How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 378: A Maid’s Duty

The life of a maid is one of duty and dignity—a responsibility only a select few can uphold with unwavering precision, without neglecting their role or tarnishing their honor.

Some might call it a profession reserved for plebeians, a thankless job meant for those of lower standing.

But for Yui, a young maid exclusively serving her master, such notions never occupied her thoughts.

Her duty was her pride.

Each day, she woke with a quiet yet unwavering sense of fulfillment, a feeling deeply rooted within her.

Rising before her master was a standard expectation for any proper maid.

Yet, ever since she had been assigned to Young Master Riley, she found herself with an unusual amount of freedom in the mornings—a change she still struggled to get used to.

A maidʼs routine was sacred, and Yui had lived by a strict set of principles all her life.

There were five unbreakable rules she followed:

Obey her master without fail.

Ensure her master remains in peak condition at all times.

Never lose the respect she holds for her master, nor the respect she gives in return.

Avoid interfering in her masterʼs personal life.

Understand the limits of her influence over her master.

These rules were the foundation of her beliefs—a code she had set for herself to maintain both her dignity and honor as a maid.

And as she carried out her daily tasks with quiet efficiency, Yui never once faltered.

Her master, Riley, had always been a peculiar person—ever since the day she met him.

A young noble barely younger than herself, yet somehow surrounded by controversy and mystery.

One might wonder how an unknown nobleman, with no grand family name to boast, could possess such influence and attention—even to the point of overshadowing the geniuses around him.

Riley was Yuiʼs first personal master.

Yes, she had served other nobles before, having been assigned to them by the academyʼs head maid, and through those experiences, she had become quite familiar with how nobles thought, how they saw the world differently from those born in humble beginnings.

Their perspective was always… detached.

Nobles held power, privilege, and an inherent sense of superiority, something Yui had witnessed time and time again.

They saw servants as mere tools, useful only as long as they performed their duties without flaw.

Yet when she was assigned to Riley, her perception of nobility shattered.

He was different.

Genuinely kind.

A trait so rare among the nobles she had served that, at first, she struggled to believe it. It wasnʼt an act. It wasnʼt empty courtesy.

There was something about Riley—something real.

And that was what unsettled her the most.

Her young master was always surrounded by scandals and rumors—so absurd that one would wonder how a person could even walk around in public after being the subject of such relentless gossip.

Countless mouths whispered. Countless eyes watched.

And Yui… Yui had even seen some of those rumors as undeniable facts.

Yet she ignored them.

Not out of blind faith. Not because she thought her master was incapable of such things.

But because of the rules she had set for herself—rules that defined who she was as a maid with honor.

Yes, that was how it was supposed to be.

ʼYou are a maid with honor, Yui…ʼ

She reminded herself of this as she walked through Heavenly Hall, a letter in hand.

She moved with practiced grace, offering slight bows to the academy staff she passed. Polite. Dignified. Silent.

Yet internally, she sighed.

Subtle glances. That was all she allowed herself—quick, fleeting looks at the letter she was carrying.

Her curiosity gnawed at her, an unfamiliar itch that she forced herself not to scratch. She wasnʼt supposed to care about its contents.

And yet…

It was the first time her master had ever looked at her like that.

”Yui, make sure this letter gets to the girls.”

His voice, usually gentle yet firm, had carried something different.

A cold, devouring edge.

For the first time, Yui had seen Riley quietly mad.

Not an outburst. Not frustration.

Just… quiet anger.

Even now, as she replayed the moment in her mind, it sent a strange feeling through her.

The way he spoke, the way he held himself, the weight of his words—everything about him had been deliberate, restrained.

And the letter…

Its contents were undoubtedly important.

More than that—it was clear from both the letter and his tone that Riley was going somewhere.

But she couldnʼt even ask.

let her curiosity knead at her…

Sighing to herself, Yui pushed aside her lingering thoughts, realizing the absurdity of entertaining them for even a second.

She was a maid. A servant of duty.

Her only concern was carrying out the order she had been given—deliver the three letters to the three specific young ladies within the academy.

That was all.

And yet…

Considering how serious and abrupt her young masterʼs actions had been, Yui could already foresee the storm these letters were bound to cause.

Her master was rarely this direct.

Rarely this unwavering.

Whatever was written in these letters, they carried weight. And as much as she wanted to ignore the implications, she couldnʼt help but feel like she was delivering more than just paper.

Still, it wasnʼt her place to question.

As a maid, she was to fulfill her masterʼs wishes without interference. No matter what kind of trouble these letters might bring, it was not for her to speculate.

Yui had a duty. And she would see it through.

—

Reaching the student council office, she knocked once before stepping inside, only to be met with a familiar sight—a girl with striking blue eyes and a regal presence that commanded attention without effort.

Snow Luvenitia White Germonia Leven.

Crown Princess of the Empire.

Her masterʼs alleged lover.

Yui curtsied gracefully, lifting the hem of her slightly frilly dress with practiced elegance.

”Hm? Arenʼt you Rileyʼs maid? Yui, was it?”

The princessʼs voice was calm, yet there was a sharpness to it, like a blade hidden beneath layers of silk.

”I am. Iʼm here to deliver a letter from the young master.”

Snowʼs gaze flickered with intrigue.

”Riley did?”

”Yes.”

”Is that so?”

There was an unreadable expression on her face as she took the envelope from Yuiʼs hands.

Yui bowed once more, maintaining the flawless composure expected of her.

”I shall take my leave now, Princess Snow.”

Snow gave her a nod, followed by a soft, knowing smile.

”Thank you, Yui. Take care.”

As Yui turned to exit, the doors closing behind her, she allowed herself a single, fleeting glance—just in time to see Snow breaking the wax seal and unfolding the letter.

And in that brief moment, she caught a glimpse of the princessʼs reaction.

A slight stiffening of her posture.

A faint, almost imperceptible widening of her eyes.

Then, just as quickly, it was gone.

Yui sighed in relief.

She had done her part.

And she had not let her curiosity devour her.

Delivering the remaining letters to the other girls, Yui was met with a variety of reactions—some expected, some… not.

—

”Where did he go…?”

The sharp yet controlled voice belonged to Rose, her golden eyes flickering with something dangerous.

Yui, ever composed, bowed slightly.

”I apologize, but I do not have the means to give you a useful answer right now, Miss Rose.”

Silence.

Then, a shift.

A sudden flicker in Roseʼs mana—subtle but undeniable. It crackled faintly around her like restrained lightning, a glimpse of her inner turmoil.

Without another word, she turned on her heel, heading straight for the carriage waiting for her.

Yui remained still, only observing.

Then—

”M-Miss Rose! Where are you going?!”

A middle-aged man in a mageʼs robe hurried after her, his voice laced with both panic and urgency.

”The Tower Master is waiting! The Celestial Gate isnʼt exactly a cheap means of travel—M-MISS ROSE!”

His words fell on deaf ears as Rose stepped off out of the carriage without hesitation.

And just like that, she was gone.

Yui let out a soft sigh, adjusting the frills of her dress before moving on.

—

The last letter.

The final recipient.

—

Yui found herself inside Seoʼs private quarters, a space personally designed to mimic the atmosphere of the Eastern Empire.

It was elegant. Simple yet refined.

And for the first time since she set foot inside, Yui felt something… familiar.

A whisper of home.

She dismissed the thought instantly.

This was not the time to indulge in nostalgia.

Handing over the letter, Yui bowed as custom dictated.

”I will take my leave now. I hope you have a great day, Miss Seo.”

Seo, seated before her, accepted the letter with her usual indifferent expression.

”Yes… Goodbye, Miss Maid.”

With that, Yui turned to leave, sliding the paper door shut behind her.

But just as she was about to fully close it, she heard it—

A voice.

Cold. Unfeeling. Sharper than before.

”Lina… where is my sword?”

Yui hesitated for only a fraction of a second.

Then, with quiet precision, she closed the door completely.

Leaving behind only silence.

She had thought that with her master gone, she would finally have a bit of free time—time to freely clean his room at her own pace.

Yet, despite the simplicity of the task given to her, she couldnʼt shake the feeling that it was far more exhausting than any of her usual maidly duties.

A rare sense of fatigue weighed on her shoulders, though she swiftly brushed it aside.

ʼNow… only one more thing to do.ʼ

—

The Academic Library was not a place one often saw dorm maids enter.

So, naturally, when Yui stepped inside, she was met with more than a few curious glances.

A dorm maid? In the library?

Some students whispered among themselves, a few simply stared in mild awe.

She ignored them all.

Her steps remained measured and composed as she continued deeper into the building.

Then, upon reaching a certain table—

She paused.

Familiar faces.

A young man with black hair and golden eyes sat at the table, gazing at her in silent wonder.

Lucas.

Beside him, a red-haired female student—her arms crossed, an exasperated expression still lingering on her face.

Janica.

It seemed she had just been lecturing him about something.

Both of them looked at her with the same quiet curiosity, recognizing who she was immediately.

Yui gave them a polite nod in acknowledgment.

There were two other students seated at the same table as well—

One was a bubbly-looking young woman, a familiar face Yui could not immediately place.

The other?

A figure dressed in a hooded robe, the fabric concealing most of their features.

Yui did not recognize them.

But despite the obvious camaraderie among the four, she paid no mind to the unfamiliar individuals.

Her focus remained solely on the task at hand.

Lucas was a well-known training addict at the academy.

So, seeing him like this—**sitting at a table, nose buried in a book—**was more than a little peculiar.

It was already rare to spot him outside of a training hall, but what was even rarer was the fact that he appeared to be genuinely studying.

Not just idly flipping through pages—actually studying a magic book or something of the sort.

And even more unusual?

He wasnʼt alone.

A group of students sat with him.

Yuiʼs gaze flicked over the individuals surrounding him.

All females.

…Ah. That explained it.

For a moment, Yui thought it made perfect sense.

Lucas, much like her young master, possessed a certain natural charisma—an aura that naturally drew people toward him.

Just like Riley.

But while everyone else at the table silently wondered why she had suddenly appeared, Yuiʼs focus remained locked on the last remaining member of the odd group.

A young woman with golden-blonde hair and deep blue eyes.

Her features were strikingly familiar.

Too familiar.

It was to the point where Yui almost wondered—

ʼYoung lady Reina?ʼ

Reina Hell.

The resemblance was uncanny.

If not for the clear distinctions in certain parts of her body—the sharper angles, the more mature aura—Yui might have mistaken her for a direct sibling of her master.

But no.

That wasnʼt it.

It was something else.

—

If her young master were ever turned into a girl, Yui was almost certain that he would look exactly like the person she was looking at right now.

ʼHow did the young master know she would be here at this time?ʼ

Yui couldnʼt help but wonder.

Guiding her this precisely—leading her directly to someone she had never even seen before—was something beyond simple coincidence.

Did her young master know her schedule? Was this part of his usual meticulous planning? Or was this simply another case of his frightening intuition at work?

She also wondered who the girl in front of her was.

Evelyn.

That name meant nothing to her.

But she quickly let the thought pass.

It was none of her business.

Whatever her young master did, he did with a purpose.

…Or at least, she hoped so.

Letting out a quiet breath, Yui reached into her pocket, fingers brushing against a small, smooth object.

A clear, see-through box.

With a practiced motion, she pulled it out and held it in her gloved hands.

Her sharp gaze settled on the young woman before her.

”Are you perhaps Lady Evelyn?”

Her voice was quiet, measured, mindful of the libraryʼs atmosphere.

The young woman looked up from her book, blinking at Yui before offering a small nod.

”Yes… You are?”

Yui gave a slight bow, her voice remaining level.

”Itʼs nice to meet you, Miss Evelyn. My name is Yui, personal maid of Young Master Riley Hell.”

As she spoke, she stepped forward and presented the clear box before her.

With a careful flick, she unlatched the lid, revealing its contents.

A golden ring.

A simple yet finely crafted piece of jewelry, resting neatly on the black velvet inside the case.

”The Master has asked me to give this item to you.”

Evelyn tilted her head, glancing down at the ring with an unreadable expression.

Then, without hesitation, she reached out and plucked the ring from the box.

”Hm... I see... Well, sure~”

Her tone was casual. Almost too casual.

Sliding the ring onto her ring finger, she examined it briefly before flashing Yui an easygoing smile.

Yui merely observed, saying nothing.

Internally, she nodded to herself.

Task complete.

She had fulfilled her orders within an appropriate timeframe.

That alone satisfied her.

Meanwhile…

The atmosphere within the library shifted in an instant.

The other members of the group—Lucas, Janica, and the two unfamiliar students—stared, slack-jawed as the golden ring settled onto Evelynʼs ring finger.

Their eyes widened, almost bulging from their sockets as if they had just witnessed something unbelievable.

Whispers erupted among them, hushed yet frantic.

Janica covered her mouth, her green eyes darting between Evelyn and the now departing maid.

Lucas narrowed his golden eyes, a complex look flashing across his face.

Even the hooded student, who had remained silent the entire time, tilted their head slightly—an indication that even they were taken aback.

But as the murmurs swelled into barely contained chaos, Yui merely turned away, unbothered.

She had done her duty.

That was all that mattered.

As she made her way out of the library, she gave her final goodbyes, her mind already drifting elsewhere.

ʼI should probably separate Miss Aliceʼs undergarments from the young masterʼs wardrobe…ʼ

A subtle furrow formed between her brows.

Yes, that was an important task.

ʼLately, Lady Alice had been… spending a lot more time in the young masterʼs room.ʼ

Technically, she was living there at this point.

So perhaps it was time to consider renovations.

A slight exhale left her lips as she pondered.

ʼWhat would be the best way to restructure the young masterʼs room?ʼ

Should she move some of the furniture around? Should she install a separate wardrobe for Lady Aliceʼs belongings?

As these thoughts occupied her mind, Yui paid no attention to the quiet chaos unfolding behind her.

”…Wait.”

”…Did she just…?”

”…Thatʼs the ring finger, right? THE ring finger?”

She ignored the murmurs.

She ignored the subtle gasps.

And most of all—she ignored the way the entire library seemed to descend into a state of hushed disbelief.

Because for her, this was just another day of work.