold.
Overtime pay is calculated at double the hourly wage.
*Working hours: 8 hours a day, with a 1-hour break.
A two-story house is provided within 10 minutes by carriage or 30 minutes on foot from the workplace.
A maid is provided, and three meals a day or a meal allowance is provided.
A monthly clothing allowance of 50 gold is also included.
20 vacation days per year and a 4-day work week.
Additional work compensated with substitute leave or double pay.
Separate retirement allowance upon resignation.

Not realizing that overly good conditions hide traps, I ended up signing just like that.

Neatly printing the name Roselita Saliche in block letters.

*

And now, I, Roselita Saliche, think to myself….

“Rose.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“It’s six o’clock in the evening, which you love so much.”

“……”

I gritted my molars as I heard those words.

“Are you happy? From now on.”

Thud.

Placing another stack of documents on my desk, the male lead showed a mischievous smile.

“It’s the extended work hours with double pay that you love.”

…why the salary was shockingly high for a nineteen-year-old noble lady to receive.

Why the words ‘substitute leave’ or ‘double pay’ were written.

“Tonight’s dinner is your favorite premium beef from the eastern region, grilled medium-rare, with seasonal vegetables prepared as garnish. They’ve also prepared a low-alcohol wine.”

I should have realized why ‘3 meals’ or meal allowance was provided.

It meant that overtime and weekend work would be frequent.

“There’s no better workplace than this, right, Rose?”

He spoke with that beautiful smile that newspaper articles cheer about and young ladies in high society admire whenever they see it.

I forced a smile, pulling up the corners of my mouth as I looked at that smile.

What a demon.

‘Really.’

Oh God…

I really shouldn’t have gotten involved with the male lead…

*

Today too, my boss was merciless, and as he said, instead of a very~ delicious dinner, grueling overtime followed.

Thanks to that, I was only able to enter my sweet home, just 10 minutes away, when it was almost midnight.

‘He’s really cruel and insane…’

I’ve been scammed in my employment.

Today again, exhausted in body and mind from excessive work, I quickly enjoyed the bath water and warm stew prepared by the maid, then burrowed into the blankets.

The blanket I pulled over gave off a pleasant rustling sound and a scent as if clear sunlight had melted into it.

‘…The weather must have been nice today.’

Realizing today’s weather from inside the blankets, isn’t my life really too sad…

How is this different from my previous life?

I became a bit– very bitter.