The gods' Miserable Puppet

Chapter 8: "The gods' Miserable Puppet"

The head maid started to remind Dia about the rules of the residence.

"We all know that no one is allowed to linger near young master Azrael's bedroom. If ever, only with my permission."

I did not know that.

I wriggled my hand and managed to slip it out from the head maid's sweaty hands. She paused and turned around to look at me.

"Dia."

I hang my head, preparing myself to get another earful. But instead, I hear her sigh.

"What happened to you?" she asks.

My face wrinkled in lethargy.

"I haven't been feeling well lately."

It's not a lie. I do feel like sh-t.

I looked at her and her brows were curved upwards from worry. "It would be best for you to rest for now." She pats my shoulder, "You still look so pale and even your hands are still cold."

I let her guide me back to my room.

There are at least 3 floors. The place where I accidentally trespassed was an area on the second floor. I looked around. There are only a few maids and servants on this floor, so the silence is expected.

The silence is once again giving space to thoughts I'd rather not entertain. This uncertain sudden possession of someone else's life.

"Is something in your mind, Dia?" the head maid asks while still walking.

It wouldn't hurt to tell her a vague truth. So I answer,

"I don't know, There is this feeling of loss or gain...which is hard to accept."

The head maid tilts her head as if trying to remember something. "hmm…Young Master Azrael said something similar to me this morning."

I walked closer to her. She continues, "So I asked him, 'Do you have a better choice other than to just accept it?'"

?

"If not, then stop overthinking. What is done is done. What has happened has happened. No matter the reasons or cause. One has no choice but to live with it."

The missions and the living as Dia. Evading death flags and even defying fate. Is this the life I have to live now? For how long? If I fail to avoid becoming the villainess, will I be forced to wreak havoc?

"Accept it and," she paused and turned to face me with a sweet smile, "see the situation as an opportunity." She turns around again and continues walking. "That's what I told the Young Master."

See the situation as an opportunity? As in, use it to my advantage?

…is that something a maid is supposed to be telling a no-named maid?

But she has a point.

We went down a large staircase resting at the center of the manor. The ground floor is more spacious and every corner is ornamented. We walked towards a hallway leading to a room with a different atmosphere. Smokey but not in a terrible way. A mixture of aromatic and somewhat sweet smells wafted through the air and it became stronger as we stepped foot in the room, the kitchen.

"You haven't had breakfast yet, have you, Dia?" The head maid asks, which I answered with an eager nod. The kitchen is fairly big, but the one I own back at my manor is much bigger.

I found a place on a table at the corner and helped myself. A kitchen staff approached me with a plate full of food in hand. He placed it down on the table and left. I thanked him but I doubt he heard it.

I looked down at the food, which still looked warm.

I haven't eaten ever since I woke up in this girl's body. I didn't even have the time to think about filling my stomach considering my head alone was already full of thoughts.

…

And to be honest, I'm nervous. My 'death' was quite a traumatic event for me.

Dia gulps and with shaking hands, weakly grips the spoon. He made sure to scoop a decent amount and eat it. Muscles stiff, he chews slowly. It soon relaxes after tasting the flavors.

The food is good.

It's simple but not as flavorful as all the dishes I have tasted as Lumien.

GURGHH…

I clutch my stomach. I looked around, hoping no one heard its rumbling. Only after I tasted food again did I realize how hungry I was.

I continued to eat, making sure to chew and swallow properly.

While Dia was focused on eating carefully, the head maid watched her with eyes filled with pity.

The poor girl looked as if she was using every fiber of her body just to chew and swallow. How feeble and weak.

- - -

After eating, I thanked the staff and left the kitchen with the headmaid.

We reach a small staircase that leads to the lower ground floor.

The maid and servants' rooms are located in the lower ground floor, along with the cellar used for storage. It's adequate, the lower ground floor looks similar to all the other floors but simpler.

A clean hallway extends into the middle of multiple rooms. Behind the staircase is the way to the storage room.

We almost reached my room which is at the end of the hallway, when a sudden ruckus stopped us.

BAM!

A boy, about the same age as Dia, slams open the door in front of their face.

What were they thinking designing the doors on the lower ground floor to open outwards?!

The boy was fuming, glaring at whoever or whatever was inside. He smacked the edge of the door causing it to close slightly, and he stomped pass us. I took a glance at him and our eyes met for a second before he looked away and continued to march out of the way.

I heard the head maid groan. She looked at me and told me to go back to my room while she ran after the fuming boy.

I wanted to take a peek at what was on the other side of the door, but it was already shut.

…

Sighing, I walked past the room and headed to mine.

- - -

I took out the pocket watch from my pocket and sat on a nearby chair. I opened it and once again, the same neon words appeared in front of me.

'Rewrite the Villainess'

'Soul owner: Lumien Dia Velerace'

'Body possessed: Dia'

'Time Limit: 51 119 : 54 : 39'

'Spirit points: *#*%$/*'

That huge title at the top wasn't there before, or was it? I didn't notice it before because the writings were small, but there were more words below.

'Divine Task: Rewrite the Villainess'

'Reward: #*&@^=/

'Punishment for failure: Death'

'WARNING'

'*Eschew reckless decisions which may lead to the body's villainy.*'

Hurricane in hell…

Punishment for failure…death…

The gods must be messing with me. Is it because of all the cult-like rituals I did back in my junior years at the academy when I was still Lumien?

I read the title once again and narrowed my eyes.

"Rewrite the Villainess" whoever made this knew about the novel <MPOMR >. Or perhaps a coincidence?

I glance at the blurred, censored words next to the 'spirit points' and 'reward'. For the reward, I understand why it is blurred, but as for the spirit points…

Spirit points, I read about it in a textbook once. It is points given whenever a mortal and possibly an immortal too, binds a contract with a divine being. With spirit points, the divine being can grant the contractee a wish. The heavier the wish, the more spirit points are needed. Spirit points are given when the contractee completes a divine task. That is all the information I had about it, and even that was just speculation by 'silly writers' and conspiracy theorists.

'Time Limit: 51 119 : 49 : 23'

About the time limit. Its format is most likely in the form 'hours: minutes: seconds'.

How many years is 51 119 hours?

24 hours a day and 365 days a year. I just divide and…

At least 5 years and a half.

I have about that much time to rewrite this villainess; plenty if I must say so. And with my current state, a mere dust in this kingdom. My actions will be considered insignificant in this world.

After I use Eldina to know 'Lumien's' current circumstance, I will cut ties with her and live as an insignificant maid. I feel bad for Eldina, but I have priorities to deal with right now. That way, I will reduce the chances of becoming a villain.

…

I must admit, Dia wasn't that tyrant or wicked of a villain. I wonder why her fate needed to be changed? Even so, If they wanted to save her, they should've let Eldina be the one to regress. Why drag my innocent soul into this?

Why do I have to go through this misery?

Sigh.

Forget it. The gods won't just emerge out of nowhere and answer my questions.

I have no choice but to accept all of this right?

'Accept it and see the situation as an opportunity'

...

I stood up and walked towards the mirror.

I stared at the girl with green hair and magenta eyes. Petite and pale.

"An opportunity, huh…"

Transmigrating into a whole different person is not just any opportunity given. This isn't even something that can be called a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is something that transcends life and death. I might even be able to write a thesis paper about this.

Dia's lips curve upward at one side.

They say there are five stages of grief; I am experiencing the final stage.

'Acceptance.'

I am Lumien Dia Velerace. The third child and second son of Duke Velerace, and the only child of one of the greatest doctors in the Kingdom. As a consequence of unforeseen circumstances,

I am now Dia. A maid at Trouvaille's residence.

And I, who was destined to be a Villainess, will change that fate.

Finally, Dia accepts 'her' situation and decides to explore it.

Whilst evading the red flags, of course.

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