2 The Female Protagonist

"What did you say?" She retreats her sword as she puts it back into the scabbard.

"Take me as your maid! PLEASE!" As she gets more attention, Claire sighs as she massage her forehead.

"What are you planni—" Haneul cuts off her words as she stands up. She shakes off the dust in her skirt as she started to speak.

"I can cook and I can clean your house! You can make me do anything except for killing people. I'm not good at it."

"I'm loyal, honest, and faithful and you can also trust me and talk to me about your problems."

"But you should pay me a price that's suited for my performance. AND if you don't like how I work, you can always throw me away, which I hope you don't because I don't have any house and family."

"In short, I'm a wandering whore! You don't like seeing a girl doing dirty stuffs in a bar right?" As if her puppy eyes are going to capture Claire's heart.

"But you just said that I can make you do anything except for killing." Haneul stops for a second.

"Well, that's—" Claire chuckles as she nods. "Alright. I'll take you in. Only if you don't talk too much." Haneul zips her mouth as she nods continuously.

"I have a personal maid already. Then what speak. What should I do with you?" As if she's still doubting if she would take her or not.

"It's not like, I can replace her since she's given by my brother as a gift." Claire said as she crossed her arms while closing her right eye.

Haneul, who just read the book knows that it's not a maid. But a killer.

'So she didn't kill her brother yet.' She sighs out of relief. As she breathes deeper, she composed herself as she looks at her with a confident look.

"BUT I CAN DO BETTER." Claire nods as she looks at her once again. "How can you say so?"

"Try me." She likes Haneul's confidence, although it sounds arrogant. That is why, she's the perfect candidate to be her maid.

"But being my maid means I'm putting a pressure on your shoulders." Haneul reads the book already. What else she have to know?

"I'll make sure to stay alive." Her stomach grumbles as soon as she said those words. Claire looks at her, chuckling.

"How can you stay alive if you're hungry?" Haneul's face was covered with embarrassment. She doesn't think that she can handle more of it.

"Let's eat. It's my treat for now. But whatever you do in the future will be your own money."

"Milady is so kind!" She clings to her arms as if they were close. "No physical contact, Please." Her cold words makes Haneul stops as she takes back her arms.

She saw nothing, but a cold Claire De Lune who's walking in the street. She doesn't even know why Claire likes to be by herself than surrounded with people.

Maybe it's because there's a hidden story behind all of her actions that's not stated in the story.

After all, Haneul never exist in the book. Thinking about it, she's no one. She might die early because she's not supposed to be in here.

But in any case, she has to survive.

SHE SHOULD. Or her second life might go to waste.

"Are you coming or not?" Right in front of her is the Abandoned Female Lead in the story. Her life ended up tragically. They might die in the end.

But Haneul finally decided. She'll keep them both alive.

"Coming!" She should think positive. Nothing will happen if she changes the flow of the story.

As they enter the restaurant, people who saw her dress covers the eyes of their children as they continue to eat.

Claire, who can sense the judgement in the citizen's eyes takes off her coat as she places it on Haneul's shoulder.

"We'll change your clothes after we eat."

"Rest assured. No one will talk behind your back if you stick around me." Haneul nods as they sit on a chair.

They ordered as soon as the server comes in. "You know my name. But I never know yours." Claire said as she drinks water.

"Haneul. Haneul Ahn [ 하늘 안 ]"

"How old are you?"

"I'm 18 years old."

"I'm older by one year, I see. Where do you live?"

"I'm just wandering."

"Where's your parents?"

"They died in a car accident."

"Car?" Haneul stops as she just realizes what she just said. 'Right. They don't have a car.'

"I was from other other country you know? Where carriages are called cars, but with engines. We're modern." She knows what Claire is thinking right now.

'What a strange woman.' Must be on Claire's mind right now. As soon as she finished explaining, the food came.

As they eat, Haneul can't take her off her eyes of the woman who became the image of her own family.

"Are you trying to find my vital point? It'll be on this side, here, and my head."

"You'll kill me before I can touch you." Haneul said as she continues to eat. "You know your position." Well, Haneul wants to live.

"Rest for a while after we eat. I have to buy you new clothes." Now that Haneul thinks about it, Why is Claire wearing a suit instead of a dress?

"Why are you wearing a suit when you're a girl, is what you're thinking right now isn't it?" Claire wipes her mouth gently as she looks at her.

"The reason is easy. Dresses are often hot when I wear it. Suits are comfortable. It's soft while the coat is just an extra. For some cold purposes." She answered as she looks at Haneul.

"Like the accident right now." Claire chuckles as she stands up. "We have to hurry back home. I need to teach you some things."

"It's the other way around." Haneul said as Claire looks back. "I know you just met me. But I have to warn you some things."

"You have to trust me, Miss Claire." For the sake of their lives, she has to warn her. Claire sat down for the second time as she feels like listening to Haneul. "Miss Claire, you should get rid of your personal maid. Your brother planted her to assassinate you."

"I know we just met, but you should trust me." Claire thinks for a second. "What do you know about my family?" If she said that she reads it on the book, Claire might think she's crazy.

"I can't tell many information that much. But trust me. In this night, pretend to sleep. Put your sword on your bed and see what happens after."

"And what if she's just a normal maid?" Claire knows her brother well. It may or may not be true, but at least Haneul is aware of her situation.

"You can throw me for being a liar." Claire chuckles as she nods. "I see. Stand up. I'll buy you some clothes. You can't enter the manor with your clothing. Mother will think I adopted a prostitute."

Being curious about Haneul's personality and whereabouts, Claire stays quiet and wait for the lady to speak on her own. She doesn't want to force her as it may bring a trauma to Haneul.

'An enemy or an ally, she needs to prove herself.' Claire said as they both enter the store.

She picks some casual clothes that Haneul can wear on occasions and pick clothes that can be worn on a ball in case she needed someone to accompany her.

Claire also bought her new shoes and new jewelries so that her family won't say anything. "When we reach the manor, you'll encounter my brother."

"The Young Master of De Lune's family. His name is Aiden. He's quite immature and stupid. He might bring your imperfections and how will you impact the family, so be careful with your actions and act like a noble maid. Don't tarnish my name."

"My sister. Selene De Lune. The foster child in the family. I don't like her, nor hate her. She's just the same age as you. Hope you get along with each other. But if you felt like she doesn't like you, get away from her as much as you can."

"My father. Luke De Lune. Again, I don't like nor hate my father. I just don't get along with them. Try not to interact with my parents. Don't get involve in their business."

"My mother. Sol Vienna. The one who runs the manor when father's gone. She likes pretty things. She might like you. She's the one who adopted Selene as she wanted to have a pretty girlish daughter."

The book has more to publish as it's not very detailed, although the book has 644 pages and still, little details seem to make the story more interesting.

The book never mentions Selene. So why..

As the carriage stops, Claire gets off as she guided Haneul to get down. "Remember to act like a noble. Or else they'll tear you apart. Remember to stick with me all the time. I can't protect you in this manor. You're the only one who can protect yourself."

Haneul stands straight as she looks at the manor. It was too big to be true. Guess fiction stories are real life for fiction characters. And this is the reality, Haneul was living currently.

"Don't just stand. Let's go inside."

One step forward is what Haneul do. For her, this is just the beginning of her life with the Abandoned Female Lead.