The Tired Maid

Chapter 12

Perhaps you should've asked for a longer vacation. Granted you were resting for a week since it was an injury to the arm, but you realized you missed the opportunity to explore the world you're in now and perhaps visit your parents–correction, this body's parents.

Though you have her memories, you wanted to meet your father for real. And perhaps visit your now mother's grave after.

You turned to Stella when she called out your name in concern, which was more apparent in her large dark eyes that contrasts with her sunlit blonde hair. You wonder how did that work...

"Yes, your highness?" you responded with a small smile.

Stella pouted, "You were spacing out, are you okay? Do you still need to rest?"

Ah, this girl. You shook your head, "It's nothing, your highness. You don't have to worry."

Stella then, like a child, huffed. "If you don't tell me what is wrong, I'll cry."

Your eyes widened at her threat–no, at how childish she's acting right now. "Your Highness, you're 18 now–"

Stella's eyes became glassy.

"Your Highness, please don't cry–!"

Her bottom lip wobbled for effect.

"Your Highness, I really assure you that everything is fine–"

A tear rolls down her face as she starts to sniffle.

In the end, you sighed as you gave in. "Fine, I'll tell you." And in a second, her tears receded and her face became less pink as she smiled. You smacked yourself at the realization that she used crocodile tears. Stella didn't use crocodile tears in the original timeline, so maybe this is a result of your actions recently...

Well, at least you're happy that Stella is growing...growing into a good person you hope. Or maybe she's becoming more manipulative...or perhaps the word is aware? Well, at least she won't be as innocent and naive as her original counterpart. The world would've eaten her alive if she didn't learn.

You brought a hand to your face as you spoke, "I was just upset with myself since I could've used my vacation to visit my father. It has been a while since I've last seen him."

"Oh, You should've just said so! I could've asked Father for his permission–Wait, why don't we go ask him now!"

"Your Highness wait–!"

You sweatdropped as you looked at the two bags that you packed. You didn't think that Stella would actually go to her father to ask for an extended vacation for you–nonetheless, permission to go outside the castle!

You scratched your head, at a loss for what to do next. When the answer is obvious, go to the carriage waiting for you and your bags. After a moment of hesitation and fidgeting, you then relented to fate and grabbed your luggage in both hands before heading to the door–

–Which should've happened but your luggage was grabbed by two pair of hands. You kept yourself from yelping in surprise before taking a good look at the thieves. "Liam? Commander Cole?"

"Please call me Cole," the commander smiled, holding one of your luggage in one arm.

Liam held your other bag by the handles, eyes curled to crescents as he smiled. "You wouldn't think we won't see you out? How low do you think of me?" He pouted.

You rolled your eyes as you pinched his cheek, "Don't go cheeky on me, Liam." Before eyeing Cole. "And I really appreciate the help, gentlemen. But I can carry my bags myself."

"And we don't doubt you," Cole said, "But you're gonna be gone for a month, so think of this as the start of your vacation,"

"By not doing the work!" Liam grinned as he finished.

Before you can protest any further, the two men are already walking out of your room. You sighed to the ceiling at the events that led up to this, "Everything is changing...will the plot continue though? There's still the matter of the Demon King and the Cursed heart..."

In the novel, after Stella was kidnapped by a noble of another kingdom and had her traumatic experience and newly gained ability, she was rescued by the Demon King who was in disguise and then brought her back to her kingdom.

But her rescue was a way to make her kingdom become indebted to him. He then had her kingdom set out adventurers to retrieve the Cursed Heart that was stolen from his family centuries ago, which was locked in a dungeon full of holy mana only dragon holders can get through.

Stella's three suitors volunteered to assist Helios and Stella to retrieve said Heart, but this was a plot to make Perdon and Stella grow closer.

Though, you only managed to read until Book 2 of the novel before you died, so you didn't know it exactly ended only through the spoilers that your friends unintentionally sent you.

"And what happened to Roxy? The fandom did say that Roxy had a battle against Stella and her harem using the Cursed Heart...but how did she even get it if the dungeon it was in was full of holy mana? No normal human or demon can even get through unless they're a dragon holder..." You muttered as you looked at the outside of the carriage, watching as the scenes rolled by.

Though, no you can relax and not worry about the plot anymore. You could imagine the horror and despair of that one maid, Ella if she realizes this. Seriously, how old is she if she wants the lot to continue? Was she in her early teens?

You shook your head at these thoughts. One thing is for sure, she's a reincarnation–or a transmigrator at best.

You slumped towards the window, exhaustion from the days and your efforts to change the plot to ensure your survival are catching up to you. Maybe this vacation is good for you, a well-deserved one.

Now, how will you greet your father? It has been a long time since the original owner visited her family, and you didn't see any letters from her father or towards you. It was a good thing you brought some souvenirs just in case. And what to talk about...maybe a 'How are you?' would suffice for a conversation starter.

The stop of the carriage pulled you out of your thoughts as the coachmen from outside called to you, "Miss Demain, we are here."

You looked outside to see a bakery between two buildings, the sign saying 'Dem-Bakery' in Calibri font, with windows displaying the variety of bread and pastries in the shop. In the shop was a lone man directing some helpers and workers in the bakery, he was tall with long limbs with the same dark hair as yours, tied into a short ponytail. His back was towards the window but when he looked to the side, it revealed the same greyish-silver eyes but a different eye shape, a sort of monolid eye type.

His skin was paler than you which was covered in his white baker's outfit. But you noticed his features were sharp and he was stern looking, not the soft type like those manhwa boys with short ponytails you saw in your old world.

You stepped out of the carriage, mindful of the pale yellow dress you wore, before you took your luggage from the coachmen before thanked them. You then went inside the bakery. The sound of bells chiming sounded within the bakery has your father look up to greet the new customer.

You watched his eyes widen in surprise–or astonishment, you didn't know–as he mutters your name. You smiled in response, "Hello father, I'm home."