Chapter 4: Chapter 3: Too Many Death Flags

He realized that he had only three years at most to live if he didn’t play his cards right, and regret filled his heart. After all, he now had to risk it all because of a single tantrum thrown over a novel. 

Granted, if it meant seeing his favorite characters in person, the experience might become more bearable. 

But the problem lay in the circumstances behind Christiana’s death. Although she wasn’t one of the strongest characters in the series, her power still surpassed that of an average member of a knight order. Her soul-bonded rapier, Raison D'être, raised that strength even further. Even so, such a person still died after a pyrrhic victory against the monsters that invaded her kingdom. 

The novel had never given the reason for why a girl her age fought against horrors that would have terrified even the most experienced veterans of the battlefield. It had only shown Rayden’s perspective as he arrived too late to save her and despaired. Perhaps the pages he had yet to read before this whole fiasco held the answers. Still, Larry suspected foul play. Aside from The Guardian Knight’s Saga, he had also read countless novels that contained intrigue and treachery. 

I have to reach a sufficient level of strength after my own soul binding… that should be during my birthday next month, when Christiana would become 13 years old. Not only that, but I have to watch my back for the next three years to see which bastards would dare to plot against the only princess of the Lorien royal family. 

The long term assignments piling on top of each other were already threatening to crush his young and fragile body!

“That said, System, what would you be able to do to help me fulfill those wishes?” The System had indeed given him important information, but he would appreciate it if it came with some added functions and wasn’t just an impertinent voice in his head. 

[The Heroine Creation System comes equipped with functions to assist the host’s growth after they have acquired a soul-bond. You can also access the Affection Level feature that keeps a record of the level of goodwill in the relationships between you and other people.Through this feature, you could pursue the path of a loved and admired heroine. Other features would be unlocked once certain requirements have been met.]

“Setting the first one aside, the second feature makes this sound like some kind of shitty otome game…” Larry realized, however, that the feature could be used to narrow down the list of people who held animosity towards Christiana. In a sense, all of the System’s functions would be beneficial in helping him survive in this world!

When his conversation with the System reached an impasse, Larry realized that the bath’s water had long gone cold and scanned the room for a towel. Not finding any, he decided to check to see if the maid who helped him earlier was still around. However, considering how much time had passed she likely would have gone back to her other duties. Peering out the bathroom door, he spotted the familiar maid standing patiently next to the door with an aura and posture akin to a battle hardened soldier awaiting orders from a superior. 

The moment he spotted the maid, as if sensing his presence, a spark flashed in her eyes and she stood at attention before him in the time he took to blink. The maid gave a polite smile and asked;

“Your highness, would you like me to towel you off?” Larry nodded while still being shocked at the speed of the maid’s movements. Did Christiana have a super soldier as a servant?

The maid produced a large, fluffy white towel from her uniform (although he didn’t comprehend how or where it was stored) and proceeded to gingerly wipe down his new body. He was extremely thankful for this service, as he didn’t know what would have happened to his reasoning if he was forced to stare at Christiana’s body as he wiped it dry.

“How was the bath, your highness? Are you feeling all right now?”

“The bath… was good. Thank you, I’m definitely feeling a lot better now than I had before.” An awkward silence stood between the two as Larry ran out of conversation ideas. He was socially inept as a no-life college student, one of the few things that certainly didn’t change even as he now occupied Christiana’s body. That said, he did have one thing he was curious about. 

“Ah… your name is…?” After these words left his mouth, the maid ceased her ministrations. Wondering what was wrong, Larry looked towards her face and was startled when he saw tears forming in her eyes.

“My name… did you forget my name already? Even if I didn’t attend to her highness for a few days… to forget the name of your precious personal maid… how cruel…” Her reaction sparked intense feelings of apprehension in Larry, who immediately tried to salvage the situation by panicking in his mind.

Hey hey hey, isn’t this bad? It’s barely been a day, and I’m already ruining Christiana’s reputation. Shouldn’t the System be helping me in this situation, this might be harmful to my mission you know? ...Wait, I know what to do!

System, show me all the related information on this person’s affection levels for me!

[Affirmative. Compiling requested data…Presenting data]

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[Name: Griselda Apricot]

[Affection meter measurement: 82% (-1)]

[Description: A servant of the Lorien royal family, she is currently the personal maid to its sole princess Christiana Lapis Lorien. She cares for her as if she were her own child, and Christiana returns her feelings in treating her like a second mother.]

Acquiring his lifeline, a flustered Larry began to speak to the crying maid in front of him. 

“G-Griselda! I’m sorry, it was just a joke. Please don’t cry; I won’t do it again!” 

“Your highness…” The woman named Griselda sniffed and wiped at her eyes with a finger. As Larry paid more attention towards her, he now observed her features in greater detail. She had pastel pink pair held in a bun behind her head, and dazzling orange eyes still moist with tears.

Isn’t she actually a ravishing beauty? Why wasn’t she ever mentioned in the novels? There certainly should have been some description of Christiana’s personal maid if she was this important to her, unless… 

One thought made Larry freeze. 

Unless…  Griselda had died before the novel had started when Rayden, Christiana, and the rest of the main cast attended Aesir Academy.

Why would she die without there being any kind of backstory? Did that damn sadist of an author intend for us to read on the tragic lives of these characters after their deaths to sprinkle salt on our raw, aching hearts? Larry was still cursing the author for inflicting so much suffering. No matter what, he had to prevent this woman, Griselda, from disappearing. Not only was she a capable maid in her own right, but what he saw of her so far led him to believe that there was more to her than meets the eye. 

“Griselda...” He spoke with a cautious and worried tone, not wanting to distress the teary woman in front of him any further. As his voice slightly wavered, the maid in front of him turned to look into his eyes. He gulped, steeling himself to speak to her clearly. “You’re important to me. I don’t wish to see you sad, and I don’t want  you to leave me.” He saw her eyes widen at that statement. “S-so please tell me if I do anything wrong, or if something has happened... Especially if there’s anything wrong with you! I want you to be with me for the rest of my life after all-” His words were cut off by a sudden bear hug from the maid before him. Griselda hugged his body close and spoke;

“Your highness Christiana! To this insignificant me, to this lowly maid, to cherish me this much! This Griselda pledges to serve you to the end of her life, I swear by my heart and soul!” Larry couldn’t hear her words clearly as his entire head was caught in a pincer attack from her arms and sizable chest. A healthy man brimming with youthful vigor would be delighted to be sandwiched in this manner, but Larry was struggling for his life as he felt like he was being crushed under a hydraulic press. Was it just his imagination that he could hear his bones creaking?

Isn’t this woman a bigger threat to my life than anything else at this point? And what is with this monstrous strength? She’s breaking me like a twig! Wait, I’m seriously breaking! I’m breaking! The last thing his increasingly hazy mind registered as he began to pass out was a message from the System:

[Griselda Apricot’s affection levels for you have risen to 100%. While she was willing to lay down her life while in service to you before, her loyalty has now risen to a level of lifelong fanatical worship and stalwart devotion. You have truly become her everything. Congratulations to the host.]

“My lady? Your highness? Are you alright?” Griselda inquired. Hearing no response, she worriedly bent down to check for any concerning signs. 

Greeted by the adorably cherubic face of her young mistress as she slept soundly in her embrace, Griselda smiled warmly with what one can only call motherly love. 

The bath must have made her drowsy, and she must have fallen asleep in between the comfort of my arms. The oblivious maid thought as she happily tucked Larry’s unconscious body in between the silk bed covers.

A/N: Made some edits. As always, comments, suggestions and feedback would be appreciated!

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