𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒' 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐃𝐎𝐆 | 𝘷𝘢𝘥𝘵𝘥 𝘹 𝘔.𝘺/𝘯 |

(34) Slapped To Reality.

"........," 

A wrong turn here, a dead end there – the labyrinthine hallways of the manor were starting to mock me. 

With each twist and turn, frustration gnawed at my insides. 

"This place is massive!"

I muttered under my breath, picturing a giant maze drawn by a particular nerdy kid. 

Lost in my grumbling, I rounded a corner and pushed open a door with a flourish, hoping for a glimpse of a familiar landmark.

Instead of the polished hallway I expected, I found myself face-to-face with a scene straight out of a whirlwind. 

Clothes were strewn about like fallen soldiers, a half-eaten pastry lay abandoned on a table, and in the center of it all stood Rize, a maid I vaguely remembered from the interview process, brandishing a rolled-up magazine like a weapon.

Before I could process the scene, a sharp sting erupted across my cheek. 

"Wha-?"

I yelped, reeling backward in surprise.  Rize, eyes blazing with fury, puffed on a cigarette dangling from her lips.

"Easy there, my lady!"

I exclaimed, raising my hands in surrender. 

"Seems like I wandered into the wrong room." 

My cheeks burned with a double dose of heat – embarrassment from the intrusion and the sting of the unexpected attack.

Rize, still fuming, lowered her makeshift weapon. 

"You should knock, Your Grace,"

She scolded, taking a long drag from her cigarette. 

"Especially before barging into the maids' changing room!"

My jaw dropped. 

"Oh! Oh gods, I'm so sorry,"

I stammered, my voice laced with mortification. 

"I had no idea…" 

Just as I was about to make a hasty retreat, the door burst open again, revealing another maid – fists clenched and ready to throw a punch.

Before I could blink, I was sprawled on the floor, the air knocked out of my lungs. 

"Ow! What the heck was that for?"

I cried, scrambling to my feet, my head spinning. 

My pride stung worse than the throbbing ache in my cheek and nose that has probably broke now.

The two maids froze, eyes wide with shock. 

"Your Grace, please, forgive us!"

The new arrival exclaimed, rushing to help me up. 

"I thought you were…"

"A pervert?"

I offered helpfully, wincing as I gingerly touched my throbbing cheek.

"No, no, not at all!"

Rize stammered, her earlier anger replaced by sheepishness. 

"I… well, I didn't recognize you at first. Just a bit startled, you see."

I dusted myself off, trying to maintain a semblance of dignity despite the situation. 

"Apologies accepted," I mumbled, accepting their help to stand. "Just a little… misunderstanding."

"It's just a scratch. No permanent damage done,"

I reassured them, mustering a weak smile.

Leaving the two flustered maids in my wake, I nursed my bruised ego and throbbing cheek. 

A wave of frustration washed over me. 

What was I even doing here? 

Lost in a grand manor that felt more like a prison than a home, getting slapped by maids and tackled by random NPCs.

'This isn't me,'

I thought, a bitter taste settling in my mouth. 

I had a mission, a purpose – to survive, to get back to my original world, to my sister. 

Yet, here I was, bumbling around like a clueless fool, playing a role I didn't understand, surrounded by people who were nothing more than characters in this strange game.

Taking a deep breath, I straightened my posture, a new resolve hardening my features. 

No more distractions, no more getting swept up in the drama of this place. 

Focus. 

That's what I needed.

"Alright, (Y/N),"

I muttered to myself, using the name that had become a strange second skin. 

"Time to get serious." 

Squaring my shoulders, I marched out of the hallway, determined to find my way back to my room. 

No more aimless wandering, no more attachments. 

I had a goal, and I wouldn't let anything or anyone stand in my way. 

This lost soul in a strange world was about to become a force to be reckoned with. 

The journey back to my world might be long and hard, but I was ready to face it head-on.
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╰┈➤ ❝ [Ɒσи'τ fσяɢєτ τσ vστє αиɒ cσммєиτ!]

₊❏❜ ⋮ ⌒(A/N):  This chapter might be a bit on the short side, but hey, reader's orders! (Though, maybe a hint of me begging them to give me their OCs was involved...)

Still, don't know why you wanted to slap the poor guy! (You know who you are).

Happy reading! >ᴗ<

ִֶָ๋𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐