Finally reaching the front doors of the mansion, Athena took a moment to just.. Breath. The mansion had weeds all over the yard, withering flowers near the entrance, and vines creeping up all the way to the second floor. it was like the place was abandoned.
After finding all her courage, she finally took her hand and gently knocked on the door. There was silence before footsteps could be heard from the other side of the door.
"Why are you waiting?"
A stern voice spoke, a voice that seemed to belong to a slightly older gentleman.
"Just leave it on the floor like you always do."
The man spoke as Athena just stood there in slight confusion.
"I was told to bring the food to the second prince."
She replied as the man seemed to sigh and quickly opened the door.
It was a tall man with blue short hair and brown eyes. He wore the same outfits as the other knights except it seemed a bit older or worn out than the rest. Each knight had a sun emblem, yet he had a moon.
"Is this another scheme to try and lure out the second prince? You'd simply just make a fool of yourself."
The man spoke with a disgust and disappointed voice before grabbing the plate of food.
"The prince has done nothing but stay quiet and avoid conflict with the royal family. There is no need for you or them to create even more issues with him."
BAM
The man shut the door so heavily that some dust fell from the front door's overhang. Why was this second prince so treated differently and separated from the rest of the royal family. It was weird but she didn't want to push it. That knight was stern and looked as if he was ready to kill her at any moment.
She started to walk away pushing the empty food trolley back towards the main building. Though she was dreading the long walk back, she was happy she at least knew where she was going now. Yet she didn't seem to sense the man looking down at her from the window on the second floor.
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"Prince."
A voice spoke through the bedroom door before slowly opening. The knight had brought in the prince's food to his office as he watched the prince stare out of the window, presumably to the girl walking away from the mansion.
"Was it really just her being confused?"
The young prince mumbled to himself, his face hidden by the shadow cast from the window blinds.
"I'm not sure my prince, she has been one of the few that always drops of the food, I don't know why she suddenly decided to wait."
The man near the window sighed and turned to face the knight. The light from the window shadowed the prince's face even more.
"A weird tactic for sure. Simply ignore her."
The prince spoke before walking to the table to begin eating. The knight nodded and left the room to give space for the prince. To let him eat in peace.
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Finally Athena found her way back to main building and finally found time for herself. She spent most of the day running around and helping the other maids do the daily chores. Though everyone seemed annoyed at her for seemingly acting "dumb," even though she really didn't know what to do, she got most of it done and figured out! It was simply just regular house chores, but except of a house its for a palace.
Using her time off, she ran off to the rear side of the palace where she saw the library. She wasn't sure if that was the only library, but it was the only one she saw.
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"it's so quiet.."
The woman spoke as she walked down the hall towards the library. There seemed to be almost no one in this area. She was at the left back side of the palace, while the way she exited to the second prince's mansion was on the right.
Looking down the hall a door was slightly agar and showed the shelves of books within. Though in her old word, when she was Yuko, she didn't have much time to do things extravagantly but she was able to read.
She liked to learn, both physical learning and reading learning. That's why she liked her old job, she thought as a magazine writer she'd be able to learn new things and create them into magazines that let others enjoy it like she did. Yet as years went by, it was not what she hoped for. They only wanted "eye catching" scoops. Dramas, secrets, etc. Overworked in an unenjoyable job...
Suddenly Athena slapped her face with both hands.
"This is no time to feel sad for my old life! I get to experience a new world!"
After all the chaos, it was only now that the brown haired woman was able to digest everything that's been happening.
She opened the door and saw how empty the library was, even a librarian wasn't there.
She quietly walked in and began to walk around and look at all the books, yet she wasn't fully paying attention. She was simply thinking to herself while gliding her hand against the books on the shelves.
A new world.. With magic and royalties. Could this be like how those fantasy books are? Those trending animes and manga I've seen?
She thought to herself as she created a list of events in her mind. Taking slow steps as she went.
- I died in my old world and was brought to this one by this world's God.
- I was woken up by the head maid, served food for the emperor's family and saw first hand an assassination attempt on the emperor himself.
- I also saw magic, to check on the food, the assassins' dagger seemingly making it faster, as well as the emperor's protective shield.
- then I went to go give food the second prince that wasn't eating with everyone else, even disregarded by the looks of where he lives.
"Why was he.."
Without paying attention, Athena bumped into someone in front of her. Causing the man to drop his book and the girl rushing to pick it up and give it to him.
"I'm so sorry! I was stuck in my head! I didn't.."
The book was snatched from her hands as she looked up at the man who had a cold stare at her. She felt she was in trouble. The man had longish hair, almost like a wolfcut back in her old world. He had darkened blue eyes and a sharp look to him.
"Why would you not be paying attention to where you're going?"
She bowed her head as a apology which caught the man in surprise.
"I apologize again!"
She said with a slight loud tone. The man just stared at her with slight confusion before letting out a sigh crossing his arms.
"Forgiven. What are you even doing here? Only aristocrats and higher are allowed in here. Not maids."
This information gave a shock to her.
Oh Shit
"I apologize again! I didn't mean to intrude and especially disturb an aristocrat like you!"
She was beating herself up inside. Her trip to this new world could end right here! Even she knew about the hierarchy from back then!
Yet the more she spoke made the man surprised before amusement.
"You don't know who I am?"
He asked as he looked at Athena who simply just gave a shake of her head. Suddenly, the man let out a laugh.
"A weird tactic! But I'll play along."
Athena just tilted her head from this sudden reaction.
"Well, who are you then?"
She asked as the man then turned and touched his chin, thinking.
"A librarian."
He spoke before putting away the book he was holding.
"Now I'll ask you again, what are you doing here?"
She wasn't sure if she should be honest or not, but the man didn't seem angry anymore, maybe she could take this chance to finally get some information about this place.
"umm.. History books? I've um, forgotten and simply want to remind myself!"
She spoke in confidence as the man just stared at her. A look of someone thinking of the other as weird, but he simply turned around and did a gesture to the girl to follow him, and follow him she did.
"I'll show you where."
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To Be Continued...