So this is how I'm going to die.
Alone, bruised and bloody, right after reading a horrid romance fantasy novel with terrible plot.
I haven't even spent the remaining 22 million won in my bank account yet.
And what about that wasted, unfinished pack of extra spicy instant noodles in my apartment?
Oh well. This is it.
Goodbye, dear world. I'll miss you.
'Huh?'
I jolt awake, shocked and very much confused. 'I-I-I'm not dead?'
But what's this fancy, extravagant room? It's encased in luxury and jewels, and it looks so... so unlike the cheap apartment I rented in Seoul where I worked myself to the bone paying off my student loans. It looks so beautiful. This bed I'm laying in... it's so plush and velvety. In fact, it looks kind of familiar. Kind of like-
Wait a second. I glanced around. There's no way, I told myself. Kim Minji, get yourself together! You must be hallucinating. There's no way. There's no way. I stared blankly ahead for a few seconds before I decided I had to confirm my worst fear. I noticed a girl in the room - a young teenage one, in a dark dress with a white apron ontop ; a maid's attire. If this really is what I think, then-
'Arie.'
'Huh?' She gave a glance my way before her eyes sunk with fear. She collapsed on the ground, trembling, her small figure wilting like a leaf. 'Lady Serea, forgive me! Please, spare my life! I-I...'
Oh, god. So it is true. That's Arie, Serea's personal maid. That must mean that... now, I've somehow possessed Serea's body. Serea, the cruel, callous villainess of that stinking novel. She must've treated Arie terribly so that the poor maid would tremble so much at simply being beckoned.
'Arie, get up,' I said gently, lifting her up. Her eyes conveyed immense confusion and a bit of terror all at once. 'M-M-My lady? Why are you doing this? Is it to punish me?'
I sighed. With all the bad things the real Serea's done, it'll be difficult for her to understand why I've suddenly changed this way and why I don't remember things from Serea's past.
So, the most logical explanation...
'Arie, keep this between you and me,' I said in a hushed whisper. 'But... I don't remember a bit of my past, so you're going to have to help me. I think I have some memory loss, and I don't really remember hurting or scolding you. If I did, that was improper of me and I apologize. So, don't be scared of me. I'm not going to hurt you.' Arie's big eyes shone with something I couldn't place ; pity, perhaps. 'Of course, my lady! I'll help you remember everything! But...' she hesitated, her eyes widening. 'If you don't remember me, how do you still know my name?'
Shoot! I hadn't thoughr about that!
'Um, your name was the only thing I could remember about you, Arie. I looked at you and just knew your name was Arie,' I said, flinching. What a weak, flimsy excuse. But she seemed to buy it, or at least pretend not to realise it, because Arie just smiled. 'Alright, my lady! I'm sure you'll get the hang of everything!'
I grinned back.
Yes, Arie. I'm going to take care of every little thing that I need to.
Starting off with the female lead and the male lead.
Because there's no way that knowing Serea's doomed fate to be executed by Crown Prince Rohel, I'm going to go down the same path that she did.
First off, I need to make it known that I'm not interested in the male lead anymore.