Jake was just an ordinary office worker. However on his way home, he suddenly died after being struck down by a random lightning.
When he woke up, he found himself in the body of a pitiful female side character of the novel he use to read. Before he could cry about the sudden change in his gender, he discovered that he is in fact still a man. But due to some circumstances of the character he possess in, he had to crossdress as a woman.
His death was close, and he knew it because of the information he have from reading the novel. In order to avoid it, he plan to escape in the way of becoming the neighbouring country's duke maid. And he succeeded without a fail.
Now he can live as Sienna peacefully. Or can he?
In the world different from his previous one. A world full of magic and dangerous creatures that roam around. They seem to threaten his peace.
-
Sienna tied his hair into a bun. He look at himself at the mirror. His hair still looks messy due to his bangs. He purposely style himself like that to cover his face.
His attention caught by the knock of the door. He hurriedly went to open it without a second thought.
An old lady, probably in her 50s was standing elegantly. Upon seeing him, she bow. Despite her politeness, her gaze was sharp and indifferent.
"Good morning" She greeted.
Sienna clumsily bow back. "Good morning ma'am"
"You must be lady Sienna?" She asked, straight to the point.
"Yes, that's me"
"Lady Sienna, I'm Catherine Heinz" She introduced "Today I'm going to teach you what you're assigned to do, I hope that you are now ready"
"Yes! I am!" He quickly goes out of his room.
Catherine nodded and walked. "Please follow me"
He obey.
Catherine was strict and full of elegance. Yet her teaching was never out of pettiness nor base on her emotion. Workers in the mansion respect her. Sienna was the same, he never met such a professional employee before. He can't help but be amaze.
The mansion was huge, as it should be. Everyone was focus on their own work. There was separation of groups solely assigned to do one job. The cleaners, launderings, cooks, buyers, gardeners, and personal maids and butlers of the owner of the house, Ivan Le Illios.
And his job was be one of Ivan's personal maid. Base on what Catherine said, there's only 6 trusted servants that serves Ivan, and he will be soon the 7th.
It the position he wasn't hoping for but it wasn't bad. In the novel, those six servants was also describe to have individual jobs. One is a spy, then an assassin, a soldier, a protector, a magician, and lastly the most trusted of all, the one who takes care of Ivan and also his friend, John Miller.
He wanders what his role will be. 'Maybe the joker in card game?'
The two stop walking. Catherine knocked on the door in front of them three times.
"Your grace, I brought her" Catherine announced.
The door open, as the same time Catherine made her bow just like how she greeted him. Sienna clumsily follow.
"Come in" A cold voice said. The same voice he heard the last night.
"Greeting, your grace"
"G-Greeting, y-your grace"
Catherine walked inside. Sienna follows.
Catherine looks more like a noble of high position instead of Sienna. Her elegance and grace overshadowed Sienna clumsy attitude.
Sienna eyes meet with Ivan's. He quickly let a polite smile at him. Sienna just nodded back then look down on the floor.
"Good morning lady Sienna, did you sleep well?"
"U-um.. Y-yes, thank you for you kindness"
"That was nothing" Ivan lifted his cup of tea and took a sip of it. There was a momentarily silence in the room as no one spoke.
Sienna looks at the butler beside Ivan. And just like how the novel described John Miller, he has dark skin and both brown hair and eyes. Standing straight wearing a poker face.
'As expected he's here' Sienna sifted his gaze back at the floor after sensing Ivan's gaze on his neck.
"Lady Sienna, you're aware that my help weren't for free were you" Ivan finally spoke.
Sienna flinch, this was his awaited moment. He grip on the hem of his skirt and reluctantly nodded. He press his lips together, avoiding Ivan's gaze towards him. His bangs still covering his face and looking like a ghost.
Ivan was still wearing his polite smile that didn't reach his eyes. He studied Sienna body language and found nothing interesting to it. He look at him as someone who's easy to manipulate. And Sienna was aware of that.
"Actually, I'm interested in the necklace you're wearing, that thing was quite important to me you see" Ivan crossed his fingers together. He smile with his eyes yet they remain blank.
Sienna grip on his skirt tighten. "I..um.."
"So I would ask you to give me the necklace in exchange for staying here"
Sienna hand held his chest where he was wearing the necklace. He bow into ninety degree position and close his eyes tight shut. His body shiver in fear. "I-I'm sorry! But this necklace was very valuable to me! This is the only thing I've received from my deceased mother!"
"Please ask for other things!"
"I see, I apologize for my ignorance, I didn't knew you receive that from your deceased mother"
'Liar, he knew for a fact that Sienna receive this from his mother, that's the only way he would have gotten this otherwise' When he read the novel, it was described why the necklace he's wearing was very important.
This necklace was actually gift from an angel for Sienna mother's soldier ancestors that has been pass to the next generation. What made this necklace so important is its ability to heal its wearer to the fullest health when they are close to death. Though it was now can only be use thrice, that last three times was still important as there were no other objects had the same effect.
Sadly in the novel, this necklace was stolen by some beggars and Sienna died before he could use it. Then the necklace ended up at the hands of Ivan who's having a date with the female lead at the time.
Sienna could feel the tension rising in air. He keep his bowing positions and didn't move for a bit. He knew Ivan still haven't given up.
"However, that's the only reason why I'm letting you stay here, how will you compensate me if you're not going to give me your necklace?"
'Tsk, how cold'
Sienna kneel on the floor and put his head down. "Please! I beg you! Let me stay here! I don't have any place to stay in! I'll do anything! Just let me keep this necklace!"
Ivan stayed quiet. He took a sip of his tea and stare at Sienna. Ivan doesn't someone like Sienna. Weak and begging to live. They are the type that pisses him the most.
If only the necklace Sienna have wasn't important. He wouldn't even bother to glance at his way. Ivan don't want something that's useless without any worth.
'Should I just kill her and take that necklace?' He thought. 'No, that wouldn't work, that would ruin my reputation to my servants and the necklace would just protect her'
"Your grace," John, his butler cut him off of his thoughts, he whispered to his ears. "I think we should let her stay here, let's try convincing her in other ways"
Ivan close his eyes, taking his time to decide. He enjoys the cold morning air coming from the window first. Not caring whether the person who's kneeling to him was feeling pain from kneeling.
He open his eyes, his golden eyes stare at kneeling Sienna with his head on the floor.
"Alright, I will let you stay here"
Sienna excitedly looks at him. His bangs gets out of the way of his face, revealing his bright purple eyes looking at him. He bow down and and said, "Thank you so much your grace!"
"But only for a month, and instead of becoming my personal maid, you will be just a cleaners that help everyone here, and you will not be receiving any payments"
"That's more than enough, once again, thank you very much your grace!"
It was obvious that the condition that Ivan gave was very unfair. So Sienna happy reaction wasn't to his expectation.
'She's that desperate huh'
He calmly took another sip of his tea. And with lazy expression, he said, "Alright, you can start now, Catherine, guide her"
"I understand" Catherine politely answered. "Lady Sienna, please follow me"
Sienna got up. He obey Catherine and follows her. However, before they got out of Ivan's room, he show his last bow of gratitude.
Ivan was left alone with John.
The sound cup of tea clashing with the saucer echo in the room. That's how quiet it was.
"John" Ivan calls.
"Yes? Your grace?"
"I don't understand that girl" He said out loud.
"May I know what do you mean by that?" John, who's use to Ivan's randomness was unfaze by the question.
"If she was so desperate for a place to stay that she didn't even care for my harsh conditions, why wouldn't she just give the necklace?" He lean on his hand. His gaze was still at the door. "Wouldn't giving it up will secure her a much more comfortable life? Why is she desperate to keep it? I doubt she even knew its real value"
"It's because of the fact it was given by the most important person of her life, even if she doesn't know its real value, it was important for her" John explain.
"I still don't understand" He frown.
"Your grace, it's because of the emotion, people deem to see objects given by the person they love valuable and they can get very attach to it" John further explain.
"Is that so?"
"Do you still don't understand your grace?"
"Yep!" Ivan lean back and stretch. "It's confusing"
"Then that's your problem your grace" John put away the cup of tea and replace it with new one.
"You don't really hold back being rude towards me don't you?"
"I don't get pay to answer your question, so I see it as unimportant your grace"
Ivan took out one gold coin from his drawer. John gaze followed the gold coin as it was put in the table.
With annoyed look, Ivan said. "Explain, further"
John gulp down his saliva, stopping the corner of his lips from smiling. "Your wish, is my command"