The next morning, Leona woke to the jingling of bells from afar. A faint gold light seeped through the small, round window above her cot, greeting her into yet another day in this crazy world. Her body ached, but it wasn't from the chores of a maid; it was the unbearable weight of her mission.
The robotic voice's warning echoed in her head.
"Deviation detected. Progress: zero percent."
She rubbed her temples. "Great," she muttered. "First day on the job, and I'm already failing."
Her mind replayed yesterday's encounter with Cedric, the male lead. He was cold, dismissive, and utterly unreadable-just as in the early chapters of Destined Hearts. That much, at least, remained intact. But her mere presence in this world was a variable, one that could throw the entire plot into disarray.
She let out a deep sigh. Cedric was supposed to fall for Vivienne, the heroine, who would eventually soften his icy demeanor and help him grow into the noble leader the kingdom needed. Without their romance, the story would collapse.
And then there was her—a "mob character," as the robotic voice had so kindly reminded her. She wasn't supposed to exist beyond the background. If Cedric noticed her more than he should, the consequences could be catastrophic.
Leona's musings were cut short as Marie bustled into the small servants' quarters, the young maid chipper as ever, with a tray of bread and tea.
"Good morning, Miss Leona!" Marie chirped.
Leona forced a smile. "Morning."
"The Duke has requested the household staff to be on their best behavior today," Marie said as she set the tray down. "Prince Cedric will be inspecting the grounds."
Leona's stomach twisted. The last thing she wanted was another encounter with Cedric, especially after her disastrous first impression. But something told her she wouldn't be able to avoid him.
Later that day, Leona found herself assigned to the gardens, tasked with trimming the rose hedges. It was peaceful work, the kind she'd always imagined doing in retirement. She tried to lose herself in the rhythmic snip of the shears, hoping the male lead would stay far, far away.
Fate, however, had other plans.
The soft crunch of the boots on gravel made her freeze. She looked up to see Cedric walking towards her, his navy coat billowing slightly in the breeze. His sharp blue eyes were fixed on her, and her heart began to race.
She quickly looked down, feigning interest in her work. Maybe if she ignored him, he'd pass by.
"Leona, isn't it?"
Her hand slipped, the shears almost nicking her finger. She looked up, dumbfounded. The prince remembered her name?
"Yes, Your Highness," she said in a completely neutral tone.
He stopped a few steps away, his hands clasped behind his back. Closer, he was much more intimidating. He was the type of man whose features could grace a hundred portraits-a perfect combination of beauty and fortitude.
"You're not like the other servants," he said, matter-of-fact.
Leona blinked. "I'm… not sure what you mean, Your Highness."
"You don't cower," he said, his head canting slightly as if he were studying her. "Most servants cast their eyes down the moment I approach. You don't."
She swallowed hard. This was bad. Very bad. The male lead wasn't supposed to notice her, much less analyze her behavior.
"I apologize if I've been disrespectful," she said quickly, bowing her head.
Cedric frowned, as though her answer didn't satisfy him. "What's your story?"
"My… story?"
"Yes." His piercing gaze didn't waver. "You don't strike me as someone born into servitude."
Leona's mind scrambled for a response. She couldn't exactly tell him the truth—that she was from another world, tasked with fixing his love life.
"I'm just a maid, Your Highness," she said carefully.
Cedric's lips quirked into a faint smile, one that sent an unexpected shiver down her spine. "You're a terrible liar."
Leona's breath caught.
Before she could respond, Cedric leaned closer, his voice lowering. "You intrigue me, Leona."
Her heart skipped a beat. No, no, no!
This wasn't how the story was supposed to go. He was supposed to be aloof and distant until Vivienne melted his icy heart—not intrigued by a random maid.
The robotic voice blared in her head:
"Deviation detected. Immediate corrective action required."
Leona flinched at the sound, earning a curious look from Cedric.
"Are you unwell?" he asked.
She forced a laugh, though it sounded more like a nervous cough. "Just… tired, Your Highness. Long days, you know."
"Hmm." Cedric straightened, his expression thoughtful. "Perhaps I'll see you again later, Leona.
And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving her trembling among the roses.
As soon as Cedric was out of sight, Leona dropped the shears and sank onto the grass. Her hands were shaking.
"This is bad," she muttered to herself. "This is really bad."
The robotic voice chimed again:
"Deviation escalating. Prince Cedric's attention must be redirected to Vivienne within three days."
Leona groaned. "How can I do that when he already concluded that I am interesting?"
?
As expected, there was no guidance from the voice.
Determining to right this, Leona decided that observation was in order of the day for Vivienne; with a little nudge or so of the heroine and Cedric together, perhaps events may just start correcting themselves.
Vivienne was just as Leona had pictured her from the description in the novel: ethereal and elegant, with cascading blonde hair the color of honey and eyes as green as emeralds. She moved with a grace that seemed almost otherworldly, her soft voice charming everyone she spoke to.
Yet something was… off.
Vivienne seemed hesitant, almost reclusive. She spent most of her time wandering the halls of the mansion or sitting alone in the gardens. Despite her beauty, she didn't appear to make any effort to get to know Cedric.
Leona watched from a distance, biting her lip. This wasn't right. In the novel, Vivienne was bold and determined, actively seeking out Cedric to win his trust. But here, she seemed lost, as though she didn't know her own role in the story.
Was this another result of the novel being abandoned?
Later that day, Leona saw her opportunity. Vivienne sat by a fountain, playing absently with a flower twirled between her fingers. Cedric sat not very far away from her, leaning against a tree and reading some book. It was an invitation for romance if anything was.
Leona took a deep breath and walked to Vivienne.
"Miss Vivienne," she said, forcing a smile. "The prince is just over there. Perhaps you should speak with him?"
Vivienne looked up, startled. "Oh, I… I don't think he'd want to speak with me."
Leona blinked. "Why would you think that?"
Vivienne hesitated, her cheeks going pink. "He's so… serious. I wouldn't know what to say."
Leona's jaw almost dropped. Was this really the same character who, in the novel, had faced down assassins and charmed court officials with ease?
"You're the heroine," Leona whispered under her breath, though Vivienne didn't hear her.
"Perhaps I'll try later," Vivienne said, standing up and brushing off her gown. She offered Leona a small smile before walking away, leaving the flower she'd been holding abandoned on the edge of the fountain.
Leona plopped down on the fountain's edge, frustration bubbling in her stomach. If Vivienne wouldn't take the lead, how was she to get Cedric's attention?
As if called by the silent plea, Cedric closed his book and moved closer.
"You seem troubled," he said, much softer than she had anticipated.
Leona stiffened. "Just… concerned about my duties, Your Highness."
A small smile bent his lips. "You worry too much."
"I-" She bit her tongue.
For a moment, Cedric's gaze stayed with her before shifting to the flower Vivienne had left behind. He picked it up, turning it over in his fingers.
"Funny," he said, almost to himself. "I never thought a simple maid would make me curious."
Leona's heart sank.
Louder than ever came that robotic voice:
"Critical deviation. Immediate intervention required."
Yeah, no kidding, Leona thought with bitter taste.
Cedric placed the flower in her hand, his fingers brushing hers briefly. "I hope we'll speak again soon, Leona."
As he walked away, Leona stared down at the flower, her mind a whirlwind of panic.
How was she supposed to fix this when the male lead had already gone off script?