The Runaway Maid is Loved by the Archmage - Chapter 2
By the time she’d managed to calm her stomach, it was already cutting it close. As a maid in the Crown Prince’s chambers, one could usually take the mornings off after working all night, but Roina was not like the other maids. If she didn’t work during the day, she didn’t know what kind of strange punishment would be inflicted upon her, so she had to be diligent.
The head maid had assigned her the most arduous task: working in the kitchen. The first thing Roina had to do every morning was to fetch water from the well.
She hurried to the well and began to draw water.
If not for the man who suddenly appeared behind her, she would have continued. Startled, she dropped the bucket, and it clattered loudly against the bottom of the well.
She glanced back and saw a complete stranger. A man with long black hair tied back and cold golden eyes.
He had appeared suddenly, much too close behind her. A shiver ran down her spine. When she turned around, their noses almost touched.
She froze.
“I… I don’t know who you are, but this isn’t a place for visitors…”
“What’s your name?”
He grabbed her chin and forced her to look into his eyes. She could do nothing but freeze. His gaze was intense. Even without the force of his grip, she felt trapped by something. She shivered uncontrollably. It was as if she were a mouse cornered by a carnivorous animal.
“…Roina… is my name.”
With a snap, she managed to shake off his grip and took a step back. He was undeniably handsome, but it was too intimate to be talking to a stranger at such a close distance.
“I see.”
He nodded. It sounded as if he had let go of her intentionally, rather than her escaping.
He stared at Roina with emotionless eyes. They seemed filled with both longing and the hardness of frozen ice. But it was different from the lustful gaze of Roberto, which she was so familiar with. She unconsciously avoided his gaze.
“Roina.”
He pronounced her name clearly.
Roina felt a strange sensation. Her heart was pounding. She liked the sound of her name coming from his lips. For some reason, she felt a sense of familiarity and longing for a person she had just met. Yet, there was also a subtle sense of unease and strangeness.
“Do you know me?”
That’s probably why I asked.
Even before and after possessing this body, I’ve never seen someone like him, and I doubt I ever will again. But I wanted to know the reason for the feeling I was experiencing right now. The reason for this urge to approach him, even though he was right in front of me.
He seemed to ponder my question for a moment before giving a different answer.
“Are you always here at this time?”
“Yes, most of the time.”
“…I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Excuse me? Why are you suddenly being so formal with me…?”
And just as suddenly as he had appeared, he vanished. Without any warning, as if he had simply blinked out of existence. Startled, I blinked a few times and slowly sank to the ground.
My body, which had been tense, relaxed, and I let out a sigh.
“Oh my goodness! What are you doing sprawled out there?”
“Oh… Nothing much. A cat suddenly jumped out, and… I was startled.”
There’s no point in explaining that a strange man had suddenly appeared and disappeared. If I said anything unnecessary, it would just give them another reason to pick on me.
Roina quickly tidied herself up and stood. The maid looked down at her coldly and snapped, “What are you doing loitering? Get back to work!”
Although I hadn’t actually been slacking off, I didn’t argue. She was a maid, and I was a lady-in-waiting, so officially I held a higher position, but I was a former slave.
Even though the slave system had been abolished by the Crown Prince himself, prejudice against slaves still persisted. It was best to humble myself and obey. The only reason Roina had become a lady-in-waiting was because of Crown Prince Roberto’s order. So, I had to know my place.
Even as I hurried to carry the heavy bucket of water, my mind was filled with confusing questions.
‘Who was that man?? Why did he call my name…?’
I thought back to his piercing golden eyes. Long black hair and golden eyes. Something felt familiar, yet nothing came to mind.
‘I wonder… I want to see him again.’
It was unusual for a noble to keep their promises, but I had a feeling he would return.
Thinking of his burning gaze that filled me with a strange longing, Roina quickly went about her tasks.
