I Will Only ever Lived as a Side Character

Sleep

The photo above is Catherine
                                  (The art is not mine)

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Right now..the protagonist should already encounter the male lead.

As Ashlyn roam lost in the mist of the garden, she stumbled upon to the ever so charming prince, who guides her the direction.

The two then walked around the enchanted garden and the protagonist sparks an interests in the prince as she treated him with no insincere flattery or obvious attempts to attract him.

Instead she treated him like any other person would. That was the start of their beautiful romance...

Or so I hope.

See the reason Ashlyn treated him so casually is because..she didn't know he was the prince at that time. She only was supposed to find out after he was done showing her around.

But who knows what that single slipped up could do. Everything I said till now as been purely by the book until the end, but now..? Did the protagonist reacted differently? Will the rest of the story changed? What if I already ruin my chances of getting home?

"My lady?"

"Wah!" I squeaked as I quickly back away and turn my head. "It's.." I sighed in great relief, "It's just you."

Standing before me is a young woman holding a large heavy looking luggage with both hand. She wore a black and white attire and her hair in a tight bun. This person is Catherine's maid and the first person I encountered in this world.

"My apologies, I did not mean to scare you." The maid spoke in a tone that shows little to no emotion.

"That's quite alright,"

I'm easily frightened so I don't even think you are to at fault.

The maid looked around, her emotionless face morth into a puzzled one, "My lady, where is your friend? I believe you two were to explore the campus together."

I gave an awkward laugh, "Yes, that was the plan but..."

Almost instantly the maid's face changed into a state of panic as she dropped the luggage into the ground, I winced at the loud sound the impact made as the maid rush toward me.

"Are you sick? Do feel anything unusual? Oh, maybe we should make haste to the clinic." She rambled as she cupped my face

I simply laugh as I awkwardly tried to get her hands away from my face. She received the message and quickly removed her hand, flustered and embarrassed she went to a long and prolonged essay of apologies.

"It's okay really, I just...uh.." my eyes shifted toward the large bag on the ground, "Hey, what is that you were holding?" I pointed to it,

"Oh that? That contains your personally belongings and basic necessities, I was to bring them to your dorm and place in their proper positions." She explains, "There will be more on the way but for now, this will help you get settled."

"Ah, I see.."

In the novel, Ashlyn didn't have a maid, but it was explained that children of nobilities were to bring one maid along. Those maids were to tidy their dorm, carry any heavy items for them and assist them with academic activities.

"Well then," I gestured toward the door that led to my dorm room, "I suppose we better get started."

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

An great exhale from my lungs as I flopped down to my bed. This body truly hadn't experienced much exercises, even setting furnitures up gets me all tired and sweaty.

"My lady, please this isn't necessary, allow me to do all the rest." My maid said frantically.

"But I will feel bad, you were done that did the heavy lifting after all," I muttered, "literally.."

I turn to my maid, "Really it's not a big deal....oh, oh!" Suddenly I sat up, "I didn't ask your name! How rude of me.." I facepalmed my head..

"But my lady, you don't need to know my name, I am simply a maid." She said with an monotone voice.

I shook my head, "I know but it would be..." I search for the right words, "awkward I suppose, I can't keep calling the person who's going to stay with me for the remaining years "you", can I?"

'Even I knew my maid's name back home.'

She ponders for a while before slowly nodding her head, "I do see your point..alright, my name is Mei, I will be your personal maid from now."

A gracious smile lifted on my face, "Nice to meet you Mei. Please take care of me from now on."

——-
Mei, who work at Catherine's family household, was a person I never seen before, yet she felt strangely familiar

Like I have been in her presence numerous times even though I have no recollection of her..

I sighed, isn't this suppose be where the 15 years of Catherine's life flash before my eyes? But then again, most cases like these usually start with the character having the age of a toddler or hell, even a newborn.

I can't even tell which is better or worse—

Cough
cough
COUgh

"Ugh..."

In the novel, Catherine always had a frail body and was prone to sickness. That was mostly the excuse for her lack of screen time.

I huffed a great sigh

Mei already left to her chamber, the best I could do now is sleeping off this probably flu...

I shifted and turn, forcing to close my eyes but that didn't help at all. Everything feel so uncomfortable I can't fall asleep at all. I haven't been sleeping ever since I got into this paper freak show of a place.

If I was back home, on my bed in my room, with my pillows and blankets (and stuff animals). With my parents and my sister only few steps away.

Maybe then I could've had some shut eyes.